HYDROLOGY 6

S b f
Subsurface Water
Wt

B Vergel
John Manuel B.Vergel
BS-CE,, MS-CE
Subsurface Water
y Subsurface water flows beneath the land surface.
surface

y Topics Included are:

1
1. Unsaturated Flow
2 Infiltration
2. I filt ti
3. Green-Ampt
G p Method
h d
4 Ponding Time
4.
Unsaturated Flow
y The 3 important
p p
processes are:
are
1. IInfiltration
fil i
2 Soil moisture, Subsurface flow or unsaturated
2.
3 Groundwater flow or saturated flow
3.
Unsaturated Flow
y Basic Definitions:
ƒ P
Porous media
di – ppermits
i water to flflow through
h gh soilil andd
rockk strata.
t t

ƒ Flow is unsaturated when porous medium still has some

of its voids occupied by air and saturated when the voids
are filled with water.

ƒ Water
W t table
t bl is
i th
the surface
f whereh the
th water
t iin a saturated
t t d
pporous medium is at atmospheric
p ppressure.
pressure
Unsaturated Flow
y Basic Definitions:
ƒ Above the water table,
table capillary forces can saturate the
porous medium for a short distance in the capillary
ffringe,
i g , above
b whichh h the
h porous
p medium
d is usually
lly
unsaturated
t t d except pt following
f ll i g rainfall,
i f ll when
h iinfiltration
filt ti
from the land surface can produce saturated conditions
temporarily.

ƒ Subsurface and groundwater outflow occur when

subsurface
b f water emergesg to become
b surface
f flow
fl in a
stream
t or spring.
pi g
Unsaturated Flow
y Basic Definitions:
ƒ Porosity (n)
Porosity,

ƒ Wh
Where: Vv=Volume
V Vl off voids
id
V = totall V
Volume
l

ƒ Typical
yp ca values
va ues of porosity:
po os ty:
n 0.2 to 0.4 (sands & gravel, depending on the grains size,
n=0.2
size
i distribution
di ib i andd ddegree g off compaction)
p i )
n=0.1
0 1 to 00.22 ((sandd & stone))
n=.01
. to 0.1 . ((shale
h l & llimestone))
Unsaturated Flow
y Basic Definitions:
ƒ S il Moisture
Soil M i Content,
C , (θ)
( )

ƒ Wh
Where: Vw=Volume
V =V l off water
t
V = totall Volume
l

ƒ Hence 0<θ<n;
θ ((saturatedd soil)
ƒ θ=n il))
Unsaturated Flow
y Continuity y Equation:
q
ƒ Th flflow off water through
The h gh the
h soilil iis measuredd bbyy the
h
D y fl
Darcy flux:
f
vv=q
q = Q/A

Where : q = the volumetric

olumetric flo
flow per
p unit area of soil.
soil (m/s)
 Unsaturated Flow
y Momentum Equation: q
ƒ Darcy’s
D y’ Law L was developed
d l p d to relate
l the h D
Darcyy flflux q to
th rate
the t off hheadd lloss per
p unit
it llength
gth off medium,
di , i=S
i Sf
vv=qq = K i ; vv=q q = K (h2-h h1)/L
ƒ Where
W he e :
K = hydraulic conductivity
(mm/s)
Sf = hydraulic
hyd li gradient
g di
= (h2-hh1)/L

Th f
Therefore: Q=AK ((h2-h
h1))/L = AKi
Unsaturated Flow
y Momentum Equation:
q
Unsaturated Flow
y Momentum Equation:q
ƒ E
Example:
pl The
Th water fl flows through
h gh a sandd filter
fil as shown
h in
i
th fifigure.
the g Th
The soilil mass cross sectional
ti l area andd llength
gth are
2
0 25 andd 1.5
0.25m 1 5 m respectively
p ti ly if the
th coefficient
ffi i t off
permeabilityy of the sand filter is 33.6x10 -2
2
6x10 cm/.s
cm/ s
Unsaturated Flow
y Momentum Equation:
q
ƒ S l i
Solution:
ƒ Q=kiA
Q -2
kiA = [3.6x10 cm/s (1m/100cm)(60s/1min)]
2 3
(0.30/1.5) (0.25m ) (1000L/1m )
Q=1 08 L/min
Q=1.08
ƒ v=Ki=(3.6x10 -2
2
v=Ki=(3 6 10 cm/s) (0 (0.30/1.5)
30/1 5)
v=0.0072cm/s
0 0072 /
Unsaturated Flow
y Momentum Equation:q
ƒ E
Example:
pl InI a laboratory,
lb y, a constant hheadd permeability
p bili y test
was conducted
d t d on a brown
b sandd with
ith the
th ttrace off mica.
i ThThe
ff data
ff: d t were obtained.
bt i d
ƒ Quantityy off water ddischarge
Q h g dduringg theh test = 2250cm
0 3

ƒ Length of specimen between manometer outlets outlets=1111.43cm

43cm
ƒ Time required for given quantity of water to be
discharged=65sec
ƒ H d diff.
Head diff between
b t manometer t levels=5.5
l l =5 5 cm
ƒ Diameter off specimen=10.16cm
p 10 16
Unsaturated Flow
y Momentum Equation:
q
ƒ S l i
Solution:
ƒ Q=kiA
Q kiA = V/t
3
k=[250cm /65s]/[(5.5cm/11.43cm)(π/4
/65s]/[(5 5cm/11 43cm)(π/4 10
10.162
16 cm)
k=0 0986 cm/sec
k=0.0986 /
ƒ v=Ki=(9.86x10 -2
2
i (9 86 0 cm/s) / ) (5.5/11.43)
( / 43)
v 0.0474cm/sec
v=0.0474cm/sec
Infiltration
y Infiltration is the process of water penetratingg from the
ground surface into the soil.
soil

y Factors affecting infiltration rate:

1
1. Condition of the soil surface and its vegetative cover;
2
2. Properties
p of soil
3. P
Porosity
i y ((n))
4
4. Hydraulic conductivity (K)
5
5. Current moisture content of the soil
Infiltration
y Zones of Infiltration

θ
Saturation
S i Z Zone
θ
Transition Zone

Transmission
Zone

Wetting Zone

Wetting
g Front

depth
Infiltration
y Horton’s Equation
q
ƒ E li iinfiltration
Earliest fil i equation
q i was ddeveloped
l p d bbyy R
Robert
b
H t (1933,1939),
Horton ((1933,1939)), whoh observed
b d that
th t infiltration
i filt ti bbeginsgi
att some rate
t ffo andd exponentially
p ti lly decreases
d until
til it reaches
h
a constant rate fc.
fc

Where:
ft = is the infiltration rate at time t;
ffo=is the
h initiall infiltration
fl rate or maximum infiltration
fl rate;;
ffc=is
i the
th constant
t t or equilibrium
q ilib i iinfiltration
filt ti rate
t after
ft ththe soilil
has been saturated or minimum infiltration rate;
k=is the decay constant specific to the soil.
soil
Infiltration
y Phillip’s
p Equation
q
ƒ Philip (1957
Philip (1957,1969)
( ,1969)) solved
l d Richard’s
Ri h d’ equation
q i under d lless
restrictive
t i ti conditions
diti by by assuming
i g K andd D can varyy with
ith
moisture
i t contentt t θ.
θ
Cumulative filtration Infiltration rate
ƒ 1/2
F(t) = St + Kt & f(t)=1/2St +K -1/2

Where:
S = sportivity,
sportivity a function of the soil suction potential.
potential
K=hydraulic
hyd l conductivity
d y
t = time
ti (h(hrs)
( )

For horizontal column of soil: K

K=00
Infiltration
y Phillip’s
p Equation
q
ƒ E
Example:
pl A smallll tubeb with i h a cross-sectional
i l area off 40
cm22 iis fill
filledd with
ith soilil andd llaid
id hhorizontally.
i t lly Th The open
p endd off
th tube
the t b is i saturated,
t t d andd after ft 15 min, 3
i 100 cm off watert
have infiltrated into the tube tube. If the saturated hydraulic
y
conductivity of the soil is 0.4 0 4 cm/h,
cm/h determine how much
infiltration would have taken place in 30 min of the soil
column had initially been placed upright its upper surface
saturated.
saturated
Infiltration
y Phillip’s
p Equation
q
ƒ S l i
Solution:
ƒ The cumulative infiltration depth in the horizontal column
3 2
is: F = 100cm /40cm = 2.5 cm;
ƒ For horizontal infiltration
infiltration, cumulative infiltration is a
function of soil suction alone so that after tt=15min=0
15min 0.25h25h
ƒ 1/2
/
F(t) = St + Kt
2 5 = S(0
2.5cm S(0.25hr)
( 25h ) + 01/2

S = 5 cm/hr 1/2
Infiltration
y Green-Ampt
Green Ampt
p Method:
ƒ I the
In h previous
p i method,h d, iinfiltration
fil i equations
q i were
d l p d ffrom approximate
developed pp i t solutions l ti off Ri
Richard’
h d’
equation.
q ti

ƒ An alternative approach
pp is to developp a more approximate
pp
physical theory that has an exact analytical solution.
solution

ƒ Green and Ampt (1911)

Infiltration
y Green-Ampt
Green Ampt
p Method:
ƒ I the
In h previous
p i method,h d, iinfiltration
fil i equations
q i were
d l p d ffrom approximate
developed pp i t solutions l ti off Ri
Richard’
h d’
equation.
q ti

ƒ An alternative approach
pp is to developp a more approximate
pp
physical theory that has an exact analytical solution.
solution

ƒ Green and Ampt (1911)

Infiltration
y Green-Ampt Method:

Method of successive substitution

Where:
ψ= is wetting front soil suction head (L)
ψ
θ= is water content ((-);
θ );
K=hydraulic
y conductivityy ((L/T))
F(t)=cumulative
() l ddepth
p h off infiltration
fl (L)
( )
f(( ) f l
f(t)=infiltration rate (L/T)
( )
Infiltration
y Green-Ampt
Green Ampt Parameters:
ƒ Effective Saturation,
Saturation Se

0<Se<1.0
where:
h θ residual
θr = id l moisture
i content off the
h soilil after
f iit
has been thoroughly drained.
drained
θ θr = available
θ‐θr = il bl moisture
it
n θr = maximum
n‐θr = i possible
p ibl available
il bl moisture
i t content t t
= effective
ff i porosity
p i y ((θe)
(θ )
θr<θ<n
Infiltration
y Green-Ampt
Green Ampt p Parameters:
ƒ F the
For h iinitial
i i l condition,
di i , (θ
(θ=θi)
( θi))
θi θr Seθe
θi-θr=Seθe
ƒ The change in the moisture content when the wetting front
passes is:
∆θ= n-θi
n θi = n-(Seθe+θr)
n ((Seθe+θr))
ƒ Th f
Therefore:
∆θ= (1
∆θ (1-Se)θe
Se)θe
ƒ Brooks Corey equation
Where:
ψb and λ are constants
Infiltration
y Green-Ampt
Green Amptp Infiltration parameters
p for various
soil classes:
Soil Class Porosity Effective Wetting front Hydraulic
(n) Porosity (θe) soil suction Conductivity
((ψ),
ψ) cm ((K),
) cm/h
h
Sand 00.437
437 00.417
417 44.95
95 11 78
11.78
(0.374-0.500) (0.354-0.480) (0.97-25.36)
L
Loamy Sand
S d 00.437
437 00.401
401 66.13
13 2 99
2.99
((0.363-0.506)) ((0.329-0.473)) ((1.35-27.94))
S d Loam
Sandy L 00.453
453 00.412
412 11.01
11 01 1 09
1.09
((0.351-0.555)) ((0.283-0.541)) ((2.67-45.47))
Loam 0.463 0.434 8.89 0.34
(0.375-0.551)
(0.375 0.55 ) (0.334-0.534)
(0.334 0.534) ((1.33-59.38)
.33 59.38)
Silt Loam 0.501 0.486 16.68 0.65
(0 420-00.582)
(0.420 582) (0 394-00.578)
(0.394 578) (2 92-95
(2.92 95.39)
39)
Infiltration
y Green-Ampt
Green Amptp Infiltration parameters
p for various
soil classes:
Soil Class Porosity Effective Wetting front Hydraulic
(n) Porosity (θe) soil suction Conductivity
((ψ),
ψ) cm ((K),
) cm/h
h
Sandy Clay
Sand Cla 00.398
398 00.330
330 21.85
21 85 0 15
0.15
Loam (0.332-0.464) (0.235-0.425) (4.42-108.0)
Cl L
Clay Loam 00.464
464 00.309
309 20.88
20 88 0 10
0.10
((0.409-0.519)) ((0.279-0.501)) ((4.79-91.10))
Silty Clay
Sil Cl 00.471
471 00.432
432 27.30
27 30 0 10
0.10
Loam ((0.418-0.524)) ((0.347-0.517)) ((5.67-131.50))
Sandy
d Clay
l 0.430 0.321 23.90 0.06
(0.370-0.490)
(0.370 0.490) (0.207-0.435)
(0. 07 0.435) (4.08-140.2)
(4.08 40. )
Siltyy Clayy 0.479 0.423 29.22 0.05
(0 425-00.533)
(0.425 533) (0 334-00.512)
(0.334 512) (6 13-139
(6.13 139.4)
4)
Infiltration
y Green-Ampt
Green Amptp Infiltration parameters
p for various
soil classes:
Soil Class Porosity Effective Wetting front Hydraulic
(n) Porosity (θe) soil suction Conductivity
((ψ),
ψ) cm ((K),
) cm/h
h
Cla
Clay 00.475
475 00.385
385 31.63
31 63 0 03
0.03
(0.427-0.523) (0.269-0.501) (6.39-156.5)
Infiltration
y Green-Ampt
Green Ampt
y Example: Compute the infiltration rate f and cumulative
infiltration F after 1 hour of infiltration into a silt loam soil
that
h initially
lly hhadd an effective
ff saturation off 30%
30%. Assume
water
t iis pponded
d d tot a smallll but
b t negligible
gligibl ddepth
pth on th
the
surface.
surface

y Solution:
f
from table
t bl off Silt loam
l soil:
il
θ 0 486, ψ
θe=0.486, 16 7 , K=0.65
ψ=16.7cm, K 0 65 cm/h
/h
S 0 30 30%
Se=0.30=30%
Infiltration
y Green-Ampt
Green Ampt
y Solution:
∆θ= (1-Se)θe
(1
( Se)θe
) ψ∆θ=16 7 0 340
ψ∆θ=16.7x0.340
= ((1-0.30)0.486
(1 0 30)0
) 486 = 55.68
68 cm
= 0.340
0 340
ƒ Th cumulative
The l i iinfiltration
fil i at t=1h 1h iis calculated
l l d employing
pl yi g
the method of successive substitution.
substitution Take a trial value
F(t)=Kt=0
F(t) Kt 0.6565

=0.65(1)
=0 65(1) + 5.68
5 68 ln(1+0.65/5.68)
ln(1+0 65/5 68)
=1 27cm
=1.27cm
Infiltration
y Green-Ampt
Green Ampt
ƒ Solution:
ƒ S b tit ti g F=1
Substituting F=1.27
27 into
i t the
th right
ight hhandd side
id off equation
q ti
gives FF=11.79cm,
79cm and after a number of iterations F
converges to a constant value of F(t)
F(t)=3.17
3.17 cm.

ƒ Therefore the infiltration rate after tt=1h

1h is:

= 00.65(5.68/3.17+1)
65(5 68/3 17+1)
f(t)=
( ) 1.81
1 81 cm/hr
Infiltration
y PondingTime
ƒ The ponding time (tp) is the elapsed time between the time
rainfall
f ll bbegins
g andd the
h time water bbegins
g to pond
p d on the
h soill
surface.
surface

ƒ (t<tp) = the rainfall intensity is less than the potential

infiltration rate and the soil surface is unsaturated.

ƒ ( p)) = pponding
(t=tp) d g time begins
b g when h the h rainfall
f ll intensityy
exceeds the potential infiltration rate
rate. The soil surface is
saturated.

ƒ ( p) = the
(t>tp) h saturatedd zone extends
d deeper
d p into the
h soill andd
overland flow occurs from ponded water.
water
Infiltration
y Ponding
g Time

Infilltration rrate,, f
Potential
P t nti l
Infiltration

Rainfall
i
Actual Infiltration

Time
Accumulated

IInfilttration, F
Rainfall

C mulattive
Infiltration

Cum
Fp = i * t p

tp Time
Infiltration
y Ponding g Time
ƒ F
From G
Green-Ampt
A p equation:
q i
ƒ Let: Fp
Fp=ii tp & ff=II

ƒ Gives the ponding time under constant rainfall intensity

using the Green
Green-Ampt
Ampt infiltration equation
Infiltration
y Ponding g Time
ƒ E
Example:pl Compute
C p the h pponding
di g time
i andd the h ddepthp h off
water
t iinfiltrated
filt t d att pponding
di g for
f a silt
ilt lloam soilil off 30%
i iti l effective
initial ff ti saturation,
t ti subject bjj t to
t rainfall
i f ll iintensities
t iti off
a)1cm/h & b)5cm/h

ƒ Solution:
ƒ For silt loam soil: ψ∆θ=5.68
ψ∆θ=5 68 & K=0
K=0.65
65 (see table)
Infiltration
y PondingTime
A tp
A. tp=[0
[0.65x5.68]
65x5 68] / [1
[1.0(1.0-0.65)]
0(1 0-0 65)] Fp=itp
tp=10
tp 10.55 h =11.00 (10.5)
(10 5)
Fp 10.5cm
Fp=10.5cm

B. tp=[0.65x5.68]
tp [0.65x5.68] / [5.0(5.0
[5.0(5.0-0.65)]
0.65)] Fp=itp
Fp itp
tp=0.17
tp 0.17 h (10min) =5.0
5.0 (0.17)
Fp=0.85cm
p 0.85c

ƒ In eachh case the

h infiltration
fl rate f equals
q l the
h rainfall
f ll intensityy i at
ponding.
ponding
Infiltration
y Ponding g Time
ƒ T obtain
To b i theh actuall infiltration
i fil i rate afterf pponding,
di g, a curve
off ppotential
t ti l infiltration
i filt ti iis constructed
t t d bbeginning
gi i g att a time
ti
t0 suchh that
th t th
the cumulative
l ti iinfiltration
filt ti andd th
the iinfiltration
filt ti
rate at tp are equal to those observed under rainfall
beginning at time 0. 0
ƒ S b tit t t=tp-t
Substitute: t=tp t0 & F=Fp
F=Fp

ƒ For t>tp,
t>tp
p
Infiltration
y Ponding g Time
ƒ S b
Subtracting
i g both
b h equations:
q i

or

ƒ Equation above can be used to calculate the depth of

infiltration after ponding
Infiltration
y Ponding g Time
ƒ E
Example: pl Calculate
C l l the h cumulative
l i iinfiltration
fil i andd the
h
i filt ti rate
infiltration t after
ft 1 hr h off rainfall
i f ll off intensity
i t ity 5 cm/h
/h on
a silt
ilt lloam soilil with
ith an iinitial
iti l saturation
t ti off 30%

ƒ Solution:
ƒ For silt loam soil: ψ∆θ=5.68
ψ∆θ=5 68 & K=0
K=0.65
65 (see table)
ƒ tp 0 17 hr
tp=0.17 h & Fp=0.85
Fp 0 85 ((f
(from previous
p i example pl under
d
rainfall
i f ll intensity
i t ity off cm/h)
/h))
Infiltration
y Ponding g Time
ƒ S l i
Solution:
ƒ For tt=1.0
1.0 h, the infiltration depth

ƒ F-0.85-5.68
08 68 ln[(5.68+F)/(5.68+0.85)]=0.65(1.0-0.17)
l [( 68 )/( 68 0 8 )] 0 6 ( 0 0 7)
FF=00.54
54
ƒ F is obtained by the method of successive substitution
ƒ Th f , F=3.02
Therefore, F 3 02 cm
Infiltration
y Ponding g Time
ƒ S l i
Solution:
ƒ The corresponding rate is given by:

= 0.65
0 6 [(5.68/3.02)
[( 68/3 02) +1]]
f(t)=1 87 cm/h
f(t)=1.87