HydroCAD Supports ADS StormTech Chambers
HydroCAD provides complete support for polypropylene stormwater chambers manufactured by ADS-StormTech, of Wethersfield, Connecticut. This allows StormTech chambers to be easily used within any HydroCAD model for stormwater storage, detention, or infiltration.
HydroCAD includes complete StormTech chamber definitions, plus an interactive chamber wizard for easy layout, pricing, and modeling of underground storage systems.
With the completion of the StormTech acquisition by ADS, the StormTech chamber definitions have been renamed to ADS-StormTech. Previous projects will continue to work exactly as before, but new designs will use the new naming system. To get the latest ADS-StormTech chamber definitions make sure you're using HydroCAD 10.2-5b. This build includes end-cap lengths for all chambers, plus support for the SC-160LP and the latest cap storage for the MC-4500, DC-780, and SC-740. The MC-7200 is supported in HydroCAD 10.2-2b and the SC-800 is supported in HydroCAD 10.2-4b. If you have an earlier release you must obtain a program update in order to model all StormTech chambers and end-caps.
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.
Using StormTech stormwater chambers
Setting up a pond to use StormTech storage chambers is a simple process: Just pick the desired StormTech model 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. Or you can use the new
chamber wizard for automatic chamber layout,
modeling, and cost estimating.
Why are the chamber dimensions different from the manufacturer's data?
Some chamber definition files use the effective dimensions of each chamber. These values include the effects of the corrugated sides, and allow exact calculation of the storage volume at any depth. The effective dimensions may be somewhat less than the overall (outside) dimensions quoted by the manufacturer.
When calculating the volume for multiple chambers in a row, HydroCAD uses the lay-up length, rather than the outside chamber length. This avoids double-counting the volume at the overlap between each successive chamber.
Detailed chamber information
For detailed chamber specifications and design information, please visit the ADS-Stormtech web site
For more information about HydroCAD
Please see the following pages for further HydroCAD information:
Pond storage calculations
Storage chamber modeling
(includes step-by-step instructions)
Exfiltration calculations
General support page
HydroCAD features and capabilities
Free evaluation program
Pricing and ordering
Images courtesy of StormTech.
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