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This paper presents a two-dimensional (2D) numerical model of soil erosion and sediment transport resulting from rainfall induced overland flow. It is a spatial and temporal dynamic model combining physical and empirical laws and comprises: i) An overland flow module that solves the two-dimensional unsteady water flow equations on an infiltrating surface; ii) A soil infiltration module that uses a combined Horton-SCS scheme; and iii) A soil erosion and sediment transport module that solves the two-dimensional sediment transport equation, distinguishing between rill erosion, interrill erosion and sediment deposition.
The performance of the model was evaluated by comparing its results with observed data from laboratory rainfall-runoff experiments on a two-directional 2.00 × 2.00 m2 soil flume set at 1% and 10% slopes in the x- and y-directions, respectively. The x-direction produced remarkably lower runoff and transported sediments than the y-direction. The numerical model significantly underestimated x-direction lower values of runoff and transported sediments. However, in the y-direction the model presented very good performance. Overall, in total terms (x- plus y-direction), the numerically simulated graphs of runoff and sediment transport were in very good agreement with corresponding experimental measurements, demonstrating the laboratory proof-of-concept of the model.
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This paper presents a two-dimensional (2D) numerical model of soil erosion and sediment transport resulting from rainfall induced overland flow. It is a spatial and temporal dynamic model combining physical and empirical laws and comprises: i) An overland flow module that solves the two-dimensional unsteady water flow equations on an infiltrating surface; ii) A soil infiltration module that uses a combined Horton-SCS scheme; and iii) A soil erosion and sediment transport module that solves the two-dimensional sediment transport equation, distinguishing between rill erosion, interrill erosion and sediment deposition.
The performance of the model was evaluated by comparing its results with observed data from laboratory rainfall-runoff experiments on a two-directional 2.00 × 2.00 m2 soil flume set at 1% and 10% slopes in the x- and y-directions, respectively. The x-direction produced remarkably lower runoff and transported sediments than the y-direction. The numerical model significantly underestimated x-direction lower values of runoff and transported sediments. However, in the y-direction the model presented very good performance. Overall, in total terms (x- plus y-direction), the numerically simulated graphs of runoff and sediment transport were in very good agreement with corresponding experimental measurements, demonstrating the laboratory proof-of-concept of the model.

Two-dimensional (2D) numerical modelling of rainfall induced overland flow, infiltration and soil erosion: comparison with laboratory rainfall-runoff simulations on a two-directional slope soil flume

Department of Civil Engineering, Faculty of Sciences and Technology

MARE UCoimbra - Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre, University of Coimbra

Journal of Hydrology and Hydromechanics

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

This paper presents a two-dimensional (2D) numerical model of soil erosion and sediment transport resulting from rainfall induced overland flow. It is a...

Two-dimensional (2D) numerical modelling of rainfall induced overland flow, infiltration and soil erosion: comparison with laboratory rainfall-runoff simulations on a two-directional slope soil flume

Published Online: May 21, 2021

Page range: 140 - 150

Received: Sep 30, 2019

Accepted: Dec 21, 2020

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/johh-2021-0003

Keywords
Two-dimensional modelling, Overland flow, Soil erosion, Horton-SCS infiltration, Two-directional laboratory soil flume, Rainfall simulation

© 2021 João R.C.B. Abrantes et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Two-dimensional (2D) numerical modelling of rainfall induced overland flow, infiltration and soil erosion: comparison with laboratory rainfall-runoff simulations on a two-directional slope soil flume

Published Online: May 21, 2021

Page range: 140 - 150

Received: Sep 30, 2019

Accepted: Dec 21, 2020

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/johh-2021-0003

KeywordsTwo-dimensional modelling, Overland flow, Soil erosion, Horton-SCS infiltration, Two-directional laboratory soil flume, Rainfall simulation

© 2021 João R.C.B. Abrantes et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Keywords
Two-dimensional modelling, Overland flow, Soil erosion, Horton-SCS infiltration, Two-directional laboratory soil flume, Rainfall simulation