Product information Output screens Test models Users guide Tutorial Review MLU (Multi-Layer Unsteady state) can be used for drawdown calculations and inverse modeling of transient well flow (pumping tests analysis) in layered aquifer systems and stratified aquifers. With MLU one can estimate selected aquifer parameters based on a best fit analytical solution to measured time-distance-drawdown data. The automatic curve-fitting algorithm computes optimized aquifer parameters and fitted drawdown results that are presented in graphs and ASCII-files. Unlike other aquifer test analysis software, often supporting a wide variety of different solution types (e.g., Theis, Hantush, Neuman, Boulton, Papadopulos, Moench, Bouwer-Rice) for usually one and sometimes two aquifers, MLU is based on a single analytical solution technique for well flow that handles:
Theoretical background information on the developed and applied analytical solution techniques for multiple aquifer systems has been published in: Journal of Hydrology 90, p. 231-249 (1987) and 225: p. 1-18 and p. 19-44 (1999). You may contact the authors (hemker at microfem dot com) for a pdf of these publications. The applied non-linear regression technique is described in Ground Water (1985) 23, no.2, p. 247-253. The MLU characteristics allow for all sorts of tests, including variable discharge tests, recovery tests, step-drawdown tests, complex tests in well fields and slug tests. It also handles partially-penetrating and large-diameter wells, bounded aquifers and double-porosity systems. Hydrogeologists have found MLU to be very useful for quickly estimating aquifer properties such as layer-by-layer transmissivity, storativity, and vertical resistance/conductance based on aquifer testing data, and efficiently incorporating these properties into numerical groundwater flow models for advanced subsurface flow evaluations. As far as we know, MLU is the only Windows tool for evaluating aquifer response to pumping in a multi-layer aquifer system.
Download the free LT-version of MLU for Windows. It is a fully functional, capacity-reduced version of MLU. It handles up to 2 aquifers and 3 aquitards, 2 pumping wells, 5 observation wells, while 6 parameters can be optimized in one run. |
For more detailed information on how to input data to MLU and format output For more detailed information on how to construct MLU models and use MLU
see the
MLU Users Guide.
to analyze multilayer aquifer tests based on real world examples
see the MLU Tutorial.
MLU for Windows has been reviewed by the NGWA Ground Water Journal
in the Software Spotlight Column,
which is edited by Chunmiao Zheng
Ground Water 50, No. 4, p. 504-510. (download pdf = 1.4 MByte)
It received the following ratings on the scale of 1 (worst) to 5 (best):