Experimental determination of the stacked volume ratio of an improved flat-flow unit

The effective use of the floating stroke carrying capacity depends on a number of factors, but the main one is high transport and operational indicators of round timber floating in floating units. A flat flow unit has been developed, which is characterized by low draft, high rigidity and a high stacked volume ratio. To assess the efficiency of the developed flat-flow unit, it is necessary to determine its stacked volume ratio. The authors determined experimentally the stacked volume ratio of a flat flow unit depending on the diameter in the upper segment of round timber from which the rows of the flat flow unit were assembled. A functional scheme of the experiment was constructed and a matrix of experiment planning was formed, taking into account all factors affecting the experiment. The experiments were carried out on models of an improved flat-flow unit, and subsequently the experimental and calculated data obtained for the models were transferred proportionally to flat-flow units of natural sizes. Based on the calculated data obtained with respect to the improved flat flow unit of natural dimensions a graph of the dependence of its stacked volume ratio on the diameter of round timber in the upper segment was constructed. The constructed graph shows that with an increase in the diameter of round timber in the upper segment, from which the rows of the improved flat flow unit are assembled, the stacked volume ratio decreases. In return, the stacked volume ratio changes dramatically when the diameter of round timber in the upper segment changes from 10 to 30 cm. Since flat flow units are made of round timber with a diameter in the upper segment of 10-40 cm, and with a given diameter of timber, the improved flat flow unit has the highest stacked volume ratio. The performance of timber floating by using this flat flow unit will certainly provide high efficiency of floating stroke carrying capacity and contribute to increased volume of wood supply to consumers by water transport.