A novel modified Green-Ampt model (MLGA) has been established to provide enhanced accuracy for water infiltration analysis within loess areas, leading to improved engineering practices.
The MLGA model integrates principles from Darcy's law and continuity equations, addressing deficiencies noted within the classical Green-Ampt model. Traditional methods often oversimplify infiltration processes by assuming saturated soils, neglecting the impact of unsaturated layers prevalent during real-world infiltration.
This newly developed model has undergone rigorous testing and has been empirically validated against extensive field data, demonstrating a remarkable average relative error of just 5.54%. The maximum relative error swung below 10% for infiltration depth calculations, allowing it to drastically exceed the performance of the existing Kostiakov and LGAM models.
Loess, which comprises about 10% of global land area and is significantly prevalent across northern China, poses several engineering challenges including ground instability post-infiltration. Its unique characteristics necessitate highly dependable infiltration models to avert infrastructure failures, such as the widespread collapse of pavements and unequal building settlements.
Scholarly attempts to refine methods for estimating infiltration rates have risen—primarily based on classical models, including Richard's equation and the standard Green-Ampt infiltration model. Yet, many of these traditional frameworks overlook the inappropriate saturation assumptions made about subsurface soils, leading to inaccurate forecasts for construction integrity.
Through systematic field tests and comprehensive data evaluation, the MLGA model acknowledged this oversight. Parameters such as saturated water content, initial moisture levels, and matrix suction are now accurately modeled to reflect true soil conditions. The model also emphasizes saturated water content as the most sensitive parameter affecting infiltration depth.
Research findings convey exciting potential not only for this model’s application within loess regions but also for broader contexts, offering theoretical and practical frameworks to refine water infiltration assessments across different soil types.
By providing accurate modeling of infiltration processes, the MLGA model aims to facilitate more reliable constructions and informed engineering decisions—crucial for future infrastructural endeavors.
Future research aims to explore the applicability of the MLGA model across varied soil types and assess its long-term utility for managing challenges posed by changing environmental conditions.
Overall, the MLGA model emerges as not just a tool for academic inquiry but as a beacon for engineering advancements addressing the complex realities of infiltration dynamics and their consequential effects on construction stability.