2.1.3.

Vegetation

2.1.3.1 General
 Vegetation can function as either revetment or indirect protection, and in some applications,
can function as both simultaneously.
o Grassy vegetation and the roots of brushy and woody vegetation function as
revetments,
o Brushy and woody vegetation function as indirect protection.
o The roots of vegetation may also add a degree of geotechnical stability to a bank
slope through reinforcing the soil.
 Vegetation is most often used in conjunction with structural protection. It can have a
particularly important role in the stabilization of upper bank slopes.
 Vegetation is especially appropriate for environmentally sensitive projects, whether benefits
to recreation, aesthetics, or wildlife are the object.
2.1.3.2 Advantages and disadvantages
Advantages:
 Environmental attractions
 relatively low cost.
Disadvantages:
 Vegetative protection cannot be planned and installed with the same degree of
confidence, or with as high a safety factor, as structural protection since vegetation is
especially vulnerable to extremes of weather and inundation before it becomes well
established.
 Vegetative treatments often require significant maintenance and management to prevent
the following problems:
 Growth of vegetation causing a reduction in flood conveyance or causing erosive
increases in velocity in adjacent unvegetated areas;
 Large trees threatening the integrity of structural protection by root invasion or by
toppling and damaging the protection works, or by toppling and directing flow into an
adjacent unprotected bank; and

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  Roots infiltrating and interfering with internal bank drainage systems, or causing
excess infiltration of water into the bank.
 Many of these problems may be avoided through selection of the appropriate type,
and species of vegetation for the purpose.
2.1.3.2 Vegetations used for protection works
 Several vegetation types are available for protection works. These are shown in table 3.3 and
include Weeping lovegrass, Bermuda grass, Alfalfa, etc. The vegetation are grouped in to
five classes in their degree of retardance.

2.1.3.3 Design Considerations

 Similar to the other direct protection methods, the basic criterion in the design of
vegetation protection measure is that the flow induced tractive force should not exceed
the permissible unit tractive force.
 Flow induced tractive force is given by eqn 17.
τ s=K s γRS........eqn 17
 The grass vegetal covers are grouped into five classes (A, B, C, D, and E) regarding the
degree of retardance, as shown in Table. The permissible unit tractive force, τ c , depends on
the retardance class.
Retardance Permissible unit
Class tractive force (N/m2)
τc
A 177.2
B 100.5
C 47.9
D 28.7
E 16.7

 Banks are designed so that

τ s≤ τ c
Where τ c is the permissible / critical tractive force

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2.1.3 Indirect Bank Protection Works
2.1.3.1 Groynes
 Groynes are employed as an indirect way for protection of banks
 They are in general cheaper than direct protection measures.

2.1.3.1.1 Definition

 Groynes are low dikes/embankments that are constructed more or less perpendicular to the
channel banks with a view to stabilizing the alignment of the channel. They can be viewed as
stream training works.
 Their main purpose is to reduce the net width of the channel so that the depth of the net
cross-sectional area is increased.

2.1.3.1.2 Groyne Structure

 Groynes are generally closed structures,

i.e., do not allow water to pass through them. They are often built from soil/rock or materials
of the stream bed.
 A plan and sections of a typical groyne is shown below

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2.1.3.1.3 Some Design Aspects
Length of groynes:
 It is dictated by the intended channel alignment
Crest levels of groynes:
 For alluvial channels the crest levels of the groynes are kept above the water level
corresponding to the design discharge / dominant discharge,

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  The crest levels are either horizontal or inclined upward to meet the banks. This helps to
reduce the risk of scouring at higher floods especially at the bank-groyne meet
Angle of groynes:
 No definite recommendation as to the angle between the groynes and the channel bank
exist. In fact, experimental studies show some conflicting results
o Some studies show that groynes pointing upstream experience less scouring,
o Other studies show that groynes at 900 rather have less scouring,
o Other studies show that groynes pointing downstream experience less scouring.
 Recent practice tends to favour an upstream inclination making 15-30 degree with a line
normal to the flow
Distance between groynes:
 So far no theoretical way to determine the distance between groynes. Too short a distance
is expensive
 Empirical rule of thumb:
o Twice the channel width
o 1-5 times the length of the groynes
o The distance is such that one strong vortex/eddy is formed
Embnakment materials:
 Embankment materials for the construction of the groynes is best taken from the stream
bed material,
 If this proves unsatisfactory, rockfill may be used. Gabions can also be used
Scour Protection:
 The heads of groynes may be subjected to scouring and thus require protection.
 Mattress revetment can be used.
2.2 River Bed Protection Works
2.2.1 General
 In upper reaches of some streams, longitudinal slope is often excessively steep causing strong
erosion.
 In the lower reaches, the slope flattens and large quantities of eroded material, often coarse
gravel or even boulders, are deposited.

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 o This may lead to the clogging of the channel causing flooding and damages.
 The erosion-deposition cycle may be improved by reducing the slope of the streams by
structural measure including
o Drop structures,
o Checkdams, and
o Bottom sills
2.2.2 Drop Structures
2.2.2.1 General
 Generally drop structures are commonly used for flow control and energy dissipation.
 The slope of a stream is changed from steep to mild by introducing vertical drops at regular
intervals. Changing the channel slope from steep to mild between the drops preclude the
development high erosive velocities.
 The kinetic energy or velocity gained by the water as it drops over the crest of each structure
is dissipated by a specially designed apron or stilling basin.

 The hydraulic behaviour a drop structure is similar to that of a free overfall weir.
o The water passes through critical depth as it flows over the drop structure crest /
brink.

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 o The free-falling nappe forms a supercritical flow on the apron at the distance L1 from
the drop wall with depth y2.
o A hydraulic jump forms immediately downstream with a sequent depth of y3

Weir

Stilling basin

2.2.2.2 Types
 Different types of drop structures are used in practice for flow control and energy dissipation.
 One of the most commonly used type is the Straight drop structure.

2.2.2.3 Design consideration for straight drop structure

 A straight drop structure is characterized by flow through a rectangular weir followed by a
drop into a stilling basin. The stilling basin may be a flat apron or an apron with various
baffles and sills depending on the site conditions.
 The design premise of drop structures for grade control is based on the requirement that the
slopes between the drops is fixed in such a manner that the avergae bed shear stress
(flow induced tractive force) at the design discharge remains below its permissible /
critical value for the given soil condition.
 In a given reach, mean height of the drop dictates the number of drops. The same effect can
be achieved by small number of high drops, or a large number of low drops.
 The mean height of the drops should be decided upon only after careful study of all the
hydraulic and economic aspect of the alternatives.

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 In a typical drop structure used for grade control measure, three main parts can be
distinguished
o The drop and the hydraulic jump immediated d/s
o The reach between the drops where there is uniform flow
o Drawdown section immediately upstream of the drop

 In the hydraulic design of drop structures, the drop number gives a quantitative measure for
drop

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 q2
Nd= 3
gho …………………………………………….eqn 30

where,
Nd = drop number
q = unit discharge, m3/s/m
g = acceleration due to gravity, 9.81 m/s2
ho = drop height, m

 The dimensions of a drop structure is estimated with the help of the drop number:
L1 = 4.3 ho Nd 0.27
y1 = 1.0 ho Nd 0.22
y2 = 0.54 ho Nd 0.425 ………………….eqn 31
y3 = 1.66 ho Nd 0.27
where,
L1 = drop length, m
y1 = pool depth under the nappe, m
y2 = depth of flow at the the beginning of the hydraulic jump, m
y3 = sequent to y2, m
 The length of jump L2 can be estimated using the standard hydraulic jump equations. Several
empirical equations exist that relate L2 to y2 or y3. A typical relationship is L2 = 5 to 6 y3.
 Recall that the type and location of the jump is dictated by the downstream tailwater depth
o If y3 = tailwater depth, perfect jump forms

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 o If y3 < tailwater depth, submerged jump forms
o If y3 > tailwater depth, jump migrates downstream,

Scour Protection
 Immediately upstream of the drop structure where the drawdown cuve forms, the flow
velocities increase due to the falling depth. This may cause erosion. (about 50-60% of the
entire water level drop in about 10-15% of the overall length). Bed protection is required.
 Channel protection for a short length downstream of the stilling basin is also essential if back
erosion is to be avoided at flow rates higher than the design discharge.

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2.2.3 Checkdams
 These are weir like structures / low dams that are built across a stream bed to facilitate the
bed-slope reduction to be done essentially by the river itself.
o Low dams are built across the stream bed at a relatively short distance between them.
o A backwater curve forms behind the dams which leads to the reduction in the
hydraulic grade line,
o Sediment depostion occurs in the backwater region since the sediment transport
capacity is reduced,
o Overtime, a milder longitudinal slope is established
 Local scour, upstream and downstream the dams, is a common occurence,
o The foundation of the dams shold be deeper,
 If the river banks are protected, checkdams should extend about 1 m beyound the meeting
line between the bed and the bank.

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2.2.4 Bottom Sills
 Sills are subsurface low dams that are built across a stream bed to facilitate the bed-slope
reduction to be done essentially by the river itself.
 They are used when small checkdams are not acceptable.

 Before the erosion of the original stream bed between the sills takes effect, there is no
influence of the sills on the flow.
 Eventually such erosion will go on until a new equilibrium slope is established, milder than
the original one. At that stage, the system will form a cascade of small drops.
 Bottom sills should always be built strong enough to act as low retaining walls after the
erosion has taken place.

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