Impact of Compacted Layers on Penetration Resistance under Dynamic Water Flow in the Soil

• Grant number: 24/19007-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: April 01, 2025
• End date: March 31, 2026
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Agricultural Engineering - Soil and Water Engineering
• Principal Investigator: Renato Paiva de Lima
• Grantee: Guilherme Munhoz Nadalete
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Engenharia Agrícola (FEAGRI). Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Campinas , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Soil compaction normally takes the form of compacted layers of lower permeability, which in turn can impact the flow and retention of water throughout the soil profile, reducing drainage time and affecting the soil's resistance to penetration. The objective of this study was to investigate the impact of the presence of a compacted layer on soil water flow and penetration resistance, using numerical modeling based on the Richards equation in COMSOL Multiphysics. In a numerical simulation software, a problem, in the form of a soil profile, will be constructed with and without the presence of the compacted layer. The parameterization will be carried out with data available in the literature, and will consist of retention curve data, hydraulic conductivity of the saturated soil and penetration resistance curve parameters. Such parameters will be used to numerically solve the Richards equation for flows occurring from saturation, and penetration resistance will be examined as a function of drainage time, varying as a function of retained water content.