Optimizing Height and Spacing of Check Dam Systems for Better Grassed Channel Infiltration Capacity

Ahmed Mohammed Sami Al-Janabi,Abdul Halim Ghazali,Badronnisa Yusuf,Nadhir Al-Ansari,Zaher Mundher Yaseen,Saad Sh. Sammen,Shamsuddin Shahid,Haitham Abdulmohsin Afan

doi:10.3390/app10113725

Abstract

The check dams in grassed stormwater channels enhance infiltration capacity by temporarily blocking water flow. However, the design properties of check dams, such as their height and spacing, have a significant influence on the flow regime in grassed stormwater channels and thus channel infiltration capacity. In this study, a mass-balance method was applied to a grassed channel model to investigate the effects of height and spacing of check dams on channel infiltration capacity. Moreover, an empirical infiltration model was derived by improving the modified Kostiakov model for reliable estimation of infiltration capacity of a grassed stormwater channel due to check dams from four hydraulic parameters of channels, namely, the water level, channel base width, channel side slope, and flow velocity. The result revealed that channel infiltration was increased from 12% to 20% with the increase of check dam height from 10 to 20 cm. However, the infiltration was found to decrease from 20% to 19% when a 20 cm height check dam spacing was increased from 10 to 30 m. These results indicate the effectiveness of increasing height of check dams for maximizing the infiltration capacity of grassed stormwater channels and reduction of runoff volume.

Highlights

The use of grassed channels as a sustainable urban stormwater management tool has increased rapidly compared to other types of green stormwater management tools in recent years [1,2]
M to 45.5 m for hw = 15 cm and spacing = 10 m, and 59.6 m for hw = 20 cm The and present considered the application of a mass-balance method a grassed channel model spacingstudy
Check dams are commonly used in grassed stormwater channels for enhancement of channel infiltration capacity by temporarily blocking water flow and providing backwater ponding

Summary

Introduction

The use of grassed channels as a sustainable urban stormwater management tool has increased rapidly compared to other types of green stormwater management tools in recent years [1,2]. Sci. 2020, 10, 3725 stormwater channel provides temporary storage and ecological water quality enhancement in addition to aesthetic benefits [3,4,5]. The most significant feature of grassed channels is the interaction between flowing water and the grass cover that diffuses the flow and lessens flow velocities [6,7]. This helps in increased infiltration and reduction of runoff volume, and lessening of flood risk in the downstream [8]

Methods

Results

Conclusion