UNIVERSITY OF DAR ES SALAAM

COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY (CoET)

DEPARTMENT OF WATER RESOURCES ENGINEERING.
WR 213: HYDRAULICS PRACTICALS
PRACTICAL P3: RAINFALL SIMULATOR.

NAME: MOLLEL,SAMWEL W.
REG NO: 2013-04-02234.
PROGRAMME: BSc. In civil engineering.
YEAR OF STUDY: 2014/2015.
DATE: 28.04.2015.
GROUP: E

INTRODUCTION :

Rainfall simulation is the process of portraying the mechanism of rainfall in the field and
how to measure the rainfall intensity. For a given Pressure flow-Disc aperture speed combination
the intensity of simulated rainfall is controlled by aperture size. Large disc apertures allow more
rain drops to strike the test area increasing the intensity of the rainfall.
OBJECTIVES:
The primary objective of this experiment was to assess the variation in intensity and uniformity
of simulated rainfall with increasing disc aperture.
APPARATUS AND MATERIALS:
Electric Pump
Stop watch
Wooden board(0.6mx0.6m)
Measuring cylinder 500ml capacity
Five marked containers each with diameter of 75mm.
Water.
Plumb bob.
Rainfall simulator machine.

PROCEDURES :
The procedures for conducting this experiment were as follows:
a) The centre of testable was positioned direct below the nozzle using a plumb line
b) the disc aperture was set to be 100
c) a grid of suitable containers was placed on the test table as illustrated on instruction sheet
d) The Numbers on each container were written and their positions were clearly marked
e) The collecting vessels were covered with a wooden board and the simulator was operated
at the selected values until a steady state was obtained
f) The board was removed and immediately the stopwatch was started
g) The rainfall allowed to strike the target for desired time ( for exactly 5mins)

h) The collectors were covered with the wooden board and the simulator was shut down
i) The volume of water in each container were measured with the use of measuring
cylinder, and the cross section area of the collector was noted
j) The experiment was repeated for disc apertures 150,200,0250,300

Analysis:
Q
From the formula I= A . t 600
Where;
Q = Volume of water in each container
A = Area of container (cm2)
t = Time (mins)
I = Intensity (mm/hr)
Area =D2/4

Table of results no. 01

Disc aperture

Contain
er
No
Total volume (ml)
Av volume (ml)
Av intensity
mm/hr
Uniformity Cu

1
2
3
4
5

10
25
34
46
24
22

15
34
49
68
35
38

151
30.2
82.03

224
44.8
121.68

73.97

75.50

Collected volume (ml)

20
42
63
76
53
48

25
48
78
94
66
67

30
52
98
112
80
86

282
56.4
153.19

353
70.6
191.76

428
85.6
232.50

81.44

82.51

81.69

Mean depth=Volume (mm3)/Area (mm2)

1ml=10^3mm3.
Area=d2/4 i.e. 752
Cu= 100 (1 Where

x
m. n )

m=mean observed depths.

n=Number of observation.
x=deviation of individual observed depth from the mean.

Table of results no. 02

Container no
Mean of observed depth
x

1
2
3
4
5

10
0.566
0.77
1.04
0.54
0.498
0.68
28
0.88
88

15
0.770
1.110
1.54
0.79
0.86

Individual observed depths

20
25
0.951
1.086
1.425
1.766
1.720
2.130
1.200
1.494
1.086
1.517

30
1.177
2.218
2.535
1.811
1.946

1.014

1.2764

1.5986

1.9374

1.244

1.1844

1.3976

1.7736

GRAPH OF INTENSITY AGAINST DISC APERTURE

250

200

150

intensity mm/hr
100

Linear ()

50

0
5

10

15

20

25

30

35

aperture size (0)

SOURCES OR ERROR
Error due to stopwatch-both starting and stopping of stop watch during collection of
water in the containers(time reaction)

DISCUSSION OF THE RESULTS

From the data it can be cleally seen that the bigger amount of water was collected in the
middle container as compared to other containers.
Also from the graph it can be observed that the intensity of rainfall is direct proportional to the
disc aperture.
CONCLUSSION AND RECCOMENDATION
The practical was successfully conducted, since the data meet the objectives i.e. the intensity
and uniformity of rainfall increase with the
Because of the large number of students in each group we need to subdivide the available
group,so that to insure that there is fully participation of the students in the practical.