CvSU AE REVIEW CLASS 2019

IRRIGATION AND
DRAINAGE ENGINEERING
Conveyance channels are mostly constructed from cheap, untreated earth
canals because they are much easier and cheaper to build. Conveyance
channels are designed to provide:

1. velocity of flow such that neither serious scouring or sedimentation will

occur;
2. sufficient capacity to carry the design flow;
3. hydraulic grade at the proper level to provide good water management;
4. side slopes that are stable; and
5. minimum initial cost and maintenance.

CONVEYANCE CHANNEL
1. Excessive seepage losses.
2. Large cross sectional area needed as a result of low
velocities.
3. Subject to damage by burrowing of animals and erosion.
4. Favorable to growth of weeds and moss which retard
velocity, increase water losses due to evaporation, and
require high annual maintenance costs.

DISADVANTAGES OF EARTH CANALS

Canals are usually lined with concrete, bricks, or
colloid clay mixtures for the purpose of:
1. Minimizing conveyance losses
2. Preventing breaks and weed growth
3. Decreasing erosion
4. Retarding moss growth
5. Increasing the canals capacity
For unlined channels, the design flow velocity of the canal
shall not exceed the maximum permissible velocity in order
to avoid destructive erosion to the channel and
progressively destroy fertile lands. The maximum permissible
velocity depends on the resistance to erosion of the banks
of the canal.

FLOW VELOCITY
For lined channels, the minimum permissible velocity shall
be considered. However, the flow velocity shall be in no
case too low to produce sand deposits or allow weed
growth inside the canal. The permissible minimum velocity
can be estimated as 0.6 m/s for plain water and 0.9 m/s
for water with sediments.

FLOW VELOCITY
DESIGN OF OPEN CHANNEL
FOR UNIFORM FLOW
The minimum permissible velocity of 0.6 to 0.9 m/s was
considered for designing a concrete canal. The rule of
thumb for the roughness coefficient (n) of concrete canal is
0.015. In the theoretical design this type of canal, the
Manning’s Equation and the Continuity Equation are used
simultaneously.

NON – ERODIBLE CHANNEL

 𝟏 𝟐 Τ 𝟑 𝟏 Τ𝟐
𝑸= 𝑹 𝑺 𝑨
𝒏

Q = discharge in m3/s
n = roughness coefficient
R = hydraulic radius in m
S = bed slope
A = cross – sectional area in m2
A concrete-lined trapezoidal canal is to carry a maximum
discharge of 2.0 m3/s. The required head loss over a
horizontal distance of 1 km is 2.0 m. The side slope is to be
set at 1:1 and the permissible b/d ratio is 3. If the
Manning's roughness coefficient is 0.015, determine the
normal depth required?

SAMPLE PROBLEM
The rule of thumb for the roughness coefficient (n) of
concrete canal is 0.02. In the case of this type of channel,
Manning’s Equation and the Continuity Equation are still
the design equations but they are used separately.

ERODIBLE CHANNEL
Compute the hydraulic radius
𝟑Τ𝟐
𝑽∗𝒏
𝑹=
𝑺𝟏Τ𝟐
Compute for the water area
𝑸
𝑨=
𝑽
Compute for the wetted perimeter
𝑨
𝑷=
𝑹

Setup the simultaneous equation, and solve algebraically.

A trapezoidal earth canal is to be designed to irrigate a 300-
ha rice farm. The maximum water requirement occurs during
the land preparation period amounting to 12 mm/day. If the
overall system efficiency is 40%, (a) determine the required
discharge in m3/s. If the roughness coefficient n for the
channel to be designed in problem 26 is 0.025 and, the
bottom slope is 0.15%, side slope is 1V:1.5H and the maximum
permissible velocity is 0.8 m/s, (b) determine the normal
depth.

SAMPLE PROBLEM
“Efficient” means maximum discharge for a
given volume of reinforced concrete.

EFFICIENT CANAL (FOR CONCRETE)

1. Trapezoidal Canal, Ө=60º (MOST EFFICIENT)
A = 1.732 d2
R = d/2
2. Rectangular Canal, Ө=90º
A = 2 d2
b = 2d
R = d/2
3. Triangular Canal, Ө = 45º (best angle w/ the horizontal for
triangular canals)
A = d2

NOTE: Ө is the side angle with the horizontal

a) Concrete Canals
Base b relative to depth d at side angle with the horizontal Ө:
b = 2 d tan (Ө/2)
b) Unlined Canals (No Concrete)
Base b:
b = 4 d tan (Ө/2)

BEST HYDRAULIC CROSS SECTION OR

BEST B – D PROPORTION
Top Width t at water surface level:
t = b + (2d / tan Ө)
Total Top Width T at total depth D level:
T = b + (2D / tan Ө)
Determine the side slope angle of an unlined
canal with slope ratio z of 2:1 (run: rise)?

SAMPLE PROBLEM
What is the total top width of the most efficient
concrete open channel if design depth is 5
meters? Design discharge is 100 m3/s and
velocity is 2 m/s. Use 15% freeboard.

SAMPLE PROBLEMS
What is the base of the most efficient
trapezoidal concrete open channel if
discharge is 100 m3/s and velocity is 2 m/s.

SAMPLE PROBLEM
What is the bottom width for best
hydraulic cross-section of unlined
open channel for minimum seepage
if design depth is 5 meters and side
slope is 45º?