Explicit Solution to Green‐Ampt Equation for Nonuniform Soils
Publication: Journal of Irrigation and Drainage Engineering
Volume 114, Issue 3
Abstract
The solution for accumulated infiltration using the Green-Ampt equation requires an iterative solution. By using a power series approximtion to a logarithmic term, an equation has been developed to directly calculate the accumulated infiltration for nonuniform soils. A second equation developed primarily for computer models predicts the potential change in the depth of infiltration for discrete time steps. The expression is relatively simple and may be easily programmed for use in hydrologic models. The maximum error resulting from the power series approximation is 8% and will usually be much less. These solutions may be used by engineers and hydrologists to predict infiltration and runoff for vertically nonuniform soils without a time consuming iterative process.
Get full access to this article
View all available purchase options and get full access to this article.
References
1.
Ahuja, L. R., and Ross, J. D. (1983). “A new Green‐Ampt type model for infiltration through a surface seal permitting transient parameters below the seal.” Advances in infiltration (Proc. Nat. Conf. on Advances in Infiltration), American Society of Agricultural Engineers, 147–162.
2.
Bouwer, H. (1969). “Infiltration of water into nonuniform soil.” J. Irrig. and Drain. Div., ASCE, 95(4), 451–462.
3.
Brakensiek, D. L., and Rawls, W. J. (1983). “Agricultural management effects on soil water processes: part II. Green and Ampt parameters for crusting soils.” Trans., American Society of Agricultural Engineers, 26(6), 1753–1757.
4.
Bruce, R. R., and Thomas, A. W. (1983). “Infiltration and soil water distribution in layered soils computed by Green and Ampt and Richards models.” Paper No. 83‐2501, American Society of Agricultural Engineers, St. Joseph, Mich.
5.
Fok, Y.‐S. (1970). “One‐dimensional infiltration into layered soils.” J. Irrig. and Drain. Div., ASCE, 90(2), 121–129.
6.
Green, W. H., and Ampt, G. A. (1911). “Studies on soil physics: I. The flow of air and water through soils.” J. Agric. Sci., 4, 1–24.
7.
Li, R., Stevens, M. A., and Simons, D. B. (1976). “Solutions to Green‐Ampt infiltration equation.” J. Irrig. and Drain. Div., ASCE, 102(2), 239–248.
8.
Moore, I. D. (1981). “Infiltration equations modified for surface effects.” J. Irrig. and Drain. Div., ASCE, 107(1), 71–86.
9.
Whisler, F. D., Watson, K. K., and Perrens, S. J. (1972). “The numerical analysis of infiltration into heterogeneous porous media.” Proc., Soil Science Society of America, 36, 868–874.
Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Irrigation and Drainage Engineering
Volume 114 • Issue 3 • August 1988
Pages: 561 - 565
Copyright
Copyright © 1988 ASCE.
History
Published online: Aug 1, 1988
Published in print: Aug 1988
Authors
Metrics & Citations
Metrics
Citations
Download citation
If you have the appropriate software installed, you can download article citation data to the citation manager of your choice. Simply select your manager software from the list below and click Download.