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Irrigation

Engineering Chapter 6: Design of Irrigation Channel

Chapter 6: Design of Irrigation Channel


6.1 Introduction
The success of the irrigation system depends on the design of the network of canals. The canals may be
excavated through the difference types of soils such as alluvial soil, non-alluvial soil etc. The design consideration
naturally varies according to the type of soil.

Based on the water requirements of the crops on the area to be irrigated the entire system of main canal,
secondary canal, tertiary canal and field distributaries/main canal, branch canal, distributaries and water courses
should be designed properly for a certain realistic value of peak discharge that must pass through them, so as to
provide sufficient irrigation to the commands. Again, the design of unlined and lined canals involves different
practical and economical consideration.

The design of a channel involves the selection of channel alignment, shape, size, and bottom slope and whether
the channel should be lined to reduce seepage and/or to prevent the erosion of channel sides and bottom. The
design of the capacity of an irrigation channel consists of the determination of the cross-sectional areas, depth,
width, side slopes and the longitudinal slope, etc. for the given boundary surface. Once these parameters have
been determined, the longitudinal & cross-section of the channels may be drawn.

Procedures are not presently available for selecting optimum channel parameters directly. Each site has unique
features that require special considerations. Typically, the design of a channel is done by trial and error. Channel
parameters are selected and an analysis is done to verify that the operational requirements are met with these
parameters. A number of alternatives are considered, and their costs are compared. Then, the most economical
alternative that gives satisfactory performance is selected.

The design discharge of an irrigation channel depends up on the irrigated area of crops in different seasons and
the water requirement of crops. The design of the canal is mainly governed by the quantity of silt in the water
and the type of boundary surface of the channel. Depending up on these factors, the irrigation channels can be
broadly classified in to the following types.
1. Non-alluvial channels
2. Rigid boundary channels
3. Alluvial channels
1. The non- alluvial channels are excavated in non-alluvial soils such as loam, clay, boulder etc. Generally there
is no silt problem in these channels and they are relatively stable.
2. In rigid boundary channels, the surface of the channel is lined. The quantity of silt transported by such
channels remains more or less the same as that has entered the channel at the head. In such channels,
relatively high velocity of flow is usually permitted which does not allow the silt to get deposited. Therefore
for these channels, the problem of silt usually does not exist.
3. The alluvial channels are excavated in alluvial soils, such as silt. In the case of alluvial channels the quantity
of silt may vary form section to section along reach. The silt content may increase due to scouring of bed &
sides of the channel. The silt content may due to silting at some sections. If the velocity is high, scouring will
occur, but when the velocity is low, silting occurs. Both these phenomena result in modifying the cross-
section of the channel.
If the bed and sides are scoured, the cross-section increases and the full supply level falls, which results in the
decrease of command. On the other hand, if so silting occurs, the cross-section decreases and the discharge
capacity decreases, which also results in a decrease of command, such channels should be designed for a
non-scouring and non-silting velocity, called critical velocity.

6.2 Design of Non-Alluvial Channels

General
In non- alluvial channels the water is clear and therefore, no silting problem occurs. Non-alluvial soils relatively
are clay, hard loam or soils formed as a result of disintegration of rocks.

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Irrigation Engineering Chapter 6: Design of Irrigation Channel
Non- alluvial channels are considered stable if there is no silt problem in such channels. These channels are
usually designed based on the maximum permissible velocity which the channel boundary surface can resist
without scouring.
In the permissible velocity method, the channel size is selected such that the mean flow velocity for the design
discharge under uniform flow conditions is less than the permissible flow velocity. The permissible velocity is
defined as the mean velocity at or below which the channel bottom and sides are not eroded. This velocity
depends primarily upon the type of soil and the size of particles even though it has been recognized that it
should depend upon the flow depth as well as whether the channel is straight or not. Table 1 below gives the
typical values of the maximum permissible velocity in different type of materials.
Table 1: Permissible velocity
S.No Type of material Permissible velocity (m/s)
1 Lean clay soil or loam 0.38 to 1.37
2 Clay 0.41 to 1.67
3 Heavy clay 0.45 to 1.70
4 Sandy clay 0.52 to 1.83
5 Gravel 1.20
6 Boulders 1.5 to 1.8
7 Soft rock 1.8 to 2.4
8 Hard rock > 3.0
The side slopes of the channel
 For channels excavated in clay: 1:1 in cutting & 1:1.5 in filling
 For channels in gist, soft rock & hard rock taken respectively as 1:0.5, 1:0.25 and 1:0.125.
 In hard rock, the sides may be kept vertical.

The design of non-alluvial channels is usually done by using Manning's formula or Chezy's equation.
1. Manning's Formula.
1 2 1
Where  V  R 3 S 2
n
V  Velocity of flow in the channel, m s
n  Mannings roughness Coefficient
R  Hydraulic radius of the channel
S  Longitudinal or hydraulic slope of a channel
The value of n depends up on the type of surface. Table 2 below gives n values.
Table 2: Manning's Coefficient, n
S.No Type of surface Manning's n
1 Earth channels, clean straight & uniform 0.016 to 0.020
2 Earth channels, clean but weathered 0.018 to 0.025
3 Earth channels, with grass & weeds 0.022 to 0.033
4 Channels in gravels with stones 0.03 to 0.035
5 Channels in rock, smooth & uniform 0.025 to 0.040
6 Channels in rock, rough 0.035 to 0.050

2. Chezy's Equation

V  C RS
Where C is Chezy's Coefficient. The value of Chezy's Coefficient is usually determined from Bazin's equation
87
C
K
1
R
Where k is Basin's Coefficient, which depends up on the surface of the channel. Table 3 below shows the basins
coefficient.
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Irrigation Engineering Chapter 6: Design of Irrigation Channel
Table 3: Basin's Coefficient (K)
S.No Type of surface Basin's K
1 Smooth Plaster 0.06
2 Ashlar, neat brick work 0.16
3 Rubble masonry 0.46
4 Plaster, very smooth earth 0.85
5 Earth channels in good condition 1.30
6 Earth channels in poor condition 1.75
Channels in which silting problems are anticipated should be designed to have some minimum permissible
velocity or non-silting velocity. A minimum velocity of 0.5m/s is usually taken.

Procedure
The following procedure is used for the design of non-alluvial channels by Manning's formula. Similar procedure
applies for the design by Chezy's equation.
Given: The discharge Q  , the maximum permissible velocity (V), Manning's Coefficient (n), Bed slope (S), and
the side slope (Z:1) are given or have been assumed.
Steps
1. Determine the area of the cross-sections from the continuity equation
Q  AV or A  Q
V
2. Determine the hydraulic radius R from the Manning formula
3
1 2 1 V  2
V  R 3 S 2  R   1n 

n S 2 
3. Determine the wetted perimeter from the relation P  A
R
4. Determine the depth, D and bed width B from the values of A and P obtained above by solving the
equations given below. See Fig below. B+2ZD

A  ( B  ZD ) D
P  B  2D 1  Z 2 D 1  Z2
D
B
Fig 1: Cross-section of a trapezoidal non-alluvial canal

Example 1
Design an irrigation channel in a non-erodible material to carry a discharge of 15cumecs when the maximum
permissible velocity is 0.8m/s. Assume the bed slope of 1 in 4000, side slope= 1:1 and Manning’s n=0.025.

Given  Vn 
3
2
1 2 1
Q=15m3/s V  R 3S 2 R 1 
V=0.8m/s
n  S 2 
S=1 in 4000
3
  2
R   1.42m
SS=1:1 0.8 * 0.025
n= 0.025  1

 4000 

0. 5 

Step 3: Determine the wetted perimeter, P


Solution A 18.75m 2
Step 1: Determine the cross-sectional area, A P   13.20m
R 1.42m
Q 15
A   18.75m 2 Step 4: Determine the depth, D and bed width B
V 0.8 As the side slopes are given the section is trapezoidal.
Step 2: Compute the hydraulic radius, R

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Irrigation Engineering Chapter 6: Design of Irrigation Channel

B+2z Substitute the values of B from eq. 2 in to eq.1,


solve for D
D( B  D )  18.75
D 1V:1H D13.2  2.828 D   D   18.75
13.2 D  2.828 D 2  D 2  18.75
1.828 D 2  13.2 D  18.75  0
B This is a quadratic equation in D. It is to be solved
For a trapezoidal cros sec tion
by quadratic formula.
The cross  sec tional area, A  DB  ZD 
18.75  D( B  1D )         Eq. (1) 13.2   13.22  4 *1.828 *18.75
D1, 2 
2 * 1.828
The wetted perimeter , P  B  2 D 1  z 2 13.2  6.094

13.2  B  2 D 1  12 3.656
13.2  B  2 2 D 13.2  6.094
D1   5.28m
3.656
13.2  B  2.828 D
13.2  6.094
B  13.2  2.828 D          Eq. (2) D2   1.94m
3.656
If D  D1  5.28m
B  13.2  2.828 * 5.28  1.725m
This is absurd and not acceptable.
If D  D2  1.94m
B  13.2  2.828 * 1.94  7.70m
Hence the answers are
Depth, D  1.94m
Bottom width, B  7.7 m
6.3 Design of Lined Canals /Rigid Boundary Channel /
A lined canal is a rigid boundary channel. It can with stand much higher velocity as compared to an unlined, non-
alluvial channel or alluvial channel. The design is similar to the design of non-alluvial channels discussed in the
preceding section. However, the maximum permissible velocity is relatively high. See Table 4.
Table 4: Maximum permissible velocity
S.No Type of lining Maximum permissible velocity, m/s
1 Boulder lining 1.5
2 Brick tile lining 1.8
3 Cement concrete lining 2-7

The design of lined canal is usually done by Manning's formula. The value of Manning's Coefficient n depends
up on the type of lining. The higher values are for relatively rough surface and the lower, for smooth surface. See
Table 5 below. For detailed description of n values please refer to Table 6 of chapter 5.
Table 5: Manning's Coefficient n for lined canals
S.No Type of lining Manning's n
1 Cement concrete lining 0.013 - 0.022
2 Brick lining 0.014 - 0.017
3 Asphalt lining 0.013 - 0.016
4 Wood planed clean 0.011 - 0.013
5 Concrete lined excavated rock 0.017 - 0.027

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Irrigation Engineering Chapter 6: Design of Irrigation Channel
Cross-section of lined canals
In most cases lined canals are designed as most economical sections. For most economical section, the hydraulic
radius (R) should be maximum. Theoretically, a semi-circular section is the best section for as open channel.
However, it is not practicable to adopt this section. For practical consideration a channel of trapezoidal or
triangular section is usually selected. The corners of these sections are rounded to increase the hydraulic radius.

Example 2
Design the most efficient cross-section of a lined trapezoidal canal to carry a discharge of 15 cumecs when the
maximum permissible velocity is 2m/s. Assume the side slope= 1:1. Also, determine the bed slope for the canal
if the Chezy coefficient, C= 60.

Given A  DB  D 2
Q=15m3/s Substitute the value of A  7.5m 2 and B  1.828 D
V=2m/s
int o the above equation
SS=1:1
C= 60 7.5  D(0.828 D)  D 2
 0.828 D 2  D 2
Solution  1.828 D 2
Step 1: Determine the cross-sectional area, A
7.5
Q 15 D2   4.1026
A   7.5m 2 1.828
V 2
Step 2: Compute the hydraulic radius, R D  4.1028  2.03m  2.00m
A B  0.828 * 2  1.66m
R
P
For trapezoidal sec tion the following holds true. Deter min ation of bed slope , S
A  D( B  zD)  D( B  1D)  D( B  D) Chezy' s formula V  C RS
P  B  2 D 1  z 2  B  2 D 1  12 V V2 D 2
S  S 2
, R    1m
 B  2 2 D  B  2.828 D C R C R 2 2
D( B  D) 22 1
R S  2 
B  2.828 D 60 * 1 900

For most efficent trapezoidal cross  sec tion


D B+2z
R
2
D D( B  D)

2 B  2.828 D D=2.0m 1V:1H
DB  2.828 D 2  2 DB  2 D 2
DB  2 DB  2.828 D 2  2 D 2  0
 DB  1.828 D 2  0 1.66m
 B  1.828 D  0
B  1.828 D

Civil Engineering Dep., JiT‐JU Compiled By: Efrem W. Page 5

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