Effect of Composition on Basic Properties of Engineered Media for Living Roofs and Bioretention
Publication: Journal of Hydrologic Engineering
Volume 21, Issue 6
Abstract
Engineered media used in living roofs and bioretention plays a crucial role in determining stormwater mitigation performance. Engineered media with compositions varying in four aggregates, volumetric ratio of compost (0, 10, and 20%) and three amendments (zeolite, paving sand, and topsoil) were prepared in the laboratory. Media basic properties including particle-size distribution (PSD), dry bulk density, particle density, porosity, and saturated hydraulic conductivity (), were characterized and investigated as a function of the varying composition. All media are classified as poorly-graded sand (SP), exhibiting porosity greater than 0.51, with magnitudes of ranging from to . Media with pumice-based aggregates have particle densities between 2.21 and . The of a pure aggregate classified as SP is positively related to the particle size corresponding to 50% fines on the cumulative PSD curve. values of four aggregates either remain unchanged or decrease by 73% at most with the addition of the compost. An amendment to an aggregate-compost mixture can alter in different ways, depending on its particle shape, coarseness, and organic material.
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Acknowledgments
The authors appreciate Dr. Robyn Simcock and John Dando at Landcare Research for help in data measurements and interpretation. The first author would also like to thank the China Scholarship Council for providing the doctoral scholarship for her Ph.D. studies, and the University of Auckland for providing funding for experiments.
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Published In
Journal of Hydrologic Engineering
Volume 21 • Issue 6 • June 2016
Copyright
© 2016 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Apr 16, 2015
Accepted: Dec 29, 2015
Published online: Mar 3, 2016
Published in print: Jun 1, 2016
Discussion open until: Aug 3, 2016
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