1 AIT Asian Institute of Technology

Rainfall simulator for soil erosion measurements

AuthorChan, Edgar Uy
Call NumberAIT Thesis no.AE-80-13
Subject(s)Soil erosion
Rainfall simulator
NoteA thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Engineering, School of Environment, Resources and Development
PublisherAsian Institute of Technology
AbstractA field rainfall simulator, composed of three sub-units, arranged lengthwise was developed and used to simulate rainfall and measure soil loss from rectangular experimental plots. This simple apparatus was a modification of a previous one developed at AIT. The present simulator has two variations in nozzles arrangement and number; calibrated according to rainfall intensity, drop size and distribution, median volume drop diameter, kinetic energy and momentum. Variations of 6 and 12 nozzles produced rainfall intensities ranging from 25.0 to 40. 2 mm/hand 43.1 to 62.9 mm/h, respectively both with an average uniformity of water distribution of 82 percent, The kinetic energy produced was 65% of the natural rainfall, 12% higher than that produced by the previous simulator. Drop fall velocities attained 80% of the terminal velocity and an average momentum of 79.7% of the natural rainfall. Three simulated rainfall intensities, namely, 25.0 mm/h, 40.2 mm/h and 62.9 nun/h of 67.0, 67.5 and 62.4% of natural rainfall kinetic energy respectively were applied to experimental plots. Soil loss for a constant slope increases as the kinetic energy load applied is increased. Generally, the apparatus was designed for use as a research tool to aid in a more rapid evaluation of the factors that influence soil erosion, and to include runoff and infiltration in the analysis.
Year1980
TypeThesis
SchoolSchool of Environment, Resources, and Development
DepartmentDepartment of Food, Agriculture and Natural Resources (Former title: Department of Food Agriculture, and BioResources (DFAB))
Academic Program/FoSAgricultural and Food Engineering (AE)
Chairperson(s)Olesen, Svend Elsnab
Examination Committee(s)Aprichart Anukularmphai ; Eggers, Helmut
Scholarship Donor(s)Keidanreen, Japan
DegreeThesis (M.Eng.) - Asian Institute of Technology, 1980


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