40

SMALL CANAL STRUCTURES

Figure 2-14. Concrete pipeline for bench construction. 103-D-1258

design velocities are faster than critical,

supercritical flow exists and the bench flume

performs hydraulically as a chute and an

energy dissipator is required at the structure

outlet. See subchapter II F for chute design.

Studies show that with the -j ratio equal to

1, 2, or 3 and for capacities of 100 cfs or less

the slope of the flume invert should not be

steeper than s = 0.002. This criteria applies not

only to the flume design slope but also to the

actual flume slope due to construction

tolerances that could otherwise result in

supercritical slopes.

Studies also show that with these ratios and

capacities a rectangular flume invert slope of

0.005, for example, is nearly always steeper

than critical slope resulting in supercritical

flow. Flume slopes should be substantially

flatter than critical slope because flows at or

near critical depth tend to be rather unstable,

resulting in undesirable water surface

undulations.

Using an n value of 20 percent less than the

nominal design n, a verification should be

made to see that the depth does not approach

critical depth where the bottom might be

raised above design grade due to construction

tolerances.

(c) Freeboard.-Bench flume freeboard

should be correlated with the adjacent canal

freeboard so that overflow from either will

result in the least amount of damage to canal,

flume, and facilities downhill from the

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overflow.

Freeboard for flumes will depend upon a

number of factors, such as the size of flume,

velocity of water, curvature of alinement, and

anticipated method of operation. Figure 1-9

may be used as a guide for determining

minimum freeboard for flumes.

2-16. Transitions, (a) General. Wherever a

bench flume is used with a canal, transitioning

from the canal section to the flume section is

usually required to provide a relatively smooth

water surface and to conserve energy. This is

usually also true with transitioning from flume

section to canal section, especially if the canal

section is unlined.

As discussed in chapter VII, where concrete-

transitions are required for inline structures

they are usually broken-back (type 1)

transitions for the capacity range in this

publication. Where the flume velocity is not

much more than the canal velocity, an abrupt

change in water prism from canal to flume may

be permitted. The canal base width should,

however, be uniformly varied to match the

flume base width and flume wingwalls should

be provided to retain the canal banks and to

serve as cutoffs to prevent flow along the

outside of the flume.

(b) Inlet.-Usually flume velocities are

greater than canal velocities, resulting in

increasing velocities through the inlet transition

and a drop in the water surface by an amount

sufficient to produce the necessary increase in

velocity and to overcome friction and