Smith's Infiltration Equation and Flooding Infiltrometers

by David B. Thompson, Texas Tech Univ, Lubbock, United States,
Jerome A. Westphal, Texas Tech Univ, Lubbock, United States,
Raymond J. Kopsky, Jr., Texas Tech Univ, Lubbock, United States,



Document Type: Proceeding Paper

Part of: Engineering Hydrology

Abstract:

Smith's infiltration equation was developed by examining the output from runs of a physically-based numerical model of one-dimensional infiltration. The model simulated application of rainfall to an infiltrating surface. Simulation results were analogous to those from a sprinkling infiltrometer and were used to develop a simplified empirical model. The intent of the original research was to provide hydrologists with a tool that was simple to apply and based on a solid theoretical background. This paper extends that work to include analysis of data from flooding infiltrometers. A small modification to Smith's original empirical model is presented. Results from analyses of flooding infiltrometers is presented. Smith's infiltration equation is shown to provide reasonable fits to infiltration data measured with flooding infiltrometers.

Subject Headings: Infiltration | Floods | Numerical models | Mathematical models | Data analysis | Soil water | Simulation models

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