INFILTRATION

The downward flow of water from the land surface into the soil medium is
called infiltration.

The rate of this movement is called the infiltration rate ft.

The process of infiltration of water and subsequent water movement is an
extremely complex process.
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.

The cumulative infiltration rate is the accumulated depth of water

infiltrated and is the integral of the rate with time.

Ft f t dt
t
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
moisture is shown in Figure 1 and 2. 2
 Moisture Content
0 i s

Saturation zone

Transition zone

Transmission zone
Depth

Wetting zone
Wetting front

Figure 1: Moisture zones during infiltration.

3
 Moisture Content
0 i s

Ground
t1 surface
t2

t3

t4
Depth

t5

Figure 2: Moisture profile as a function of time during infiltration.

4
 Factors Affecting Infiltration

In general, the infiltration rate is dependent on

soil physical properties

vegetative cover
antecedent soil moisture conditions
rainfall intensity
the slope of the infiltrating surface.

6
 Factors Affecting Infiltration
Soil Physical Properties Soil Type, porosity, hydraulic conductivity

Soil Type Sand Silt Clay

Runoff Potential

Infiltration Potential

7
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.

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

Antecedent soil moisture conditions

The antecedent soil water content also alters the
infiltration rate. Generally, a wet soil has a lower
infiltration rate than a dry one.

Slope of the infiltrating surface.

The infiltration opportunity time is a function of the
slope of the infiltration surface. On a steep slope,
the water tends to run off rapidly and thus have less
opportunity for infiltration than on a gentle slope.

9
 Infiltration Models
Richards 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:
= volumetric moisture content [vol/vol]
K() = unsaturated hydraulic conductivity [L/T]
D() = diffusivity coefficient [L2/T] ( = -K()(/) )
= 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)
10
 Richards Equation
Recall
h
Darcys Law q z K
z
Total head hz
So Darcy becomes z
q z K q z K K
z z

D K K K
z
Soil water diffusivity

D K
z

Continuity becomes q
D K
t z z z
 One-Dimensional Versions
There are two formulations for the Richards equation h-based and theta-based.

h-based

theta-based

12
 Richards 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.
13
 Richards Equation

Exact analytical solutions can be obtained by making simplifying

assumptions regarding soil moisture characteristics and the flow domain.
Richards equation can be solved using complex numerical techniques such
as finite difference, finite element, boundary integral etc.
Difficulties experienced in using the Richard's equation are the non-
uniformity of soils, both spatially and with depth; the great number of
measurements needed to define the required parameters; and the difficulty of
solving the relationships when the required data are available.
A further difficulty is that of specifying the applicable boundary conditions
for the equation.
Richards equation have found limited application in design hydrology.

14
 Infiltration Models
1. Approximate Models

The approximate and analytical equations can be used to characterize the infiltration process
with rather simple, straight-forward methods.
1.1 Empirical Models
Kostiakov (1932) Horton (1939) Holtan (1961)
1.2 Simplified Models
Models derived by application of the theory of soil water movement with certain
simplifications and assumptions. Examples include:
Green and Ampt (1911) Philip (1957) Smith (1972)
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)

15
 Horton's Model
It assumes that the infiltration capacity of a given soil is govern by Hortons Equation

Horton (1933) suggested: ft f c f 0 f c e kt

ft = infiltration rate at any time t, mm hr-1
t = time from beginning of rain, hr
f0 = initial infiltration rate (at t=0), mm hr-1
fc = final infiltration rate (infiltration capacity), mm hr-1
k = empirical constant, hr-1, (Decay constant ~ T-1 )
i = rainfall rate, mm hr-1
Note: i > ft at all times.
f0 fc
The cumulative infiltration rate
Ft f c t 1 e kt

k
A difficulty with the Horton equation is that it makes infiltration rate a function of
time and does not account for variations in rainfall intensity. The equation has no
provision for a recovery of infiltration capacity during periods of low or no rainfall.
16
 Holtans Model
Holton (1961) has advanced an empirical infiltration equation based on the
concept that the infiltration rate is proportional to the unfilled capacity of the
soil to hold water. The Holton model for infiltration is

f = a Fpn + fc
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.

The value of Fp ranges from a maximum of the available water capacity

(AWC) to zero. Values of AWC are given for many soils in the US
Agricultural Research Service Publication (1968).

17
 Green-Ampt Equation
In 1911, Green and Ampt developed an approximate infiltration model based
on Darcys law.
Assumptions: 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 +

Where moisture content () and the soil suction potential (),

Given K, t, , and , a value of F is calculated by successive

substitution from Equation 2, which is then substituted into Equation 1 to
determine the corresponding potential infiltration rate f.
18
 Philips Equation
Philips Equation derived from 1-D solution of Richards equation

1
F (t ) S t 2
At
Where S is a parameter called sorptivity, which is a function of moisture
content () and the soil suction potential (), 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

19
 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)

20
 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).

21