Sand piping refers to several distinct concepts, all involving sand and pipes or pipe-like structures. Let's explore each:
1. Sand as a Conduit:
This definition, as per Merriam-Webster (https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sand+pipe), describes sand piping as a pipe containing sand or serving as a channel for sand. This could refer to various applications:
- Industrial Piping: Examples include the use of pipes to transport sand in industrial processes, such as the "Frac Sand Piping System" used for abrasive materials (https://baileyparks.com/poducts/sand-viper-piping-system/).
- Locomotive Sanding: Historically, locomotives used sand pipes to deliver sand to the rails for improved traction.
- Beach Nourishment: Sand pumping utilizes pipelines to transfer sand and seawater between beaches (https://www.environment.sa.gov.au/topics/coasts/managing-adelaides-beaches/sand-pumping).
2. Geological Sand Pipes:
Another meaning, also noted in the provided references, describes a tubular cavity in rock formations filled with sand and gravel. These cavities, typically found in calcareous rocks, are formed by the process of solution and can range from inches to many feet in depth. This is often referred to as soil piping (https://www.bgs.ac.uk/geology-projects/shallow-geohazards/soil-piping/).
3. Sand Piping in Decorative Applications:
Finally, the term "sand piping" appears in contexts referring to decorative piping materials, like in leather or grosgrain ribbons. This usage simply indicates the color of the piping material as "sand" or "wet sand" (https://samuelandsons.com/en/product/34384/2106/732-leather-piping/wet-sand, https://samuelandsons.com/en/product/44969/077/14-french-grosgrain-piping/sand). This is a distinct and unrelated meaning.
