Laceys Regime Theory

Gerald Lacey -- 1930

Lacey followed Lindleys hypothesis:

dimensions and slope of a channel to carry a given discharge and silt load in
easily erodible soil are uniquely determined by nature.
According to Lacey:
Silt is kept in suspension by the vertical component of eddies generated at
all points of forces normal to the wetted perimeter.
Regime Channel
A channel is said to in regime, if there is neither silting nor scouring.

According to Lacey there may be three regime conditions:

(i) True regime;
(ii) Initial regime; and
(iii) Final regime.

(1)True

regime

A channel shall be in 'true regime' if the following conditions are satisfied:

(i) Discharge is constant;
(ii) Flow is uniform;

(iii) Silt charge is constant; i.e. the amount of silt is constant;

(iv) Silt grade is constant; i.e., the type and size of silt is always the same; and
(v) Channel is flowing through a material which can be scoured as easily as it
can be deposited (such soil is known as incoherent alluvium), and is of the
same grade as is transported.

But in practice, all these conditions can never be satisfied. And, therefore,
artificial channels can never be in 'true regime; they can either be in initial regime
or final regime.

(ii) Initial regime

cross-section or wetted perimeter remains unaffected
bed slope of a channel varies

(iii) Final regime

all the variables such as perimeter, depth, slope, etc. are equally free to
vary and achieve permanent stability, called Final Regime.
In such a channel,
The coarser the silt, the flatter is the semi-ellipse.
The finer the silt, the more nearly the section attains a semi-circle.

Laceys Equations:
Fundamental Equations:
2
5V2
V
fR or f
5
2 R

Af 2 140V 5
2

V 10.8R S
3

Qf 2
V

140

etc are function of the silt factor, whereas silt factor

is function of sediment size.

For upper Indus basin,

f = 0.8 to 1.3

For Sindh plain,

f = 0.7 to 0.8

3340Q
V

The equations for determination of Velocity, Slope,

4980R

D50 is average grain/part icle size in mm

Derived Equations:

P 4.75 Q

where f 1.76 D50 ,

1 3 4 12
R S
Na

(Laceys Non-regime flow equation)

13

Q
Lacey' s Normal Regime Scour Depth 0.473
f

The above scour depth will be applicable if river width follows the
relationship P 4.75 Q
For other values of active river width,
13

q
Lacey' s Normal Scour Depth 1.35 ,
f

where
q = discharge intensity, and
L = actual river width at the given site

Q
L

Laceys Channel Design Procedure

Determine D and B using these

relationships

for

trapezoidal

section with side slope 1/2:1

Problem:
Design an irrigation channel in alluvial soil from following data using Laceys
theory:
Discharge = 15.0 cumec; Laceys silt factor = 1.0; Side slope = : 1
Solution:
Qf 2 16 15 1 16
V (
) (
) 0.689 m / sec
140
140

Q
15

21.77 m 2
V 0.689

P 4.75 Q 4.75 15 18.4 m

P P 2 6.944 A 18.4 (18.4) 2 6.944(21.77)
D

1.36 m
3.742
3.742

B P 5D 18.4 5 (1.36) 15.36 m

5 V 2 5 (0.689) 2
R

1.185 m
2 f
2
1

3340Q

(1)5 3
3340 (15)

1
6

5245

Problem:
The slope of an irrigation channel is 0.2 per thousand. Laceys silt factor = 1.0,
channel side slope = : 1. Find the full supply discharge and dimensions of
the channel.
Data:
S = 0.2/1000 = (0.2 x 5) / (1000 x 5) = 1/5000
Solution:
S

3340Q

f 53
1
11.25cumec

Q
1
3340
S

3340
5000

4980 R

f
1
2

1.008m
R(
)
4980 1

4980S
5000

P 4.75 Q 4.75 11.25 15.93m

A PR 15.93 1.008 16.06m2
P P 2 6.944 A 15.93 (15.93) 2 6.944(16.06)
D

1.153 m
3.742
3.742

B P 5D 15.93 5 (1.153) 13.35 m

Problem:

Design an earthen channel of 10 cumec capacity. The value of Laceys silt

factor in the neighboring canal system is 0.9. General grade of the country is
1 in 8000.
Data:

Q = 10 cumec;

f = 0.9; Sn=1/8000;

B = ?;

D = ?;

Sreq= ?.

Solution:
Qf 2
V

140

100.92

140

0.622 m/sec

Q
10

16.08 m 2
V 0.622

P 4.75 Q 4.75 10 15.02 m

P P 2 6.944 A 15.02 (15.02) 2 6.944(16.08)
D

1.25 m
3.742
3.742

B P 5D 15.02 5 (1.25) 12.22 m

S req

3340Q

0.9 3

1
334010 6
5

3
1

5844

Which is steeper than the natural grade of the country (i.e. 1 in 8000),

therefore not feasible.

Now putting S = 1/8000 in the relationship

S

3340Q

f 3340SQ 6

3340 1

8000

10

0.7454

Hence silt factor will be reduced to 0.7454 by not allowing coarser silt to enter the
canal system by providing silt ejectors and silt excluders.
2

0.179 mm
f 1.76 D50 D50 f
1.76

i.e. silt having mean diameter > 0.179 mm will not be allowed to enter the canal
system.

Lacey's Shock Theory

Lacey considered absolute rugosity coefficient Na as;
Constant and
Independent of channel dimensions.
In practice Na varies because of irregularities or mounds in the sides and bed of
the channel (i.e. ripples), pressure on front is more than the pressure on the rear.

The resistance to flow due to this difference of pressure on the two sides of the
mound is called form resistance.
Lacey termed this loss as shock loss, which is different from frictional resistance
or tangential drag.
Shock loss = f (size, shape and spacing of bed forms)
Total resistance = frictional resistance + form resistance (i.e. shock loss)
(due to bed)
(due to irregularities)

Lacey suggested:
Na should remain constant
Slope should be splitted
to overcome friction and
to meet shock loss
1
1 34
i.e.
2
V

Na

S s

where, s = slope required to withstand shock losses.

According to Lacey
Na = 0.025 with shock loss
Na = 0.0225 without shock loss
1
1
R3 4 S1 2
R3 4 S s 1 2
0.025
0.0225

Therefore,

s = 0.19 S

i.e. for a channel in good condition

19 % slope for shock loss
and
81 % slope for friction

Drawbacks in Laceys theory:

The concept of true regime is only theoretical and cannot be

achieved practically.

The various equations are derived by considering the silt

factor only, that is not appropriate for various phases of flow

along different bed and side conditions.

The concentration of silt is not taken into account.

The silt grade and silt charge are not clearly defined.

The equations are empirical and based on the available data

from a particular type of channel.

The characteristics of regime of channel may not be same for

Kennedy theory

Laceys theory

1.It states that the silt carried by the flowing

water is kept in suspension by the vertical
component of eddies which are generated from
the bed of the channel.

1.It states that the silt carried by the flowing

water is kept in suspension by the vertical
component of eddies which are generated from
the entire wetted perimeter of the channel.

2. Relation between V & D.

2. Relation between V & R.

3. Critical velocity ratio m is introduced to

make the equation applicable to diff. channels
with diff. silt grades.

3. Silt factor f is introduced to make the

equation applicable to diff. channels with diff.
silt grades.

4. Kutters equation is used for finding the mean

velocity.

4. This theory gives an equation for finding the

mean velocity.

5. This theory gives no equation for bed slope.

5. This theory gives an equation for bed slope.

6.In this theory, the design is based on trial and

error method.

6. This theory does not involve trial and error

method.