Scope of use

The rainfall simulator is a privileged tool for research on the transfer of material (water, solid, gas). It allows testing processes and to develop new knowledge.

Why doing rain in laboratory?

The rainfall simulator hall can recreate the rain in laboratory. This experimental facility and his chain of physical measurements of soils have been designed to allow the study an area up to 10 m² under simulated rainfall. It helps to work in controlled conditions: rainfall intensity, duration, droplet size and kinetic energy can be adjusted according to experimental needs. In combination with a chain of physical measurements of soils, this original scientific instrument makes possible researchs that would be difficult to carry out in the fields. Due to its size and complementary equipment, this tool is unique in France for environmental studies.

Users

Initially paid by INRAE and the “Région Centre-Val de Loire”, the rainfall simulator hall is available to external companies (public and private) in order to carry out their own research and development. We welcome any person of the scientific or industrial community to use our facilities.

Applications

Any field of activity for which rain is an important factor.

Examples: transfers of pesticides (AgroParisTech), leaching compost (Veolia Environnement), effect of liming (Unifa).

Quality management

This equipment fulfills the requirements of INRAE quality guidelines (traceability and reliability of measurements).