INFILTRATION

Infiltration is the process by which water in the ground

surface enters the soil. (Wikipedia)
Factors:
1. Precipitation
2. Base flow
3. Soil characteristics
4. Soil saturation
5. Land cover
6. Slope of the land
7. Evapotranspiration

METHODS OF ANALYZING INFILTRATION

Horton’s Infiltration concept
The curve is called the Horton
infiltration capacity curve. The
capacity decreases with time and
ultimately reaches a constant rate,
caused by filling of soil pores with
water, which reduces capillary action.

Horton (1933) showed that when the

rainfall rate exceeds the infiltration
rate f, water infiltrates the surface
soils at a rate that generally decreases
with time. These rates are usually
reported in inches per hour. For any
given soil, a limiting curve defines the
maximum possible rates if infiltration vs. time. The rate of infiltration depends in a complex way
on rainfall intensity, soil type, surface condition, and vegetal cove.

Horton’s Infiltration Equation

−kt
f =f c + ( f 0−f c ) e

Where:

f =infiltration capacity ¿
hr ( )
f 0=initial infiltration capacity ¿
hr ( )
f c =final capacity ¿
hr ( )
1
k =empirical constant ( hr )
Sample problem:
The initial capacity f0 of a watershed is estimated as 1.5 in/hr, and the time constant is
taken to be 0.35 hr1. The equilibrium capacity fc is 0.2 in/hr. use Harton’s equation to find (a) the
values of f at t=10 min, 30 min, 1hr, 2hr, and 6hr, and (b) the total volume of infiltration over the
6-hr period.

Horton’s equation
−kt
f =f c + ( f 0−f c ) e

Solution:

f =0.2 ¿ + 1.5 ¿ −0.20 ¿ e

( )
−1
−0.35 h r t
hr hr hr

f =0.2 ¿ + 1.3 ¿ e−0.35 h r

( )
−1
t
hr hr

(a.1)

f =0.2 ¿ + 1.3 ¿ e−0.35 h r

( )
−1
t
hr hr
1
AT t=10 min= hr
6
−0.35 h r
−1
( 16 hr)
(
f =0.2 ¿ + 1.3 ¿ e
hr hr )
f =1.43 ¿
hr

(a.2) AT t=30 min=0.5 hr

f =0.2 ¿ + 1.3 ¿ e−0.35 h r

( )
−1
( 0.5 hr )
hr hr

f =1. 29 ¿
hr

(a.3) AT t=1 hr

f =0.2 ¿ + 1.3 ¿ e−0.35 h r

( )
−1
( 1hr )
hr hr

f =1. 12 ¿
hr

(a.4) AT t=2 hr

f =0.2 ¿ + 1.3 ¿ e−0.35 h r

( )
−1
( 2 hr )
hr hr

f =0.85 ¿
hr
(a.5) AT t=6 hr

f =0.2 ¿ + 1.3 ¿ e−0.35 h r

( )
−1
( 6 hr )
hr hr

f =0.36 ¿
hr

t(hr) f(in/hr)
1/6 1.43
0.50 1.29
1 1.12
2 0.85
6 0.36

(b)
To get the total volume of infiltration F
6
F=∫ fdt
0

6
F=∫ [0.2 ¿ + 1.3 ¿ e
( )
−1
−0.35 h r (t)
]dt
0 hr hr

F=4.36 inches

Cumulative infiltration volume

f 0−f c −kt
F ( t )=f c t +[ ](1−e )
k
1.5−0.20 −(0.35)(6)
F ( t )=0.20 (6)+[ ](1−e )
0.35
F=4.46 inches
Phi (∅ ) index method
The ∅ index method assumes that the loss is
uniformly distributed across the rainfall
pattern. The lower area sums to the volume of
infiltration, and the area above the ∅ index
sums to the volume of direct runoff.

Runoff ( RO )=Rainfall−Infiltration

Sample problem:
For the given rainfall data, compute the runoff volume if the ∅ index is 1.0 in/hr. The
watershed area 0.875 mi2.

Runoff ( RO )=Rainfall−Infiltration

[( hr ) (hr ) ( hr) ](
R O= 1.4 ¿ ( 2 hr )+ 2.3 ¿ ( 3 hr ) + 1.1 ¿ (2 hr ) − 1.0 ¿ ( 7 hr ) RO=4.9∈¿
hr )
R Ο=4.9∈ ( 0.875 mi 2 ) ¿ ¿
3
RO=9,960,720 ft REFERENCE:
https://www.youtube.com/@TutorJackPh