Hydrology [7-2] Infiltration Models

Mohammad N. Almasri

Hydrology Fall 2007 [7-2] Infiltration Models

Mohammad N. Almasri, PhD

An-Najah National University

Horton Infiltration Model

Horton (1933) suggested that infiltration capacity rapidly declines during the early part of a storm (rainfall event) and then tends towards an approximately constant value after a couple of hours for the remainder of the event Horton Model is an empirical formula that says that infiltration capacity starts at a constant rate (f0) and is decreasing exponentially with time (t) After some time when the soil saturation level reaches a certain value, the rate of infiltration will level off to the rate fc which is the minimum asymptotic value of infiltration
2 Hydrology Fall 2007 [7-2] Infiltration Models Mohammad N. Almasri, PhD An-Najah National University

Horton Infiltration Model

Hydrology Fall 2007 [7-2] Infiltration Models

Mohammad N. Almasri, PhD

An-Najah National University

Horton Infiltration Model

Horton equation for determining the infiltration capacity is:

where fp = the infiltration capacity (potential) at some time (L/T) k = a constant representing the rate of decrease in the infiltration capacity (decay coefficient) and depends on soil characteristics (1/T) fc = a final or equilibrium infiltration capacity (L/T) f0 = the initial infiltration capacity (L/T) t = the time (T)
4 Hydrology Fall 2007 [7-2] Infiltration Models Mohammad N. Almasri, PhD An-Najah National University

f p = f c + (f 0 f c )e kt

Horton Infiltration Model Cumulative Infiltration

Cumulative infiltration F(t): the total amount of water t entering the soil

F( t ) = f ( t ) dt
0

F(t) can be found using the following equation:

A relationship exists between cumulative infiltration and infiltration capacity:

fp f f f F( t ) = c ln(f 0 f c ) + 0 c ln(f p f c ) k k k k
5 Hydrology Fall 2007 [7-2] Infiltration Models Mohammad N. Almasri, PhD An-Najah National University

Horton Infiltration Model Ponding Time

Time of ponding according to Hortons model is given by the following equation:

tp =

1 i fc ln k f0 fc

Time of ponding is the elapsed time between the time rainfall begins and the time water begins to pond on the soil surface

Hydrology Fall 2007 [7-2] Infiltration Models

Mohammad N. Almasri, PhD

An-Najah National University

Horton Infiltration Model Example [1]

A catchment soil has the following Horton infiltration parameters: f0 = 100 mm/h, fc = 20 mm/h, and k = 2 min-1 Plot the infiltration capacity curve with time for this catchment Plot the potential cumulative infiltration for this catchment

Hydrology Fall 2007 [7-2] Infiltration Models

Mohammad N. Almasri, PhD

An-Najah National University

Horton Infiltration Model Example [1]

Hydrology Fall 2007 [7-2] Infiltration Models

Mohammad N. Almasri, PhD

An-Najah National University

Horton Infiltration Model Example [2]

Find out the sensitivity of the infiltration capacity curve to different decay coefficients (k) assuming that f0 = 2.9 in/h and fc = 0.5 in/h Assume k values = 0.15, 0.30, and 0.45 hour-1
9 Hydrology Fall 2007 [7-2] Infiltration Models Mohammad N. Almasri, PhD An-Najah National University

Horton Infiltration Model Example [3]

rainfall rainfall

rainfall

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Hydrology Fall 2007 [7-2] Infiltration Models

Mohammad N. Almasri, PhD

An-Najah National University

Horton Infiltration Model Example [3]

Actual infiltration = rainfall intensity

rainfall rainfall

Infiltration

Infiltration

rainfall

Infiltration
Actual infiltration = infiltration capacity
11 Hydrology Fall 2007 [7-2] Infiltration Models Mohammad N. Almasri, PhD An-Najah National University

Horton Infiltration Model Example [4]

Rainfall

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Hydrology Fall 2007 [7-2] Infiltration Models

Mohammad N. Almasri, PhD

An-Najah National University

Green-Ampt Model
Green-Ampt model is based on a simple conceptualization of an infiltrating front in a dry soil with an approximated sharp interface This sharp interface is the wetting front that divides the soil of moisture content i below from saturated soil with moisture content of s (equals porosity)
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Wet Zone

The wetting front has penetrated a depth of L in time t since infiltration began Water is ponded to a depth of H
Mohammad N. Almasri, PhD An-Najah National University

Green-Ampt Model
Apparently, total cumulative infiltration after time t (since infiltration began) equals: F(t) = Lt (s - i) = Lt In addition, we can implement Darcys Law where the infiltration rate depends on the hydraulic conductivity of the soil along with the head difference, or:

where is the wetting front capillary pressure head

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Hydrology Fall 2007 [7-2] Infiltration Models

Mohammad N. Almasri, PhD

An-Najah National University

Green-Ampt Model
Cumulative infiltration F(t) in Green-Ampt model is given by the following equation:

While infiltration rate f(t) is given by the following equation:

i: Initial water content (-) s: Saturation water content (-) These two equations are used under the assumption that water is ponded to a small but negligible depth on the soil surface
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: Wetting front capillary pressure head (L) K: Hydraulic conductivity (L/T)

An-Najah National University

Mohammad N. Almasri, PhD

Green-Ampt Model
When water is applied at a rate higher than K (i>K) of the soil, ponding occurs To find the ponding time and the cumulative infiltration at ponding (using Green-Ampt model) use the following equations:
Ponding time Cumulative infiltration at the ponding time

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Hydrology Fall 2007 [7-2] Infiltration Models

Mohammad N. Almasri, PhD

An-Najah National University

Green-Ampt Model Example [1]

Compute the infiltration rate and cumulative infiltration after one hour of infiltration into a soil that initially had a water content of 0.1 and a saturated water content of 0.44. The average wetting front capillary pressure head is 16.7 cm and the hydraulic conductivity is 0.65 cm/hr

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Hydrology Fall 2007 [7-2] Infiltration Models

Mohammad N. Almasri, PhD

An-Najah National University

Green-Ampt Model Example [1]

To find the cumulative infiltration, we have to use the following equation:

If we substitute in the above equation, we arrive at:

F F = 0.65 1 + 16.7 (0.44 0.1) ln1 + 16.7 (0.44 0.1)

Solving the above equation iteratively gives the cumulative infiltration (F) which equals 3.167 cm Now, compute the infiltration rate using the following equation f = 1.815 cm/h
18 Hydrology Fall 2007 [7-2] Infiltration Models Mohammad N. Almasri, PhD An-Najah National University

Green-Ampt Model Example [1]

You can use the method of successive substitution to find the value of F You start by assuming a value of F (for the LHS), compute the RHS, and assume that the new value of F is the RHS value and so on
19 Hydrology Fall 2007 [7-2] Infiltration Models Mohammad N. Almasri, PhD An-Najah National University

Green-Ampt Model Example [1]

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Hydrology Fall 2007 [7-2] Infiltration Models

Mohammad N. Almasri, PhD

An-Najah National University

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Green-Ampt Model Example [2]

Calculate the cumulative infiltration and the infiltration rate after one hour of rainfall of intensity 5 cm/hr. The soil had a water content of 0.1 and a saturated water content of 0.44. The average wetting front capillary pressure head is 16.7 cm and the hydraulic conductivity is 0.65 cm/hr

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Hydrology Fall 2007 [7-2] Infiltration Models

Mohammad N. Almasri, PhD

An-Najah National University

Green-Ampt Model Example [2]

Here i=5 cm/hr > K; therefore tp is first computed and then Fp

Now, use the following equation to find the cumulative infiltration after 1 hour of rainfall

This gives a value of F = 3.02 cm

22 Hydrology Fall 2007 [7-2] Infiltration Models Mohammad N. Almasri, PhD An-Najah National University

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Green-Ampt Model Example [2]

The use of the following equation provides a values of f = 1.87 cm/hr

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Hydrology Fall 2007 [7-2] Infiltration Models

Mohammad N. Almasri, PhD

An-Najah National University

Green-Ampt Model Example [3]

For the following soil properties, do the following: Determine the amount of water when ponding occurs Determine the time to ponding Plot the cumulative infiltration function K = 1.97 cm/hr, i = 0.318, s = 0.518, i = 7.88 cm/hr, = 9.37 cm

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Hydrology Fall 2007 [7-2] Infiltration Models

Mohammad N. Almasri, PhD

An-Najah National University

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Green-Ampt Model Example [3]

We know that:

Rearrange this equation to get:

F( t ) =

K ( s i ) f (t) K

Substituting the parameter values gives a cumulative value of infiltration of 0.625 cm To compute the time of ponding (tp), we use:

Fp = t pi

tp = 0.625 / 7.88 = 0.079 hours

25 Hydrology Fall 2007 [7-2] Infiltration Models Mohammad N. Almasri, PhD An-Najah National University

Green-Ampt Model Example [3]

This means that until 0.625 cm has infiltrated, the rate of infiltration equals the rainfall rate After that, the actual infiltration rate declines with time Use the following two equations to find out the values of F(t) and f(t)

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Hydrology Fall 2007 [7-2] Infiltration Models

Mohammad N. Almasri, PhD

An-Najah National University

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Green-Ampt Model Example [3]

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Hydrology Fall 2007 [7-2] Infiltration Models

Mohammad N. Almasri, PhD

An-Najah National University

Phi Index ()
Index is the average rainfall intensity above which the volume of rainfall equals the volume of runoff The hashed area above the dashed line represents measured runoff over the catchment area The unhashed area below the line is the measured rainfall that did not appear as runoff but represents all the losses including interception, Losses evaporation and infiltration
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Intensity

Hyetograph

Time Runoff (Rainfall excess) index Time

An-Najah National University

Mohammad N. Almasri, PhD

Intensity

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Phi Index ()
To determine the Index for a given storm, the amount of observed runoff is determined and the difference between this quantity and the total gauged rainfall is then calculated The volume of loss is then distributed uniformly across the storm pattern It should be kept in mind that Index varies as the storm intensity varies with time and thus Index is of limited value and that many determinations should be made and averaged before the index is used
29 Hydrology Fall 2007 [7-2] Infiltration Models Mohammad N. Almasri, PhD An-Najah National University

Phi Index () Example [1]

The rainfall intensities during each 30 min of a 150-min storm over a 500-acre basin are 5.5, 3, 1, 3.5, and 2 in/hr, respectively The direct runoff from the basin is 105 acre-ft Determine Index for the basin
30 Hydrology Fall 2007 [7-2] Infiltration Models Mohammad N. Almasri, PhD An-Najah National University

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Phi Index () Example [1]

Find the total rainfall as follows: 30/60 (5.5 + 3 + 1 + 3.5 + 2) = 7.5 in or 0.625 ft Rainfall volume = 500 0.625 = 312.5 acre-ft Runoff volume = 105 acre-ft Volume under Index = 312.5 105 = 207.5 acre-ft Infiltration depth (losses depth) = 207.5/500 = 0.415 ft or 5 in Index = 5 (1/150) (60) = 1.98 in/hr
31 Hydrology Fall 2007 [7-2] Infiltration Models Mohammad N. Almasri, PhD An-Najah National University

Phi Index () Example [2]

You have two storm events of 75 mm of a total duration of 6 hours as shown in the figures Both produced a total runoff equivalent to 33 mm Find out the Index for the two storm events
32 Hydrology Fall 2007 [7-2] Infiltration Models Mohammad N. Almasri, PhD An-Najah National University

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Phi Index () Example [2]

= 8 mm/h = 9 mm/h

index

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Hydrology Fall 2007 [7-2] Infiltration Models

Mohammad N. Almasri, PhD

An-Najah National University

Phi Index () Example [3]

Compute the depth of runoff and the infiltration considering the rainfall event summarized in the table Assume a Index value of 0.6

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Hydrology Fall 2007 [7-2] Infiltration Models

Mohammad N. Almasri, PhD

An-Najah National University

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Phi Index () Example [3]

Compute the intensity for each duration If the Index is higher than the rainfall intensity then the infiltration equals the rainfall If the Index is less than the rainfall intensity then the infiltration equals the Index Net rainfall intensity is the rainfall intensity - Index
35 Hydrology Fall 2007 [7-2] Infiltration Models Mohammad N. Almasri, PhD An-Najah National University

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