EROSION Laboratory

The EROSION laboratory is a bespoke facility for experimental investigations of runoff and erosion and related processes. It is housed in a specially constructed 10 x 6.5 x 8-m tall building in the heart of Sheffield.

It contains a 6.5-m long x 2.5-m wide soil slope, designed by Dr James Brighton of Cranfield University. The long axis of the slope is split into two halves, each of which is adjustable to gradients of 15°, allowing simple concave and convex slope forms to be produced.

We use a nozzle-based rainfall simulator. Each half of the slope has an array of four nozzles switchable by solenoid valves. Changing the type and number of nozzles allows us to control rainfall intensities from about 20 mm/h to 320 mm/h. The height of the chamber allows raindrop velocities close to terminal velocity, with a good reproduction of the energy conditions arriving on the surface. The slope also has an overflow trough allowing us to simulate conditions on longer slopes by adding water to the top of the slope.