Horizontal Drain Discharge Capacity Tester

Horizontal Drain Discharge Capacity Tester

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Horizontal Drain Discharge Capacity Tester
  • Horizontal Drain Discharge Capacity Tester
Horizontal Drain Discharge Capacity Tester
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Horizontal Drain Discharge Capacity Tester

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Horizontal Drain Discharge Capacity Tester – QualiGTX™ DDCT H

Automatic Prefabricated Vertical Drain (PVD) Discharge Capacity Tester – Horizontal Frame

The QualiGTX™ DDCT H is designed to evaluate the longitudinal drainage capacity of prefabricated vertical drains (PVDs) by measuring water flow through plastic drainage boards under controlled conditions. Its horizontal testing configuration provides a practical solution for geotechnical laboratories, drainage board manufacturers, and ground improvement contractors that need to verify drainage performance against project requirements. The apparatus accommodates specimens measuring 100 mm × 450 mm, corresponding to the cross-sectional dimensions of standard band drains. Its quick-clamping mechanism allows specimens to be installed and removed within seconds, making the system suitable for routine quality control and high-volume testing.

Two important indicators determine the performance of a drainage board: its longitudinal discharge capacity and tensile strength. Although a product may satisfy the required tensile strength, inadequate water flow can compromise the consolidation rate anticipated during ground improvement. Such deficiencies may remain undetected until a preload project is already underway. By measuring actual discharge capacity, the DDCT H enables laboratories to assess drainage board performance before materials are accepted or delivered to construction sites.

Test operation is managed through a 10-inch color touchscreen, which controls the testing sequence, maintains consistent pressure, and displays the measured discharge capacity directly. Manual calculations are unnecessary. An integrated water supply tank with heating and refrigeration functions conditions the test water to the required temperature before testing begins. Its horizontal frame arrangement provides convenient specimen access while maintaining a compact installation footprint of 1,260 × 730 mm.

Horizontal Drain Discharge Capacity Tester – QualiGTX™ DDCT H Applications

The QualiGTX™ DDCT H supports quality assessment of plastic drainage boards used in ground consolidation and geotechnical construction. Its controlled testing capabilities make it suitable for manufacturing facilities, project laboratories, independent testing organizations, and research institutions.

  • Drainage Board and Band Drain Manufacturing: Supports routine production inspections by evaluating drainage core channel geometry and filter membrane performance, allowing manufacturers to check consistency between production batches.

  • Soft Soil Ground Improvement: Verifies incoming drainage materials before installation in embankment construction, port development, and land reclamation projects involving compressible clay deposits.

  • Highway and Railway Subgrade Construction: Evaluates whether prefabricated vertical drains provide the drainage capacity required to accelerate settlement beneath road and railway embankments.

  • Land Reclamation and Marine Clay Projects: Assesses drainage products intended for extended consolidation programs, particularly where well resistance influences the overall settlement period.

  • Third-Party Testing Laboratories: Provides independent discharge capacity measurements for evaluating supplier specifications, supporting tender documentation, and verifying contractual requirements.

  • Water Conservancy and Hydraulic Engineering: Checks the performance of drainage boards used in foundation improvement for dikes, reservoirs, and canals.

  • Geotechnical Research and Educational Laboratories: Facilitates comparative investigations of drainage core configurations, filter fabrics, and water flow characteristics under different hydraulic gradients.

Horizontal Drain Discharge Capacity Tester – QualiGTX™ DDCT H Key Features

The QualiGTX™ DDCT H combines convenient specimen handling, automated test control, and temperature-regulated water delivery in a compact horizontal testing system.

  • Quick Specimen Clamping and Release: The convenient clamping mechanism secures and releases drainage board specimens within seconds, reducing preparation time during repeated quality control tests.

  • 10-Inch Color Touchscreen Interface: Provides centralized operation of the testing sequence, real-time status monitoring, and direct access to test information through a single control panel.

  • Consistent Pressure Control: Maintains stable applied pressure throughout the measurement process, helping ensure that discharge capacity results reflect the specimen's actual performance under controlled loading conditions.

  • Automatic Discharge Capacity Measurement: Displays the measured flow capacity directly on the touchscreen, eliminating the need for manual calculations and reducing the possibility of recording errors.

  • Integrated Temperature-Controlled Water Tank: Features built-in heating and refrigeration to maintain the required water temperature. This helps minimize viscosity variations and improves consistency when comparing specimens tested at different times.

  • Corrosion-Resistant Construction: Uses stainless steel and high-strength aluminum components throughout the wetted assembly to withstand continuous water exposure while maintaining dimensional stability.

  • Standard Specimen Dimensions: Accommodates drainage board samples measuring 100 mm × 450 mm, matching standard band drain widths and providing a suitable flow length for representative measurements.

  • Space-Efficient Horizontal Configuration: Positions the specimen horizontally at a convenient working height while keeping the overall equipment dimensions compact for laboratory and production environments.

  • 220 V Single-Phase Power Supply: Operates from a standard 220 V single-phase electrical connection, avoiding the need for a dedicated three-phase power circuit.

Theory and Test Method

Discharge capacity represents the volume of water that a prefabricated vertical drain can transport along its longitudinal axis per unit of time under a specified hydraulic gradient. The measurement is performed by establishing a constant hydraulic head difference between the inlet and outlet ends of the specimen. Once steady conditions are achieved, the water discharged from the downstream end is collected over a defined time interval. The resulting flow rate is divided by the applied hydraulic gradient to determine \(q_w\), the discharge capacity parameter used in geotechnical design calculations for well resistance. The underlying relationship follows Darcy's law, with the hydraulic gradient maintained at a sufficiently low level to ensure laminar flow.

During testing, the horizontal frame supports the drainage board across its entire 450 mm specimen length. This arrangement maintains a straight longitudinal flow path and ensures that the applied head difference acts along the drain's axis. Water passes through the filter membrane into the drainage core, where it travels along the channels formed by the grooves in the plastic structure. Maintaining the specimen in a flat, properly aligned position is essential because bending or twisting can restrict the internal flow channels and produce discharge measurements that do not accurately represent the product's actual capacity.

Water temperature is another important testing variable because it directly affects viscosity and, consequently, the measured flow rate. As water temperature increases, viscosity decreases, allowing water to move more easily through the drainage channels under identical conditions. The DDCT H addresses this variation through its integrated water tank, which heats or refrigerates the supply and maintains the selected temperature throughout testing. This temperature regulation supports meaningful comparisons between specimens tested on different days.

Applied pressure also influences the measured discharge capacity. In actual ground conditions, drainage boards experience external loading from the surrounding soil, which can reduce the available area within their drainage channels. Maintaining consistent pressure during the laboratory test simulates this loading condition and helps determine how effectively the internal channels retain their ability to transport water under compression.

Horizontal Drain Discharge Capacity Tester - QualiGTX™ DDCT H Technical Specifications

Parameter Specification
Specimen Dimensions 100 mm × 450 mm
Test Configuration Horizontal frame, longitudinal flow
Pressure Control Constant pressure regulation
Control System 10-inch color touchscreen LCD
Result Display Direct on-screen discharge capacity readout
Water Supply Integrated tank with heating and refrigeration for constant-temperature water
Wetted Materials Stainless steel and high-strength aluminum alloy
Votlage 220 V (110V is also available)
Overall Dimensions (W × D × H) 1,260 × 730 × 1,260 mm
Net Weight 130 kg

Delivery time varies upon stock availability. Our standard dispatch and shipping times are generally within 1 week, however for some high demand items the delivery may be extended to 2-3 weeks. If you require these items urgently please contact us to check accurate stock availability and to organize faster shipping methods.

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Delivery time varies upon stock availability. Our standard dispatch and shipping times are generally within 1 week, however for some high demand items the delivery may be extended to 2-3 weeks.

Need it urgently? Contact us here to check stock and organize faster shipping.

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