Water Spreading Under Low Flow Conditions for Vegetated Treatment Area Applications

<p>The use of level spreaders in vegetated areas can offset the tendency of water to concentrate while moving down a slope. This study was conducted to evaluate if the use of these spreaders is beneficial and to evaluate different types of spreader for effectiveness of spreading water under low flow conditions.<br /> A laboratory model was constructed to test various configurations of level spreading devices. The effectiveness of each spreader was measured across a range of low flow rates. The collected data was statistically analyzed to determine the effect of the spreaders on the flow of water and visual observations were made to determine what properties of the spreaders most affected the spreading efficiency of the spreader types.<br /> All of the spreader types tested showed an increase of water spreading efficiency when compared to a condition of having no spreader installed, the characteristics of the flow and spreaders that were identified as having the most significant effect on the water spreading were the levelness of the spreader and the surface tension effects of the water flow. The spreading effectiveness increased with higher flow rates.<br /> The use of spreaders of any of the types tested to spread water proved beneficial, with a sharp-crested, v-notch weir and the use of rock as a spreaders performing the most efficiently in the tests.</p>

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Science (MS)

Level thesis:degree_level

Thesis - University Access Only

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering

Year

2009

Author dc:creator

• Bonnema, Justin D.

Contributors dc:contributor

• Todd P. Trooien

• Bioresource and Agricultural Engineering

Statement dc:rights

• Copyright © 2009 Justin Bonnema. All rights reserved

Language dc:language

en

Repository record dc:identifier

https://openprairie.sdstate.edu/etd/623

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:openprairie.sdstate.edu:etd-1623