Project Proposal
Geano Dong
As an important part of the theory of soil water movement, the Richards equation and the Philip
solution for infiltration should be developed as the basic functions in the soil physics toolbox. The main
task that the tool will perform is to use the same numerical methods that Philip used in his research
(Philip, 1957) to solve the Richards equation.
There are some existing Matlab infiltration models based on the solution equation.
(Na’amani)While parameters like 𝐾(𝜃) have to be assigned before running. They are usually calculated Commented [OT1]: (e.g. Na’amani). These models require
or referred from other resource. The tool will use the initial and boundary conditions to estimate the Commented [OT2]: delete
cumulative infiltration I and the infiltration rate i. The sorptivity S will be calculated in the running Commented [OT3]: The necessary parameters
process, which will be easily viewed. The Philip infiltration functions will also draw figures showing soil
infiltration profiles.
Theory
The primary equation that will be employed is the Richards equation for transient water flow,
𝜕𝜃 𝜕 𝜕𝜃 𝜕𝐾(𝜃)
= (𝐷𝑤 (𝜃) ) + (1)
𝜕𝑡 𝜕𝑧 𝜕𝑧 𝜕𝑧
where 𝜃 is the soil water content, 𝑡 is the time, 𝑧 is the gravitational potential head, 𝐷𝑤 (𝜃) is the soil
water diffusivity, and 𝐾(𝜃)is the unsaturated water conductivity.
The soil hydraulic properties 𝐾(𝜃) and 𝐷𝑤 (𝜃) can be estimated from many different models.
The van Genuchten model (van Genuchten, 1980)will be coded and used in this study.
𝜕𝜃 𝜕 𝜕𝜃 𝜕𝐾(𝜃)
= (𝐷𝑤 (𝜃) ) − (2)
𝜕𝑡 𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑥
Applications
As some of the basic functions in the soil physics toolbox, RE-PIS will contain to main functions –
the “vanGenuchtent” and the “RePis”. The first one will be a complementary function for an existing
function “vanGenuchten”. (Flores A.N., 2010) The input parameters will be soil water content instead of Commented [OT4]: “ (Flores, 2010).
the potential head.
The expected end-users for this tool will be researchers, teachers and students who need to use
the Philip infiltration model. The functions could also be called by other soil physics functions.
References
Philip, J. R. (1955). Numerical Solution of Equations of the Diffusion Type with Diffusivity Concentration-
Dependent. Transactions of the Faraday Society, 51(7), 885-892.
Philip, J. R. (1957). The Theory of Infiltration: 1. the Infiltration Equation and Its Solution. Soil Science,
83(5), 345-358.
van Genuchten, M. T. (1980). A Closed-Form Equation for Predicting the Hydraulic Conductivity of
Unsaturated Soils. Soil Science Society of America Journal, 44(5), 892-898.
Please provide one or two specific examples and explain how your tool will be an
improvement.
The MATLAB – Horton & Philip Models (http://www.loai-
naamani.com/Academics/MATLAB_Hoton_and_Philips.htm) provides the Matlab codes for determining
ponding time, infiltration rate etc. The hydraulic conductivity K in the program is approximated by users
by using the saturated hydraulic conductivity. These script files don’t have a very good compatibility for
other programs.
The input parameters of RE-PIS functions are easier for users to determine. The parameters of van
Genuchten equations can be referred from other resource easily. The van Genuchten functions can also
be used in other soil physics problems.