Physical and numerical modelling of infiltration and runoff in unsaturated exposed soil using a rainfall simulator
Thiago Augusto Mendes
A * , Sávio Aparecido dos Santos Pereira A B , Weber Anselmo dos Ramos Souza C D , Juan Félix Rodríguez Rebolledo E , Gilson de Farias Neves Gitirana Junior F , Maurício Martines Sales F and Marta Pereira da Luz G H
A Federal Institute of Education, Science and Technology of Goias (IFG), Aparecida de Goiânia 74968-755, Brazil.
B School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Federal University of Goias (UFG), Goiânia 74605-020, Brazil.
C Institut de Recherche en Mines et en Environnement, Université du Québec, Abitibi-Témiscamingue, Rouyn-Noranda, Québec, Canada.
D University of Brasilia (UnB), Brasília 70910-900, Brazil.
E Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Brasilia (UnB), Brasília 70910-900, Brazil.
F School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Federal University of Goias (UFG), Goiânia 74605-020, Brazil.
G Department of Dam Safety and Technology, Furnas Centrais Elétricas S.A., BR153, km 510, Zona Rural, Aparecida de Goiânia 74923-650, Goiás, Brazil.
H Industrial and Systems Engineering Postgraduate Program-MEPROS, Pontifical Catholic University of Goias (PUC Goiás), Praça Universitária, 2-102 - Setor Leste Universitário, Goiânia 74605-220, Goiás, Brazil.
Soil Research 61(3) 267-283 https://doi.org/10.1071/SR22181
Submitted: 7 August 2022 Accepted: 20 October 2022 Published: 24 November 2022
© 2023 The Author(s) (or their employer(s)). Published by CSIRO Publishing
Abstract
Context: Tropical soils have complex hydromechanical behaviour compared to ordinary soils and are often found in regions with well-defined wet and dry seasons. The analysis of the interaction between the soil and the atmosphere comprises understanding of multiple phenomena, such as infiltration and runoff. Unfortunately, the dynamics of soil–atmosphere interaction are commonly modelled at the watershed scale, using average parameters that do not allow an in depth understanding of the soil–water phenomena involved.
Aims: This paper presents an investigation of the soil–atmosphere interaction at the local scale, using numerical and physical modelling of the infiltration and runoff of an exposed tropical soil in a laboratory rainfall simulator.
Methods: The effect of rainfall with two different intensities of 86.0 and 200.0 mm h−1 was used to physically and numerically evaluate infiltration parameters, runoff, volumetric water content, and degree of saturation at five locations in the soil specimen.
Key results: Calibration of the numerical model showed a maximum root-mean-square error of 0.17. In addition, the modelling exercises indicated the need for an equilibrium time of 48 h for the sample studied under the imposed conditions.
Conclusions: Results of numerical simulation showed that the representation of the physical model by the numerical model was satisfactory and promising. Thus, the numerical model showed applicability for validating the boundary conditions of physical tests using rainfall simulators.
Keywords: FlexPDE, finite element method, geotechnics, percolation, soil–atmosphere interaction, soil-water characteristic curve, tropical soils, unsaturated soils.
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