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5% - eTheses Repository - University of Birmingham

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even flow over 0.45m width and up to 0.45m depth. The flume has<br />

been used successfully to study the flow over fixed bedforms,<br />

from which a number <strong>of</strong> points concerning adaptions and<br />

improvements have been made.<br />

6 SUGGESTED EQUIPMENT MODIFICATIONS<br />

Improvements to the rig are listed below in order <strong>of</strong> priority.<br />

- Fitting a stainless steel pump to prevent water discolouration.<br />

- Construction <strong>of</strong> a larger suction tank with sieve or a settling<br />

compartment for batchwise removal <strong>of</strong> the experimental particles.<br />

- Additional flow discharge metering equipment. A simple venturi<br />

or orifice plate in the discharge line should suffice.<br />

- Permanent fitting <strong>of</strong> depth measurement point gauges.<br />

- Increase <strong>of</strong> flume length should space become available. This<br />

would not be too costly since the flume section is built in<br />

component form and can be added to as desired.<br />

- Providing a pumped drainage system for cleaning and flushing.<br />

Re-engineering to allow the flume to be tilted. This would<br />

probably involve a complete re-build since a tubular supporting<br />

beam is considered most suitable for such purposes.<br />

7 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS<br />

Thanks are extended to Stan Ward for his diligent effort in<br />

undertaking such a mammoth construction task alone, for producing<br />

such robust equipment from less-than-ideal material and drawings,<br />

and for generating so many good ideas. Thanks also go to John<br />

2-16

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