分形模型在利用颗粒分布数据评价土壤持水性质中的应用

Soil water retention characteristics are the key information required in hydrological modeling.Frac-tal models provide a practical alternative for indirectly estimating soil water retention characteristics from particle-size distribution data.Predictive capabilities of three fractal models,i.c.,Tylcr-Wheatcraft model,Rieu-Sposito model,and Brooks-Corey model,were fully evaluated in this work using experimental data from an international database and literature.Particle-size distribution data were firstly interpolated into 20 classes using a van Genuchten-type equation.Fractal dimensions of the tortuous pore wall and the pore surface were then calculated from the detailed particle-size distribution and incorporated as a parameter in fractal water retention models.Comparisons between measured and model-estimated water retention cha-racteristics indicated that these three models were applicable to relatively different soil textures and pressure head ranges.Tyler-Whcatcraft and Brooks-Corey models led to reasonable agreements for both coarse-and medium-textured soils,while the latter showed applicability to a broader texture range.In contrast,Rieu-Sposito model was more suitable for fine-textured soils.Fractal models produced a better estimation of water contents at low pressure heads than at high pressure heads.

Applicability of fractal models in estimating soil water retention characteristics from particle-size distribution data

Soil water retention characteristics are the key information required in hydrological modeling. Frac-tal models provide a practical alternative for indirectly estimating soil water retention characteristics fromparticle-size distribution data. Predictive capabilities of three fractal models, i.e, Tyler-Wheatcraft model,Rieu-Sposito model, and Brooks-Corey model, were fully evaluated in this work using experimental datafrom an international database and literature. Particle-size distribution data were firstly interpolated into20 classes using a van Genuchten-type equation. Fractal dimensions of the tortuous pore wall and the poresurface were then calculated from the detailed particle-size distribution and incorporated as a parameter infractal water retention models. Comparisons between measured and model-estimated water retention cha-racteristics indicated that these three models were applicable to relatively different soil textures and pressurehead ranges. Tyler-Wheatcraft and Brooks-Corey models led to reasonable agreements for both coarse- andmedium-textured soils, while the latter showed applicability to a broader texture range. In contrast, Rieu-Sposito model was more suitable for fine-textured soils. Fractal models produced a better estimation of watercontents at low pressure heads than at high pressure heads.