Design of Open Channel

CE 507 – Water Resources

Engineering
 Design of Open Channel
• Use of drainage ways
• Transport water supply and irrigation water.
• Classified as:
– Lined
– Unlined
Lining Materials are Classified as rigid or flexible.
Example of rigid lining i.e. concrete, asphaltic concrete,
precast interlocking block and articulated mats. For
Flexible linings: loose stone (riprap), vegetation,
manufactured mats (lightweight materials) fabrics
 Basic Principle
• Best Hydraulic Section
• Minimum Permissible Velocity
• Channel Slope
• Freeboard
 Best Hydraulic Section
• Chezy-Manning’s Equation
1 2ൗ 1ൗ2
𝑄 = 𝐴𝑅 3 𝑆0
𝑛
where:
𝑅 = 𝐴ൗ𝑃
3ൗ
𝑄𝑛 5 2ൗ
𝐴= 1ൗ 𝑃 5
𝑆0 2
 Best Hydraulic Section

1Chin, 2006
 Minimum Permissible Velocity
• To avoid Sedimentation and Vegetation Growth
– 0.6-0.9 m/s (2-3 ft/s) – Low Silt Load1
– 0.75 m/s (2.5 ft/s) – Prevent Vegetative Growth1
– 0.6 m/s (2 ft/s) – Sufficient to move a 15-mm diameter
organic or 2-mm sand particle2
• According to Fortier and Scobey, 1926
– Turbid Water, seldom bothered by plant growth
– Clear Water, plant flourish at velocity minimum > velocity
erosion
1French, 1985; 2ASCE, 1982
 Channel Slopes
• Longitudinal Slope
– Constrained by ground slope, min. permissible velocity,
and max. allowable shear stress on the channel lining.
• Side Slope
– Channel materials*
– Small Drainage Ditches steeper than irrigation channel1
– Concrete, > 1:1 need form; > 0.75:1 earth pressure.
– 1.5:1, concrete-lined canals2
– Not exceed 3:1, roadside and median channels3
1French, 1985; 2USBR, 1978; 3USFHWA, 1988
 Channel Slopes

1Chow, 1959;
 Freeboard
• It is defined as the vertical distance between the
water surface and the top of the channel when is
carrying the design flow at normal depth.
𝐹 = 0.55 𝐶𝑦
where, F – freeboard (m); y – design flow depth (m); C
– coefficient ~ 1.5 (0.57 cms) to 2.5 (85 cms).
• Super elevation consideration
𝑉 2𝑇
ℎ𝑠 =
𝑔𝑟𝑐
1USBR as Chow, 1959; Wurbs and James, 2002; 2Finnemore and Franzini, 2002
 Freeboard
• Equation 2 valid under subcritical flow condition, at
outer bank hs/2 > centerline, inner bank hs/2 <
centerline. Uniform velocity and constant curvature
across the stress.
• Nonuniform velocity and variable curvature, 20 %
higher than equation 2.1
• USACE, 1995 3 radius curvature be at least 3 times
the channel width.
• Minimum freeboard ~ 30 cm.2
1Finnemore and Franzini, 2002; 2ASCE, 1992
 Unlined Channel
1. Estimate the roughness coefficient, n, based on the
perimeter characteristics of the channel, and select
the freeboard coefficient, C, based on the design
flowrate in the channel. The roughness coefficient
in the channel can be estimated using Table 3.18.
2. Estimate the angle of repose of the channel
material from the figure 3.48.
3. Estimate the channel sinuousness and correction
factor for permissible shear from table 3.17
 Unlined Channel

1Lane, 1955; 2Chow, 1959

 Unlined Channel

1Lane 1955
 Unlined Channel
4. Specify a side-slope angle based on the guidelines
in Table 3.16
5. Estimate the tractive force ratio from Equation
below:
𝜏′𝑠 sin2 𝜃
𝐾= = 1− 2
𝜏′𝑏 sin 𝛼
where, 𝜏’S – permissible shear stress at side slopes; 𝜏’b
– permissible shear stress at bottom; 𝛼 – angle of
repose; θ – angle of side slope
 Unlined Channel
6. Estimate the permissible shear stress on the bottom
and sides of the channel from figure 3.49 and the
tractive force ratio. Correct for sinuousness.
𝜏′𝑏𝑐𝑜𝑟𝑟𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑒𝑑 = 𝐶𝑠 𝜏′𝑏
where, CS – sinuousness correction;
 Unlined Channel

1USFHWA, 1988
 Unlined Channel

1USFHWA, 1988
 Unlined Channel
7. Assume that the permissible shear stress on the
side of the channel is the limiting factor in the
channel design, and determine the normal depth of
flow, y.
𝜏0 = 𝛾𝑅𝑆𝑓

𝜏′𝑏𝑚𝑎𝑥 = 𝛾𝑦𝑆0

𝜏′𝑠𝑚𝑎𝑥 = 𝐾𝑠 𝛾𝑦𝑆0

1Average shear stress; 2Lane, 1955; 3Anderson et al., 1970

 Unlined Channel

1Anderson et al., 1970

 Unlined Channel
8. Calculate the required bottom width, b, of the
channel using the Chezy-Manning equation and y
from step 7.
9. Verify that the maximum shear stress on the
bottom of the channel is less than or equal to the
permissible shear stress on the bottom of the
channel.
 Unlined Channel
10. Compare the design velocity with the minimum
permissible velocity and calculate the Froude
number of the design flow. Verify that the flow is
subcritical.
𝑉
𝐹𝑟 =
𝑔𝐷
11. Estimate the required freeboard in the channel
using freeboard equation. Earth channel
dimensions ~ 0.1 m 1

1Kay, 1998
 Unlined Channel (Cohesive Lining)
The design of channels in cohesive soils is similar
to the procedure in the previous example, with
the exception that the shear stress on the
bottom of the channel is usually assumed to
govern the design.
 Sample Problem
Design a trapezoidal channel to carry 12 cms
through a slightly sinuous route on a slope of
0.15%. The channel is to have side slopes of 2:1
(H:V), be excavated in coarse alluvium with a 75-
percentile diameter of 2 cm, and particles on
the perimeter of the channel are expected to be
moderately rounded.
 Lined Channel (Rigid-Boundary)
Recommended by French, 1985
1. Estimate the roughness coefficient, n, and
freeboard coefficient, C, for the specified lining
material and design flowrate, Q. Manning
roughness coefficients for rigid-boundary channels
are listed in Table 3.19 ASCE (1992) has
recommended that open-channel designs not use a
roughness coefficient lower than 0.013 for well-
troweled concrete, and other finishes should have
proportionality higher n values assigned to them.
 Lined Channel (Rigid-Boundary)
2. Compute the normal depth of flow, y, using the
Chezy-Manning equation. (Best Hydraulic Section)
3. Check the minimum permissible velocity and the
Froude number. Repeats 2 and 3 if necessary to
meet the minimum-velocity and subcritical-flow
requirements.
4. Calculate the required freeboard, and increase the
freeboard on channel bends by one-haft the super
elevation height, hs
 Lined Channel (Rigid-Boundary)
As an additional constraint in designing concrete-lined
channels, ASCE (1992) recommends that flow velocities
not exceed 2.1 m/s or result in a Froude number
greater than 0.8 for non-reinforced linings, and that
flow velocities not exceed 5.5 m/s for reinforced linings.

Dimensions of lined channels ~ 0.05 m 1

1Kay, 1998
 Sample Problem
Design a lined trapezoidal channel to carry 20
cms on a longitudinal slope of 0.0015. The lining
of the channel is to be float-finished concrete.
Consider: (a) the best hydraulic section, and (b)
a section with side slopes of 1.5:1 (H:V)
Lined Channel (Flexible-Boundary)
– Moveable lining such as grass or riprap.