INFILTRATION
Module 03.
OBJECTIVES Join
At the end of this module, students are expected to:
Discuss the factors affecting infiltration, and infiltration
measurements
Calculate infiltration rate using Horton’s Model and Phillip’s
equation, Green-Ampt model, and ponding time
INFILTRATION Join
Infiltration is the process by which water
on the ground surface enters and moves
into the soil through pores and cracks.
In hydrology, it refers specifically to the
downward entry of rainfall or irrigation
water into the soil, where it may be
stored as soil moisture or continue
downward to recharge groundwater.
FACTORS AFFECTING INFILTRATION
[Link] Characteristics 2. Soil Characteristics
Intensity – If rainfall intensity is higher •Soil texture – Sandy soils → high
than infiltration capacity, runoff occurs. infiltration; clay soils → low infiltration.
Duration – Long rainfall reduces •Soil structure – Well-aggregated soil
infiltration rate over time as soil allows more water to enter.
becomes saturated. •Soil porosity & permeability – More
Raindrop size – Large drops can pores → higher infiltration.
compact soil surface and reduce •Soil moisture content – Dry soil
infiltration. absorbs more water than already wet
soil.
•Compaction – Compacted soil reduces
infiltration.
FACTORS AFFECTING INFILTRATION
3. Vegetation Cover 4. Land Use
•Plants slow down runoff and increase •Urban areas (concrete, asphalt) greatly
infiltration. reduce infiltration.
•Roots create channels for water to •Agricultural practices (plowing,
enter soil. cropping pattern) affect soil structure.
•Bare soil reduces infiltration.
FACTORS AFFECTING INFILTRATION
5. Slope of Ground 6. Temperature
•Steep slope → more runoff, less •Frozen soil prevents infiltration.
infiltration. •High temperature may dry soil and
•Gentle slope → more infiltration. increase initial infiltration.
INFILTROMETERS Join
Infiltrometers are instruments used to measure the
rate at which water penetrates the soil, essential for
hydrological modeling and irrigation. The two
primary types are single-ring and double-ring
infiltrometers.
TYPES OF INFILTROMETERS Join
1. Single Ring Infiltrometer
A single-ring infiltrometer is a field device
used to measure soil infiltration capacity by
driving a single metal cylinder into the
ground and monitoring the rate of water
infiltration, usually under constant or falling
head conditions.
TYPES OF INFILTROMETERS Join
Single Ring Infiltrometer Procedure
[Link] Site — Choose a representative soil area and clear debris.
[Link] Ring into Soil — Insert the metal ring vertically about 10–15 cm deep using a
mallet.
[Link] Surface — Level the soil gently inside the ring.
[Link] Water — Pour water to a known depth (about 5–10 cm). Start timing.
[Link] Water Level Drop — Record the decrease in water level at regular time
intervals.
[Link] Until Steady Rate — Repeat measurements until infiltration rate becomes
nearly constant.
[Link] Infiltration Rate
𝐶ℎ𝑎𝑛𝑔𝑒 𝑖𝑛 𝑊𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟 𝐷𝑒𝑝𝑡ℎ
𝐼𝑛𝑓𝑖𝑙𝑡𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑅𝑎𝑡𝑒 =
𝑇𝑖𝑚𝑒
TYPES OF INFILTROMETERS Join
2. Double Ring Infiltrometer
A double ring infiltrometer is a field-testing device
designed to measure the rate at which water penetrates
the soil, essential for irrigation, drainage, and
geotechnical projects. It consists of two concentric metal
cylinders hammered into the ground; the inner ring
measures vertical infiltration, while the outer ring
prevents lateral flow, providing accurate, vertical-flow
data.
TYPES OF INFILTROMETERS Join
Double Ring Infiltrometer Procedure
[Link] Site — Choose a representative area and clear surface debris.
[Link] the Rings — Drive the inner and outer rings concentrically into the soil (about
10–15 cm deep).
[Link] Both Rings with Water — Add water to the same depth in both rings.
[Link] Timing — Begin measurements immediately after filling.
[Link] Water Level — Keep water depth constant in both rings during the test.
[Link] Infiltration (Inner Ring Only) — Record the volume of water added or drop
in level in the inner ring at set time intervals.
[Link] Until Steady Rate — Repeat until infiltration becomes nearly constant.
[Link] Infiltration Rate
𝑉𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝑤𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟 𝐼𝑛𝑓𝑖𝑙𝑡𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑑
𝐼𝑛𝑓𝑖𝑙𝑡𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑅𝑎𝑡𝑒 =
𝐴𝑟𝑒𝑎 𝑥 𝑇𝑖𝑚𝑒
HORTON’S INFILTRATION EQUATION Join
Horton’s infiltration refers to the empirical concept
that the rate at which water infiltrates into soil
decreases exponentially with time during a rainfall
event and eventually approaches a constant
minimum value once the soil becomes saturated.
Horton’s infiltration theory was developed by
Robert E. Horton, an American hydrologist known
as one of the pioneers of modern hydrology.
HORTON’S
INFILTRATION
CONCEPT
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’S
INFILTRATION Horton (1933) showed that when the
CONCEPT 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.
HORTON’S INFILTRATION EQUATION
−𝒌𝒕
𝒇 = 𝒇𝒄 + 𝒇𝒐 − 𝒇𝒄 𝒆
Where
𝑓 = 𝑖𝑛𝑓𝑖𝑙𝑡𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑐𝑎𝑝𝑎𝑐𝑖𝑡𝑦 𝑖𝑛/ℎ𝑟
𝑓𝑐 = 𝑓𝑖𝑛𝑎𝑙 𝑐𝑎𝑝𝑎𝑐𝑖𝑡𝑦 𝑖𝑛/ℎ𝑟
𝑓𝑜 = 𝑖𝑛𝑖𝑡𝑖𝑎𝑙 𝑖𝑛𝑓𝑖𝑙𝑡𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑐𝑎𝑝𝑎𝑐𝑖𝑡𝑦 𝑖𝑛/ℎ𝑟
−1
𝑘 = 𝑒𝑚𝑝𝑖𝑟𝑖𝑐𝑎𝑙 𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑡 (ℎ𝑟 )
Sample Problem No. 1
The initial infiltration capacity 𝑓𝑜 of a watershed is estimated as 1.5 in./hr,
and the time constant is taken to be 0.35 hr¹. The equilibrium capacity 𝑓𝑐
is 0.2 in./hr. Use Horton's equation to find
(a) the values of 𝑓 at t = 10 min, 30 min, 1 hr, 2 hr, and 6 hr, and
(b) the total volume of infiltration over the 6-hr period.
PHILIP’S INFILTRATION EQUATION Join
The Philip equation is a physically based model in
hydrology that describes how water infiltrates into
soil over time, especially during the early stage of
infiltration.
It was developed by John Robert Philip, an
Australian environmental physicist and civil
engineer.
PHILIP’S INFILTRATION EQUATION Join
Cumulative Infiltration
𝑭 𝒕 =𝑺 𝒕 𝟏/𝟐 +𝑨𝒕
Infiltration Rate
𝒅𝑭 𝟏 −𝟏/𝟐
𝒇 𝒕 = = 𝑺𝒕 +𝑨
𝒅𝒕 𝟐
Where:
•𝐹 𝑡 =cumulative infiltration (depth of water infiltrated, e.g., mm or cm)
•f(t) = infiltration rate (e.g., mm/hr)
•𝑡= time (e.g., hours or seconds)
•𝑆= sorptivity (soil’s ability to absorb water by capillary action)
•𝐴= hydraulic conductivity
Sample Problem No. 2
During a ponded infiltration test, a soil has:
•Sorptivity, S = 40 mm·hr⁻¹ᐟ²
•Constant, A = 8 mm/hr
Using the Philip equation, determine:
[Link] cumulative infiltration after 4 hours
[Link] infiltration rate at 4 hours
GREEN-AMPT MODEL Join
The Green–Ampt Model is a Infiltration is modeled as
physically based infiltration unsaturated flow.
model used in hydrology to
estimate the infiltration rate of
water into soil during rainfall or
irrigation.
It was developed by William
Makes use of Richard’s Equation
Heber Green and Gustav Adolph
and Darcy’s Law.
Ampt in 1911.
GREEN-AMPT MODEL Join
Five Principal Assumptions of Green- Ampt Method
1. The soil under consideration is homogeneous and stable, implying that macropores and preferential
migration pathways should not be considered.
2. The supply of ponded water at the 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 with depth.
4. The capillary suction just below the wetting front is uniform throughout the profile and constant in
time 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.
GREEN-AMPT MODEL Join
Wetting Front
GREEN-AMPT MODEL Join
GREEN – AMPT EQUATION
𝝍𝑴𝒅
𝒇 = 𝑲𝒔 (𝟏 − )
𝑭
Where
𝑓= infiltration rate
𝐾𝑠 =saturated hydraulic conductivity
𝜓= suction head at wetting front
𝐾(𝜃)= unsaturated hydraulic conductivity (cm/s)
𝑀𝑑 = Moisture deficit
F= infiltration Volume
GREEN-AMPT MODEL Join
3 Cases of Green- Ampt Method
Case 1: i < Ks. The rainfall intensity is less than the maximum downward hydraulic
conductivity, meaning that runoff will never occur and all rainfall will infiltrate regardless of
the duration.
Case 2: Ks < i < f. The rainfall intensity is greater than the saturated hydraulic conductivity
but less than the infiltration rate. The time to ponding varies for different rainfall
intensities.
Case 3: i > f. The rainfall intensity is greater than the infiltration rate and runoff can occur.
GREEN-AMPT MODEL Join
Sample Problem No. 3
For the following soil properties, develop a plot of infiltration rate
f vs. infiltration volume F using the Green - Ampt equation:
𝐾𝑠 = 1.97 in./hr,
𝜃𝑠 = 0.518
𝜃𝑖 = 0.318
Ψ= - 9.37in ,
i = 7.88 in./hr.
GREEN-AMPT MODEL Join
Cumulative Infiltration as Function of Time
Sample Problem No. 4
Compute the infiltration rate f and cumulative infiltration F after
1 hr of infiltration into a silt loam soil that initially had an
effective saturation of 30%. Assume water is ponded to a small
but negligible depth on the surface.
𝐾𝑠 = 0.65cm / hr
𝜃𝑒 = 0.486
𝜃𝑖 = 0.318
Ψ = 16.7cm
𝑀𝑑 = (1 − 𝑆𝑒 )𝜃𝑒 = (1 - 0.3)(0.486) = 0.34