Chapter 4

Infiltration

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Overview

Definition

Factors affecting infiltration

Methods to estimate infiltration

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Definition

The flow of water into the ground through

the earths surface.

There will be infiltration when the rainfall

intensity is greater than the infiltration
capacity of soil. When the rainfall intensity
is less than the infiltration capacity of the
soil then the prevailing infiltration rate is
equal to the rainfall intensity.
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Infiltration terminologies

Infiltration Capacity(f) :is the maximum rate at which a soil

in any given condition is capable of absorbing water.

Infiltration rate :the actual prevailing rate of water in the

soil towards the ground water.

If the rainfall intensity(I) exceeds the infiltration

capacity(f),the difference is called the excess rainfall(Pe).This
excess water is first of all accumulated on the ground as
surface detention and then flows overland into streams
.

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Infiltration
Factors affecting Infiltration

Physical properties of the soil

Soil moisture

Rainfall intensity

Land use

Temperature

Water quality
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Infiltration
Can be Determined by:
Experimental Measurement.

Prediction.

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Infiltration

Experimental Methods

Double Ring Infiltrometer

Purpose:

measure infiltration capacity

Principle:

Reduces/eliminates
the influence of
horizontal flows

fill rings

measure rate of drop in water level of inner ring over time

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Infiltration
Infiltration Capacity Curve
Definition
maximum

infiltration rate [cm/hr or in/hr]

time dependent to some extent

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Infiltration
Infiltration process
Infiltration rates depend on both surface and
subsurface conditions:

Surface conditions: Availability of water

Subsurface conditions: Ability of water to infiltrate

Rainfall intensity = I

Actual Infiltration rate = f

Infiltration capacity = fp
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Infiltration
Infiltration capacity and infiltration rate
Case 1: Rainfall intensity exceeds infiltration capacity
Water will pond
Actual infiltration rate = infiltration capacity f = fp
Surface runoff
Case 2: Infiltration capacity exceeds rainfall intensity
All rain infiltrates, no ponding
Actual infiltration rate = rainfall intensity f = i
No surface runoff

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Infiltration
Infiltration Equations

Deductive

Richards

Green Ampt

Inductive

Hortons

Phi Index
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Infiltration
Hortons Equation

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Infiltration by Hortons
method

f fc f0 fc e

kt

Infiltration
Hortons Equation

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Infiltration
Hortons Equation

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Infiltration
Horton's model for infiltration capacity

Infiltration rate [in/hr or cm/hr]:

f(t) = fc + (f0 fc) e-kt

f : infiltration capacity [in/hr]
f0: initial infiltration capacity [in/hr]
fc: ultimate infiltration capacity [in/hr]
k : exponential (time) decay constant [hr1]
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Infiltration

Cumulative infiltration depth [in or

cm]:
-k t

F(t) f c (f 0 f c ) e dt

f0 fc
kt
F(t) f c t
[1 e ]
k

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Infiltration
Hortons Equation

Advantages:

Simple

Can be applied graphically

Disadvantages:

Parameters hard to estimate

Only valid for i > f

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Infiltration
-index method

Definition:

a constant infiltration
capacity units of
[in/hr] or [cm/hr]

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Infiltration
-index method

Advantages:

Simple

Can be applied graphically

Disadvantages:

Assumes constant infiltration rate

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