CE109-Infiltration Equation-Horton’s Model

ENGR. C. A. ASUNCION
2ND SEMESTER A.Y. 2022-2023
LA CONCEPCION COLLEGE
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Soil characteristics
Soil texture, or the percentage of sand, silt, and clay in a soil, is the
major inherent factor affecting infiltration.
 clay is compacted and has little or no structure or aggregation.
 clayey soils can have a high infiltration rate when dry and a slow
rate when moist (cracks close)
. Soil saturation
If all soil pores are filled with water the soil is said to be saturated.
There is no air left in the soil. Drainage or percolation follows after
infiltration
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The soil initial infiltration rate decreased by 64.24%

as land use changed from shrubland to cropland,

soil initial infiltration rate while increased by

42.73% when changed to forest
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Land Cover
 Physical material at the surface of the earth. Land covers include
grass, asphalt, trees, bare ground, water,
Land use changes on soil infiltration rate.
 Infiltration rate of grassland was 45.23% higher than that of
cropland.
 The soil initial infiltration rate decreased by 64.24% as land
use changed from shrubland to cropland,
 soil initial infiltration rate while increased by 42.73% when
changed to forest
 LAND Use
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 Land Cover

More vegetation=more infiltration

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 Water falling on steeply-sloped land runs off more quickly and

infiltrates less than water falling on flat land.
 Infiltration increases with increasing slope gradients
and runoff decreases.
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When water is applied at the surface of the soil,moisture zones in the

soil can be named:
1.Saturated zone-Area below the water table in which the soil is
completely saturated with water
2.Transmission Zone – area where the the downward motion of
moisture takes place. The moisture content is above field capacity but
below saturation
3.Wetting Zone-Soil moisture in this zone is near field capacity and it
decreases with the depth.
4.Wetting Front - The boundary of the wetting zone is the wetting
front where a sharp discontinuity exists between the newly wet soil
and original moisture content of the soil.
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A container can hold only a fixed quantity and when it is

full no more flow into can take place
2 aspects:
1.Infiltration Capacity- maximum rate at which the ground
can absorb water
2. Field capacity - volume of water that the ground can
hold
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Infiltration Infiltration capacity at any time,t

log10 ( ft-fc ) = log10 (f0 – fc ) - log10 ( e ) kt

[ log10 ( ft-fc ) - log10 (f0 – fc ) ] = - log10 ( e ) kt
[ log10 ( ft-fc ) - log10 (f0 – fc ) ] = -kt
[ log10 ( e )]
[ log10 ( ft-fc ) - log10 (f0 – fc ) ] = - t
( k ) [ log10 ( e )]
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t = - [ log10 ( ft-fc ) + log10 (f0 – fc ) ]

(k) [ log10 ( e )]
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PROBLEM:
The value of k in Horton’s equation is 2 and the maximum and
minimum infiltration rates observed are 2 cm/hr and 0.50 cm/hr
respectively. Find the infiltration rates at
30minute interval and plot infiltration rate curve
fo = 2 cm/hr
(initial infiltration rate capacity)
fc = 0.50 cm/hr
(final steady-state capacity of infiltration)
Kh = 2
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ft = 0.50 + ( 2 - 0.50 ) e(-)kt

ft at 0 = 0.50 + ( 2 - 0.50) e(-)(2)(o)
= 2 cm/hr
ft: cm/hr
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Infiltration rate

Time
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 Infiltration Capacity Rate
Time 0.25 0.5 0.75 1.0 1.25 1.5 1.75 2.0
(hr) 0
ft(cm/ 5.60 3.2 2.1 1.5 1.2 1.1 1.0 1.0
hr) fc

5.60 = 1.0 + (fo - fc ) e^(-kt) , 3.2 = 1.0 + (fo - fc ) e^(-kt)

4.60 = (fo - 1.0 ) e^(-k)(0.25) , 2.2 = (fo - 1.0 ) e^(-k)(0.50)
Eq. 1 Eq.2
 Eq. 1/Eq.2
Substitute in Equation 1

4.60 = (fo -1.0) e^(-k)(0.25)

4.60 = (fo -1.0) e(2.95)(0.25)

fo = 10.61 (initial infiltration capacity

fp = fc + (fo – fc)
e(-)k(t)
= 1 + (10.61–1) e(-)(2.95)(t)
X-axis Y-axis
Incremental depth in the interval: =C5-C4 1.75 - 0

(depends on your excel file)

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Infiltration rate,fp: =D5/(G5-G4) 1.75/(0.083-0)=21.084

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THANK YOU !!!
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BZfEibUnDNI