Scaling of infiltration rate using the similar media theory and dimensional analysis

Abstract

The infiltration rates of variable soils were scaled using factors derived from the steadystate infiltrability (Ko) and the saturated hydraulic conductivity (Ks) based on the similarmedia theory and dimensional analysis. Infiltration rates were successfully scaled whenthe characteristic scaling infiltration rate equations were formulated through combinationof the similar media theory and dimensional analysis. This study disproved the earliernotion that to successfully scale variable infiltration measurements, both sorptivity andsteady state infiltrability were required. Thus, the study revealed that using the saturatedhydraulic conductivity as a substitute for the steady state infiltrability could predict andscale infiltration rates more accurately. The study further highlighted the importance ofthe scaling factor (α) in any characteristic equation supposedly to have been developedfrom the similar media theory. Invariably, the ability of any characteristic scaling equationcontaining no scaling factor to scale variable infiltration measurements successfully couldbe fortuitous and not evolved from the similar media theory.