Continuous Modeling of Bioinfiltration Storm-Water Control Measures Using Green and Ampt
Publication: Journal of Irrigation and Drainage Engineering
Volume 139, Issue 12
Abstract
Continuous simulation of storm-water control measures (SCM) requires consideration of the variable environmental and site factors that affect infiltration. This article reviews the theory of the Green and Ampt infiltration model and presents a unit process approach to how it can be applied to a bioinfiltration SCM. The paper discusses how to vary the soil moisture parameters using the soil water characteristic curve, how to modify the Green and Ampt equation for different basin cross-sections, and how to model or bound the infiltration rate when soil media layers are added. Both the standard Green and Ampt parameters and alternative moisture conditions were compared with data from a bioinfiltration SCM; these results confirm that the standard parameter tables often used to select Green and Ampt parameters represent conservative, wet conditions, and that a single value for the parameters will not be able to reproduce the range of infiltration rates observed in the field. When using variable soil moisture conditions, the Green and Ampt model adequately reproduces the infiltration rates observed at the bioinfiltration site.
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Acknowledgments
The authors wish to thank Pennsylvania’s Growing Greener Grant and Pennsylvania’s 319 Non Point Source Program for providing funding for this research. They also thank the Villanova Urban Stormwater Partnership (VUSP) for their continued support.
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Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Irrigation and Drainage Engineering
Volume 139 • Issue 12 • December 2013
Pages: 1004 - 1010
Copyright
© 2013 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Nov 29, 2012
Accepted: Jul 5, 2013
Published online: Nov 15, 2013
Published in print: Dec 1, 2013
Discussion open until: Apr 15, 2014
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