  Slow dynamic nonlinearity describes a poorly understood, creep-like phenomena
that occurs in brittle composite materials such as rocks and cement. It is
characterized by a drop in stiffness induced by a mechanical conditioning,
followed by a log(time) recovery. A consensus theoretical understanding of the
behavior has not been developed. Here we introduce an alternative experimental
venue with which to inform theory. Unconsolidated glass bead packs are studied
rather than rocks or cement because the structure and internal contacts of bead
packs are less complex and better understood. Slow dynamics has been observed
in such systems previously. However, the measurements to date tend to be
irregular. Particular care is used here in the experimental design to overcome
the difficulties inherent in bead pack studies. This includes the design of the
bead pack support, the use of low frequency conditioning, and the use of
ultrasonic waves as a probe with coda wave interferometry to assess changes.
Slow dynamics is observed in our system after three different methods for
low-frequency conditioning, one of which has not been reported in the
literature previously.
