SECTION OF A CANAL

The Canal section may be in Fully

Cutting or Fully Banking or Partial
Cutting and Partial Banking
depending upon the natural ground
surface and permissible bed slope of
the canal

Terms Related to Canal

Section

1. Canal Bank 2. Berm

3.
Hydraulic Gradient
4. Counter Berm 5. Free Board 6.
Side Slope
7. Service Road or Inspection Road
8. Dowel
9. Borrowpit 10. Spoil Bank 11. Land
Width

1. Canal Bank
Necessary to retain water in the canal.
Three types of situation:

2. BERM

3. HYDRAULIC GRADIENT
It is line demarcating the saturated and dry
portion of bank. It is actually parabolic in
shape but for banks of less than 5 m
height, we assume it as straight line.
Depends on permeability
Of soil.
Clay 4:1 (H:V)
Alluvial
Sandy

4. COUNTER BERM
It is provided when the H.G cuts the
outer side of the bank. Minimum 0.5
m cover should be provided. The
Width depends on

5. FREE BOARD

6. SIDE SLOPE
The side slope of the canal bank and
canal section depends on the angle
of repose of the soil existing on the
site.

7. SERVICE ROAD
Roadway provided for inspection and
maintenance work.
Main canal, it is provided on both banks
(4-6 m)
Branch canal, one bank only (3 -4 m)

8. DOWEL
Protective small embankment for
safety of the vehicles.

9. SPOIL BANK
Dumping of extra earth on the side of
the main canal.

10. BORROWPIT
Extra earth is taken from this pits

11. LAND WIDTH

Total width of land required for
construction of canal.
The following dimension should be added
1.Top width of the canal
2. Berm width
3.Width of bank
4.Width of counter berm
5.Borrowpit
6.Margin of 1 m from the last section

Example

Solution