Measuring Droplet Impact Energy with Piezoelectric Film
Publication: Journal of Irrigation and Drainage Engineering
Volume 124, Issue 4
Abstract
A system for measuring water droplet impact energy is described, which consists of piezoelectric film connected to a high-speed data acquisition board in a personal computer. The system converts the impact forces of individual water droplets falling onto the piezoelectric film into an output voltage, which is measured and analyzed. Eight DT3-type piezoelectric films were calibrated under laboratory conditions for kinetic energy values ranging from 0.01 × 10−3 to 1.2 × 10−3 J by releasing water droplets of various sizes from specific heights. The DT3-type piezoelectric film is effective for water droplets smaller than 4.6 mm in diameter. Results were used to produce a general model for the response of this film type. The ease of use and robustness of the system was demonstrated by measuring droplet impact forces under a lateral-move irrigation machine.
Get full access to this article
View all available purchase options and get full access to this article.
References
1.
Basahi, J. M. A. M. (1993). “Measuring droplet impact with piezoelectric film,” MS thesis, Texas A&M University, College Station, Tex.
2.
Campbill, J. F., Vanderheiden, E. G., and Martinez, L. A.(1992). “A multi-purpose sensor for composite laminates based on a piezoelectric film.”J. Compos. Mat., 26(3), 334–349.
3.
Chang, W.-J., and Hills, D. J.(1993). “Sprinkler droplet effects on infiltration. I: Impact simulation.”J. Irrig. and Drain. Engrg., ASCE, 119(1), 142–156.
4.
Chow, V. T., Maidment, D. R., and Mays, L. W. (1988). Applied hydrology. McGraw-Hill Publishing Co., New York, N.Y., 95.
5.
Crane, G. R.(1978). “Poly(vinylidene) fluoride used for piezoelectric coin sensors.”Trans. on Sonics and Ultrasonics, 6, 393–395.
6.
Dadiao, C., and Wallender, W. W.(1985). “Droplet size distribution and water application with low-pressure sprinklers.”Trans. ASAE, 28(2), 511–516.
7.
Edling, R. J.(1985). “Kinetic energy, evaporation and wind drift of droplets from low pressure irrigation nozzles.”Trans. ASAE, 28(5), 1543–1550.
8.
Eigel, J. D., and Moore, I. D.(1983). “A simplified technique for measuring raindrop size and distribution.”Trans. ASAE, 26(4), 1079–1985.
9.
Ferreira, A. G., and Singer, M. J.(1985). “Energy dissipation for water drop impact into shallow pools.”Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J., 49, 1537–1542.
10.
Hudson, N. (1981). Soil conservation, 2nd Ed., Cornell University Press, Ithaca, N.Y.
11.
Keren, R.(1989). “Water drop kinetic energy effect on infiltration in Calcium and Magnesium soils.”Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J., 53, 1624–1628.
12.
Keren, R.(1990). “Water drop kinetic energy effect on infiltration in sodium-calcium-magnesium soils.”Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J., 54, 983–986.
13.
Kincaid, D. C. (1993). “Sprinkler droplet kinetic energy and erosion potential.”Proc., ASAE/CSAE Int. Summer Meeting, American Society of Agricultural Engineers, St. Joseph, Mich.
14.
Kinnell, P. I. A.(1972). “The acoustic measurement of water drop impact.”J. Appl. Metrology, 11, 691–694.
15.
Kohl, R. A.(1974). “Drop size distributions from medium-sized agricultural sprinklers.”Trans. ASAE, 17(4), 690–693.
16.
Lee, C. K., and O'Sullivan, T. C.(1991). “Piezoelectric strain rate gage.”J. Acoustical Soc. of Am., 90(1), 945–953.
17.
Leitner, D. S.(1983). “A simple and inexpensive startle transducer with high output.”Behavior Res. Method Instrumentation, 15(5), 508–510.
18.
Mason, B. J. (1957). The physics of clouds. Oxford University Press, London, U.K.
19.
Nearing, M. A., Bradford, J. M., and Holtz, R. D.(1986). “Measurement of force vs. time relations for water droplet impact.”Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J., 50, 1532–1536.
20.
Nearing, M. A., Bradford, J. M., and Holtz, R. D.(1987). “Measurement of water drop impact pressure on soil surfaces.”Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J., 51, 302–306.
21.
Palmer, R. S.(1965). “Water drop impact forces.”Trans. ASAE, 8(1), 69–72.
22.
“Plastic sensor separates cars from trucks.” (1991). Machine Des. Mag., 21 March, 124.
23.
Reichard, D. L.(1988). “Drop formation and impaction on the plant.”Weed Technol., 2, 82–87.
24.
Reichard, D. L., Brazee, R. D., and Fox, R. D.(1986). “A system for photographically studying droplet impaction on leaf surfaces.”Trans. ASAE, 29(3), 707–713.
25.
SAS introductory guide. (1978). SAS Institute Inc., Cary, N.C.
26.
Schleusener, P. E., and Kidder, E. H.(1960). “Energy of falling drops from medium-pressure irrigation sprinkler.”Agric. Engrg., 41(2), 100–103.
27.
Solomon, K. H., Zoldoske, D. F., and Oliphant, J. C. (1991). “Laser optical measurement of sprinkler drop sizes.”Proc., ASAE Winter Meeting, American Society of Agricultural Engineers, St. Joseph, Mich., 87–96.
28.
Standard and custom piezo film components. (1992). ATOCHEM Sensors Inc., Valley Forge, Pa.
29.
Stillmunkes, R. T., and James, L. G.(1982). “Impact energy of water droplets from irrigation sprinklers.”Trans. ASAE, 25(1), 130–133.
30.
Thompson, A. L., and James, L. G.(1985). “Water droplet impact and its effect on infiltration.”Trans. ASAE, 28(5), 1506–1510.
31.
Von Bernuth, R. D., and Gilley, J. R.(1984). “Sprinkler droplet size distribution estimation from single leg test data.”Trans. ASAE, 27(5), 1435–1441.
Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Irrigation and Drainage Engineering
Volume 124 • Issue 4 • July 1998
Pages: 213 - 217
Copyright
Copyright © 1998 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Published online: Jul 1, 1998
Published in print: Jul 1998
Authors
Metrics & Citations
Metrics
Citations
Download citation
If you have the appropriate software installed, you can download article citation data to the citation manager of your choice. Simply select your manager software from the list below and click Download.