1 6 Infiltration 1
1 6 Infiltration 1
1 6 Infiltration 1
The downward flow of water from the land surface into the soil medium is
called infiltration.
If water is ponded at the surface (an ample supply), then infiltration occurs
at the potential infiltration rate. If the rate of supply is less than the
potential rate, then the actual infiltration rate is somewhat less than the
potential rate. Most infiltration equations describe the potential rate.
t
Ft f t dt
0 1
Infiltration Capacity
Total precipitation i
Infiltration f
Rainfall i
Infiltration rate f
Infiltration
capacity
Time t
Infiltration is the actual rate at which water is entering the soil at any given
time(SCSA, 1976).
Infiltration capacity: Maximum rate (LT-1).
The area under the infiltration curve for any time interval represents the depth
of water infiltrated during that interval.
Ft = cumulative infiltration at time t, mm
The downward movement of water and the resulting change in soil
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moisture is shown in Figure 1 and 2.
Moisture Content
0 i s
Saturation zone
Transition zone
Transmission zone
Depth
Wetting zone
Wetting front
Ground
t1 surface
t2
t3
t4
Depth
t5
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Factors Affecting Infiltration
Soil Physical Properties Soil Type, porosity, hydraulic conductivity
Runoff Potential
Infiltration Potential
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Vegetative cover
Bare soils tend to have lower infiltration rates
than soil protected by a vegetative cover. The
energy of the falling rain breaks down soil
aggregates and small particles are carried into
the soil pores. The net result is a lowering of the
infiltration rate.
Complex effect on infiltration, Reduces raindrop
impact, Improves soil structure, Retards surface
water movement, Ground litter
Rainfall Intensity
Rainfall intensity affects the infiltration rates
in two ways. For high-intensity rains, the
raindrops tend to be larger and have more
energy when they strike the soil. Thus high-
intensity rains are more effective in sealing
the soil surface than are low-intensity rains.
Factors Affecting Infiltration
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Infiltration Models
Richard’s Equation
Richard's equation (1931) for one-dimensional flow of water in porous media is
a combination of Darcy's law with the continuity equation as:
K( )
= D( ) -
t z z z
where:
θ = volumetric moisture content [vol/vol]
K(θ) = unsaturated hydraulic conductivity [L/T]
D(θ) = diffusivity coefficient [L2/T] ( = -K(θ)(ψ/θ) )
ψ = suction head [L]
z = medium depth (positive downward) [L]
Difficult to solve and are usually solved with numerical analyses procedures
2-space derivatives (two boundary conditions)
1-time derivative (initial condition)
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Richard’s Equation
Richard's equation is a non-linear second order partial differential equation.
Up to now, this equation has been the most common basic mathematical
expression for unsaturated flow phenomena in porous media.
This equation describes unsteady flow in a one-dimensional anisotropic and
non-homogeneous soil matrix by means of a partial differential equation.
For the modelling of water dynamics in the unsaturated zone, one has to
solve this equation with the help of suitable algorithms.
The models can be grouped into analytical and numerical approaches, with
the latter being far more popular.
Analytical solutions are often more difficult to obtain because the
coefficients of Richard's equation are functions of the dependent variables.
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Richard’s Equation
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Infiltration Models
1. Approximate Models
The approximate and analytical equations can be used to characterize the infiltration
process with rather simple, straight-forward methods.
2. Numerical Models
Numerical procedures (finite difference and finite element) for solving Richards equation
have been developed by many researchers such as:
Rubin (1968) Amerman (1969) Freeze (1971) Khan (1996)
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Horton's Model
It assumes that the infiltration capacity of a given soil is govern by Horton’s Equation
f = a F pn + f c
• Where f is the infiltration rate, fc is the final infiltration rate, Fp is the
unfilled capacity of the soil to store water, and a and n are constants.
• The exponent n has been found to be about 1.4 for many soils.
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Green-Ampt Equation
In 1911, Green and Ampt developed an approximate infiltration model based
on Darcy’s law. They assumed vertical flow, a uniform water content, a sharp
boundary between the dry and wetted soil zones, and the water movement
occurs as piston or slug flow.
f (t ) K 1
F (t )
F(t)
F(t) = K t + ln 1 +
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Philip’s Equation
Philip’s Equation – derived from 1-D solution of Richard’s equation
1
F (t ) S t 2
At
Where S is a parameter called sorptivity, which is a function of moisture
content (θ) and the soil suction potential (ψ), and A is called transmissivity.
Both S and A depend on soil properties and initial moisture content.
Differentiating the above equation with respect to t yields infiltration rate f(t)
as:
1 1
f (t ) St 2 A
2
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SCS Curve Number Method
(Indirect Method)
Q
P 0.2 S 2
P 0.8 S
1000
S 10
CN
• Q = runoff (in)
• P = rainfall (in)
• S = potential maximum retention after runoff begins (in)
• CN = Curve number – reflects soil and cover conditions (0-100)
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index method
A simpler method because it assumes no variation in f(t) with time.
Hence, an infiltration index is used which assumes infiltration to be
constant through time (at mm hr-1).
Total precipitation i
Rainfall i
index
Constant
infiltration
Time t
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