Mathematical modeling of the infiltration in a permeable pavement on the field scale

Abstract

ABSTRACT Permeable pavement (PP) is an alternative for the management of urban rainwater that allows the reduction of effective precipitation through the infiltration process. In this study was evaluated the infiltration capacity of a PP of hollow concrete blocks in a parking lot of the Federal University of Pernambuco. The hydraulic characterization and the infiltration capacity were analyzed in real scale, using a simple ring infiltrometer of 100 cm in diameter through the Beerkan method. Infiltration tests were carried out at twelve points of the PP. The BEST algorithm was applied in it Best-Intercept and Best-Slope version, to estimate the hydraulic parameters of the van Genutchen and Brooks and Corey equations for the retention and hydraulic conductivity of the PP surface. The values of saturated hydraulic conductivity determined by the BEST Intercept method were higher than those obtained by BEST Slope. The sorptivity values estimated by BEST Slope and Intercept were similar, with BEST Slope values slightly higher. Moderate infiltration variability was observed on the PP surface, as well as within the same type of texture. The Beerkan method proved to be adaptable to measure, in field scale, the three-dimensional infiltration in the PP covering layer.