Ce (PC) 502-1

BIRBHUM INSTITUTE OF
ENGINEERING & TECHNOLOGY
NAME - SOMENATH MANDAL

UNIVERSITY ROLL NO –11801322017
REGISTRATION - 221180120133
SUBJECT – ENGINEERING HYDROLOGY
SUBJECT CODE- CE(PC)502
SEM - 5TH
YEAR - 3RD
DEPT - CIVIL ENGINEERING
 Infiltration Capacity Models and Infiltration Indices :
In the field of engineering hydrology, understanding the

process of infiltration is crucial for various applications such as flood
forecasting, drainage system design, erosion control, and groundwater
recharge assessments. This report explores the significance of
Infiltration Capacity Models (ICMs) and Infiltration Indices in
engineering hydrology, highlighting their role in quantifying and
predicting infiltration rates.
❖ Infiltration Capacity Models (ICMs):

Infiltration Capacity Models are mathematical
representations used to estimate the maximum rate at which water
can infiltrate into the soil under specific conditions. ICMs consider
factors like soil type, initial moisture content, and rainfall intensity.
Commonly used ICMs include the Horton's equation, Green-Ampt
model, and Philip's model.
The Horton's equation describes infiltration as a
decreasing exponential function with time, where initial high rates
decrease as the soil gets wetter.
The Green-Ampt model focuses on unsaturated flow and
considers a wetting front that moves through the soil.
The Philip's model incorporates the concept of soil
sorptivity and assumes a quasi-steady state infiltration process.
❖ Infiltration Indices:
Infiltration Indices are numerical values used to quantify

the infiltration capacity of soils. They provide a means to categorize
and compare different soils based on their permeability and ability to
absorb water. Some common Infiltration Indices include:
The Kostiakov-Lewis Index characterizes the decreasing

infiltration rate with time and can be useful for long-duration rainfall
events.
The SCS-CN (Curve Number) method, widely used in
hydrologic modeling, relates runoff potential to land use, soil type, and
antecedent moisture conditions.
The Horton Infiltration Index categorizes soils into groups

based on their hydraulic conductivity and infiltration characteristics.
❖ Horton's Equation for the Measurement of Infiltration

Indices :
Horton observed that the infiltration capacity reduced exponentially
from an initial maximum rate fo to a final constant rate fc. Horton
expressed the decay of infiltration capacity with time as an exponential
decay given by
f = fc + (fo - fc ) e-kt
Where,
• f = infiltration capacity at any time t from the start of the rainfall

• fo = initial infiltration capacity at t = 0
• fc = final steady-state value
• td = Duration of rainfall
• kh = Horton's constant depending on the soil.
❖ Types of Infiltration Indices :
In hydrological calculations involving floods, it is found convenient to
use a constant value of filtration rate for the storm's duration. The
defined average infiltration rate is called the infiltration index. Also,
this is the average infiltration rate during the time when the rainfall
intensity exceeds the infiltration rate. Based on these parameters,
infiltration indices can be classified as the W-index and the φ - index.
The W – index can be derived from the observed rainfall and runoff
data. It differs from the φ - index because it excludes surface storage
and retention.
(i) W-index
In an attempt to refine the φ-index, the initial losses are separated

from the total abstractions, and an average value of infiltration rate,
called W-index, is defined as
W-index = (P-R-Ia)/te
Where
• P = Total storm precipitation (cm)
• R = Total storm runoff (cm)
• Ia = initial losses (cm)
• te = Duration of rainfall excess
W-index = Avg. rate of infiltration (cm/hr)

(ii) φ-index
The φ index is the average rainfall above which the rainfall volume
equals the runoff volume. The φ index is derived from the rainfall
hyetograph with the edge of the resulting run-off volume.
φ-index = (I-R)te
❖ Runoff and its Affecting Factors :
Runoff can be described as the part of the water cycle that flows over
land as surface water instead of being absorbed into groundwater or
evaporated. It thus represents the output from the catchment in a
given unit of time. There are a variety of factors that affect runoff.
Some of those are explained below.
❖ Amount of Rainfall :
The amount of rainfall directly affects the amount of runoff. As
expected, if more rainfall hits the ground, more rainfall will turn into a
runoff. The same can be said about snowmelt. If a large amount of
snow melts quickly, there will be a large amount of runoff.
❖ Permeability :
The ability of the ground surface to absorb water will affect how much
surface runoff occurs. If you have ever poured water onto the sand,
you may have noticed it sinks into it almost instantaneously. On the
other hand, if you pour water on the street, the water will not sink but
run off to the gutter or a ditch. The less water the ground can absorb,
the more runoff on the surface there will be. This is called
permeability.
A surface with high absorption ability has high permeability, and a

surface with low absorption ability has low permeability.
❖ Vegetation :
Vegetation needs water to survive, and a plant's root system is
designed to absorb water from the soil. There is less runoff in highly
vegetated areas because the water is used by the plants instead of
flowing off the ground's surface.
❖ Slope :
The surface slope is also important to the amount of runoff.

The steeper a surface is, the faster it will flow down the slope. A flat
surface will allow the water time to absorb.
❖ Base Flow and Direct Runoff :
Base flow and direct runoff are the water present in the river
streams after the losses. These are explained below.
❖ Direct Runoff :
The part of runoff which enters the stream quickly after the
rainfall or snow melting. To design a soil conservation structure with
proper capacity, it is necessary to estimate the peak runoff rate. It
includes surface runoff, prompt interflow and rainfall on the stream's
surface. In the case of snow melt, the resulting flow entering the
stream is also a direct runoff; sometimes, terms such as direct storm
runoff are used to designate direct runoff.
❖ Base Flow :
Base flow (also called drought flow, groundwater
recession flow, low flow, low-water flow, low-water discharge and
sustained or fair-weather runoff) is the portion of stream flow that
comes from "the sum of deep subsurface flow and delayed shallow
subsurface flow. Also, the delayed flow reaches a stream essentially as
groundwater flow is called base flow.
(i) Direct runoff = surface runoff + Prompt interflow
(ii) Direct runoff = Total runoff- Base flow

(iii) Form Factor A/l2 where A = Area of the catchment and l is the axial
length of the basin.
(iv) Compactness coefficient = P/2πre; and re = √(A/π)
re = Radius of an equivalent circle whose Area is equal to the area of

the catchment (A)
(v) Elevation of the watershed, (z)
❖ Methods of Computing Runoff :
Various methods are developed to calculate runoff generated for a

particular storm. These include theoretical methods and analytical
methods. Some of these are discussed below.
(i) By Runoff coefficient
Q = KP where, p = precipitation
K = Runoff coefficient
Q = Runoff
(ii) By infiltration Capacity Curve
Runoff due to a particular storm can also be determined with the help
of Horton's curved method. These are explained below.
(iii) By Rational Formula
QP = (1/36) kPCA
Where,
• k = Runoff coefficient
• PC = Critical design rainfall intensity in cm/hr
• A = Area of the catchment in the hectare
• Qp = Peak discharge in m3/sec.
❖ Factors Influencing Infiltration:
Several factors affect infiltration rates, influencing the

selection of appropriate ICMs and Indices. Soil properties such as
texture, porosity, and hydraulic conductivity play a vital role. Land use,
vegetation cover, and surface sealing impact the initial conditions of
the soil. Climatic factors, including rainfall intensity, duration, and
antecedent moisture, significantly affect infiltration rates.
❖ Applications in Engineering Hydrology :
ICMs and Infiltration Indices find widespread applications

in engineering hydrology:
⚫ Stormwater Management: ICMs help design effective drainage

systems by predicting infiltration rates and controlling surface
runoff.
⚫ Flood Prediction: Accurate estimation of infiltration rates aids in

predicting the amount of water that enters the soil, reducing the
potential for flash floods.
⚫ Erosion Control: Infiltration Indices help identify erosion-prone

areas, assisting in implementing erosion control measures.
⚫ Groundwater Recharge: Assessing infiltration rates supports the

estimation of groundwater recharge potential, a critical aspect of
sustainable water management.
⚫ Infrastructure Design: Knowledge of infiltration rates is essential for

designing foundations, retaining walls, and other structures.
❖ Challenges and Future Directions:

Challenges include obtaining accurate input parameters for models and
addressing the complexities of field conditions. Future directions
involve integrating remote sensing data, Geographic Information
Systems (GIS), and machine learning techniques to enhance model
accuracy. Research focusing on climate change impacts, development
of user-friendly software, and improved data collection methodologies
will further advance the field.

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BIRBHUM INSTITUTE OF

ENGINEERING & TECHNOLOGY

NAME - SOMENATH MANDAL

In the field of engineering hydrology, understanding the

❖ Infiltration Capacity Models (ICMs):

Infiltration Indices are numerical values used to quantify

The Kostiakov-Lewis Index characterizes the decreasing

The Horton Infiltration Index categorizes soils into groups

❖ Horton's Equation for the Measurement of Infiltration

• f = infiltration capacity at any time t from the start of the rainfall

In an attempt to refine the φ-index, the initial losses are separated

W-index = Avg. rate of infiltration (cm/hr)

A surface with high absorption ability has high permeability, and a

The surface slope is also important to the amount of runoff.

❖ Base Flow and Direct Runoff :

(ii) Direct runoff = Total runoff- Base flow

re = Radius of an equivalent circle whose Area is equal to the area of

(v) Elevation of the watershed, (z)

❖ Methods of Computing Runoff :

Various methods are developed to calculate runoff generated for a

(i) By Runoff coefficient

(ii) By infiltration Capacity Curve

❖ Factors Influencing Infiltration:

Several factors affect infiltration rates, influencing the

ICMs and Infiltration Indices find widespread applications

⚫ Stormwater Management: ICMs help design effective drainage

⚫ Flood Prediction: Accurate estimation of infiltration rates aids in

⚫ Erosion Control: Infiltration Indices help identify erosion-prone

⚫ Groundwater Recharge: Assessing infiltration rates supports the

⚫ Infrastructure Design: Knowledge of infiltration rates is essential for

❖ Challenges and Future Directions:

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