I- Introduction:

CH6 : Canal Drop or Fall Structures Design

The function of drop structure is to convey water from a higher to a lower elevation and

to dissipate excess energy resulting from this drop which may scour the bed and bank of the
canal. Whenever the natural slope is steeper than the designed bed slope of the canal, this
difference is adjusted by constructing a drop.

Fall or Drop : is hydraulic structure constructed a cross the canal to lower down its water
level and destroy the surplus energy librated from the falling water which may scour the bed
of canal.

Water surface level

Canal bed level

Fall or drop

Ground level

Type of falls:

1- Ogee fall: The water is gradually led down by proving convex and concave curves to avoid
erosion problems at downstream of the fall.
US WL
US BL

Concrete

DS WL
DS BL

Rubble
masonry
Concrete

2- Rapid fall:
US
USWL
WL

1:15 to 1:20
DS WL

US BL

DS BL

Stone in cement mortar

Concrete

Masonry

3- Stepped fall
US WL
US BL
DS WL

Stone in cement mortar

Concrete

DS BL

Masonry wall

4- Vertical fall:
US WL
US BL
US Masonry
Cutoff wall

DS WL
DS BL

Concrete

DS Masonry
Cutoff wall

5- Glacis (inclined) fall: Used for Q 6o m3/sec and drop 1.5 m

US WL
Crest wall

US BL

1
US Masonry
Cutoff wall

DS WL

Cistern

DS BL

Concrete floor

DS Masonry
Cutoff wall

6- Well drop: Used for large drop > 1.8m and small Q
Inlet well
US WL

Flow

US BL

Masonry wall

Earth filling

Drop

0.8 m diameter concrete pipe

DS WL

DS BL

Outlet well

Vertical Falls (Drops)

This type of drop is suitable for drops up to 2m.

Design criteria:

1- Length of the crest: is kept equal to the downstream bed width of the canal. If future

expansion is considered, then crest length can be taken as bed width plus upstream water
depth.

2- Shape, level of the crest and design formula: two shapes may be used

A-Rectangular crest, is suitable when the discharge is less than or equal to 15 m3/s
3

US TEL

US FSL

CL

US BL
US
Cutoff
wall

Drain pipe
0.2 m dia.

Bt

He

HL

DS TEL

DS FSL

D1

Earth filling

DS BL

Cistern

d2

d1
B1

US length

Lc

DS
Cutoff
wall

Ld

Rectangular crest
= .
=

B1 : base width of the crest wall

D1 = crest level DS BL
= .

(for free flow condition), Where:

Q is max canal discharge in (m3/s) , Lt: is length of the crest (waterway) in (m)
He: is total head over crest in (m) = US TEL - CL
Bt: is width of crest in (m)

B- Trapezoidal crest: is suitable when discharge is greater than 15 m3/s

= .

= .

Upstream slope 1:3 and downstream slope 1:8.

CL= US FSL +ha He

3- Length and depth of cistern: for both types

=

= (

dc is critical depth,

Compare with,

,or

=( )

= .

take the greater,

,and

+ .

=
4

The length of floor at downstream (Ld) is provided:

Ld = 2{(D + 1.2) HL} compare with min. Ld = 10.35 dc + 4.877 -1.5 HL

Where: D = DS water depth

, Provide the greater

US TEL

US FSL

He

US BL
US
Cutoff
wall

Drain pipe
0.2 m dia.

Bt

CL

HL

DS TEL
DS FSL

Earth filling

Trapezoidal crest

D1
X

DS BL

Cister

d2

d1
Lc

US length

Ld

DS
Cutoff
wall

4- Total length of impervious floor:

a- for rectangular crest type, by Bligh theory creep length (Lb)

Lb = Cb * (H )Static ; where Cb is safe Bligh coefficient.

b- for Trapezoidal crest type , by Khosla theory using safe exit gradient
=

, and Total length of the floor (b) = do

H Static: is the difference between crest level and downstream bed level.
d2= depth of cutoff at downstream = 1/2 DS water depth + 0.6
d2 should not be less than 0.8m.

For upstream cutoff (d1) =1/3 US water depth + 0.6.

Note: Upstream and downstream protection works is taken as 0.4m of brick pitching
5- Pressure calculation and design of floor thickness:

A- This should be worked for one of the theories (Bligh, Lane and Khosla). For small falls
(rectangular crest type) use Bligh and Lane theories for calculating pressure and design of the
thickness of floor while for big falls (Trapezoidal crest type) Khosla theory should be used.
B- Minimum thickness: For upstream floor 0.3m to 0.4m and For downstream floor 0.6m

Example 1: For the following data design a vertical fall using Bligh theory:
Full discharge

Upstream

Downstream

101.5m

100.5m

10 m /s

Water level

Water depth

10 m /s

1.5m

Bed level

1.5m

100m

Bed width

99m

8m

Side slope of the canal

8m

1.5 (H):1(V)

1.5 (H):1(V)

Drop 1m, Assume safe Bligh coefficient =10

Solution:

1- Length of crest (Lt): the length should be equal to the downstream bed width = 8m
2-Crest shape and level:

A- Q = 10 m3/s < 15 m3/s, then use rectangular shape, the formula is:
= .

Assume Bt = 0.8m, then:

= .

( )=

)=

100.5 m

=
.

( .

= .

=
. .

1.5m

= .

99 m

1.5

8m

US TEL= USFSWL + ha = 101.5+0.02 = 101.52 m

Crest level = USTEL He = 101.52 - 0.78 =100.74m

= .

Check for Bt :

D1= Crest level DSBL = 100.74 (100.5 - 1.5) = 1.74m

= .

= .

= .

< .

Crest level = 101.52 - 0.77 =100.75m

, then use Bt = 0.75m

D1= CL DSBL = 100.75 (100.5 - 1.5) = 1.75m

= .

= .

)=

= .

3- Length and depth of cistern:

=

( .

HL = USTEL DSTEL = 101.52 - 100.52 = 1m

Compare with

= .

= .

+ .

=( )

= .
=(

/
.

= .

min. Lc = 3.8 (0.542) + 0.45+ 1= 3.5 m, take Lc = 4.6 m

= (

Or

= ( .

= .

= .

, then take X = 0.21 m

Cistern level = 99- 0.21 = 98.79m

4- Downstream floor length and total length of the impervious floor

Length of floor downstream (Ld) is:

Ld = 2{(DS water depth + 1.2) HL}= 2[(1.5+1.2)(1)]= 5.4 m

Compare with min Ld= 10.35* dc +4.877 -1.5 HL

Min Ld = 10.35* 0.542 +4.877 -1.5*1 = 8.99m say 9m > 5.4m take Ld = 9 m
Maximum static head (HStatic) = crest level DSBL = 100.74 -99 = 1.74m
Creep length (LCreep ) = 10* 1.74 = 17.4m say 17.5m
5- Upstream and downstream cutoff:

a- Downstream cutoff = 1/2 downstream water depth + 0.6 = 1/2 *1.5 +0.6 = 1.35m say 1.4m
b- Upstream cutoff = 1/3 upstream water depth +0.6 = 1/3 *1.5 +0.6 = 1.1m
6- Distribution of the total length:

Assume upstream floor thickness = 0.4m and downstream floor thickness 0.6m.
Total vertical creep length (LV)= 1.1 + (1.1- 0.4) + (1.4 - 0.6) + 1.4 = 4m
Total horizontal length (LH) = 17.5 - 4 =13.5m

Upstream floor length to the toe of the crest = 13.5 -9 = 4.5 m

US TEL = 101.52 m

US FSL = 101.5 m

Bt= 0.75m

CL= 100.75m

US BL= 100 m

d1=1.1 m

US Cutoff
wall

X = 0.21m

4.5 m

DS FSL= 100.5 m

Cistern level
= 98.79 m

0.6m

DS BL = 99 m
d2=1.4 m

c
0.9m

0.5m

US TEL = 100.52 m

Drain pipe
0.2 m dia.

D1 = 1.75 m

0.4m

HL=1 m

He=0.77m

Lc=4.6 m

2m
0.5m

Ld= 9 m

DS Cutoff
wall
7

7- Pressure calculation and design of floor thickness:

H = 1.74m, total creep length = 17.5m
( )=

* At the toe of crest say point (a) at a distance 4.5m from upstream end then:
La = 1.1 +0.7 +4.5 = 6.3m.
= .

= .

Unbalanced static head (ha) = Ua (elev. of point a DSBL) = 1.11 (98.79- 99) = 1.32m
=(

=(

= .

* At mid length of downstream floor say point b:

Lb = 1.1 +0.7 +4.5+4.5 = 10.8m
= .

.
.

= .

Unbalanced static head (hb) = 0.66 - (98.79-99) = 0.87m

=(

=(

= .

* At 2m downstream of previous point say point c:

Lc = 1.1 +0.7 + 9 +2 = 12.8m
= .

.
.

= .

Unbalanced static head (hc) = 0.467+ (98.79-99) =0.677m

=(

=(

= .

8- Downstream and upstream protections:

a- US protection length = US water depth = 1.5 m of stone with 0.4m thick over 20cm of
gravely filter at slope 1:10 toward crest wall.

b- DS protection length = 3 * depth of water = 3* 1.5 = 4.5m length of stone with 0.4m thick
over 20cm of gravely filter.

US TEL = 101.52 m

US FSL = 101.5 m

CL= 100.75m

US BL= 100 m

0.4 m

D1 = 1.75 m
X = 0.21m

US Cutoff
wall

0.5m

0.9m

4.5 m

DS protection
Length = 4.5m

Lc=4.6 m

1m
US Cutoff wall

0.5m

Ld= 9 m

Wing Wall level = 102.5m

CL= 100.75m

2.25m

2m

d2=1.4 m

DS Cutoff
wall

DS Transition

45o

DS BL = 99 m

0.7m

0.7m

Wing Wall

2.25m

0.6m

Rectangular crest (Section A-A)

1m

8m

DS FSL= 100.5 m

Cistern level
= 98.79 m

1.1 m

d1=1.1 m

US TEL = 100.52 m

Drain pipe
0.2 m dia.

1:10
US protection
Length = 1.5m

HL=1 m

He=0.77m

Bt= 0.75m

US BL

100m

8m

98.79 m

Cistern

Crest Wall
US protection
Length = 1.5m

3.25

US Transition

0.75

90
99 m

DS floor

DS Cutoff wall
Lc =4.6m
m

Ld =9m
m

2.25m

99m

8m

2.25m

DS protection
Length = 4.5m

Top View (Plan)

Examples 2: for the following data, design a vertical drop using Khosla theory:
Full discharge

Upstream

Downstream

101.5m

100m

50 m /s

Water level

Water depth

50 m /s

2m

Bed level

99.5m

Side slope of the canal

1.5:1

Bed width

2m

98m

30m

30m

1.5:1

Drop 1.5m, Safe exit gradient 1/4.5

Solution:

1- Length of crest Lt = Downstream bed width = 30m.

2- Shape of crest and level:

3

Q = 50 m /s > 15, then use trapezoidal shape.

= .

1.5

2m
30 m

The assumption will be based on:

D1+He = DS water depth + fall
D1+He = 2+1.5 = 3.5 m
= .

= .

Check Bt :

)= .

( )=
(

)=

=
.

( . )= .

= .

= .

= .

= .

USTEL = USFSL + velocity head = 101.5 +0.03 = 101.53m

CL = 101.53 0.9 = 100.63m
D1= 100.63 -98 = 2.63m
= .

)= .

( .

Use US slope 1:3 and DS slope 1:8

+ . )= .

3- Length and depth of cistern:

=

( . . )

HL = USTEL DSTEL = 101.5 - 100 = 1.5m

= .

10

Compare with
=

=( )

= .
=(

= .
/

+ .

= .

min. Lc = 3.8 (0.542) + 0.45+ 1= 3.5 m, take Lc = 5.53 m

= (

Or

= ( . . )

= .

= .

, then take X = 0.31 m

Cistern level = 98- 0.31 = 97.69m

4- Downstream floor length and total length of the impervious floor

Length of floor downstream (Ld) is:

Ld = 2{(DS water depth + 1.2) HL}= 2[(2+1.2)(1.5)]= 9.6 m

Compare with min Ld = 10.35* dc +4.877 -1.5 HL

Min Ld = 10.35* 0.657 +4.877 -1.5*1.5 = 9.432m < 9.6 m take Ld = 9.6 m
Maximum static head ( H) = crest level DSBL = 100.63 -98 = 2.63m
5- Upstream and downstream cutoff:

For downstream cutoff = water depth/ 2 +0.6 = 2/2 +0.6 = 1.6m.

For upstream cutoff = water depth /3 +0.6 = 2/3 +0.6 = 1.27m say 1.3m.
6- Total length of the floor:

=
=

= .
=

Floor length up to toe of the crest = 16 9.6 = 6.4m

11

US TEL= 101.51 m

US FSL= 101.5m
US BL =99.5m

HL= 1.5m

He=0.9m

Bt =1.05m

DS TEL= 100.01 m
DS FSL= 100 m

1:10
D1= 2.61m

US
Cutoff
wall

X=0.31m

1.3m

0.6 m

Cistern level
= 97.69 m

1.6m

0.4m

96.39

0.5m

DS BL=98m

96.4

Lc= 5.53 m

US length = 6.4 m

4.07 m

Ld = 9.6 m

Trapezoidal crest fall section

0.5m

DS Cutoff
wall

7- Pressure calculation and thickness of the floor:

Assume US end floor thickness = 0.4m and DS floor end thickness = 0.6m

a- Upstream cutoff:
d= 1.3m, b= 16m
=

}= .

= .

}= .

E1 = 1- C = 1, D1 = 1- D= 0.823, and C1 = 1- E= 0.747.

, and

C = 0

Corrections: only thickness correction will be done because the interference effect between the
two piles is too small.

Correction for thickness:

(

. ( .

Corrected C1 = 0.747 +0.023= 0.77

= .

(+

b- Downstream cutoff:
d2 = 1.6m , b =16m
=

= 10, = 5.523

}= .

Correction for thickness;

(

. ( .

Corrected E2 = 0.28 0.032 = 0.248

= .

{
(

}= .

, and

C2 = 0

12

c- Floor thickness:

- US floor thickness as assumed = 0.4 m

- DS floor thickness:

-At 2m from downstream end:

=

. +

=
.

U2 = 2 * H = 0.3 *2.63 =0.783m

. +

= .

Unbalanced static head (h2) = U2 - (Elev. of the point DS BL) = 0.783m

=

=(

= .

- At 4m from downstream end:

.

. +

= .

U4 = 4 * H = 0.37 *2.63 = 0.965m

Unbalanced static head (h4) = U4 - (Elev. of the point DS BL) = 0.965m

=

=(

= .

- At 7m from downstream end:

.

. +

= .

U7 = 7 * H = 0.474 *2.63 = 1.237m

Unbalanced static head (h7) = U7 - (Elev. of the point DS BL) = 1.237- (97.69 -98) = 1.547m
=

=(

= .

- At the toe of crest; (at 9.6m from downstream end):

.

. +

= .

U9.6 = 9.6 * H = 0.564 *2.63 = 1.473m

Unbalanced static head (h9.6) = U9.6 - (Elev. of the point DS BL) = 1.473 - (97.69 -98) = 1.783m
.

=(

= .

8- Downstream and upstream protections:

a- US protection length = US water depth = 2 m of stone with 0.4m thick over 20cm of gravely
filter at slope 1:10 toward crest wall.

b- DS protection length = 3 * depth of water = 3* 2 = 6m length of stone with 0.4m thick over
20cm of gravely filter.

13

US TEL= 101.51 m

US FSL= 101.5m
US BL =99.5m

Bt =1.05m

X=0.31m

DS BL=98m

0.65m

Cistern level
= 97.69 m

0.8m

DS protection
length= 6m

1.25m

1.5m

0.4m

96.39

0.5m

DS FSL= 100 m

D1= 2.61m

US protection
length= 2m

1.3m

DS TEL= 100.01 m

Drain pipe
0.2 m dia.

1:10

US
Cutoff
wall

HL= 1.5m

He=0.9m

96.4

Lc= 5.53 m

US length = 6.4 m

0.5m

4.07 m

Ld = 9.6 m

1.6m

DS Cutoff
wall

Trapezoidal crest (Section A-A)

B

US Transition
1m

DS Transition

1m

Wing Wall

3m

3m

Wing Wall level = 102.5m

Bt= 1.05m

US Cutoff wall

30m

US BL =99.5m

Bf=30m

DS BL= 98m

Cistern

R=4.5m

1m

60

DS Cutoff wall
Ld =9.6m
m

Lc =5.53m
m

US protection
Length = 2m

Section B-B

3m

1m

4.07m

DS protection
Length = 6m

30m

DS FSL= 100m
1

2m

1.5

3m

Top View (Plan)

US FSL= 101.5m
1

30m

DS floor

R= (5-6)He=4.5m

Bc=36m

Crest Wall

3m

Cistern level = 97.69 m

CL= 100.63m

3m

2m

1.5
3m

30m

3m

Section C-C
14

Straight Glacis (Inclined) Fall Design : Used for Q 6o m3/sec, and drop 1.5 m
0.2m thick brick
pitching

US wing wall top level

US FSL

R=0.5He

US BL

0.5m

DS wing wall top level

Crest wall

US Cutoff
wall

DS FSL

R=He

Fall section
(A-A)

Cistern

Lc

1m

Profile
wall

0.5m

Toe
wall

DS
Cutoff
wall

Top View
US wing wall

DS BL

DS wing wall

45o

A
Crest

US glacis

US floor

Cistern

DS glacis

0.2m thick brick

pitching

1m

0.5 m depth
concrete footing

0.2m thick brick

pitching
FSL

Canal section
(B-B)

L=3 DS water depth

1m

0.4 m thick
Profile wall

1m depth and 04
thick Toe wall

15

Design criteria:

1- Length of the crest: is kept equal to the downstream bed width of the canal.
2- The crest and design formula:
Q = C L t He

3/2

Where: C =1.84 (sharp crest)

Q is max canal discharge in (m3/s) , Lt: is length of the crest (waterway) in (m)
He: is total head over crest in (m)

CL (crest level) = US TEL - He = (US FSL + ha) - He

=

US glacis (slopped floor) slope = 2 (V):1 (H) jointed to US bed with radius (R) =0.5 He

DS glacis (slopped floor) slope = 1 (V):2 (H) jointed to cistern bed with radius (R) =He
3- Length and level of cistern:
Lc= 6 Ef2 for sandy soil

Lc= 5 Ef2 for normal soil

Level of cistern = DS TEL - 1.25 Ef2, this level should be less than DS bed level of the canal.
4- US and DS cutoff walls depth

Depth of cutoff at downstream (d2 ) =

+ .

Upstream cutoff (d1) =

+ .

5- Total length of impervious floor: this must be designed for safe exit gradient;
=

, and Total length of the floor (b) = do

Hstatic = crest level - downstream bed level

6- Pressure calculation and design of floor thickness:

Find the corrected at key points, do correction only for thickness.

Assume the floor thickness at US end =0.3m and at DS end =0.6m
For thickness design, static conditions will governance the design.
7- US and DS transition and protection works:

a- US wing walls should be slopped at 45o from end of US floor. No protection needed
b DS wing wall is kept horizontally, connected to the canal by 90o head wall
c- No need for bed protection

d- Side protection provide, 0.2 m thick brick pitching at length (L):

L= 3* DS water depth

e- Provide toe wall under the canal bed at 0.4 m width and depth =
f- Provide 0.4m wide profile wall at the end of the pitching.

.
16

Example: For the following data design a straight glacis fall using Khosla theory:
Upstream

Downstream

Water level (FSL)

218.3 m

216.8 m

Bed level

216.5 m

215 m

1 (H):1(V)

1 (H):1(V)

Full discharge

40 m /s

Water depth

1.8m

Bed width

1.8m

26 m

Side slope of the canal

Solution:

40 m /s

Drop 1.5m, Safe exit gradient 1/6

26 m

1- Length of crest (Lt): The length should be equal to the downstream bed width = 26m
2- Crest level:

Q = 1.84 Lt He

3/2

40= 1.84* 26* He

3/2

( )=
)=

=
.

1.8m

He = 0.89 m
(

= .

= .

26 m

US TEL= US FSL + ha = 218.3+0.03 = 218.33 m

Crest level = US TEL He = 218.33 - 0.89 =217.44 m

=

( .

)= .

Provide US glacis (slopped floor) slope = 2 (V):1 (H) jointed to US bed with radius (R) equal to
0.5 He=0.45m

And DS glacis (slopped floor) slope = 1 (V):2 (H) jointed to cistern bed with radius (R) equal to
He=0.9m

3- Length and depth of cistern:

=

= .

HL = USTEL DSTEL = 218.33 - 216.83 = 1.5 m

From hydraulic jump curves or tables Ef2 = 1.44 m

Level of cistern = DS TEL - 1.25 Ef2 = 216.83 1.25 (1.44) = 215.03 m > DS BL = 215m
Provide level of cistern = 214.5m

Length of cistern (Lc) = 6 Ef2 = 6 * 1.44 = 8.62 m provide 9m

4- US and DS cutoff walls depth
=

+ .

= ( . )+ .

= .
17

= ( . )+ .

+ .

5- Total length of impervious floor:

= =

= .

Hstatic = crest level - DS bed level = 217.44 215 = 2.44 m

.

= .

b = d2 = 19.6 m provide b = 20 m

DS floor length = 9m

DS glacis (slopped floor) slope 1 (V):2 (H) length = 2 (217.44 214.5) = 5.88 m
Width f crest = 0.6 m

US glacis (slopped floor) slope 2 (V):1 (H) length = 0.5 (217.44 216.5) = 0.47 m
US floor length = 20- 9 5.88 0.6 0.47 = 4.05 m

6- Pressure calculation and design of floor thickness:

Find the corrected at key points, do correction only for thickness.

Assume the floor thickness at US end =0.3m and at DS end =0.6m
For thickness design, static conditions will governance the design.
Hstatic = 2.44 m, corrected C1 = o.8 and E2 = 0.27
Thickness design:

- US floor thickness as assumed = 0.3 m

- DS floor thickness:

1-At 3m from downstream end:

=

. +

U3 = 3 * H = 0.34 *2.44 =0.83 m

. +

= .

h3 = U3 - (Elev. of the point DS BL) = 0.83 (214.5-215) = 1.33 m

=

=(

= .

2- At 6 m from downstream end:

=

. +

U6 = 6 * H = 0.423 *2.44 =1.033 m

. +

= .

h6 = U6 - (Elev. of the point DS BL) = 1.033 (214.5-215) = 1.533 m

=

=(

= .

18

3- At 9 m from downstream end:

=

. +

U9 = 9 * H = 0.507 *2.44 =1.237 m

. +

= .

h9 = U9 - (Elev. of the point DS BL) = 1.237 (214.5-215) = 1.737 m

=

=(

= .

7- US and DS transition and protection works:

a- US wing walls should be slopped at 45o from end of US floor. No protection needed
b DS wing wall is kept horizontally, connected to the canal by 90o head wall
c- No need for bed protection

d- Side protection provide, 0.2 m thick brick pitching at length (L)

L = 3* DS water depth= 3*1.8 = 5.4 m

e- Provide toe wall under the canal bed at 0.4 m width and depth =
f- Provide 0.4m wide profile wall at the end of the pitching.

= .

19

US TEL = 218.33m
US FSL = 218.3m
R=0.45m

US =216.5m

0.47

DS FSL = 216.8m

R=0.9m

6m

3m

Lc = 9m

20 m

d2= 2m

Toe
wall

0.5m

Top View

US wing wall

1.8

DS BL=215m

1.1m

1.3

1.5

Fall section
(A-A)

214.5m

5.88m

0.6

Profile
wall

DS TEL = 216.83m

1.24m

0.5m
4.05

DS wing wall top level=217.3m

CL = 217.44m

0.3m

d1= 1.2m

0.2m thick brick

pitching

US wing wall top level=218.8m

DS wing wall

45o

A
Crest

US glacis

US floor

26 m

26 m

Cistern

DS glacis

1.8

0.2m thick brick

pitching

1
1m

0.5 m depth
concrete footing

0.2m thick brick

pitching
FSL

Canal section
(B-B)

L = 5.4m

1m

0.4 m thick
Profile wall

1m depth and 04
thick Toe wall

20