Methodology and Development of a Large-Scale Sediment Basin for Performance Testing

Perez, Michael A.; Zech, Wesley C.; Fang, Xing; Vasconcelos, José G.

doi:10.1061/(asce)ir.1943-4774.0001052

Cited by 14 publications

(28 citation statements)

References 5 publications

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“…The basin was constructed to ALDOT standard requirements [30,37] and is comparable in volume capacity of sediment basins used on construction sites. Depending on sizing guidance, the basin used in this study would be capable of treating up to 0.6 ha (1.6 ac) of contributing drainage area [11]. The inflow channel conveys sediment-laden flow into the sediment basin and includes an enhanced rip-rap ditch check intended to reduce channel velocity and shear stress, while facilitating the capture of rapidly settable solids prior to flow reaching the basin [30,38].…”

Section: Methodology and Testing Regime Summarymentioning

confidence: 99%

“…), 2-year, 24-h design rainfall depth with a Type Water 2019, 11, 316 6 of 19 III Soil Conservation Service distribution for a 0.098 ha (0.242 ac) contributing drainage area. Further details on the design and construction of the flow introduction apparatus, including details on flow and sediment introduction rate determination using hydrologic and soil loss modeling techniques, are provided in [11].…”

Section: Methodology and Testing Regime Summarymentioning

confidence: 99%

“…[29]. For the purposes of this research, the Alabama Department of Transportation (ALDOT) standard configuration was used to design and construct the test apparatus and is described in the Methodology and Testing Regime section of this manuscript [11]. The ALDOT standard configuration for sediment basins has the following key features: (1) an excavated sump and ditch check to create a forebay, (2) three coir baffles installed perpendicular to flow to create four equal bays, (3) a surface skimmer dewatering device, and (4) an auxiliary spillway [30].…”

Section: Standard Configurationmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Sediment basin efficiency can be affected by soil particle size distribution and through gravitational forces. Sediment basin efficiency can be affected by soil particle size distribution and several physical parameters such as: basin size and geometry (e.g., length to width ratio), energy dissipation, selection of a dewatering mechanism, and other design considerations [9][10][11][12]. Basin volume requirements are a function of contributing drainage area and the required detention time for soil particles to settle.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Specific configurations are described in detail in Section 2 and include: the addition of an excavated sump in the forebay, modification of the first baffle system, and the use of high-rate lamella plate settlers. The design of the sediment basin testing apparatus, shown in Figure 1a, at the Auburn University-Erosion and Sediment Control Testing Facility (AU-ESCTF), as well as the development of a testing methodology and testing regime were detailed through previous research efforts [11].…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

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Large-Scale Performance Testing of Temporary Sediment Basin Treatments and High-Rate Lamella Settlers

Perez

Zech

Vasconcelos

et al. 2019

Water

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Sediment basins are temporary practices commonly used to detain stormwater runoff and capture suspended sediment on construction sites. A 79.0 m 3 (2790 ft 3 ) sediment basin testing apparatus at the Auburn University-Erosion and Sediment Control Testing Facility was used to provide a series of controlled and repeatable, large-scale tests to understand the performance of sediment basins and provide improvements. This research evaluated five sediment basin configurations over the course of 27 individual tests, including: (1) a standard configuration, (2) the addition of an excavated sump upstream of a ditch check, (3) the modification of the first baffle, (4) a high-rate lamella settler in upward flow, and (5) a high-rate lamella settler in parallel flow. The primary metric for evaluating performance and the treatment effectiveness of a configuration's ability in capturing sediment was assessed from turbidity measured across the basin surface. Multiple linear regression analysis indicated that an excavated sump provided insignificant improvement in sediment capture effectiveness. Furthermore, the modification to the first baffle was deemed ineffective in improving treatment efficiency. Lamella settler results indicated a 18.2% and 29.0% reduction in turbidity across the basin for upward and parallel flow configurations, respectively. several physical parameters such as: basin size and geometry (e.g., length to width ratio), energy dissipation, selection of a dewatering mechanism, and other design considerations [9][10][11][12]. Basin volume requirements are a function of contributing drainage area and the required detention time for soil particles to settle. Often, sediment basins require relatively large footprints to provide adequate storage and residence time for treatment [13]. With right-of-way limitations on linear roadway projects, the size and optimization of sediment basin performance is critical. The performance of sediment basins has been investigated by several researchers [13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26][27][28], however controlled experiments in a large-scale sediment basin at dimensions truly representative of field implementation, have not been widely performed. Standardized testing methods in a controlled environment allow researchers to better quantify the performance of current standard sediment basin designs, while also identifying alternative basin configurations and treatments to possibly improve efficiency of the practice. Sediment basin studies on active construction sites are difficult to perform due to the inherent dynamic nature of construction and lack of repeatability and control over variables including: rainfall, runoff, contributing drainage areas, and sediment loadings-all of which are key contributing factors in the performance of a basin.The objective of the study was to use large-scale testing methods to evaluate factors within a sediment basin system that contribute to turbidity reduction across the various bays of the basin, with the intent of providing...

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Section: Methodology and Testing Regime Summarymentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Methodology and Testing Regime Summarymentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Standard Configurationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

mentioning

confidence: 99%

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Large-Scale Performance Testing of Temporary Sediment Basin Treatments and High-Rate Lamella Settlers

Perez

Zech

Vasconcelos

et al. 2019

Water

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Development and Evaluation of Lamella Settlers Combined with Electrocoagulation for Treating Suspended Sediment

Liu

Perez

2022

J. Irrig. Drain Eng.

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Full-Scale Performance Evaluations of Various Wire-Backed Nonwoven Silt Fence Installation Configurations

Whitman

Zech

Donald

et al. 2018

Transportation Research Record

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Silt fences have long been a key component for controlling construction stormwater runoff; nonetheless, many silt fence installations fail to perform in the field as intended. Silt fences are temporary sediment control measures used to retain sediment by impounding runoff and allowing for sedimentation on-site, while simultaneously discharging stormwater runoff at a controlled rate. This study evaluated the performance of eight alternative configurations of the Alabama Department of Transportation (ALDOT) standard wire-backed, nonwoven silt fence. Standard installation parameters associated with the ALDOT silt fence include (1) 32-in. (81.3-cm) high fence, (2) 0.95 lb/ft (1.4 kg/m) support T-post, and (3) 10 ft (3.0 m) T-post spacing. Throughout the series of configurations tested, these standard parameters were varied individually and jointly in efforts to improve overall performance. Variations to the standard parameters include (1) 24-in. (61.0-cm) high fence, (2) 1.25 lb/ft (1.9 kg/m) support T-post, (3) 5 ft (1.5 m) T-post spacing, and (4) trench offsetting. Performance analyses were conducted on each configuration and results were evaluated to determine the best overall configuration to enhance the in-field performance of the ALDOT silt fence. Ultimately, the offset 24 in. (61.0 cm) fence with 1.25 lb/ft (1.9 kg/m) T-post spaced 5 ft (1.5 m) on-center resulted in the best overall improvement, retaining an average of 93% of sediment and deflection of only 0.18 ft (0.004 m) over the course of three simulated storm events.

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Methodology and Development of a Large-Scale Sediment Basin for Performance Testing

Cited by 14 publications

References 5 publications

Large-Scale Performance Testing of Temporary Sediment Basin Treatments and High-Rate Lamella Settlers

Large-Scale Performance Testing of Temporary Sediment Basin Treatments and High-Rate Lamella Settlers

Development and Evaluation of Lamella Settlers Combined with Electrocoagulation for Treating Suspended Sediment

Full-Scale Performance Evaluations of Various Wire-Backed Nonwoven Silt Fence Installation Configurations

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