INFILTRATION (I)

What
is
Infiltration

1
Recap…..

2
 Infiltration
Movement of water into the soil
Water moves through old root channels, animal burrows,
Water moves through spaces and between soil blocks (FAST)
between soil particles (SLOW)

Percolation is the movement of water through soil

.... Cont ‘ INFILTRATION (I)

 Process  precipitation moves

downwards through earth surface.
 It replenishes soil moisture, recharge aquifer
& support stream flows during dry periods.
 Terminology :-

 Infiltration rate – The rate at which

ground can absorb water.
 Field capacity (infiltration capacity) –
The volume of water that ground can
hold
4
.... Cont ‘ INFILTRATION (I)

INFILTRATION RATE
CAPACITY
 Definition  max. rate in absorb water
at a certain type of soil and in a given
time.
 Unit in cm/h or mm/h. Note :-
 Two condition exists :- f= rate of infiltration
i = Rainfall intensity over the
1. f = fc when i ≥ fc time

2. f = i when i < fc fc = Constant infiltration rate

( t  )

5
.... Cont ‘ INFILTRATION (I)

INFILTRATION CAPACITY, fc

Horton model

Figure 3.10 : Infiltration capacity curve

6
.... Cont ‘ INFILTRATION (I)

FACTORS AFFECTING INFILTRATION

 Three (3) main factors affecting fc :-

1. Characteristics of soil
 Texture  loose soil has larger fc
Underneath drainage  good
drainage has larger fc
 Type of soil  dry soil absorb >
water   has larger fc
Land use  forest soil has higher fc

7
.... Cont ‘ INFILTRATION (I)

FACTORS AFFECTING INFILTRATION

2. Soil surface
 If covered by grass or other
vegetation  high infiltration
3. Fluid characteristics
Turbidity  if  will block pores in soil 
reduce fc
Contamination  if   reduce fc

8
Soil Texture
.... Cont ‘ INFILTRATION (I)

INFILTRATION MEASUREMENT

 Using two (2) equipments :-

 Double Ring Infiltrometer

 Rainfall simulator

11
.... Cont ‘ INFILTRATION (I)

DOUBLE RING INFILTROMETER

Figure 3.11 : Infiltrometer set

 Consists of metal cylinder (30 cm height, = 60

cm) & open both ends
 Driving plate 50 cm
 5 cm depth water is poured 12
.... Cont ‘ INFILTRATION (I)

DOUBLE RING INFILTROMETER

 Water is added from container

 Until uniform rate of infiltration is obtained (2 – 3
hours).
 Surface protected by perforated disk  prevent
turbidity.
 Disadvantage :-

13
.... Cont ‘ INFILTRATION (I)

DOUBLE RING INFILTROMETER

OVERCOME ????

Figure 3.12 : Ring Infiltrometer

 Consists of two concentric rings

 Inserted to the ground & water is maintained
 Outer ring as water jacket  prevent inner water
spreading out
14
.... Cont ‘ INFILTRATION (I)

DOUBLE RING INFILTROMETER

 Disadvantage :-
 Raindrop effect not simulated
 Driving ring disturb the soil
 Result depends on size  border effect

15
.... Cont ‘ INFILTRATION (I)

RAINFALL SIMULATOR

 Small plot of land (2m  4m)

 Series of nozzles on the longer side.
 Produce raindrops at 2m height.
 Controlled conditions  various of intensities &
durations  surface runoff is measured.
 Infiltration rate & time is calculated.
 If i > f  fc is obtained.

16
.... Cont ‘ INFILTRATION (I)

INFILTRATION METHODS

 Two (2) methods :-

 Horton model - focussed

 Green – Ampt Model

17
.... Cont ‘ INFILTRATION (I)

HORTON MODEL

 Represented by this empirical eq. :

Whereby :-
f = Infiltration capacity (depth/time) at a given time (mm/hr or cm/hr)
k = Decay constant which is representing the rate of decrease in f
capacity
fc = Asymptotic/ constant infiltration rate (t  )
fo = Initial infiltration capacity, t = 0
t = time
.... Cont ‘ INFILTRATION (I)

HORTON MODEL

Figure 3.13 : Infiltration rate graph

.... Cont ‘ INFILTRATION (I)

HORTON MODEL

 Total infiltration :


F(t )   f (t )dt   fc  fo  fc  e kt
t t
 dt
0 0


F  fct 
fo  fc 
1 e 
 kt 

t


 k 0
 EXAMPLE 3.7

A catchment soil has Horton infiltration

parameters: fo = 100 mm/h, fc = 20 mm/h and
k = 2 min-1. What rainfall rate would result in
ponding from beginning of the storm? If this
rainfall rate is maintained for 40 minutes,
describe the infiltration as a function of time
during the storm .
Given :- Find :-
fo = 100 mm/h f?
fc = 20 mm/hr
k = 2 min-1

21
SOLUTION

Step !!
From Horton’s equation :-

Substitude fo, fc and k values :

( 0 < t < 40 min )

22
 EXAMPLE 3.8

An initial infiltration was recorded as 5.5 cm/hr

during 10 hours of rainfall. Given that fc
and k is 0.4 cm/hr and 0.32 hr-1 respectively,
determine;
(i) Infiltration at 5 hours.
(ii) Total infiltration within first 8 hours.
(iii) Total infiltration between 5 and 10 hours
from rainfall begin
Given :- Find :-
fo = 5.5 mm/h f at 5 hours ?
fc = 0.4 mm/hr F within 8 hours?
k = 0.32 hr-1 F (5 < t < 10 hours) ?
23
SOLUTION

Step !!
(i) f at t = 5 hours

f  fc  (fo  fc) e(-kt)

Substitude fo, fc and k and t :

f  0.4  (5.5  0.4) e(-0.325)

f = 1.43 cm/hr

24
SOLUTION

Step !!
(ii) F within 8 hours


F  fct 
fo  fc 
1 e 
 kt 

t


 k 0

F  (0.4)(8) 
5.5  0.4
1 e( 0.328 )

 -0
 0.32 

F = 17.91 cm

25
 SOLUTION

Step !!
(iii) F (5 < t < 10 hours)


F  fct 
fo  fc 
1 e  kt 
 
t


 k 0

F  (0.4)(8) 
5.5  0.4
1 e 
( 0.328 ) 

10


 0.32 5

F  (0.4)(8) 
5.5  0.4

1  e( 0.328) 
  5.5  0.4
 
( 0.325 ) 
  (0.4)(5)  0.32 1  e 
 0.32   

F = 4.56 cm
26
.... Cont ‘ INFILTRATION (I)

INFILTRATION INDEX

What
is
Infiltration Index ()

27
.... Cont ‘ INFILTRATION (I)

INFILTRATION INDEX

 The average infiltration rate.

 Average rainfall at which P volume = R volume.
 Derived from rainfall hyetograph
 Treat as constant infiltration capacity
 If i <   f = i
 If i >   excess rainfall (surface runoff)

28
.... Cont ‘ INFILTRATION (I)

INFILTRATION INDEX

 If i >   excess rainfall (surface runoff)

Figure 3.14 : Infiltration index

29
.... Cont ‘ INFILTRATION (I)

INFILTRATION INDEX

 Formula for  index :

PR
Φ index 
te

P = Total rainfall or precipitation (cm)

R = Total runoff (cm)
te = Time of rainfall excess

30
 EXAMPLE 3.9

A storm with 10 cm rainfall produced a direct

runoff of 5.8 cm. Table below show the time
distribution of the storm, estimate the Φ index.

Time
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
(hour)
Rainfall
Intensity 0.4 0.9 1.5 2.3 1.8 1.6 1.0 0.5
(cm/h)
Given :- Find :-
P = 10 cm ?
R = 5.8 cm
31
 SOLUTION

Step !!
(i) Sketch first rainfall hyetograph
Rainfall hyetograph

2.5
2.3
Ranfall Intensity (cm/hr)

2
1.8
1.6
1.5
1.5

1  (1st assumption)
1 0.9
( 0 <  < 0.4 cm/hr )
0.5
0.5 0.4


0
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

Time (hour)
te = 8 hours
SOLUTION

Step !!
(i) Calculate the  index :

PR
Φ index 
te
10  5.8
Φ index   0.525 cm/hr
8
(ii) Do checking (is  follows the 1st
assumption??)
Answer  NO !!!!!
33
 SOLUTION

Checking ….
Rainfall hyetograph

2.5
2.3
Ranfall Intensity (cm/hr)

2
1.8
1.6
1.5
1.5
 (calculated)
1
1 0.9

0.5
 = 0.525 cm/hr
0.5 0.4


0
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

Time (hour)  (1st assumption)

te = 8 hours ( 0 <  < 0.4 cm/hr
34
)
 SOLUTION

(iii) Modify the te value :

Rainfall hyetograph

2.5
2.3
Ranfall Intensity (cm/hr)

2
1.8
1.6
1.5
1.5  (2nd assumption)
( 0.5 <  < 0.9 cm/hr )
1
1 0.9

0.5
0.5 0.4


0
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

Time (hour)

te = 6 hours
35
SOLUTION

(iv) Calculate again the  index :

PR
Φ index 
te
However P become new :

P = 10 – (0.4  1 + 0.5  1) = 9.1 cm

therefore :

9.1  5.8
Φ index   0.55 cm/hr
6

36
SOLUTION

(v) Again!!! Do checking (is  follows the

2nd assumption??)
Rainfall hyetograph

2.5
2.3
Ranfall Intensity (cm/hr)

2
1.8
1.6
1.5
1.5
 (2nd assumption)
( 0.5 <  < 0.9 cm/hr )
1
1 0.9
 = 0.55 cm/hr
0.5
0.5 0.4

0  (calculated)
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

Time (hour)

te = 6 hours

Answer  YES !!!!! GOT IT

37
SOLUTION

Thus :
 = 0.55 cm/hr

Checking Rainfall Excess with Runoff depth

given in the question :
Rainfall hyetograph

2.5
2.3
Ranfall Intensity (cm/hr)

2
1.8
1.6
1.5
1.5

1
1 0.9
 = 0.55 cm/hr
0.5
0.5 0.4

0
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

Time (hour)
38
SOLUTION

Hence :

P excess = (0.9 – 0.55)(1) + (1.5 – 0.55 )(1)

+ (2.3 – 0.55)(1) + (1.8 – 0.55)(1)
+ (1.6 – 0.55)(1) + (1 – 0.55)(1)

P excess = 5.8 cm = R (5.8 cm) OK !!!! :

39
 EXAMPLE 3.10

The rainfall intensity in the 50 hectar of

catchment area is given in the table below. If
volume of surface runoff is 30 000 m3, estimate
Φ index for the catchment area and sketch the
circumstances in form of hyetograph.
Time
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
(hour)
Rainfall
Intensity 5 10 38 25 13 5 0
(mm/h)
Given :- Find :-
A = 50 ha  need to convert unit (m) ?
R = 30 000 m3
40
SOLUTION

Step !!
(i) Sketch first rainfall hyetograph
Rainfall hyetograph

40 38
Ranfall Intensity (mm/hr)

35

30
25
25

20
 (1st assumption)
15 13 ( 0 <  < 0.5 cm/hr )
10
10
5 5
5
0 
0
1 2 3 4 5 6 7

Time (hour)

te = 6 hours
 SOLUTION

Step !!
(i) Calculate the  index :
PR
Φ index  P = Intensity  time
te = mm
 hr
hr
where :-
P = (5 + 10 + 38 + 25 + 13 + 5) (1) = 96 mm

Volume (m 3 )
Runoff 
Area (m 2 )
1 1 ha
Runoff  30 000 m 
3
 2
 60 mm
50 ha 10 000 m
42
 SOLUTION

Therefore;
96  60
Φ index   6 mm/hr
6
(ii) Do checking (is  follows the 1st assumption??)
Rainfall hyetograph

40 38 Answer  NO !!!!!
Ranfall Intensity (mm/hr)

35

30
25
 (calculated)
25
 = 6 mm/hr
20
 (1st assumption)
15
10
13
( 0 <  < 0.5 mm/hr
10 )
5 5
5
0

0
1 2 3 4 5 6 7

Time (hour)

te = 6 hours 43
SOLUTION

(iii) Modify the te value :

Rainfall hyetograph

40 38
Ranfall Intensity (mm/hr)

35

30
25
25
 (2nd assumption)
20
( 5 <  < 10 mm/hr )
15 13
10
10
5 5 
5
0
0
1 2 3 4 5 6 7

Time (hour)

te = 4 hours
44
SOLUTION

(iv) Calculate again the  index :

PR
Φ index 
te
However P become new :

P = 96 – (5 + 5)(1) = 86 mm
therefore :

86  60
Φ index   6.5 mm/hr
4

45
SOLUTION

(v) Again!!! Do checking (is  follows the

2nd assumption??)
Rainfall hyetograph

40 38
Ranfall Intensity (mm/hr)

35
 (calculated)
 = 6.5 mm/hr
30
25
25

20  (2nd assumption)
15 13 ( 5 <  < 10 cm/hr )
10
10
5 5 
5
0
0
1 2 3 4 5 6 7

Time (hour)

te = 4 hours

Answer  YES !!!!! GOT IT

46
TIME’S UP …

THANK YOU
47