Desempeño de un microsimulador de lluvia portátil para estudios hidrológicos

Abstract

This work presents a portable rainfall micro-simulator entirely designed, constructed and calibrated in the Hydraulics Laboratory (UTN Facultad Regional Córdoba). This apparatus is completely disassembled and defines a test plot of 1 m². It aims at the in situ measurement of various hydrological parameters. All the drop-formers, built with 289 needles (diameter 0.8 mm), feeding on a tray with variable hydraulic head h (10 to 20 cm), which allows intensities i between 65 and 120 mm/h. Fall height of drops is 1.85 m, and its average diameter of 5.2 mm. Although there were initial estimates of the i-h relationship, a calibration was needed on the prototype to reflect actual operating conditions. Measurements were made using 5 raingauges distributed in the test plot, with 10 observations per hydraulic head, for a total of 7 heads, which amounted 350 experimental data. After careful statistical analysis it was possible to fit apotential curve between head and intensity, with an uncertainty of ±3 mm/hour, about 86% to the theoretical values expected. First in-situ experimental observations were successful, compared with double-ring infiltrometer technique widely used in this Laboratory.