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Simulation of vadose zone flow processes via inverse modeling of modified multistep outflow for fine‐grained soils
Author(s) -
Bahrami Amir,
Aghamir Fateme
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
soil science society of america journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.836
H-Index - 168
eISSN - 1435-0661
pISSN - 0361-5995
DOI - 10.1002/saj2.20112
Subject(s) - vadose zone , hydraulic conductivity , soil water , outflow , soil science , environmental science , water content , hydraulic head , richards equation , water flow , pedotransfer function , porous medium , geotechnical engineering , geology , porosity , oceanography
Characterization and measurement of the hydraulic properties of unsaturated porous media is still a challenge in natural environments, although exact knowledge of the soil's hydraulic properties [unsaturated soil hydraulic conductivity ( K ), volumetric water content (θ), soil matric head ( h )] is crucial for solving many soil, hydrological, and environmental issues. The main purpose of this study was to establish a modified multistep outflow technique that facilitates laboratory operations and reduces time and costs. We also focused on inverse parameter optimization of the Mualem–van Genuchten (MVG) model with laboratory‐provided data for three fine‐grained soils. This modified version was assessed by inverse modeling of the MVG model and the generalized reduced gradient algorithm. The results represent the best estimate of the adjusted parameters and the very low uncertainty associated with the fitted values. The soil hydraulic functions were simulated well up to pressures of 1,500 kPa and their uncertainties were extremely low. The R 2 values were 88 to 97 and 81 to 96% for the soil water characteristics and the unsaturated hydraulic conductivity functions, respectively. The simultaneous optimization of the nonlinear hydraulic functions from a single transient flow experiment agreed well with their observed data for each soil examined. Besides, by eliminating the use of tensiometers and having no independent measurements of saturated soil hydraulic conductivity and saturated volumetric water content, the modified version was faster and easier than the conventional method. The proposed protocol appears to be suited for the vadose zone flow simulation of fine‐grained soils.