Standard Practice for Measurement of the Kinetic Energy of Simulated Rainfall

Importancia y uso:

5.1 When a raindrop impacts the surface of a soil, it expends its energy and begins the impact-induced soil erosion process. This kinetic energy of the raindrop is one factor influencing soil erosion. This practice provides a method to quantify the kinetic energy produced by rainfall simulators.

5.2 Soil erosion is a concern that affects many industries. The highway and road construction industry is particularly interested in slope protection. There are many ECP manufacturers that rely on testing of their products using rainfall simulators to meet certain specifications set forth by different agencies.

5.3 Laboratories that offer testing of ECPs use rainfall simulators. Many laboratories are able to adjust their rainfall simulators, the drop height of the raindrops, and even the slopes of the test plots they use to model expected, anticipated, or actual field conditions. The kinetic energy associated with the specific configuration of the simulator should be measured.

5.4 Knowing the kinetic energy for the given simulator configuration will provide a way to set minimum and upper limit values so that comparisons between laboratories can be made as well as having a way to account for the differences between the laboratories. If there are minimum and upper limit values and the raindrop size is in the same range between laboratories, the kinetic energy between the laboratories should be similar. Once the kinetic energy is established for a given rainfall simulator configuration according to a specific standard, comparisons of the results for those specific standards can be made.

Note 2: The quality of the result produced by this standard is dependent on the competence of the personnel performing it, and the suitability of the equipment and facilities used. Agencies that meet the criteria of Practice D3740 are generally considered capable of competent and objective testing/sampling/inspection/etc. Users of this standard are cautioned that compliance with Practice D3740 does not in itself assure reliable results. Reliable results depend on many factors; Practice D3740 provides a means of evaluating some of those factors.

Subcomité:

D18.25

Volúmen:

04.09

Número ICS:

13.080.01 (Soil quality and pedology in general)

Palabras clave:

erosion control; kinetic energy; raindrop; raindrop size; rainfall simulator; simulated rainfall;