Characteristics of a Tendon Driven Soft Gate for Canal Flow Regulation

Surface irrigation in farming is controlled by canal gates that regulate the flow of water. Canal gates have traditionally been fabricated from rigid material and require construction work to implement them. This results in a relatively high cost, and the inability to easily relocate them if necessary. In this work a soft gate is proposed that uses flexible material to regulate the flow of water through the canal. The utilization of a flexible arm reduces the cost of the gate, facilitates its installation and relocation as well as being less vulnerable to blockage due to its flexible nature. The results of the experiments indicate the possibility of regulating the flow of water through canals widths of up to 55% of the flexible arm's length.