Civil Engineering ETDs

Publication Date

Summer 7-29-2025

Abstract

Flooding in arid regions is infrequent but damaging and limited historical data makes flood modeling an important tool for flood infrastructure design. This study improves flood modeling guidance by using plot-scale tests to determine the impact of slope, compaction, gravel mulch and landscape fabric on infiltration and runoff rates in sandy soil types. This data will be used as guidance for the linear and constant model. The performance of this model was compared with the curve number model for a hypothetical 100-year design storm. Results showed that gravel mulch increased infiltration rates by 66% and reduced erosion on steep and compacted slopes. Compaction generally decreased infiltration, and slope had little impact on infiltration. Landscape fabric acted as a barrier and decreased infiltration. This guidance can be used to parameterize the linear and constant model and was shown to have less variability and shorter runoff durations than the curve number model.

Keywords

Linear and Constant, Curve Number, Arid, HEC-HMS, Flood Model, Loss Model

Document Type

Thesis

Language

English

Degree Name

Civil Engineering

Level of Degree

Masters

Department Name

Civil Engineering

First Committee Member (Chair)

Ricardo Gonzalez-Pinzon

Second Committee Member

Gerhard Schoener

Third Committee Member

Marissa Repasch

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