Desenvolvimento de equipamento automatizado para medidas de permeabilidade hidráulica do solo

Abstract

The identification of the physical and chemical properties of the soil is extremely important for the maintenance of environmental systems. Among these various properties, there is the hydraulic conductivity will allow us to find the degree of permeability of each soil type as a function of time. An important parameter in the design of environmental and agricultural projects, such as construction of embankments, dams, surface drainage etc. This study aimed to develop a Guelph permeameter, measuring instrument soil hydraulic conductivity, low cost, automated reading charge level. Evaluated the most appropriate materials for the structural composition of the equipment to perform its construction, which after being completed, was evaluated its effectiveness of operation. For this we applied the single stage method of saturated soils and found that the efficiency of the equipment for measuring the height differences of the water column inside the instrument in extremely short time intervals due to the accuracy implied by automated innovation in addition to the hydraulic conductivity values, being found analogously similar to those of a commercial permeameter of the same type. Thus, the project achieved the initially proposed goals surpassing the expectations of operation, cost and ease of implementation.