CHANNEL

CHANNELS

The purpose in designing a channel is

to determine the cross section of the canal
that will accommodate water flow smoothly
and cheapest to construct and maintain.

o Side slope with a ratio of 2:1 or even

flatter is most acceptable, except on rock
or other hard materials where channels are
lines. For unlined or unfinished channel
surface, the best cross section requires
the least total excavations.
 CHANNELS

o The design of crown ditches, gutters,

stream channels, and culverts flowing
partially or fully, are based on the principle
of flow in an open canal. For the uniform
flow, the relationship is expressed in the
Manning Formula:

Q = VA

𝟐𝑨𝑹
= 𝑺
𝟑𝑵
 CHANNELS

Where:

Q – Quantity of discharge in m/s

R – Hydraulic radius in m
A – Area of the flow cross section in 𝐦𝟐
S – Manning roughness coefficient
MANNING ROUGHNESS COEFFICIENT

REPRESENTATIVE VALUES OF ROUGHNESS COEFFICIENT n,

VARIOUS CHANNEL LININGS
Types of Lining Value of n
Ordinary earth, smooth gravel 0.02
Rough rubble or jagged rock 0.04
Rough concrete 0.02
Bituminous lining 0.02
Smooth rubble 0.02
Well maintained grass-depth of flow over 0.04
15 cm
Well maintained grass-depth of flow 0.06
under 15 cm
Heavy grass 0.10
VARIOUS CHANNEL PROBLEMS

a) Water flowing down a mild slope in an

open canal is in Sub-critical Flow

Sub-critical Flow - exists when the depth of

water in the channel is greater than the
critical depth

b) Water flowing on steep slope is in Super

Critical Flow

Super Critical Flow – exists when the depth is

less than the critical depth
VARIOUS CHANNEL PROBLEMS

The Critical Depth occurs when the

velocity depth is one half the average depth.

The Average Depth or Mean Depth is

the cross sectional area of the flow divided
by its width at the liquid surface.
CHANNEL DESIGN

 The actual velocity must be checked against

the maximum values for unprotected earth.
 Where channel scouring is indicated, reduction
of water velocity should be adopted to a safe
level.
 To reduce the velocity is to reduce the flow of
water by diversion.
 Where diversion is not possible, the channel is
widened or lengthened. As an alternative, the
slope of the channel is decreased.
 Baffles, checks or drops are introduce to
reduce slope in the channel
SAFE VELOCITY

MAXIMUM SAFE VELOCITY WHEN CHANNEL EROSION IS TO BE

PREVENTED
Types of Lining Allowable Velocity
(ft/s)
Well established grass on any good soil 6
Meadow type of blue or Bermuda grass 5
Bunch grasses, exposed between plants 2-4
Grains, stiff stemmed grasses that do not bend over 2-3
under shallow flow
Earth without vegetation
Fine salt or silt, little or no clay 1-2
Ordinary firm loam 2-3
Stiff clay, highly colloidal 4
Coarse gravel 4
Clay and gravel 4
Soft shale 5