17

LAB – 3
Date -18-Jan-2011

Objective: To determine infiltration rate by double ring infiltrometer.

Apparatus required: The apparatus required to perform this test are:

1) Double ring infiltrometer,

2) Driving plate,
3) Impact-absorbing hammer,
4) Measuring bridges and measuring rods.

Theory: The double ring infiltrometer is a simple instrument that is used to determine
the rate of infiltration of water into the soil. The rate of infiltration is determined as
the amount of water per surface area and time unit that penetrates the soil. It consists
of an inner and outer ring inserted into the ground. Each ring is supplied with a
constant head of water either manually or from mariotte bottles.

Double ring infiltrometer works by directing water onto a known surface area due to
the parameters of the inner ring. The rate of infiltration is determined by the amount
of water that infiltrates into the soils per surface area, per unit of time. Infiltration can
be measured by either a single or double ring infiltrometer, with preference usually
lying with the double ring because the outer ring helps in reducing the error that may
result from lateral flow in the soil.

Procedures: The procedures involved for lysimeter calibration test are:

1) Place two rings with the cutting edge facing down on the ground. Remove
small obstacles such as stones or twigs. When measuring below the ground
surface, a profiled pit should be made.

2) Put the driving plate on top of the rings. Depending on its diameter the ring
will fit over, between or within the pins located on the bottom side of the
driving plate.

3) Use the impact-absorbing hammer to insert the infiltration ring about 10 cm

vertically into the soil. Make sure to disturb the soil as little as possible. In
stiff soils have someone stand on the driving plate while another person drives
it in and remove the driving plate from the inserted infiltration ring.

4) Fill the outer ring with water, then the inner ring, to approximately 5 - 10 cm.
Start measuring immediately to determine the infiltration curve. To protect the
ground surface when pouring the water, use plastic foil, a jute cloth, sponge or
a 1-2 cm layer of sand or gravel. It is also possible to pour the water via your
hand on the ground.
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5) Start the measuring by noting the time and the water level in the inner ring
(reference level) as indicated on the measuring rod.

6) Determine the drop in the water level in the inner ring during a certain
interval. Note the time and the water level.

7) Poured the fixed volume of water into the inner ring when the water level goes
down to a certain level and note the time.

8) Keep the water in the inner and outer ring at a similar level. A higher water
level in the outer ring will lead to a decreasing infiltration rate in the inner
ring. A lower water level in the inner ring will cause the buffering against
lateral spreading to decrease.

9) Stop the measuring only when the time differences are same for consecutively
4 to 5 times. After that remove the infiltrometer.

Observations: The observations are:

Table 1. Observations for Site 1

Volume of water poured into the inner ring Cumulative time

(lit) (sec)
1 54
1 105
1 183
0.5 224
0.5 270
0.5 350
0.5 367
0.5 418
0.5 475
0.5 532
0.5 595
0.5 659
0.5 725
0.25 758
0.25 788
0.25 824
0.25 861
0.25 896
0.25 926
0.25 962
0.25 995
0.25 1030
0.25 1063
0.25 1099
0.25 1135
0.25 1172
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Volume of water poured into the inner ring Cumulative time

(lit) (sec)
0.25 1208
0.25 1247
0.25 1283
0.25 1322
0.25 1360
0.25 1395
0.25 1433
0.25 1473
0.25 1512
0.25 1550
0.25 1590
0.25 1631
0.25 1670
0.25 1714
0.25 1753
0.25 1793
0.25 1834
0.25 1883
0.25 1930
0.25 1955
0.25 1996
0.25 2034
0.25 2078
0.25 2121
0.25 2170
0.25 2230
0.25 2277
0.25 2326
0.25 2380
0.25 2435
0.25 2488
0.25 2546
0.25 2602
0.25 2655
0.25 2712
0.25 2770
0.25 2825
0.25 2885
0.25 2940
0.25 3000
0.25 3060
0.25 3120
0.25 3180
0.25 3240
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Table 2. Observations for Site 2

Volume of water poured into the inner ring Cumulative time

(lit) (sec)
0.51 43
0.51 129
0.51 230
0.3 302
0.3 375
0.3 459
0.3 537
0.3 614
0.3 697
0.3 778
0.3 860
0.3 942
0.3 1030
0.3 1116
0.3 1212
0.3 1309
0.3 1404
0.3 1502
0.3 1608
0.3 1719
0.3 1831
0.3 1947
0.3 2066
0.3 2184
0.3 2305
0.3 2426
0.3 2552
0.3 2678
0.3 2804
0.3 2930

Calculation:

The diameter of the inner ring is = 0.27 m.

π
×d 2 π
= × 0.27 = 0.0573 m2.
2
So, the cross-sectional area = 4
4

Table 3. Calculation for site 1

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Cumulativ Elapsed Volume of Depth of Infiltration Accumulated

e time time water water rate infiltration
(sec) (min) (lit) (cm) (cm/hr) (cm)

116.346713
54 0.9 1 1.745201 2 1.745201
123.190637
105 0.85 1 1.745201 5 3.490401
80.5477245
183 1.3 1 1.745201 3 5.235602
76.6185672
224 0.683333 0.5 0.8726 3 6.108202
270 0.766667 0.5 0.8726 68.2904621 6.980803
39.2670157
350 1.333333 0.5 0.8726 1 7.853403
184.785956
367 0.283333 0.5 0.8726 3 8.726003
61.5953187
418 0.85 0.5 0.8726 6 9.598604
55.1116009
475 0.95 0.5 0.8726 9 10.4712
55.1116009
532 0.95 0.5 0.8726 9 11.3438
49.8628770
595 1.05 0.5 0.8726 9 12.2164
49.0837696
659 1.066667 0.5 0.8726 3 13.08901
47.5963826
725 1.1 0.5 0.8726 7 13.96161
47.5963826
758 0.55 0.25 0.4363 7 14.39791
52.3560209
788 0.5 0.25 0.4363 4 14.83421
43.6300174
824 0.6 0.25 0.4363 5 15.27051
42.4508277
861 0.616667 0.25 0.4363 9 15.70681
44.8765893
896 0.583333 0.25 0.4363 8 16.14311
52.3560209
926 0.5 0.25 0.4363 4 16.57941
43.6300174
962 0.6 0.25 0.4363 5 17.01571
47.5963826
995 0.55 0.25 0.4363 7 17.45201
44.8765893
1030 0.583333 0.25 0.4363 8 17.88831
47.5963826
1063 0.55 0.25 0.4363 7 18.32461
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43.6300174
1099 0.6 0.25 0.4363 5 18.76091
43.6300174
1135 0.6 0.25 0.4363 5 19.19721
42.4508277
1172 0.616667 0.25 0.4363 9 19.63351
43.6300174
1208 0.6 0.25 0.4363 5 20.06981
40.2738622
1247 0.65 0.25 0.4363 6 20.50611
43.6300174
1283 0.6 0.25 0.4363 5 20.94241
40.2738622
1322 0.65 0.25 0.4363 6 21.37871
41.3337007
1360 0.633333 0.25 0.4363 4 21.81501
44.8765893
1395 0.583333 0.25 0.4363 8 22.25131
41.3337007
1433 0.633333 0.25 0.4363 4 22.68761
39.2670157
1473 0.666667 0.25 0.4363 1 23.12391
40.2738622
1512 0.65 0.25 0.4363 6 23.56021
41.3337007
1550 0.633333 0.25 0.4363 4 23.99651
39.2670157
1590 0.666667 0.25 0.4363 1 24.43281
38.3092836
1631 0.683333 0.25 0.4363 2 24.86911
40.2738622
1670 0.65 0.25 0.4363 6 25.30541
35.6972870
1714 0.733333 0.25 0.4363 1 25.74171
40.2738622
1753 0.65 0.25 0.4363 6 26.17801
39.2670157
1793 0.666667 0.25 0.4363 1 26.61431
Cumulativ Elapsed Volume of Depth of Infiltration Accumulated
e time time water water rate infiltration
(sec) (min) (lit) (cm) (cm/hr) (cm)

38.3092836
1834 0.683333 0.25 0.4363 2 27.05061
1883 0.816667 0.25 0.4363 32.0547067 27.48691
33.4187367
1930 0.783333 0.25 0.4363 7 27.92321
62.8272251
1955 0.416667 0.25 0.4363 3 28.35951
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38.3092836
1996 0.683333 0.25 0.4363 2 28.79581
41.3337007
2034 0.633333 0.25 0.4363 4 29.23211
35.6972870
2078 0.733333 0.25 0.4363 1 29.66841
36.5274564
2121 0.716667 0.25 0.4363 7 30.10471
2170 0.816667 0.25 0.4363 32.0547067 30.54101
26.1780104
2230 1 0.25 0.4363 7 30.97731
33.4187367
2277 0.783333 0.25 0.4363 7 31.41361
2326 0.816667 0.25 0.4363 32.0547067 31.84991
2380 0.9 0.25 0.4363 29.0866783 32.28621
2435 0.916667 0.25 0.4363 28.5578296 32.72251
29.6354835
2488 0.883333 0.25 0.4363 5 33.15881
27.0807004
2546 0.966667 0.25 0.4363 9 33.59511
28.0478683
2602 0.933333 0.25 0.4363 6 34.03141
29.6354835
2655 0.883333 0.25 0.4363 5 34.46771
2712 0.95 0.25 0.4363 27.5558005 34.90401
27.0807004
2770 0.966667 0.25 0.4363 9 35.34031
2825 0.916667 0.25 0.4363 28.5578296 35.77661
26.1780104
2885 1 0.25 0.4363 7 36.21291
2940 0.916667 0.25 0.4363 28.5578296 36.64921
26.1780104
3000 1 0.25 0.4363 7 37.08551
26.1780104
3060 1 0.25 0.4363 7 37.52182
26.1780104
3120 1 0.25 0.4363 7 37.95812
26.1780104
3180 1 0.25 0.4363 7 38.39442
26.1780104
3240 1 0.25 0.4363 7 38.83072

Table 4. Calculation for site 2

Cumulative Elapsed Volume of Depth of Infiltration Accumulated

time time water water rate infiltration
(sec) (min) (lit) (cm) (cm/hr) (cm)

43 0.71666667 0.51 0.890052 74.5160112 0.890052356

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129 1.43333333 0.51 0.890052 37.2580056 1.780104712

31.7246384
230 1.68333333 0.51 0.890052 3 2.670157068
26.1780104
302 1.2 0.3 0.52356 7 3.193717277
25.8194075
375 1.21666667 0.3 0.52356 9 3.717277487
22.4382946
459 1.4 0.3 0.52356 9 4.240837696
24.1643173
537 1.3 0.3 0.52356 6 4.764397906
24.4781396
614 1.28333333 0.3 0.52356 6 5.287958115
22.7086355
697 1.38333333 0.3 0.52356 9 5.811518325
23.2693426
778 1.35 0.3 0.52356 4 6.335078534
Cumulative Elapsed Volume of Depth of Infiltration Accumulated
time time water water rate infiltration
(sec) (min) (lit) (cm) (cm/hr) (cm)

22.9855701
860 1.36666667 0.3 0.52356 7 6.858638743
22.9855701
942 1.36666667 0.3 0.52356 7 7.382198953
1.466666 21.418372 7.90575916
1030 67 0.3 0.52356 2 2
1.433333 21.916473 8.42931937
1116 33 0.3 0.52356 88 2
19.633507 8.95287958
1212 1.6 0.3 0.52356 85 1
1.616666 19.431100 9.47643979
1309 67 0.3 0.52356 56 1
1.583333 19.840176
1404 33 0.3 0.52356 36 10
1.633333 19.232824 10.5235602
1502 33 0.3 0.52356 02 1
1.766666 17.781290 11.0471204
1608 67 0.3 0.52356 13 2
16.980331 11.5706806
1719 1.85 0.3 0.52356 12 3
1.866666 16.828721 12.0942408
1831 67 0.3 0.52356 02 4
1.933333 16.248420 12.6178010
1947 33 0.3 0.52356 29 5
1.983333 15.838796 13.1413612
2066 33 0.3 0.52356 25 6
1.966666 15.973023 13.6649214
2184 67 0.3 0.52356 34 7
2.016666 15.576997 14.1884816
2305 67 0.3 0.52356 97 8
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2.016666 15.576997 14.7120418

2426 67 0.3 0.52356 97 8
14.958863 15.2356020
2552 2.1 0.3 0.52356 13 9
14.958863
2678 2.1 0.3 0.52356 13 15.7591623
14.958863 16.2827225
2804 2.1 0.3 0.52356 13 1
14.958863 16.8062827
2930 2.1 0.3 0.52356 13 2

Results:

200
Accumulated
180 infiltration
Infiltration
Accumulated infiltration (cm)

160 rate
Infiltration rate (cm/hr)

140

120

100

80

60

40

20

0
0 10 20 30 40 50 60
Elapsed time (minutes)

Fig.1. Plots of accumulated infiltration and average infiltration rate against

elapsed time for site 1.
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1.8

Log of accumulated infiltration (cm)

y = 0.7199x + 0.3599
1.6 2
R = 0.9975
1.4

1.2

0.8

0.6

0.4

0.2

0
-0.2 0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1 1.2 1.4 1.6 1.8 2

Log of elapsed time (min)

Fig.2. Plot of log of accumulated infiltration against log of elapsed time for
site 1.

For site 1:

Now from the figure 2. we get, y = 0.7199 × +0.3599 .

This is same as straight line equation y = mx + c .
So, here m = 0.7199 and c = 0.3599.
The equation is log y = log k + a log t .
So, log k = c =0.3599.
k = 2.29.
a = 0.7199 = 0.72.
The Kostiakov equation is y = 2.29t 0.72
 27

100
Accumulated
90 infiltration
Accumulated infiltration (cm) Infiltration rate
80
Infiltration rate (cm/hr)
70

60

50

40

30

20

10

0
0 10 20 30 40 50 60

Elapsed time (minute)

Fig.3. Plots of accumulated infiltration and average infiltration rate against

elapsed time for site 2.

1.4

y = 0.7158x + 0.0141
Log of accumulated infiltration (cm)

1.2
R2 = 0.9988

0.8

0.6

0.4

0.2

-0.2
-0.2 0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1 1.2 1.4 1.6 1.8

Log of elapsed time (min)

Fig.4. Plot of log of accumulated infiltration against log of elapsed time for
site 2.

For site 2:
 28

Now from the figure 4. we get, y = 0.7158 × +0.0141 .

This is same as straight line equation y = mx + c .
So, here m = 0.7158 and c = 0.0141.
The equation is log y = log k + a log t .
So, log k = c =0.0141.
k = 1.033.
a = 0.7158 = 0.72.
The Kostiakov equation is y = 1.033t 0.72
Conclusions:
From the above experiment we can conclude:

1)