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Numerical Solution of the Moisture Flow Equation for Infiltration into Layered Soils
Author(s) -
Hanks R. J.,
Bowers S. A.
Publication year - 1962
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 - 10.2136/sssaj1962.03615995002600060007x
Subject(s) - infiltration (hvac) , loam , soil water , richards equation , geotechnical engineering , water content , moisture , wetting , soil science , silt , homogeneous , geology , mechanics , materials science , mathematics , composite material , physics , geomorphology , combinatorics
A numerical solution of the moisture flow equation was devised and programmed for an IBM 650 computer. Solutions obtained for infiltration into a loam over a silt loam and vice versa showed that infiltration was governed by flow through the less permeable soil, provided the wetting front had extended well into the second layer. Solutions were also obtained for vertical upward and vertical downward infiltrations and for horizontal infiltration into two soils. The numerical solution was found to give excellent results when compared with the methods of E. J. Scott et al. and J. R. Philip for horizontal infiltration into homogeneous soils at a uniform initial water content.