River Training & Protection works

C M Gupta
Sr Prof/Br./2/IRICEN Pune

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 Lecture Plan
1. Various River reaches to decide nature of
protection works
2. Suggested protective measures for different
reaches
3. River Training & Protection works details
a) Flooring, curtain & drop wall
b) Guide bunds & apron
c) Marginal bunds
d) Closure bunds
e) Spurs
f) Assisted cut offs
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4. Design of river trg works through model studies
References:

Ref; 1. Indian Railway bridge manual

2. IRICEN publication

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 RIVER TRAINING &
PROTECTION WORKS
• Various Types of River/ River
Phases (Para 801)
–Upper Reaches (Mountainous)
–Submontane Reaches (Foot Hills)
–Quasi-Alluvial Reaches (Trough)
–Alluvial Reaches
–Tidal Reaches
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 Types of Rivers

• Hilly, sub-mountain, alluvial, coastal

• Meandering, straight, braided
• Aggrading, degrading, stable
• Flashy, virgin

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River channel
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in hills
 UPPER REACHES (Para 802)
(Mountainous Rivers)
• Narrow, Deep Cross Section, Steep Slope
• Bed Material – Rock, Boulders, Gravel
• Rise – Sudden and Flashy
• Water with high concentration of sediment
load
• Suggested Protective Measures
– Protection to Piers by RSJ, fenders or
Rails
– Soil Erosion Control, arresting bed load
– Chutes with paved apron at the entrance 7
Sub-mountain river channel

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 Submontane Reaches (Para 803)
(Foot Hills)
• Bed slopes 1 in 50 to 1 in 500
• Bed Material –Boulders, Gravel and sand
• Floods – Sudden and Flashy : All these channels
normally overflow during high floods and the river
acquires very wide and shallow cross section. The rivers
in this reach are prone to progressively raise their beds
by sediment deposition. Such rivers are known as
"Aggrading" type.
• Suggested Protective Measures
• It is not desirable to locate bridge in such reaches.
However, if a bridge is to be provided, training measures
in the form of marginal bunds, extending right up to the
high ground in the hills are required to shift the point of
aggradation downstream 9
 Submontane Reaches (Para
803) (Foot Hills)
• To reduce the erosive action on the marginal
bund
a) Suitable slope protection with boulders or
concrete slabs,
b) adequate toe protection in the form of two rows
of in-situ concrete blocks or boulders in wire crates
and
c) boulders in wire crates forming flexible type
apron may be provided.

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Quasi Alluvial reaches
• Bed slopes 1 in 500 to 1 in 2500
• Bed Material –Small size gravel and
Medium sand.
• Channel–Generally well defined course
• Suggested Protective Measures
– Bridging such rivers normally involves
constriction of River – Guide Bunds
– Hydraulic Model studies desirable

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Alluvial Reaches (Para 805)
• Bed slopes 1 in 2500 to 1 in 25000
• River flows on flat Bed of Material Alluvium
(sediment deposited by flowing water)
• River Meanders in its Khadir ( a strip of low
land with in which river meanders)
• River Bed is normally stable
• Suggested Protective Measures
– Guide Bunds – main objective being to
guide the river near the bridge to its course
Tidal Reaches
At the confluence of river with sea, the tidal
effects predominate, Constriction of waterway 12
to be avoided
 Types of rivers

• Hilly, sub-mountain, alluvial, coastal

• Meandering, straight, braided
• Aggrading, degrading, stable
• Flashy, virgin

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Incase of meandering river the velocity of flow on outer side is
Meandering River
high causing erosion of bank, wherein the velocity of flow on
innerChannel
side is slow causing deposition this result lateral shift of 14
river channel over a period.
Meandering river

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Island type braided channel

When flow in river channel is insufficient to transport the eroded

material,& gets deposited , thereby blocking the channel. Another
channel then may be formed and in course of time river bed become a
network of such channels with island in between. Such streams are 16
called braided stream
 Type of Rivers

Aggrading River

Aggrading: Rivers in this reach are prone to raise

their beds by sediment deposition, due to
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reduction in velocity.
Degrading River
Sinking of pier

Degrading: lowering of bed by erosion due to

higher velocity 18
 Stable river

Stable: No perceptible rise of lowering of river

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bed occurring over long periods
Flashy Rivers in the hills
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 VIRGIN RIVER

Virgin: They have no outfall in the sea nor do they join any
other stream. Such rivers after traversing some distance
loose all their water by percolation & evaporation 21
River Training Works

The necessity and suitability of River Training Works

should be carefully assessed. For effective design of
river training works, following useful details are to be
collected:

i) History of flow/channel
Change of river course happens mainly due to
meandering effect of the river. In case of meander, it is
possible to know the maximum radius of curvature from
which it should be possible to estimate the likely area of
effect. Adequate studies and data keeping results in
easier, cost effective and simpler designs of protection
measures. 22
ii) Addition of any hydraulic structure on the regime of the
flow should be taken note of, both on upstream as well
as on downstream. On downstream side, effects are
rarely beyond 5 kms. Such changes may be in the form
of additional spans/works provided by highways on
upstream side.
This may also be due to construction of barrage/ dam/
water storage structures. These are considered as
Railway Affecting Works and may have significant
impact on Railway bridge.
iii) Shift in flow channel because of meander: This should
be studied particularly with reference to acuteness of
the meander given by tortuosity ratio.
iv) Any large scale deforestation on upstream will cause
heavy sediment load leading to change in flow pattern.
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PROTECTION AND RIVER TRAINING
WORKS
Following are type of protection and river
training works
1)Flooring
2) Flooring with curtain wall (U/S side) and drop
wall (D/S side)
3)Pitching and toe wall
4) Guide bunds
5) Apron
6) Spurs/grayons
7) marginal bunds
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Flooring
• Provided in bridge with small opening and
shallow foundation
• Provided to prevent scour around the
substructure to avoid undermining of
foundations
• Stone or cement concrete flooring used for
minor bridges ( generally 300 mm thickness)
• Some times apron around the pier with filter
bed is provided in place of complete flooring
• Flooring should be inspected and maintained
properly

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Flooring with curtain wall & drop wall
• Curtain wall and drop walls provided to
protect flooring from high velocity and
scour
• If necessary a sloping apron be
provided beyond drop wall to lead water
way
• Inspected and maintained properly
particularly D/S of drop wall for any
excessive scour to avoid wash away of
entire protection work
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In the case of natural channels flowing in alluvial beds
where the width of waterway provided is not less than
Lacey’s regime width,(SSC Para 4.6.3)
the normal depth of Scour (D) below the foundation
design discharge (Qf) level may be estimated from
Lacey’s formulas as indicated below
D = 0.473 (Qf/f)1/3
Where due to constriction of waterway, the width is less
than Lacey’s regime width for Q or where it is narrow and
deep as in the case of incised rivers and has sandy bed,
the normal depth of scour may be estimated by the
Where qf is the discharge intensity in cubic
following formula : (SSC Para 4.6.4) metre per second per metre width and ‘f’ is
D = 1.338 (qf2/f)1/3 silt factor as defined in clause 4.6.3.

Depth of drop wall will be 1.25 times the normal scour depth.
Floor should cover the entire width and length of abutment including wing29
wall
DROP WALL
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Sloping apron beyond drop wall

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SCOURING NEAR ABUTMENT

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Scouring near Abutment

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Need for stone Pitching:
Approach bank of bridges are subjected to
severe attack under following conditions
– when flood level at Bridge is very high and
there is spill beyond the normal flow channel
– When stream meets major river D/S of
bridge. In such cases flood in major river
may raise, the normal water level of smaller
stream
– If deep borrow pits are dug at toe of
approach bank, rain water flows through
these pits causing parallel flow and erosion
of bank
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 Pitching with toe wall
• Some times pitching is provided on approach
banks, guide bunds and spur to prevent
erosion during flood
• Toe wall is an important component of
pitching provided at toe of bank
• If toe wall gets damaged, pitching is likely to
slip down
• Periodical inspections and proper
maintenance is essential to safeguard banks
and guide bunds 36
 PITCHING OF BANK

TOE WALL AND PITCHING

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Slope pitching & aprons
( with loose stones)

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Slope pitching & aprons
( with stones in crates)

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Geo-fabric laid below stone pitching

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 Guide Bunds
These are training works, required to be
provided to guide flow smoothly through the
bridge opening when constriction of waterway at
bridge site is adopted.

For large alluvial rivers, guide bunds are

provided when shifting of river course are
noticed in vicinity of bridge (U/S)

These are provided with suitable shapes,

adequate length and added with curved heads
to give protection to exposed faces against river
attack
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Type of guide bunds in Plan
Divergent, Parallel, Elliptical 44
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Guide bund at a bridge

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 GUIDE BUND – shape & design features
• Shape : The Shape may be divergent, parallel (straight) or
elliptical depending upon site condition.
• The upstream shank of guide bund is 1.0 to 1.5 times the
length of bridge , while D/S shank is 0.25 to 0.4 times the
length of bridge.
• The tail bund on downstream side is provided to afford an
easy exit to the water & to prevent formation of vertical whirl
pools which gives rise to scour. The tail bunds are also
curved at their ends and should be properly armoured.
• The material used is river sand, clay is not suitable.
• River face of bund needs to be pitched with stone laid on filter
bed, while rear face of bund can be provided with clay blanket
and turf over it.
• Radius of curved upstream mole head = 0.45L (L is waterway
width determined from Lacey formula subject to minimum =
150mtr and maximum = 600 mtr.) 49
 GUIDE BUND – shape & design features (Contd)
• Radius of downstream curved tail kept as 0.3 to 0.5 times
radius of upstream curve head.
• Angle of sweep of mole curve head = 120 to 145o and tail
head 45 to 60o
• IS 10751-1994 and IRC 89-1985 for design & construction of
guide bund & launching aprons.
• Minimum top width is kept as 6 m (adequate for machinery)
• The side slope of bank is kept as 2:1 (minimum)
• Top level of guide bund is fixed as = water level corresponding
to design discharge (Q50) +Afflux + Free board ( 1 meter ).
• Pitching be laid in wire crates to avoid slippage of individual
stone. Individual stone should to 35 to 50Kg.
• It Should be inspected properly for any damage of pitching and
cross section be taken and compared for any settlement. Any
damage or slips be attended immediately to avoid further 50
damage during next flood.
GUIDE BUND

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 Guide Bund Apron
• The apron is provided beyond the toe of slope of
the guide bund, so that when bed is scoured, the
scoured face will be protected by launching of the
apron stone or wire crate containing stone

• Apron pitching with successive floods, goes on

sinking (launching) starting from the front. At final
position it is expected to lie in same slope of guide
bunds (above the low water level) up to the
maximum depth of scour. This action is known as
launching apron
It is important to inspect the guide bund pitching thoroughly
and any weak spot be attainted immediately to avoid further
damage during subsequent floods.
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Thickness of apron = 1.5T in straight portion, in curve portion it is kept as 1.5T
at junction of apron with pitching on slope and increased through its width to
2.25T at end of apron.

Normally apron to be
laid on dry bed as low
as possible.

Along apron of guide bund depth of scour = 1.5 x D cal as per

4.6.3 or 4.6.4 of sub str code
Against mole head of guide bund = 2.5 to 2.75 D cal as per 4.6.3
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or 4.6.4 of sub str code
 Spurs
These are structures constructed in rivers
transverse to the bank and U/S of the bridge.

In absence of guide bund they help to protect

bank and stabilize river regime

These are of three types

i) Repelling spur ii) Attracting spur iii) Holding spur

Solid spurs are built of sand core protected by stone pitching

Permeable spurs are temporary measures built by driving

wooden bullies filled in with brush wood and weighted down
by stone
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 TYPE OF SPURS
flow

ATTRACTING

More common and safe are normal spurs. Other two

types should not be provided without proper model study.
They can do more harm than relief if not properly selected
designed and constructed 56
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 Spurs (shape & design features)

SN Parameter Criteria
1. Normal scour depth Normal scour depth is calculated by
Lacey’s formula D=0.473 (Qf/f)1/3 OR
1.338(qf2/f)1/3

2. Local /max. scour Local scour can be taken as 2 to 2.5

depth times the normal scour depth

3. Length of Spur The Length of spur should not be less

than 2.5 times local scour depth

4. Spacing of spurs 2 to 2.5 times their length so as to

effectively protect the length of bank
between them

Note: If the depth is taken from model study, it need not be multiplied
by 2 or 2.5 factor to find local scour. 58
Repelling Spurs

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Spur with flank
protection

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Spur nose damage

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Single Porcupine

Central
Stone box

PERMEABLE SPUR - PORCUPINE

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RCC Porcupines
in row

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 Marginal bunds
• These are earthen bunds, provided to contain
the spread of river, when the river in flood,
spills over its bank upstream of the bridge
site over wide area & likely to spill in neighboring
water courses or cause other damage.

• The slope of bund should be well protected by

turfing & if it is built in active area of river it should
be protected with pitching & apron

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 Closure bunds
• Some times it may be necessary to entirely
block one or more channels of the river in
order to prevent the discharge of such
channels developing into main river channel
after the construction of the bridge, this is done by
providing a closure bund

• It is designed as an earthen dam. It is generally

constructed at some distance from the railway line

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Assisted cut offs
• Some times when very heavy meandering
develops near bridge and there is danger of
its encroaching too heavily into still water
area / approaching railway embankment, it
becomes necessary to dig a cut off channel ,
which will develop ultimately and help in
diversion of water through it.
• This cut off channel should have atleast 3 times
river’s straight regime slope & its upstream end
should take off where bed load of main channel
is less & velocity is more ( i.e. active part of
channel 69
 Design of river training works
through model studies
Bridge manual Para-815
In case of large alluvial river where training &
protection works involve a heavy financial outlay,
model studies should be resorted to arrive at the
most economical and effective solution

Field Exercise:
1. Inspection of river training works in the field

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Thanks

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