Critical Flow Velocity Analysis of Multi-Span Viscoelastic Micro-Bending Irrigation Pipelines

Sihao Wu, Bo Fan (), Jianhua Cao, Suwei Xiao and Yuhe Cao
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Sihao Wu: Rubber Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Tropical Agricultural Science, Haikou 570100, China
Bo Fan: Rubber Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Tropical Agricultural Science, Haikou 570100, China
Jianhua Cao: Rubber Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Tropical Agricultural Science, Haikou 570100, China
Suwei Xiao: Rubber Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Tropical Agricultural Science, Haikou 570100, China
Yuhe Cao: College of Construction Engineering, Jilin University, Changchun 130026, China

Agriculture, 2025, vol. 15, issue 11, 1-16

Abstract: Irrigation pipelines are critical agricultural hydraulic facilities that often develop minor bending defects due to ground settlement or improper installation. This study employs Lagrange equations for non-material volumes and the Absolute Nodal Coordinate Formulation (ANCF) to model the multi-span viscoelastic micro-bending irrigation pipelines, investigating the influence of micro-bending defects on critical flow velocity. The material parameters of the pipeline wall are determined via uniaxial tensile tests, and the effectiveness of the proposed model is validated through comparison with degraded models and field tests. Further numerical analysis demonstrates that modifying the micro-bend defect of the pipeline from a parabolic to a sinusoidal shape yields a 13.9% enhancement in critical flow velocity. This improvement is particularly significant for irrigation projects with limited pipe material options, tight flow design margins, and low economic returns.

Keywords: critical flow velocity; multi span; micro bending; viscoelasticity; irrigation pipeline (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q1 Q10 Q11 Q12 Q13 Q14 Q15 Q16 Q17 Q18 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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