Formula Used:
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The discharge formula calculates the volumetric flow rate of water through a porous medium using the coefficient of permeability, cross-sectional area, and hydraulic gradient. It's commonly used in permeameter experiments to determine water flow characteristics.
The calculator uses the discharge formula:
Where:
Explanation: The formula calculates the volumetric flow rate based on the permeability of the medium and the hydraulic gradient.
Details: Accurate discharge calculation is crucial for understanding groundwater flow, designing drainage systems, and analyzing soil permeability in geotechnical engineering projects.
Tips: Enter all values in appropriate units. Ensure coefficient of permeability, cross-sectional area, head difference, and length are all positive values for accurate results.
Q1: What is the coefficient of permeability?
A: The coefficient of permeability (K) measures a porous medium's ability to allow fluid flow through its voids, typically expressed in m/s.
Q2: Why is the temperature specified as 20° C?
A: Permeability measurements are standardized at 20° C to account for viscosity changes in water at different temperatures.
Q3: What is constant head difference?
A: Constant head difference refers to the maintained hydraulic head or pressure difference between two points in a permeameter experiment.
Q4: When is this formula most applicable?
A: This formula is most applicable for laminar flow conditions in saturated porous media with constant hydraulic gradient.
Q5: Are there limitations to this equation?
A: The equation assumes homogeneous, isotropic media and may not accurately represent flow in fractured or highly heterogeneous materials.