General Overview
3
nature is generally three-dimensional. Such movement is not easy to handle
mathematically.
In the laboratory, we have the advantage of being able to use homogeneous
materials of known properties. This simplifies the problem and makes it possible to
reduce the number of components involved. By this means significant relationships
between the physical properties of the medium and characteristics of flow are found.
To further simplify the problem, we usually restrict ourselves to a two-dimensional
flow, investigating conditions in a vertical cross section* along the horizontal direction
of the moving water mass. The Armfield Drainage and Seepage Tank, Model S1, is
specifically designed to permit the simulation in the laboratory of such vertical cross
sections.
* For obvious practical reasons the cross sections are not planar across sections. But
their thicknesses are small in relation to the height.
