Author(s): Andreas Schlenkhoff; Svenja Peterseim
Linked Author(s): Andreas Schlenkhoff
Keywords: Street inlets; Extreme rainfall; Drainage system
Abstract: Due to climate change, the number of extreme rainfall events will increase in the near future. Observations of such rainfall events have shown that street inlets are not able to directly take up the entire amount of rain water even though the drain system is not at its limit. The water flows off over the street and may lead to high damage. The design of street inlets in Germany is based on research from 1983. Since then, the design basics have not been adjusted. The hydraulic efficiency of street inlets is now being investigated by means of a physical model which is capable of capturing the water “jumping” over the inlets, the water flowing off beside the inlet and the water intercepted by the inlet. Measuring technique serves to measure water depths. Thus, depending on discharge and longitudinal and transverse slope, it is possible to determine the efficiency of the inlet. Additionally, a numerical model is generated using CFD software which is to be verified by investigations on effects actually occurring in reality. In particular it must satisfy the supercritical flow conditions at the inlet. The calibrated numerical model serves i. e. to cost effective investigations of different inlet geometries to improve the hydraulic efficiency of street inlets.
Year: 2014