Evaluation of Stresses in Drip Laterals

Abstract

Drip irrigation is one of the water-saving technologies that can be used in the available water. The present paper focuses on design considerations of drip lateral. A tortuous path in-line emitter is chosen for the current work. A CAD model is generated using the emitter's Solidworks. The material selected for the emitter is PP (Poly-Propelene), and the material for the drip lateral is LLDPE (Linear Low-Density Poly-Ethylene). The model is then analyzed using a CFD tool, ANSYS. A computational model is formed using Design Modeler and Ansys Mechanical. Fluent is used as a solver, and the k-  model is chosen for computing the flow. Streamlines of the flow were generated, which helped visualize the flow. A section analysis was done analogous to the orifice flow in the pipe for the effect of clog deposition over time. The study was done over the sudden change in cross-section at the lateral and dripper interface due to sedimentary deposits. Key locations were identified and selected to get the pressure instance in the CFD-post processor. The hoop stress exerted over the lateral was compared with its permissible limit with the help of pressure output in the analysis. Max stress output over the drip lateral was observed to be 8.085 MPa in an adequate flow diameter of 18mm.