Hydrologic Modeling Of Urban Vegetative Filter Strips

This paper presents a set of generalized charts that can be used as an aid for quick hydrologic evaluation of vegetative filter strips to determine the runoff residence time and reductions in storm runoff volume and peak discharge. These charts are developed by using the predetermined numerical solutions to the governing equations for the overland flow and infiltration processes. Kinematic wave equations are used for overland flow and the Green and Ampt equations are employed for infiltration calculations. An explicit finite-difference scheme is employed to couple and solve these equations. The basic mathematical model is verified by using a set of published experimental data. The model is extended to incorporate a design inflow and the governing equations are written and solved numerically in terms of a set of dimensionless variables. The solutions thus obtained are generalized by using the principle of hydrologic similarity and presented in chart form.