CANAL REGULATION

STRUCTURES AND
FALLS
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CANAL REGULATION STRUCTURES

Introduction

To admit regulated discharges into a main branch, distribution

network and to exercise control on their discharges, silt content in
water, various types of structures are required, along or across the
canals. These structure are called regulation structures;

Main regulation structures are;

a) Head Regulator
b) Cross Regulator
c) Fall Regulator
d) Escape
e) Silt Ejectors
f) Tail Regulator

The enclosed figure shows the typical locations of these

structures along a canal.
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CROSS REGULATORS
Typical Layout of a Canal System

CANAL REGULATION STRUCTURES

Head Regulator

It is a structure, which is constructed at the Head of canal at its

point of off-take. The main functions of a head regulator are;
a) Admit the full supply discharge and regulate supply levels into
the canal.
b) Control and regulate the full supply discharge entering the
canal.
c) Control the amount of silt entering into the canal.

The discharging capacity of a Head Regulator is usually fixed at

10% more than the required discharge to cater for emergencies. It
should also be capable of passing lesser discharges or completely
shutting off the supplies by manipulation of gates.

CANAL REGULATION STRUCTURES

The Hydraulic design of Head Regulator is based on the theory

and principles, as in design of weir and barrages. Since Head
Regulations are required to completely shut off the supplies to the
downstream, they are designed for full cut-off, i.e. completely
stoppage of supplies from entering the canal.

Silt control by the Head Regulator is provided by raising the crest

of the Head Regulator weir and also providing silt vanes.

Function of Head Regulator

Head Regulator for an off-taking channel (Branch, Distributary or

Minor) is an important structure in the canal network. It performs
following functions;
i. Allows design supplies to off-taking canal.
ii. Regulates supplies in the canal network.
iii. Allows proportionate distribution of the silt load in the channel
between off-taking channel and the parent channel; and
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iv. Measure supplies in the off-taking channel.

CANAL REGULATION STRUCTURES

These functions are partly performed by proper siting of the Head

Regulator of the off-taking channel with respect to the parent channel
and partly by constructing, partition or distribution wall in the parent
channel.
To assist the off-taking channel to draw its designed discharge from the
parent channel, the channel waterway is proportionally divided between
the parent channel and the off-take channel and by construction of
partition wall or distribution wall and extending them to some distance
upstream.
If the discharge of the off-taking channel is less than of the discharge
of the parent channel, then the angle of off-take is kept at 90 0. However,
if the discharge is more than of the parent channel, then the
arrangement shown below is preferred.

Head Regulator of a Canal Off-Taking From Barrage

Proportional Distribution of the Width

Head Regulator of a Distributary with Silt Vanes

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CROSS REGULATORS
Cross Regulator

CROSS REGULATORS
Cross Regulator

CROSS REGULATORS
Cross Regulator (Gates Fully Open)

CANAL FALL
Necessity and Location of Falls
Necessity/ objective

A fall is an irrigation structure constructed across a canal to lower

down its water level and destroy the surplus energy liberated from
the falling water which may otherwise scour the bed and banks of
the canal.

It lower down the water level if the NSL has a steep slope to
maintain a balance between the full supply level in the canal and to
command of the adjacent irrigated area. Thus, this is very useful
tool for improving the command area and as well as for increase
irrigation efficiency.

Canal fall also substantially reduces the extra earth filling and as
such economize the project cost.

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CANAL FALL
Necessity and Location of Falls
Location

For the canal which does not irrigate the area directly, the fall
should be located from the considerations of economy in cost of
excavation of the channel with regard to balancing depth and the
cost of the falls itself.

For a canal irrigating the area directly a fall may be provided at a

location where the FSL, outstrips the Ground level, but before the
bed of the canal comes into filling. After the drop , the FSL of the
canal may be below the ground level for to kilometer.

The location of the fall may also be decided from the consideration
of the possibility of combining it with a regulator or a bridge or any
other masonry works.
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Canal Fall

CANAL FALL
Position of Canal Fall

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CANAL FALL
Types of Canal Fall
Depending on the Ground level conditions and shape of the fall the
various types of falls are:

i) Ogee Fall

This type of fall has gradual convex and concave surface in the
ogee form -. A sectional view of this type is shown in enclosed
figure. The gradual convex and concave surface is provided for
smooth transition and to reduce disturbance and impact of falling
water.

A Hydraulic jump is formed which dissipates a part of energy. In

ordered to avoid erosion, Upstream and Downstream of the fall is
protected by providing stone pitching.

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CANAL FALL
Ogee Fall

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CANAL FALL
II) Stepped Fall

Enclosed figure shows the sectional view of a stepped fall. It

consists of a series of vertical drops in the form of steps.

This type is suitable in places where sloping ground is very long

and require a long glacis to connect the higher bed level U/S with
lower bed at D/S. It is practically a modification of rapid fall.

The sloping glacis is divided into a number drops to bring down

the canal bed step by step to protect the canal bed and sides from
damage by erosion. Brick walls are provided at each drop.

The bed of the canal within the fall is protected by rubble masonry
with surface finishing by rich cement mortar (1:3).

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CANAL FALL
Stepped Fall

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CANAL FALL
III) Vertical Fall

Enclosed figures (a & b) shows the simple vertical and Sarda types
canal falls, respectively.

In Figure-a the U/S canal bed level is at the level of U/S curtain
wall and in Figure-b canal U/S bed is below the crest of curtain
wall.

In both cases a cistern is formed to act as water cushion. Floor is

made of concrete U/S and D/S side stone pitching with cement
grouting is provided.

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CANAL FALL
Vertical Fall

Curtain wall

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CANAL FALL
IV)

Rapid Fall

When the Natural Ground Level (NSL) is even and rapid, this rapid
fall is suitable. It consists of long sloping glacis (1 : 10 to 1 : 20) as
shown in figure.

Curtain walls are provided on both Upstream and Downstream

sides. Rubble masonry with cement grouting is provided from U/S
curtain wall to D/S curtain wall. Masonry surface is finished with a
rich cement mortar (1 : 3).

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CANAL FALL
V)

Straight Glacis Fall

It consists of a straight glacis provided with a crest wall. For

dissipation of energy of flowing water, a water cushion is provided.
Curtain walls are provided at toe and heel. Stone pitching is
required at U/S and D/S of the fall as shown in figure.

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CANAL FALL
VI)

Trapezoidal Notch Fall

The enclosed figure shows the different views of Trapezoidal

Notch Fall. In this type a body or foundation wall across the
channel consisting of several trapezoidal notches between the
side piers and the intermediate piers is constructed as shown in
enclosed figure.

The sills of the notches are kept at U/S bed level of the canal. The
body wall is made of concrete. An impervious floor is provided to
resist the scouring effect of falling water.

U/S and D/S side of the fall is protected by stone pitching, finished
by cement grouting.

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CANAL FALL
Trapezoidal Notch Fall

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CANAL FALL
VII) Montague Type Fall

Montague type fall is shown in enclosed figure. In the straight

glacis type profile, energy dissipation is not complete. Therefore,
Montague developed this type of profile where energy dissipation
take place.

Its profile is parabolic and is given by the following equation.

x = V 4y/g +y
Where
V = The velocity leaving the crest.
x, y = The coordinate of any point shown in enclosed figure.
This parabolic glacis is difficult to construct.

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CANAL FALL
Montague Type Fall

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CANAL FALL
viii) Meter

and Non-Meter Falls

Meter falls are those which also measure the discharge of the
canal. The non-meter falls do not measure the discharge. For a fall
to act as a meter, it must have broad weir type crest so that the
discharge co-efficient is constant under variable head. Generally
glacis type fall is suitable as a meter.

The vertical drop fall is not suitable as a meter due to the

formation of partial vacuum under the nappe.

Contracted and full width falls

A fall may either be constructed of the full channel width of it may

be contracted. The contracted falls, the later type, are also known
as the flumed falls.

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Canal Fall

Canal Fall without Regulation Gates

Fall Regulator

Canal Escape

Tail Regulator