Comparison of Surface Irrigation Simulation Models: Full Hydrodynamic, Zero Inertia, Kinematic Wave

TLDR: Ability of full hydrodynamic, zero inertia, and kinematic wave models has been investigated in surface irrigation simulation using SIRMOD software, and their performance has been compared.

Abstract: Some phenomena such as surface irrigation are so complex that it is very difficult to implement them in nature. For this purpose, simulation models are used. In this study, ability of full hydrodynamic, zero inertia, and kinematic wave models has been investigated in surface irrigation simulation. Using SIRMOD software, their performance has been compared. The results showed that full hydrodynamic and zero inertia models were very powerful in simulation process. For increasing of filed slope until amount of 0.01 full hydrodynamic and zero inertia models had not any difference but for more increasing of S0 due to the increasing of velocity, accuracy of zero inertia model dropped. In full hydrodynamic and zero inertia models for increase in Manning’s roughness coefficient amount of error was increased until n=0.15. After this amount, error remained constant thus n=0.15 determined as critical discharge. Accuracy of kinematic wave model reduced in clay and heavy clay soils, high discharges, high Manning’s roughness coefficient, and basin irrigation. However, in many situations all three models had the same answers and were capable tools to simulating of surface irrigation processes.