Name: 

Tionko, John Roy F.                                                                  Date: March 12, 2023

Section: CE410 CEC41S1                                        Instructor: Engr. Given Dave P. Layos   
 
Assignment 3.1
Infiltration, Percolation, and Ground Storage

1. What is infiltration and why is it important in civil engineering?

 Hydrology, agricultural and civil engineering, irrigation design, and soil and water conservation
all depend on the process of infiltration. It is complicated and depends on the beginning and
boundary circumstances inside the flow domain as well as the soil and rainfall parameters. A
crucial factor in the water budget calculation is infiltration. In hydrology, agricultural and civil
engineering, irrigation design, and soil and water conservation, an accurate estimation of the
infiltration rate is essential. Solutes enter the soil profile through infiltration, which also affects
how concentrated they are in the runoff.
2. What factors affect infiltration and how does it impact hydrology?
 the type of soil (texture, structure, hydrodynamic characteristics). Capillary forces and
adsorption are influenced by the properties of the soil.
 the area of the soil. By lengthening the time it takes for water to penetrate the soil, vegetation
has a favorable impact on infiltration.
 the morphology and topography of slopes
 the flow supply (rain intensity, irrigation flow)
 the original humidity level of the soil. A key component of the infiltration regime is soil
dampness. For wet or dry soils, the infiltration regime develops throughout time differently.
 soil compaction due to rain drop impact and other effects. The surface soil layer may be
affected if heavy agricultural machinery is used.
3. What methods are used to measure infiltration capacity and how are they classified?
 Field data are typically used to calculate infiltration rate. The main techniques for measuring
infiltration rate include flooding basins or furrows, sprinkling (to simulate rain), and measuring
water entering from cylinders, although many various techniques and equipment types have
been employed (infiltrometer rings). The rate of water surface sinking, the rate of flow needed
to keep a big basin's level constant, or the size of a very large ring infiltrometer are used as
indicators of the infiltration rate. The rate of flow or subsidence for the time that the wetting
front is passing through the enclosed area of the soil column is taken as the infiltration rate if
smaller infiltrometer rings are utilized.
4. What are the practical applications of infiltration in civil engineering projects?
 The future of the built environment depends critically on the rising problem of building
overheating. It has previously been understated or neglected how crucial it is to comprehend
infiltration pathways when evaluating and modeling the overheating risks associated with
apartments and other multi-residential buildings. Examples that show the need for a deeper
understanding of internal air circulation are provided in this study when precise estimates of
interior temperatures are needed. The issue is now being concealed by widespread building
simulation procedures and current technical memorandum standards, which do not offer a
solid foundation from which average or worst-case scenarios can be effectively taken into
account.
5. How is infiltration capacity measurement and classification used in civil engineering design and
construction?
 At least two weeks before planting soil is delivered to the site, the designer should be given
the findings of the soil test. Test findings that have been submitted should include a grade and
 a USDA categorization of the soil texture or a statement indicating the soil mix complies with
MnDOT regulations or other requirements. Two weeks before the media is delivered to the
site, samples of the mixed product should be sent to the designer as well. If the first submittal
doesn't satisfy requirements, the designer should analyze the materials as soon as possible to
avoid any potential delays in the acquisition and assessment of another media source.
 
References:
 Infiltration into soils: Conceptual approaches and solutions (2013),
https://agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1002/wrcr.20155#:~:text=Accurate
%20estimate%20of%20infiltration%20rate,their%20concentration%20in%20the%20runoff.
 INFILTRATION (2001), https://echo2.epfl.ch/VICAIRE/mod_1a/chapt_5/main.htm#:~:text=The
%20main%20factors%20that%20influence,the%20soil%20coverage.
 A Field Method for Measurement of Infiltration (1963),
https://pubs.usgs.gov/wsp/1544f/report.pdf
 The importance of infiltration pathways in assessing and modelling overheating risks in multi-
residential buildings (2020), https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/0143624420906765
 Construction specifications for infiltration (2022),
https://stormwater.pca.state.mn.us/index.php/Construction_specifications_for_infiltration