Experimental Testing for Evaluating the Influence of Substrate Thickness on the Sub-Surface Runoff of a Green Roof

Abstract:

Green roofs (GRs) represent one of the most widespread Low Impact Development (LID) techniques, although the lack of adequate modeling tools is a limiting factor in the diffusion of such practices. GRs may represent a solution for minimizing the impact of urbanization on the hydrological cycle and for sustainably managing water resources in urban environment. Several studies have shown that GRs effectively control surface runoff in urban drainage system reducing overall volumes and peak flow rates. The performance of a GR is strongly dependent upon substrate soil depth. The understanding of infiltration phenomena in soil medium is one of the most important factors in the LID’s hydrological behavior analysis. In this study the hydrologic/hydraulic behavior of a GR for varying substrate thicknesses and constant rainfall intensities, ranging from 45 to 130 mm/h is tested. The results show that sub-surface runoff is linearly influenced by substrate thickness.

• Periodical: Applied Mechanics and Materials (Volume 737)
• Pages: 705-709
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/AMM.737.705
• Online since: March 2015
• Authors: Marco Carbone, Gennaro Nigro*, Giuseppina Garofalo, Patrizia Piro
• Keywords: Green Roof, HYDROLOGY, LIDs, Subsurface Runoff

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