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Scope for further analytical solutions for constant flux infiltration into a semi-infinite soil profile or redistribution in a finite soil profile.

journal contribution
posted on 2002-12-01, 00:00 authored by D.Andrew Barry, J Parlange, I Lisle, L Li, D S Jeng, Francesco Stagnitti, G Sander
We attempt to generate new solutions for the moisture content form of the one-dimensional Richards' [1931] equation using the Lisle [1992] equivalence mapping. This mapping is used as no more general set of transformations exists for mapping the one-dimensional Richards' equation into itself. Starting from a given solution, the mapping has the potential to generate an infinite number of new solutions for a series of nonlinear diffusivity and hydraulic conductivity functions. We first seek new analytical solutions satisfying Richards' equation subject to a constant flux surface boundary condition for a semi-infinite dry soil, starting with the Burgers model. The first iteration produces an existing solution, while subsequent iterations are shown to endlessly reproduce this same solution. Next, we briefly consider the problem of redistribution in a finite-length soil. In this case, Lisle's equivalence mapping is generalized to account for arbitrary initial conditions. As was the case for infiltration, however, it is found that new analytical solutions are not generated using the equivalence mapping, although existing solutions are recovered.

History

Journal

Water resources research

Volume

38

Issue

12

Pagination

1265 - 1271

Publisher

American Geophysical Union

Location

Washington D.C.

ISSN

0043-1397

eISSN

1944-7973

Language

eng

Publication classification

C1.1 Refereed article in a scholarly journal

Copyright notice

2002, American Geophysical Union