ADAMA SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY UNIVERISTY

SCHOOL OF CIVILI ENGINEERING

DEPARTEMENT OF WATER RESOURCE

COURSE: ADVANCED IRRIGATION ENGINEERING (WRE 6131)

ASSIGNMENT-3

TITLE: MODELS OF SURFACE IRRIGATION

Source: - Surface Irrigation Simulation, Evaluation and Design Guide and Technical

Documentation by Wynn R. Walker (professor),2003 Utah State University

Submitted by: Gadisa Biftu (ID: a/pe21004/12)

Assignment Submitted to: Boja Mekonnen (PhD)

Submission date: 16/01/2019

 Advanced Irrigation Engineering WRE 6131

Table of Contents
Table of Contents ....................................................................................................................... II

Models of Surface Irrigation........................................................................................................1

1. Full Hydrodynamic Models .................................................................................................1

2. Zero-inertia assumption .......................................................................................................2

3. Kinematic-wave models .......................................................................................................2

4. Volume balance model ........................................................................................................3

Conclusion ..................................................................................................................................4

References ..................................................................................................................................5

Assignment Three, Models of Surface Irrigation II

 Advanced Irrigation Engineering WRE 6131

Models of Surface Irrigation

Surface-irrigation mathematical models are important for the evaluation and design purposes.
The mathematical models are based on the equations that describe the processes governing the
overland flow and infiltration in surface irrigation.
They differ mainly in terms of their solution techniques and assumptions used. The momentum
equation is often simplified or in some cases ignored completely to reduce the computational
difficulties.
Depending upon the simplifying assumptions used, the models can be grouped in decreasing
order of complexity into four subclasses:
1. full hydrodynamic models;
2. zero-inertia models;
3. kinematic-wave models, and
4. volume balance models.

1. Full Hydrodynamic Models

The most complex and accurate is the full hydrodynamic numerical simulation model, which
uses the full form of the Saint-Venant equations, i.e. both equations of mass and momentum
conservation. These models, if properly implemented, should provide simulations that are more
accurate over a wide range of field conditions when compared to the other mathematical models.
Due to their accuracy, they are often used for their calibration and evaluation of simpler models.
The hydrodynamic equations used in the mathematical models for describing the overland flow
in surface irrigation are the equations of mass and momentum conservation, known as the Saint-
Venant equations (Chow 1959; Strelkoff 1969). These equations, after the modification to
include infiltration, are

+ + =0

where:
y – depth of flow (m)
t – time from the beginning of irrigation (s)
Q – discharge (m3/s)

Assignment Three, Models of Surface Irrigation 1

 Advanced Irrigation Engineering WRE 6131

x – distance along the field length (m)

g – acceleration due to gravity (m/s2)
S0 – longitudinal slope of the field (m/m)
Sf – slope of energy grade line, also called friction slope (m/m)
A – cross-sectional area (m2)
T – top width of flow (m)

2. Zero-inertia assumption

The zero inertia models are a simplified form of the full hydrodynamic model without the accel-
eration and inertia terms. The full hydrodynamic equations simplified by neglecting the inertial
terms in the Saint-Venant equations. If the inertia terms are neglected, equation is parabolic,
rather than hyperbolic, and the numerical solutions of the equation for this model is less complex
than the full hydrodynamic model. Therefore, they require less computer time to simulate an
irrigation event than does the hydrodynamic model.
The zero-inertia approach simplifies the momentum equation by assuming that the rate of change
in flow depth along the furrow equals the difference between bed slope and friction slope.

3. Kinematic-wave models

The Kinematic-Wave Model, which deals with a further simplification of the momentum
equation and ignores next to the inertial and acceleration terms, the Froudo number. Operating the
Kinematic-Wave Model is limited to open end irrigation systems and sloped fields. The
kinematic-wave models are simpler and take less computer time than the hydrodynamic and
zero-inertia models. The kinematic-wave approach has been used by a number of investigators to
develop models of border and furrow irrigation systems. The kinematic wave model assumes a
friction slope, Sf, equal to the bed slope, So, and therefore uniform flow conditions and normal
depth for the full length of the. S0 = Sf

Assignment Three, Models of Surface Irrigation 2

 Advanced Irrigation Engineering WRE 6131

4. Volume balance model

The volume balance is applied primarily onto the advance phase, and can be written for the
border, basin, or furrow conditions. As the solution of full hydrodynamic equations is possible
only with the numerical techniques using computers, some early studies on surface irrigation
modelling focused on providing analytical solutions of the flow problem. The momentum
equation was therefore completely neglected. The models based on this simplification were
called volume-balance models and are based on the principle of mass conservation and on the
assumption of normal flow depth at the upstream end.
Both kinematic wave and volume-balance approaches are limited to sloping and free-draining
systems.

where: Q0 – flow rate at the inlet boundary

tx – time of advance
A (x, t) – cross-sectional area of the surface flow, variable with distance (x) and time (t)
Z (x, t) – cross-sectional area of the infiltrated water, variable with distance and time
The volume balance method is popular for both irrigation analysis and design. This is due mainly
to its ease of use and the relatively low number of computations required.

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 Advanced Irrigation Engineering WRE 6131

Conclusion
→ The fully hydrodynamic model is the most complex and the most accurate. It is based on
the complete Saint-Venant equations for the conservation of mass and momentum.
→ The kinematic wave model uses further simplifications and uniform flow assumptions.
→ The volume balance model is the simplest model, i.e., one that involves the largest
number of assumptions.
→ The Zero-Inertia Model, which deals with a simplification of the Saint-Venant Equations
by assuming that the inertial and acceleration terms in the momentum equation are
negligible for the surface irrigation conditions; and
→ Both kinematic wave and volume-balance approaches are limited to sloping and free-
draining systems.

Assignment Three, Models of Surface Irrigation 4

 Advanced Irrigation Engineering WRE 6131

References
• Bautista, E., Clemmens, A. J., Strelkoff, T. S., and Schlegel, J. (2009). “Modern analysis
of surface irrigation systems with WinSRFR.” Agric. Water Manage., 96, 1146–1154.
• Strelkoff, T. S. (1985). “Dimensionless formulation of furrow irrigation.” J. Irrig. Drain.
Eng., 111(4), 380–394.
• Valiantzas, J. D. (1993). “Border advance using improved volume-balance model.” J.
Irrig. Drain. Eng., 119(6), 1006–1025.
• Valiantzas, J. D. (1997). “Volume balance irrigation advance equation: Variation of
surface shape factor.” J. Irrig. Drain. Eng., 123(4), 307–312.

Assignment Three, Models of Surface Irrigation 5