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System CA Computation

How does StormCAD calculate System CA? It seems that System CA = (Total Area Tributary to Node x Composite Runoff Coefficient) - (Bypass CA + Carryover CA). When I calculate this computation manually, it matches StormCAD's reported System CA value, however the further I move downstream in my system, there is a larger difference between my calculations and StormCAD. Is there another parameter that should be included in this calculation? How does StormCAD compute System CA moving further downstream in a storm sewer system?

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  • Hi Larry,

    Thank you for your response. I realize there was a mistake in my original post and meant to say that my calculation for System CA is as follows: System CA = (Total Area Tributary to Node X Composite Runoff Coefficient) - Bypass Flow + Carryover Flow

    Using the above formula, my manually calculated CA value is greater than the calculated value from StormCAD for some segments of my model. The second wiki article you sent confirms that bypass, intercepted, and I believe carryover flows are parameters in the System CA calculation. The above formula seems to match StormCAD's results for smaller catch basin to catch basin pipe networks, however the issues more so arise at manhole nodes. For example, in the photo below, System CA manual calculations and StormCAD calculations generally match up with the above formula for Catch Basins D-54 and D-55.  The System CA manual calculations are greater than the StormCAD calculations at manhole D-8. Is part of the problem that manholes are sealed and therefore bypass and intercepted flows aren't accounted for in the model like at catch basins? 

    Thank you,

    Kelsey

  • Kelsey, are you referring to the CA values, or the flow, or both? Can you provide a copy of the model files (File > Save to Package) for review? (with details on exactly where to look).

    Note that at junction points, StormCAD selects a controlling time to determine the intensity to use to recalculate the flow based on the Rational Method, but the CA should not be impacted by this.


    Regards,

    Jesse Dringoli
    Technical Support Manager, OpenFlows
    Bentley Communities Site Administrator
    Bentley Systems, Inc.