Suspended Sediment Trap Efficiency of Vegetative Filter Strips: Fid-Bau Portal

Suspended Sediment Trap Efficiency of Vegetative Filter Strips

Osman Akan, A

AbstractThis technical note is an extension of a previously reported hydrologic study of vegetative filter strips to calculate sediment trap efficiencies. It presents a set of charts developed using predetermined numerical solutions to the governing equations for overland flow, infiltration, and mass balance of suspended sediments in overland flow. Kinematic-wave equations are used for overland flow, the Green and Ampt equations are employed for infiltration, and the Aberdeen equation is adopted for sediment removal. The governing equations are written and solved numerically in terms of a set of dimensionless variables. The solutions thus obtained are generalized using the principle of hydrologic similarity and presented in chart form. The results show that the trap efficiency is affected by the subsurface conditions, surface conditions, and sediment characteristics. The charts presented can be used to quantify the impact of each parameter. Among the typical hydrological design parameters, the flow length has the highest impact on trap efficiency.