The curve is called the Horton Infiltration
Capacity Curve. The capacity decreases
with time and ultimately reaches a constant
rate, caused by filling of soil pores with
water, which reduces capillary suction.
Horton (1933) showed that when the
rainfall rate i exceeds the infiltration rate f,
water infiltrates the surface soils at a rate
that generally decreases with time. These
rates are usually reported in inches per
hour. For any given soil, a limiting curve
defines the maximum possible rates of
infiltration vs. time. The rate of infiltration
depends in a complex way on rainfall
intensity, soil type, surface condition, and
vegetal cover.
sample problem:
Five Principal Assumptions
1. The soil under consideration is
homogeneous and stable, implying
that macropores and preferential
migration pathways should not be
William Heber Green (1880-1932) considered.
Gustav Adolph Ampt (1856-1953) 2. The supply of ponded water at the
Infiltration is modeled as unsaturated flow. surface is not limited.
3. A distinct and precisely definable
wetting front exists, and as water
continues to infiltrate, the wetting
front advances at the same rate as
Utilizes: depth.
Richard’s Equation 4. The capillary suction just below the
Darcy’s Law wetting front is uniform throughout
the profile and constant in time
Richard’s Equation: during the infiltration event.
5. The soil is uniformly saturated above
the wetting front, and the
volumetric water contents remain
constant above and below the
advancing wetting front.
-
Darcy’s law
GREEN-AMPT INFILTRAT
EQUATION
GREEN-AMPT INFILTRAT
EQUATION
GREEN-AMPT INFILTRATION
EQUATION
GREEN-AMPT INFILTRATION
Five Principal Assumptions EQUATION
The soil under consideration is homogeneous and stable, implying that macropores and preferential migration pathways should not be considered.
The supply of ponded water at the surface is not limited.
A distinct and precisely definable wetting front exists, and as water continues to infiltrate,
the wetting front advances at the same rate with depth.
The capillary suction just below the wetting front is uniform throughout the profile and constant in time during the infiltration event.
The soil is uniformly saturated above the wetting front, and the volumetric water contents
remain constant above and below the advancing wetting front.
GREEN-AMPT INFILTRATION
Wetting Front EQUATION
GREEN-AMPT INFILTRATION
Method Simplification EQUATION
GREEN-AMPT INFILTRATION
Method Simplification EQUATION
Moisture profile at moment of surface saturation Moisture profile at a later time
GREEN-AMPT METHOD
Downward infiltration (-f) is equal to Darcy Velocity.
DERIVATION
GREEN-AMPT METHOD
Downward infiltration (-f) is equal to Darcy Velocity.
DERIVATION
GREEN-AMPT METHOD
Total Infiltration F
DERIVATION
GREEN-AMPT INFILTRATION
Green-Ampt Formula EQUATION
Parameters:
Ks – depends on pore size and grain size properties
𝝍 – difference between atmospheric pressure and hydrostatic pressures
Md – function of effective porosity and initial saturation
GREEN-AMPT INFILTRATION
EQUATION
Three Possible Rainfall-infiltration Scenarios:
GREEN-AMPT INFILTRATION
EQUATION
Volume of Infiltration at Surface Saturation (F )
s
GREEN-AMPT INFILTRATION
EQUATION
GREEN-AMPT INFILTRATION
EQUATION
GREEN-AMPT INFILTRATION
EQUATION
GREEN-AMPT INFILTRATION
EQUATION
GREEN-AMPT INFILTRATION
EQUATION
GREEN-AMPT INFILTRATION
EQUATION
Cumulative Infiltration as Function of Time
GREEN-AMPT INFILTRATION
Sample Problem: EQUATION
GREEN-AMPT INFILTRATION
Sample Problem: EQUATION
Initial F(t)=kt
GREEN-AMPT INFILTRATION
Sample Problem: EQUATION
GREEN-AMPT INFILTRATION
Sample Problem: EQUATION
PONDING TIME (GREEN-AMPT)
Ponding Depth is the depth of water infiltrated at the time when the ponding starts to happen.
𝑴𝒅𝝋
𝑭𝒔 =
𝒊
𝟏−
𝑲𝒔
Ponding Time is the amount of time that elapsed when the ponding starts to happen.
𝑭𝒔
𝒕𝒔 =
𝒊
PONDING TIME (GREEN-AMPT)
Sample Problem:
Silt loam has the following soil properties for
use in the Green-Ampt Equation:
𝐾𝑠 = 1.81 × 10−4𝑐𝑚/𝑠𝑒𝑐
𝜃𝑠 = 0.523
𝜑 = −17𝑐𝑚
For an initial moisture content of 0.3,
determine the ponding depth and ponding
time based on the rainfall intensity i=6𝐾𝑠.
PONDING TIME (GREEN-AMPT)
Sample Problem:
Silt loam has the following soil properties for
use in the Green-Ampt Equation:
𝐾𝑠 = 1.81 × 10−4𝑐𝑚/𝑠𝑒𝑐
𝜃𝑠 = 0.523
𝜑 = −17𝑐𝑚
For an initial moisture content of 0.3,
determine the ponding depth and ponding
time based on the rainfall intensity i=6𝐾𝑠.
PONDING TIME (GREEN-AMPT)
Sample Problem:
Silt loam has the following soil properties for
use in the Green-Ampt Equation:
𝐾𝑠 = 1.81 × 10−4𝑐𝑚/𝑠𝑒𝑐
𝜃𝑠 = 0.523
𝜑 = −17𝑐𝑚
For an initial moisture content of 0.3,
determine the ponding depth and ponding
time based on the rainfall intensity i=6𝐾𝑠.
PHILLIP’S EQUATION
Phillip’s infiltration equation is a mathematical model used to describe the process of infiltration in soil. It was first proposed by L.D. Phillip in 1957. The equation relates the rate of
infiltration, or the amount of water that enters the soil per unit time, to the soil's hydraulic conductivity, which is a measure of how easily water can flow through the soil, and the
soil's water content.
