Assessment Task - Practical Investigation
Practical Investigation Part 1 -
An irrigation engineer is designing a profile for a channel to pass through a farm that is in a shape of a square of side length 25 KM as shown in Fig 1. The proposed profile follows the following equation:
y = A sin(x) + B cos(x) + C ln(x) + Dx + E
1. By selecting ideal reference points from the graph determine the values of the arbitrary constants A, B, C, D & E.
2. The turning points for the profile represents the locations where the pumps need to be installed to distribute the water to the other parts of the farm. Determine the location of the pumping stations to the nearest 0.1 m.
3. Determine the length of the channel.
Practical Investigation Part 2 -
The channel has a cross-section in a form of a parabola. The maximum width of the channel at the existing ground level as shown in Figure 2 is W metres.
4. Determine the depth of the channel below the existing ground level if the minimum cross section area of the channel (below ground level) is A m2 and hence determine the channel x-section profile equation.
5. The excavated earth is used for the embankments alongside the channel. The cross section of the embankments as shown in Figure 2 is in the form of a symmetrical trapezium. The sides of the trapezium are tangential to the excavated channel at the ground level. The width of the top of the trapezium is t metres. Determine the height of the trapezium.
6. The maximum safe flow capacity of the channel is when the channel is full up to 0.7 of the full height of the channel. Determine the maximum safe area for the safe flow.
7. To reduce the scouring of the channel and the water seepage, it is suggested to use a lining material to the full height of the channel. If the lining material costs around $40.00 per square metre, determine the cost of lining per metre length of the channel.
8. If the cost of excavation is $12 per cubic metre, the cost of constructing the embankment is $15.00 per cubic metre and the cost of the lining material is $40.00 per square metre, suggest an alternative profile for the channel x-section with less cost. The only constraints are the overall width of the channel should not be more than W+4 metres and the minimum cross sectional area for the water flow is A SQM.
Note - Presentation of the Report - the report should be presented clearly as for a minor project: Introduction/ Conclusions/ Headings/subheadings/ diagrams/ graphs/ tables/ correct labelling etc".