Canal Regulation Works

Dr. Muhammad Ajmal & Dr. Muhammad Shahzad

Associate Professors Agri. Engg. UET Peshawar
 Contents
❑ Introduction of Canal Regulation Works

❑ Canal Fall Necessity and Location

❑ Types of Falls

❑ Canal outlets, Types and Functions

❑ Cross Regulator and Distributory Head Regulator

❑ Cross Drainage works and their Functions

❑ Monitoring of flows
 Introduction to Canal Head Regulation
❑ Any structure constructed to regulate the discharge, full
supply level or flow velocity in a canal is known as a
regulation work.

❑ These structures are necessary for the efficient working

and safety of an irrigation channel.

Various regulation works may be classified as follows:

1) Canal Fall
2) Head Regulator
3) Cross Regulator
4) Canal Escape
5) Canal Outlet
 Canal Fall
❑ A fall is an irrigation structure constructed across a canal to
lower down its water level and destroy the surplus energy
liberated from the falling water which may otherwise scour
the bed and banks of the canal.
❑ If natural ground slope is steep than the designed bed
slope of the channel, the difference is adjusted by
constructing vertical ‘falls’ or ‘drops’ in the canal bed at
suitable intervals, as shown in figure.
❑ A drop in a natural canal bed will not be stable. In order to
retain this drop, a masonry structure is constructed. Such a
structure is called a Canal Fall or a Canal drop.
 Necessity of Canal Fall
❖ Irrigation canals are designed for a prescribed bed slope
so that velocity becomes non silting or non scouring.

❖ This slope may vary from 1 in 4000 for a discharge of

about 1.5 m3/s to about 1 in 8000 for a discharge of 3000
m3/s.

❖ This slope is quite flat in comparison to the available

ground slope of an average value of 5 to 20 cm/km length
(i.e., 1 in 200 to 1 in 50).

❖ The ground slope in nature is always very much

steeper than the design bed slope of irrigation canal,
based on the silt theories.
 Necessity of Canal Fall
❖ When the ground slope suddenly changes to steeper
slope, the permissible bed slope can not be
maintained and requires excessive earthwork in filling to
maintain the slope.
❖ In this case, falls are provided to avoid excessive earth
work in filling and dissipate the excess energy liberated
from falling water.
 Necessity of Canal Fall
❖ When the slope of the ground is more or less
uniform and the slope is greater than the permissible
bed slope of canal.
 Necessity of Canal Fall
❖ In cross-drainage works, when the difference between bed
level of canal and that of drainage is small or when
the F.S.L of the canal is above the bed level of
drainage then the canal fall is necessary to carry the
canal water below the stream or drainage.
 Types of Canal Falls
❑ Depending on the ground level conditions and shape of
the fall the various types of fall are:
1) Ogee Fall
❑ The ogee fall was constructed by Sir Proby Cautley on
the Ganga Canal.
❑ This type of fall has gradual convex and concave
surfaces i.e. in the ogee form.
❑ The gradual convex and concave surface is provided
with an aim to provide smooth transition and to
reduce disturbance and impact.
❑ A hydraulic jump is formed which dissipates a part of
kinetic energy.
❑ Upstream and downstream of the fall is provided by
Stone Pitching.
Types of Canal Falls
 Types of Canal Falls

2) Rapid Fall
❑ When the natural ground level is even and rapid, this
type of fall is suitable.

❑ It consists of long sloping glacis.

❑ Curtain walls are provided on both u/s and d/s sides.

❑ Rubble masonry with cement grouting is provided from

u/s curtain wall to d/s curtain wall.

❑ Masonry surface is finished with a rich cement mortar.

Types of Canal Falls
 Types of Canal Falls
3) Stepped Fall
❑ It consists of a series of vertical drops in the form of
steps.
❑ These steps are suitable in places where sloping
ground is very long and require a long glacis to
connect the higher bed level u/s with lower bed level d/s.
❑ It is practically a modification of rapid fall.
❑ The sloping glacis is divided into a number of drops
to bring down the canal bed step by step to protect the
canal bed and sides from damage by erosion.
❑ Brick walls are provided at each drop.
❑ The canal bed within the fall is protected by rubble
masonry with surface finishing by rich cement mortar.
Types of Canal Falls
 Types of Canal Falls
4) Vertical Fall (Sarda Fall)
❑ In shape very similar to the ogee fall but without having
variation in construction as gradual convex to
concave. In other words with an abrupt change from u/s to
d/s.

❑ A cistern is formed to act as water cushion.

❑ Floor is made of concrete u/s and d/s side stone

pitching with cement grouting.

❑ This type of fall is used in Sarda Canal UP and therefore,

it is also called Sarda Fall.
Types of Canal Falls
 Types of Canal Falls

5) Straight Glacis Fall

❑ It consists of a straight glacis provided with a crest wall.

❑ For energy dissipation of flowing water, a water cushion

is provided.

❑ Curtain walls are provided at toe and heel.

❑ Stone pitching is required at u/s and d/s of the fall.

Types of Canal Falls
 Types of Canal Falls
6) Trapezoidal Notch Fall
❑ It was designed by Reid in 1894.

❑ The body or foundation wall across the channel consisting

of several trapezoidal notches between side pier and
intermediate pier is constructed.

❑ The sill of the notches are kept at upstream bed level of

the canal.

❑ The body wall is made of concrete.

❑ An impervious floor is provided to resist the scouring

effect of falling water. U/s and d/s side of the fall is
protected by stone pitching finished with cement grouting.
Types of Canal Falls

Figure: Trapezoidal Notch Fall

 Types of Canal Falls

7) Well or Cylinder Notch or Pipe Fall

❑ In this type, water of canal from higher level is thrown in
a well or a cylinder from where it escapes from bottom.

❑ Energy is dissipated in the well in turbulence.

❑ They are suitable for low discharges and are economical

also.
Types of Canal Falls

Figure: Well or Cylinder Fall

 Types of Canal Falls
8) Montague Type Fall
❑ In the straight glacis type profile, energy dissipation is not
complete. Therefore, montague developed this type of
profile where energy dissipation takes place.
❑ Montague proposed the following ideal glacis profile,

4𝑦 X = distance of point P from OX axis

𝑋=𝑢 +𝑦 y = distance of point P from OY axis
𝑔
u = velocity of water at the crest
g = acceleration due to gravity

❑ Dr. Bose disagreed with the above equation and amended

as follows:
2𝑦
𝑋=𝑢 +𝑦
𝑔
Types of Canal Falls
 Types of Canal Falls

9) Inglis or Baffle Fall

❑ Here glacis is straight and sloping, but baffle wall

provided on the downstream floor dissipate the energy.

❑ Main body of glacis is made of concrete.

❑ Curtain walls both at toe and heel are provided.

❑ Stone pitching are essential both at u/s and d/s ends

Types of Canal Falls