Transient rainfall seepage through compacted bentonite clay barriers and mountain soil profiles governed by Richards' equation and matrix suction head (ψ).
Note: This simulation module is intended strictly for conceptual visualization and interactive representation purposes.
Variably saturated flow through engineered soil caps and clay barriers is modeled using Richards' equation:
∂θ / ∂t = ∇ · [ K(ψ) ∇(ψ + z) ]
Matrix suction loss and wetting front propagation are controlled by non-linear soil-water retention curves (SWRC). As moisture infiltrates, suction head decreases, driving effective permeability toward saturated hydraulic conductivity (Ks).