INFILTRATION Lecture PDF
INFILTRATION Lecture PDF
INFILTRATION Lecture PDF
INFILTRATION
Infiltration is the process of water entry into a soil from rainfall, or irrigation. Soil water movement (percolation) is
the process of water flow from one point to another point within the soil.
INFILTRATION RATE
Infiltration rate is the rate at which the water actually infiltrates through the soil during a storm and it must be
equal the infiltration capacities or the rainfall rate, whichever is lesser.
INFILTRATION CAPACITY
Infiltration capacity is the maximum rate at which a soil in any given condition is capable of absorbing water.
Figure 2.1 Intact forests typically become swampy when there is heavy rain. The ground, with organic
matter and vegetation absorbs water and slows the rate of runoff. This reduces erosion.
Source: http://butane.chem.uiuc.edu/pshapley/Environmental/L32/1.html
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Figure 2.2 Infiltration and Percolation
Source: https://www.quora.com/What-is-the-difference-between-seepage-percolation-and-infiltration
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2.7 Porosity (Figure 2.4)
Porosity is the percentage of open space (pores and cracks) in a material compared to its total
volume
Generally: the greater the porosity, the greater the amount of infiltration.
Figure 2.4 Influence of structure and texture of the porous medium on porosity:
a) poorly graded uniform granular material which particles have their own porosity system;
b) well graded granular material with small particles filling the big pores;
c) partially closed discontinuity systems appeared in an intact porous rock due to active water;
d) open discontinuity systems appeared in an intact rock due to mechanic fracturing.
(from Freeze and Cherry, 1979 after Meinzer, 1923)
Source: https://echo2.epfl.ch/VICAIRE/mod_3/chapt_1/main.htm
2.9 Vegetation
Grasses, trees and other plant types capture falling precipitation on leaves and branches, keeping
that water from being absorbed into the Earth
If any water gets through the vegetation, the velocity of the water will be reduced and this will
give the ground more time to absorb the water
Ground without vegetation usually has high runoff and low infiltration rates
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2.11 Slope of the Land (Figure 2.6)
Water falling on steeply-sloped land runs off more quickly and infiltrates less than water falling
on flat land.
3. Infiltration Measurements
An infiltrometer should be chosen that replicates the system being investigated. For example, ring infiltrometers
should be used to determine infiltration rates for inundated soils such as flood irrigation or pond seepage.
Sprinkler infiltrometers should be used where the effect of rainfall on surface conditions influences the
infiltration rate. Tension infiltrometers are used to determine the infiltration rates of soil matrix in the presence of
macropores. Furrow infiltrometers are used when the effect of flowing water is important, as in furrow irrigation.
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Sprinkler infiltrometer - Rain simulator (Figure 2.8)
With the help of rain simulator, water is sprinkled at a uniform rate in excess of the infiltration capacity, over a
certain experimental area. The resultant runoff R is observed, and from that the infiltration f using f = (P-R)/t.
Where P = Rain sprinkled, R = runoff collected, and t = duration of rainfall.
𝑓𝑃 = 𝑓𝐶 + (𝑓0 − 𝑓𝐶 )𝑒 −𝑘𝑡
Where:
fp = infiltration capacity in mm/hr at any time t
f0 = initial infiltration capacity in mm/hr
fC = final constant infiltration capacity mm/hr at saturation, dependent on soil type and vegetation
t = time in hour from the beginning of rainfall
k = an exponential decay constant dependent on soil type and vegetation.