ABSTRACT
This chapter introduces a procedure to estimate fractal dimensions of stained flow patterns. The fractal dimensions are used in regression equations explaining various processes related to bypass flow. Results of these regression analyses are incorporated in a deterministic water flow simulation model. J. Bouma summarized factors governing bypass flow as: rain intensity, rain quantity, surface microrelief, surface texture, surface water repellency and surface water content. More bypass flow occurs at: high rain intensities, high rain quantities, little surface relief, high clay contents, high water repellency and high surface water contents. Two main approaches for simulating bypass flow can be distinguished: the one- and two-domain models. They quantified soil structure in terms of fractal dimensions of methylene blue stained macropores and linked these dimensions to soil physical characteristics such as macropore flow velocity, initial breakthrough of bypass flow water and cumulative amounts of bypass flow.
