Physical Hydrology 2/e S.L.

Dingman
ExplicitExr.doc

MODELING INFILTRATION WITH THE EXPLICIT

GREEN-AMPT EQUATIONS
INTRODUCTION

As explained in Section 6.6.2, the original version of the Green-Ampt approach to

infiltration modeling gives time, t, as a function of total infiltration, F(t), and infiltration
rate, f(t) [Equations (6-42) and (6-44)]. This is called the implicit approach. The time the
input event ends, tw, is specified, and this approach requires a trial-and-error process to
determine F(tw) and f(tw).

This trial-and-error approach is not convenient for modeling. To get around this problem,
Salvucci and Entekhabi (1994) developed an alternative version of the Green-Ampt
model that can be solved explicitly for f(t) and F(t) as functions of time; hence f(tw) and
F(tw) can be found directly, without trial and error [Equations (6-47) – (6-51)].

OBJECTIVE

This exercise gives you familiarity with the explicit Green and Ampt model and practice
in constructing an Excel-based simulation model.

PROCEDURE

A. Construct a spreadsheet model of the explicit Green-Ampt model and apply it to

experiment A1 of the Green-and-Ampt exercise via the following steps:

1. Access the GrnAmpt.xls file.

2. Enter the data for Experiment A1 in the original GreenAmpt.xls

worksheet.

Soil Columbia Sandy Loam

φ 0.52
|ψae| (cm) 22
b 4.9
Kh* (cm/s) 0.00139
w (cm) 10
tw (hr) 1
θ0 0.40
 2

3. Enter a series of F(t) values and determine the value of F(tw) by trial and
error.

4. Insert a new worksheet into the workbook, and copy cells A1:J14 from the
GreenAmpt worksheet into it.

5. In your new worksheet, create and label cells that calculate T*, Fp, and tc
[Equations (6-47)-(6-48)]. Be sure to specify units.

6. Label a column “t” and copy the times from the GreenAmpt worksheet
beginning with the time of ponding into that column. NOTE: To do this
you must use the “Paste Special” command on the “Edit” menu, and check
“Values”.

7. Label the column adjacent to the “t” column as “te”. Enter the Excel
formula for calculating te [Equation (6-49)] in all the cells adjacent to the t
values.

8. Label the next two adjacent columns as “f(t)” and “F(t)” and copy the
Excel formulas for computing f(t) [Equation (6-50)] and F(t) [Equation (6-
51)] into those columns.

9. Create graphs comparing f(t) vs. t and F(t) vs. t as calculated by the
explicit approach with the values given by the implicit approach on the
original GreenAmpt worksheet.

B. Write a brief paragraph comparing the results of the explicit and implicit
approaches.