Values of flow rate, radius of throw and radial precipitation profile obtained in laboratory with the PLONA-RL400 gun sprinkler are presented. These values were used on digital simulations of water application uniformity, under no wind conditions, provided by traveling gun machines operating with this sprinkler under different combinations of wetted angle and towpath spacing. Simulated uniformity values were presented arranged under three different clusters, each one corresponding to a different set of sprinkler operational conditions (nozzle versus service pressure) that results on the same geometrical shape (I, II or III) of PLONA-RL400 radial precipitation profile. For the three profile shapes, it was observed that towpath spacings shorter than 50% of the sprinkler wetted diameter and on the range between 80 and 90% of the sprinkler wetted diameter provide higher uniformity values. For all geometrical shapes, it was observed that higher uniformity values were achieved when the sprinkler wetted angle is set to a range between 180 and 210º.
radial profile; digital simulations; irrigation uniformity
