Hydrologic Solutions

HydroCAD^® Stormwater Modeling - Since 1986

Stormchamber now supported by HydroCAD

HydroCAD now provides direct support for the Stormchamber system produced by Hydrologic Solutions of Occoquan, Virginia. This allows the Stormchamber to be easily used within any HydroCAD model for stormwater storage, detention, or infiltration.

How chambers are modeled

In a HydroCAD model, stormwater chambers typically appear as part of the storage definition for a "pond". In the simplest case, HydroCAD calculates the available storage for use with other calculations. But more often, it is used to generate a complete inflow or runoff hydrograph and route it through the pond. The resulting analysis indicates the water levels attained throughout the rainfall event, as well as any discharge that may occur through outlet devices or infiltration into the surrounding ground.

Flexible storage options

Each pond may include an unlimited number of storage definitions as required to describe its overall storage characteristics. This makes it easy to model complex storage arrangements, such as a combination of multiple chambers, pipe storage, catch basins, or other contributing volumes.

But the most significant feature is the ability to embed (bury) chambers in a bed of crushed stone, and have HydroCAD automatically calculate the combined storage at any water surface elevation. This makes it easy to determine the storage for virtually any configuration of storage chambers, without resorting to any manual calculations.

HydroCAD can also model almost any imaginable storage arrangement, including chambers of different sizes combined with auxiliary storage from adjacent pipes and catch basins, and even the above-ground areas (parking lot) that may provide overflow storage for certain events.

Modeling with the Stormchamber

Setting up a pond with Stormchamber storage is a simple process: Just pick the Stormchamber from the drop-down list, and specify the number of chambers plus their elevation.

For chambers in a stone bed, you can describe the shape and dimensions of the outer excavation, plus the stone voids (porosity), and the composite storage is calculated automatically.

Starting with HydroCAD 7.1, the Stormchamber definition is automatically installed with HydroCAD. The Stormchamber can also be modeled with HydroCAD 7.0 by downloading the desired chamber definitions:

Right-click the desired chamber: Stormchamber
Select "Save Target As"
Navigate to the folder \Program Files\HydroCAD\Chambers and click "Save"

The Stormchamber will now appear in the drop-down list of chamber definitions within HydroCAD. For step-by-step modeling instructions, see the "Embedded Storage Tutorial" in the HydroCAD help index.

Detailed chamber information

For detailed chamber specifications and design information, please visit Hydrologic Solutions.

The Stormchamber is also available from CONTECH Construction Products.

For more information about HydroCAD

Please see the following pages for further HydroCAD information:

    Pond storage calculations
    Storage chamber modeling
    Exfiltration calculations
    General support page
    HydroCAD features and capabilities
    Free evaluation program
    Pricing and ordering

HydroCAD^® is a registered trademark of HydroCAD Software Solutions LLC.