Standardization News

A proposed ASTM International standard will help calculate the kinetic energy of simulated rainfall in laboratories. ASTM’s soil and rock committee (D18) is developing the proposed standard (WK41200).

Determining the kinetic energy of raindrops is an important factor to be considered when conducting soil erosion studies. Using data collected from determining raindrop size, the proposed practice provides a method to uniformly calculate the kinetic energy that can then be used to compare results from different laboratories.

“The proposed standard will allow laboratories to compare testing conditions to those of natural rainfall events,” says ASTM International member Kurt Kelsey, director, earth science division, American Excelsior Company.  

Laboratories and specifiers, as well as any entities concerned with soil erosion, will be the most likely users of the proposed standard.

ASTM welcomes participation in the development of its standards. Become a member of ASTM.