In-Plane Water Flow Rate Tester

Measure drainage flow capacity from 10 to 500 kPa under index or soil-confined conditions.

In-plane water flow rate testers determine the volume of water a geosynthetic material can transmit along its plane when subjected to compressive loading. Geonet manufacturers, landfill engineers, transportation specialists, and testing laboratories use these instruments to evaluate drainage performance before materials are installed. The Qualitest product range includes compact index testing systems and advanced soil-confined performance testers. Select the appropriate model based on normal stress, specimen dimensions, and required boundary conditions.

Each model applies a constant hydraulic head to drive water through a specimen and measures flow rate per unit width and hydraulic transmissivity. Since normal stress directly affects drainage performance, the available systems cover a range from 10 kPa to 500 kPa. Specimen dimensions vary from 100 × 200 mm to a 450 mm soil-confined flow length. Choosing the correct configuration helps ensure test results represent the conditions relevant to your design requirements.

Applications

Drainage geosynthetics are used in applications where water must flow laterally through a structure. Evaluating their in-plane flow capacity helps verify that drainage requirements are met before installation.

Landfill Engineering: Evaluates leachate collection systems, landfill cap drainage layers, and groundwater interception blankets under normal stresses corresponding to waste column heights.
Railway and Highway Drainage: Verifies the drainage performance of edge drains, drainage blankets, and subgrade drainage systems under embankment and traffic loading.
Drainage Geocomposite Manufacturing: Supports batch acceptance testing of geonet cores and bonded geotextile composites against specified water flow values.
Retaining Walls and Reinforced Soil: Measures the drainage capacity of materials installed behind facing units, where pore pressure relief is essential to structural stability.
Building and Below-Grade Waterproofing: Evaluates sheet drains and drainage boards designed to relieve hydrostatic pressure against basement walls.
Mining and Heap Leach Pads: Assesses solution collection layers subjected to the loading generated by tall ore stacks.
Green Roofs and Sports Fields: Verifies that drainage mats effectively remove water from beneath growing media and playing surfaces.
Geotechnical Design Verification: Provides project-specific intrusion reduction factors to support accurate drainage layer design and sizing.

In-Plane Water Flow Rate Tester Range

Five models provide testing solutions ranging from routine index evaluations to soil-confined performance simulation. Compare specimen dimensions, normal stress capacity, and instrumentation to identify the most suitable configuration for your testing requirements.

Model	Specimen Size	Normal Stress	Water and Control	Description
Compact In-Plane Water Flow Tester (QualiGGTE™ IPF C)	100 × 200 mm	10 to 250 kPa	10-inch color LCD, motorized head, servo normal load	Entry-level index tester with the smallest specimen and a servo-controlled load frame. Suits labs building stress-versus-flow curves on a modest budget and footprint.
Automatic In-Plane Water Flow Tester (QualiGGTE™ IPF A)	200 × 300 mm	10 to 250 kPa	Touchscreen PC, thermostatted supply 5 to 60 °C, dissolved oxygen analyzer, automatic reporting	The instrumented lab model. Temperature control holds water viscosity steady and the dissolved oxygen analyzer confirms deaeration, which matters for repeatable results across long test programs.
Drainage Geocomposite Flow Tester (QualiGGTE™ IPF D)	300 × 350 mm	150 kPa	Touchscreen microcomputer, full stainless wetted path, automatic outflow display	Fixed-pressure production QC unit with a large specimen and a corrosion-free water circuit. Built for high-throughput acceptance testing of drainage boards and composites.
Geonet Transmissivity Tester (QualiGGTE™ IPF G)	300 × 350 mm	10 to 500 kPa	Touchscreen microcomputer, full stainless wetted path, automatic outflow display	The widest stress range in the series. Reaches the overburden a leachate collection layer sees under a deep waste column, where lighter frames stop short.
Soil-Confined Geosynthetic Transmissivity Tester (QualiGGTE™ IPF S)	450 mm flow length in an 800 × 500 × 650 mm soil box	Soil overburden confinement	Soil-confined test chamber	The only performance tester in the range. Buries the specimen between compacted soil layers so the result captures geotextile intrusion that rigid-platen testing never shows.

How to Choose the Right In-Plane Water Flow Rate Tester

For routine index testing with limited laboratory space: Select the IPF C. It provides a complete 10 to 250 kPa testing range while accommodating the smallest specimen size.
For consistent and repeatable laboratory testing: Choose the IPF A. Its temperature regulation and dissolved oxygen monitoring help control two important variables that can affect test reproducibility.
For high-volume production quality control at a fixed design pressure: The IPF D features a larger specimen capacity and a stainless steel water circuit designed for continuous operation.
For landfill leachate collection and deep-stack applications: Choose the IPF G, the only model in the range capable of reaching 500 kPa.
For design-stage drainage evaluations supported by representative test conditions: The IPF S simulates soil contact, helping distinguish catalog hydraulic transmissivity from actual installed performance.
For laboratories conducting comprehensive product qualification: Combine an index testing system with the IPF S to obtain both sets of results, as design reviewers increasingly expect index and soil-confined performance data.

Why Choose Qualitest for Your In-Plane Water Flow Rate Tester

Qualitest North America provides testing and measurement equipment for laboratories, quality assurance teams, and manufacturers, supported by responsive technical assistance and calibration services. The In-Plane Water Flow Rate Tester range is designed to deliver dependable results in accordance with applicable testing standards, giving customers confidence when sourcing their equipment from one supplier.

Our technical team can help identify the appropriate tester configuration based on your specimen requirements, applicable standards, and testing volume. We also provide support throughout installation and subsequent equipment operation.

Request a Quote

Share details about the material you need to test, the normal stress required for your design conditions, and whether your application calls for index or soil-confined testing. Our team will help identify the appropriate model for your requirements.

Contact the Qualitest team to request pricing information and current lead times.