L'objectif de ce travail est le développement d'un modèle et d'une méthode numérique adaptés à la simulation du ruissellement d'eau de pluie sur des surfaces agricoles. Pour cela, nous utilisons un système d'équations aux dérivées partielles pour les eaux peu profondes : le système de Saint Venant. La pluie et l'infiltration y sont pris en compte par l'ajout de termes source et le couplage avec un modèle d'infiltration. Le système étant hyperbolique et conservatif nous choisissons d'utiliser un schéma aux volumes finis avec reconstruction hydrostatique. Avec cette reconstruction nous obtenons un schéma permettant de traiter les équilibres stationnaires et les interfaces sec/mouillé dues aux événements pluvieux. Tout d'abord, nous effectuons une comparaison systématique de différents flux numériques, de différentes reconstructions d'ordre deux (MUSCL et ENO modifiées) et de différentes méthodes de traitement des frottements sur des solutions analytiques unidimensionnelles. Ces comparaisons nous permettent de choisir une méthode numérique adaptée à la simulation du ruissellement qui en outre capture les phénomènes de type roll-waves. Ensuite nous nous intéressons au traitement de la pluie et de l'infiltration à l'aide du modèle de Green-Ampt. Cette méthode généralisée en dimension deux est validée sur des résultats expérimentaux obtenus à l'INRA d'Orléans et à l'IRD. La méthode numérique choisie et validée a été implémentée dans FullSWOF_2D un logiciel libre écrit en C++ pour la simulation de ruissellement d'eau de pluie sur des surfaces agricoles.

Worldwide there is considerable concern over the effects of human activities on the quantity and quality of freshwater. Measurement of infiltration behaviour will be important for improving freshwater management. This study identifies that New Zealand has a sporadic history of measuring soil water movement attributes on a limited number of soil types, although the current practical demand should be large for management of irrigation, dairy farm effluent disposal, as well as municipal / domestic waste- and storm-water disposal. Previous research has demonstrated that infiltration behaviour is governed by the interplay between numerous mechanisms including hydrophobicity and preferential flow, the latter being an important mechanism of contaminant leaching for many NZ soils. Future characterisation will need to recognise the dynamic nature of these interactions, and be able to reliably characterise the key infiltration mechanisms. Since macropores are responsible for preferential flow, it is critical that infiltration studies use a representative sample of the macropore network. The aim of this project was to study the mechanisms governing the infiltration behaviour of a layered soil in large (50 x 70 cm) monolith lysimeters, where the connectivity of the macropore network remains undisturbed. Four lysimeters of the Gorge silt loam were collected, a structured soil with four distinct layers. On each lysimeter there were four separate infiltration experiments, with water applied under suctions of 0, 0.5, 1, and 1.5 kPa by a custom-built tension infiltrometer. Each lysimeter was instrumented with 30 tensiometers, located in arrays at the layer boundaries. There was also a field experiment using ponded dye infiltration to visually define preferential flowpaths. Analysis of dye patterns, temporal variability in soil matric potential (Ψm), and solute breakthrough curves all show that preferential flow is an important infiltration mechanism. Preferential flowpaths were activated when Ψm was above -1.5 kPa. During saturated infiltration, at least 97% of drainage was through the ‘mobile’ pore volume of the lysimeter (θm), estimated among the lysimeters at 5.4 – 8.7 % of the lysimeter volume. Early-time infiltration behaviour did not show the classical square-root of time behaviour, indicating sorptivity was not the governing mechanism. This was consistent across the four lysimeters, and during infiltration under different surface imposed suctions. The most likely mechanism restricting sorptivity is weak hydrophobicity, which appears to restrict infiltration for the first 5 – 10 mm of infiltration. Overall, the Gorge soil’s early-time infiltration behaviour is governed by the dynamic interaction between sorptivity, hydrophobicity, the network of air-filled pores, preferential flow and air encapsulation. Long-time infiltration behaviour was intimately linked to the temporal dynamics of Ψm, which was in turn controlled by preferential flow and soil layer interactions. Preferential flowpaths created strong inter-layer connectivity by allowing an irregular wetting front to reach lower layers within 2 – 15 mm of infiltration. Thereafter, layer interactions dominate infiltration for long-time periods, as Ψm in soil layers with different K(Ψm) relationships self-adjusts to try to maintain a constant Darcy velocity. An important finding was that Ψm rarely attained the value set by the tension infiltrometer during unsaturated infiltration. The results show that ‘true’ steady-state infiltration is unlikely to occur in layered soils. A quasi-steady state was identified once the whole column had fully wet and layer interactions had settled to where Ψm changes occurred in unison through each soil layer. Quasi-steady state was difficult to identify from just the cumulative infiltration curve, but more robustly identified as when infiltration matched drainage, and Ψm measurements showed each layer had a stable hydraulic gradient. I conclude that the in-situ hydraulic conductivity, K(Ψm), of individual soil layers can be accurately and meaningfully determined from lysimeter-scale infiltration experiments. My results show that K(Ψm) is different for each soil layer, and that differences are consistent among the four lysimeters. Under saturated flow the subsoil had the lowest conductivity, and was the restricting layer. Most interestingly this pattern reversed during unsaturated flow. As Ψm decreased below -0.5 to -1 kPa, the subsoil was markedly more conductive, and the topsoil layers became the restricting layers. All four soil layers demonstrate a sharp decline in K(Ψm) as Ψm decreases, with a break in slope at ~ -1 kPa indicating the dual-permeability nature of all layers.

L'objectif de cette recherche est l'étude du transfert d'eau en phase liquide dans les parois du bâtiment et de définir une nouvelle métrologie pour déterminer le coefficient de perméabilité liquide des matériaux du bâtiment. Une partie théorique fait l'état des connaissances en matière de modélisation du transfert d'eau en phase liquide. Elle est suivie par une partie qui relate les méthodes utilisées pour mesurer ou imposer des pressions capillaires (ou succions) avec un intérêt particulier à la méthode osmotique qui est utilisée plus tard pour imposer des conditions aux limites en terme de succion. Cette dernière partie s'ouvre sur une revue des méthodes de mesure de la perméabilité liquide et sera conclue par la définition et la mise au point d'une nouvelle méthode de mesure de la perméabilité liquide, qui a fait l'objet d'un dépôt de brevet d'invention, s'appuyant sur la méthode osmotique et qui fonctionne en régime permanent, mesurant les débits entrant et sortant de l'échantillon. Une campagne d'essais est menée sur du béton cellulaire autoclave avec différents couples de conditions aux limites. Il s'ensuit une recherche d'identification d'une relation entre la perméabilité liquide et la succion, démarche qui mérite plus d'approfondissement. Finalement cette nouvelle méthode de mesure mérite d'être diffusée, et son caractère opérationnel est manifeste.

Les préoccupations actuelles quant à la réduction des rejets urbains en temps de pluie ne concernent en principe guère les réseaux séparatifs de collecte des eaux usées. Pourtant les débits observés à l'exutoire de ces réseaux présentent des variations analogues à celles qui caractérisent les systèmes unitaires. Les raccordements illicites d'eaux pluviales ne sont pas la seule cause de ce comportement et les apports par infiltration y contribuent largement. Par le jeu de mécanismes complexes de drainage, les défauts d'étanchéité des réseaux, y compris ceux qui sont localisés en domaine privé, sont à l'origine de débits importants, aussi bien à l'échelle annuelle, que journalière ou même horaire. Mais ces débits restent difficiles à caractériser car ils dépendent non seulement des événements pluvieux mais de leurs antécédents et de la saison. On a donc cherché à développer un modèle permettant de simuler ces débits et à le valider à partir de mesures de terrain et d'une étude de sensibilité. Ce modèle pourrait constituer un outil intéressant pour les études diagnostic de réseau.

La détermination des modalités de transfert de l'eau dans un aquifère et la connaissance des volumes d'eau qu'il contient , fait l'objet de nombreuses études en hydrologie. Pour obtenir ces informations, l'hydrogéologue cherche à représenter le transfert de l'eau par une fonction simple qui lui permettrait de prévoir la réponse du milieu souterrain aux stimuli d'entrée , tels que les pluies ou les pollutions, de connaître le temps de séjour moyen de l'eau dans la matrice et par suite de calculer les volumes d'eau contenus dans celle-ci . Dans cette étude, il est proposé de considérer un aquifère comme une "boite noire" dont on ne connait que les fonctions d'entrée et de sortie , et de lui appliquer les méthodes de l'analyse-système qui se sont développées en électronique. A partir de deux hypothèses , vérifiées sur un modèle physique de laboratoire, il est montré qu'un aquifère dont l'entrée est représentée par la surface du bassin hydrologique , peut être assimilée à un système linéaire dont la réponse impulsionnelle est une fonction exponentielle unlque. L'argument de cette exponentielle définit le temps de séjour moyen de l'eau dans le système et le produit du débit moyen des écoulements par ce temps moyen permet de calculer le volume d'eau contenu dans l'aquifère. L'application de cette méthode sur un bassin hydrologique situé à St Genis, Hautes Alpes, s'est avérée satisfaisante . Elle permet de définir une réponse impulsionnelle constituée de deux fonctions exponentielles représentatives de deux systèmes qui composent l'aquifère du bassin et d'en calculer les volumes utiles . L'utilisation des données isotopiques du milieu, nécessairement pondérées par les débits, apparaît comme un supplément d'information indispensable à la bonne détermination de la réponse impulsionnelle et à l'estimation des réserves de l'aquifère.

From the Proceedings of the 1971 Meetings of the Arizona Section - American Water Resources Assn. and the Hydrology Section - Arizona Academy of Science - April 22-23, 1971, Tempe, Arizona / The importance of pine forest as a timber and water producing area has led to intensive management, including protection from wildfire. This has resulted in dense stand growth with increased destructive fire potential and transpirational water loss. In Arizona, as in many areas, prescribed forest burning has been used to effectively reduce these fuel hazards. Some question has arisen about the possible side effects of such treatments, particularly air pollution and reduction of infiltration and water yield. In an effort to determine the effects on infiltration, plots receiving various treatments (control, light burn, heavy burn) were fitted with fusion pyrometers before burning, to measure soil surface temperatures during burning. After burning, infiltrometers were installed. Surface temperatures did not exceed 200 degrees f. For the light burns, and ranged over 350-500 degrees f. During heavy burns. Both heavy and light burns produced highly significant decreases in infiltration capacities after burning and the surface 2 inches showed increases in soil pH, carbon and total nitrogen percentages. Infiltration capacities returned to normal after overwintering and were attributed to frost action on soil texture and porosity. The soil chemical changes decreased slowly over 2 years. Soil water repellency also increased and the significance of this is discussed.

From the Proceedings of the 1971 Meetings of the Arizona Section - American Water Resources Assn. and the Hydrology Section - Arizona Academy of Science - April 22-23, 1971, Tempe, Arizona / Sewage effluent is commonly used for the irrigation of crops that are not consumed raw. Due to continued population growth in the Salt River Valley, Arizona, economic reuse of municipal waste waters is becoming essential. The salt river bed has about 3 ft of fine loamy sand underlain by sand and gravel layers to great depth and a groundwater table at about 10 ft depth. These conditions are very favorable for high-rate waste water reclamation by groundwater recharge. The activated sludge plant in phoenix will probably be discharging 250 mgd by the year 2000. At 4.5 ft average annual water use, this could irrigate about 70,000 acres, possibly more than agriculture will need at that time. A sewage effluent renovation pilot project was located about 1.5 miles from the plant. It contains 6 parallel recharge basins 20 to 700 ft each, spaced 20 ft apart. The basins were covered by grass, gravel or were left bare. Observation wells were installed at various locations in the area. Results indicated that infiltration rates were fastest in the grassy basins. Phosphate, nitrogen and median fecal coliform levels were all lower after this form of tertiary treatment. Practical details of the application of this water reclamation method in the Salt River Valley are outlined. Costs would be 5 dollars/af, less than 1/10 the equivalent costs of in-plant tertiary treatments.

From the Proceedings of the 1972 Meetings of the Arizona Section - American Water Resources Assn. and the Hydrology Section - Arizona Academy of Science - May 5-6, 1972, Prescott, Arizona / The contribution of flows from small watersheds to groundwater recharge is of interest. Water disposition depends on infiltration and evaporation characteristics. This study had the objective of developing an infiltration equation for estimating transmission losses during a flow event in an ephemeral stream near Tucson, Arizona, in the rocky mountain forest and range experiment station. Palo Verde, desert hackberry, cholla, marmontea and mesquite are the major bank species of the sandy channels. A climatic section consisting of a hydrothermograph recording rain gage and class a evaporation pan was installed. A water balance method was used to estimate evapotranspiration. A specially designed infiltrometer was used to simulate flow events. The data allowed the following conclusions: Philip's infiltration equation is an excellent mathematical model, initial moisture affects initial infiltration rate, the Philip coefficients are determinable by the infiltrometer constructed, soil moisture affects infiltration rates, and transpiration rates diminish linearly proportional to the ratio of available water to field capacity.

From the Proceedings of the 1973 Meetings of the Arizona Section - American Water Resources Assn. and the Hydrology Section - Arizona Academy of Science - May 4-5, 1973, Tucson, Arizona / All groundwater in fort valley is presently found in perched aquifers. The regional water table in the area is estimated to lie at a depth of approximately 1750 feet. Groundwater reservoirs are perched on impermeable clay zones located at the base of alluvial units. Groundwater is also found in highly fractured volcanic zones overlaying impermeable clay zones. Perched aquifers also occur in interflow zones above either impermeable clays or unfractured volcanics. Groundwater in fort valley is the result of infiltration or runoff and from precipitation. This recharge water infiltrates the alluvium or fractured volcanic rocks until an impermeable zone is reached where it becomes perched groundwater. Greatest well yields come from these recharge aquifers; their reliability is largely dependent on precipitation and runoff. Most wells in the fort valley area supply adequate amounts of water for domestic use.

From the Proceedings of the 1973 Meetings of the Arizona Section - American Water Resources Assn. and the Hydrology Section - Arizona Academy of Science - May 4-5, 1973, Tucson, Arizona / The geohydrology of a portion of the Santa Catalina Mountains including the definition of aquifer systems in the foothills was studied in order to calculate groundwater recharge to the Tucson basin. This underlying groundwater aquifer is the only source of Tucson, Arizona's water supply. A well network, well logs, geologic profiles, and a water level contour map were used as source information. Recharge was found to occur in some sections of washes and close to the mountains where washes cross or coincide with faults. Significant recharge to sand and gravel aquifers occurs directly through faults and joints. Little of the surface runoff is thought to recharge local aquifers because of low permeability layers beneath the alluvium and the short duration of the flows. Recharge calculation using the Darcy equation was subject to considerable error; but flow net analysis showed the total recharge to be 336 acre-feet per year representing about 50 acre feet per mile of mountain front per year.