Chapter 4

Infiltration
Overview
Definition
Factors affecting infiltration
Methods to estimate infiltration
 Introduction
When water falls on a given formation, a small part of it
is first of all, absorbed by the top thin layer of soil, so as
to replenish the soil moisture deficiency. There after,
excess water moves down ward, where it is trapped in
void and becomes ground water.
This process, when by the water enters the surface strata
in the soil, and moves downward towards the water
table, is known as infiltration.
Therefore,
Infiltration is an important element in the
hydrologic cycle.
Infiltration is the process when water
penetrating from the ground surface in to
the soil.
Thus, three zones like saturation zone,
Transmission zone and wetting zone.
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 The maximum rate at which a soil in any given
condition is capable of absorbing water is called
its infiltration capacity. It is generally denoted
by the letter fp.
The actual rate at which the water will enter the
given soil at any given time is known as
Infiltration rate (f).
Or infiltration rate is the actual prevailing rate
of water in the soil towards the ground water.
Infiltration capacity(fp) & infiltration
rate(f)
Case-1: If rainfall intensity(i) exceeds
infiltration capacity. i>fp
Water will pond
Actual infiltration rate(f) = infiltration capacity(fp)
Surface runoff

Thus, the difference of rainfall intensity

and infiltration capacity is called excess
rainfall(pe).
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Cont
This, excess water is first of all accumulated
on the ground as surface detention and
then flows overland in to streams.
pe= i-fp
Case-2: Infiltration capacity exceeds rainfall intensity. fp>i
All rain infiltrates , no pond water
Actual infiltration rate= rainfall intensity
No surface run off --

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Factors affecting Infiltration
Infiltration capacity at a given location in a watershed
varies both with space & time. B/C: spatial variation occur
due to soil types and vegetation cover.
Physical properties of the soil
Soil moisture and soil type
Rainfall intensity
Land use or vegetation cover
Temperature
Water quality
Ground slope
Measurement of Infiltration
Infiltration can be obtained by conducting
controlled experiments on small areas.
There are different experiments set-up to
measure infiltration.
1. Infiltrometer: Infiltrometer is a device
used to measure the rate of water
infiltrates in to soil or other porous media.
It is easy to use, but soil could be
disturbed. 10/111
Cont
The most commonly used are single and
double-ring infiltrometer.
A double-ring infiltrometer provides a
water jacket to the infiltration water of the
inner ring.
Hence, it prevents the spreading out of the
infiltrating water of the inner tube.
Disadvantage: the rain drop impact effect
is not simulated.
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 Infiltration
Experimental Methods

Double Ring Infiltrometer

Purpose:
measure infiltration capacity

Principle: Reduces/eliminates
the influence of
fill rings horizontal flows

measure rate of drop in water level of inner ring over

time
2. Rainfall simulator
This is a plot of land about(0.1 to 50) m2
area is provided with series of nozzle on
the longer side with arrangements to
collect and measure the surface run off
rate.
The specially designed nozzles produce
rain drops falling from height of 2m and
capable of producing various intensity
rainfall.
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Cont
Thus, using water budget equation
infiltration ion rate at various time is
calculated.
Advantages:
It doesn't disturbance soil structure
Effect of rain fall drop
It is a high cost to conduct.
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Methods to Estimate Infiltration
There are different approaches to
determine water loss due to infiltration.
Deductive
1.Richards
2.Green Ampt
Inductive
3. Hortons
4. Phi Index
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1. Hortons equation
Hortons stated or assumes the amount of
water infiltrates is varied with time.
It develop curve called infiltration curve
which is drawn infiltration rate versus time.
Hortons model for infiltration capacity at
any time(t) is given by:

f f c f 0 f c e kt

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Horton's model for infiltration capacity
f(t) = fc + (f0 fc) e-kt
and
f : infiltration capacity [in/hr]
f0: initial infiltration capacity [in/hr]
fc: ultimate infiltration capacity [in/hr]
Fc= shaded area
k : exponential (time) decay constant [hr-1]
e= base of napierian logarithm
t= time from the beginning of the storm
cumulative Infiltration
Cumulative infiltration depth [in or cm]:

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

f0 fc kt
F(t) f c t [1 e ]
k
Hortons Equation
Infiltration by Hortons method

f f c f 0 f c e kt
Cont
Cont
Hortons Equation
Advantages:
Simple
Can be applied graphically
Disadvantages:
Parameters hard to estimate (e.g k)
Only valid for i > f
 2. -Index
It assumes no variation of infiltration with
time. (constant infiltration capacity with time).
-Index is defined as that rate of rainfall above
which the rainfall volume equals the run-off volume.
The -Index is relatively simple and all losses due
to infiltration, interception and depression storage.
derived from the rainfall hyetograph with the edge of the
resulting runoff volume .
Cont

Valid for i > throughout the storm

The bar graph showing the time distribution of
rainfall ,storm losses and rainfall excess (net
rain or storm runoff ) is called hyetograph.
Thus, the -Index divides the rainfall in to net
rain(runoff) and storm losses.
The amount of rainfall in excess of the index is called
rainfall excess. The -index thus accounts of the total abstraction
and enables runoff magnitude to be estimated for a given rainfall
hyetograph.
It can be seen from this figure, that -index would be equal to:

-index = Total infiltration during period of rainfall excess

Period of rainfall excess (te)

= A3 + A5
te
-index method

Advantages:
Simple

Can be applied graphically

Disadvantages:
Assumes constant infiltration rate
Cont
However, w-index is the average infiltration
rate during the time rainfall intensity exceeds
the infiltration capacity rate.
The w-index attempts to allow for depression
storage, short rainless periods (eliminates all
rain periods during which i<fp).
w-index= -index Average retention by
interception and depression storage.
Therefore, w-index < -index
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Cont

Where: p= total rainfall

Q= surface run off
S= effective surface retention
tR= duration of storm during which i>fp
Fp= total infiltration

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Thank You