In an earlier paper, experimental results of the infiltration phenomena were reported. In this paper, using the data of the earlier paper, the infiltration phenomena are discussed physically. The results obtained are as follows:
1. When the gradient of intake curve (log
D-log
t) is between 0.5 and 1.0, the Green and Ampt's type infiltration equation (eq.(2)) is applicable (
Fig. 1). Under the conditions that the first infiltration develops much, this epuation does not hold. This is because the assumption that
Hf is constant is not satisfied.
2. The Philip's two-parameter equation is valid under all conditions except for the case of initial soil moisture being G. W. D.
3. The characteristics of the infiltration phenomena shown in the earlier paper are explained successfully by using the moisture profile model of
Fig. 6. Namely, 1) The region of the first infiltration is the dominant region of soil suction, and the region of the second infiltration is the dominant region of gravity. 2) In fine-textured soils, particularly, the gradient of intake curve is less than 0.5. This is due to the fact that
Di (or
K (
θt) and
Hf) changes with time. 3) As the soil is finer-textured, or as the initial soil moisture state is wetter, or as the soil is packed densely, the first infiltration develops much, because the ratio
S/K (
θt) becomes greater. 4) The mechanism of infiltration in the closed system is complex and does not show systematic characteristics, from which it is considered that the entrapped air and its behavior affect the infiltration phenomena much.
4. The coefficient n of the Kostiakov's type equation (
D=
tn) can be expressed by equation (6) in the region of the second infiltration. In the region of the first infiltration, it is 0.5, however, the value can become less than 0.5 because of the variation of
Di with time.
5. Under the conditions in which the first infiltration develops much, the coefficient
C of the Kostiakov's type equation is expressed by the following equation and is significant physically to some degree:
C=
Sin which
S is sorptivity of the Philip's equation.
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