Parámetros del modelo de infiltración de Green y Ampt en suelos de la ciudad de Córdoba, Argentina

Abstract

We present a methodology to obtain Green & Ampt’s infiltration model parameters from the results of a field measurement campaign of infiltration capacity at several sites of Córdoba city (Argentina) . A portable rainfall micro-simulator designed and built at the Hydraulics Laboratory (UTN- Facultad Cordoba) was used. This equipment, which can be completely disassembled and defines a test plot of 1 m², can generate rainfall intensities between 65 and 120 mm / h; runoff is colected and manually measured through two graduate cylinders. Site selection was related to two conditions: soil type (indirectly through geomorphology) and soil use (through traffic intensity level). Aditionally, different initial moisture conditions were considered. For contrast, we also performed simultaneous measurements with the double-ring infiltrometer technique. The measurement campaign lasted seven months and involved the work of three people simultaneously, performing between two and three tests per week. The measured values were digitized and processed; curves of cumulative infiltration and infiltration rate versus time were constructed. From these values, we adjusted the parameters of Green & Ampt infiltration model. These parameters were compared with available in bibliography. However, we failed to appreciate a clear dependence between model parameters and antecedent moisture content. These parameters exceed in quality to those determined in previous campaign lusing the double-ring infiltrometer technique. These parameters will be useful in urban hydrology design, and represent an original contribution to knowledge of the hydrological response of urban soils at Córdoba city.