Prof .A.H.shirke P.D.V.V.P.COE.

AHMEDNAGAR

Unit VI
C. D. Works Chapter 11 [3 Lectures]

Syllabus

1. Introduction,
2. Necessity of cross drainage works
3. Selection of site for Cross Drainage work
4. Data required for design of Cross Drainage work
5. Classification of Cross Drainage works
6. Drain over canal-Siphon, Super passage
7. Canal over drain—Aqueduct
8. Siphon aqueduct
9. Canal and drain water mixed in each other--Level crossing, Inlet and Outlet
10. Selection of suitable type of C. D. works
11. .Design considerations for cross drainage works.

1. Introduction-

In an irrigation project, when the network of main canals, branch canals, distributaries,
etc. are provided, then these canals may have to cross the natural drainages like rivers,
streams, nallahs, etc at different points within the command area of the project. The
crossing of the canals with such obstacle cannot be avoided. So, suitable structures must
be constructed at the crossing point for the easy flow of water of the canal and drainage
in the respective directions. These structures are known as cross-drainage works.

2. Necessity of cross drainage works

1. The water-shed canals do not cross natural drainages. But in actual orientation of the
canal network, this ideal condition may not be available and the obstacles like natural
drainages may be present across the canal. So, the cross drainage works must be
provided for running the irrigation system.
2. At the crossing point, the water of the canal and the drainage get intermixed. So, far
the smooth running of the canal with its design discharge the cross drainage works are
required.
3. The site condition of the crossing point may be such that without any suitable
structure, the water of the canal and drainage cannot be diverted to their natural
directions. So, the cross drainage works must be provided to maintain their natural
direction of flow.

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3. Selection of site for Cross Drainage work

The following points should be considered while selecting the site of a cross-drainage
work:

a. At the site, the drainage should cross the canal alignment at right angles. Such a
site provides good flow conditions and also the cost of the structure is usually a
minimum.
b. The stream at the site should be stable and should have stable banks.
c. For economical design and construction of foundations, a firm and strong sub-
stratum should exit below the bed of the drainage at a reasonable depth.
d. The site should be such that long and high approaches of the canal are not
required.
e. The length and height of the marginal banks and guide banks for the drainage
should be small.
f. In the case of an aqueduct, sufficient headway should be available between the
canal trough and the high flood level of the drainage.
g. The water table at the site should not be high, because it will create De-watering
problems for laying foundations.
h. As far as possible, the site should be selected d/s of the confluence of two
streams, Thereby avoiding the necessity of construction of two cross-drainage
works.
i. The possibility of diverting one stream into another stream upstream of the canal
crossing should also be considered and adopted, if found feasible and economical.
j. A cross-drainage work should be combined with a bridge, if required. If
necessary, the Bridge site can be shifted to the cross-drainage work or vice versa.
The cost of the combined structure is usually less. Moreover, the marginal banks
and guide banks required for the river training can be used as the approaches for
the village roads

Types of CD Works
Depending upon the relative positions of the canal and the drainage, the cross-drainage works
may be broadly classified into 3 categories. In each category, there are further sub-type

1. Canal over the drainage

Type I (Irrigation canal passes over the drainage)

(a) Aqueduct
(b) Siphon aqueduct

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 Prof .A.H.shirke P.D.V.V.P.COE.AHMEDNAGAR

2. Canal below the drainage

Type II (Drainage passes over the irrigation canal)
(a) Super passage
(b) Siphon super passage

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3. Canal at the same level as drainage

Type III (Drainage and canal intersection each other of the same level)
(a) Level Crossing
(b) Inlet and outlet

1. Canal over the drainage

Type I (Irrigation canal passes over the drainage)

(a) Aqueduct
The aqueduct is just like a bridge where a canal is taken over the deck supported by piers
instead of a road or railway. Generally, the canal is in the shape of a rectangular trough
which is constructed with reinforced cement concrete. Sometimes, the trough may be of
trapezoidal section.
a. An inspection road is provided along the side of the trough.

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b. The bed and banks of the drainage below the trough is protected by boulder pitching
with cement grouting.
c. The section of the trough is designed according to the full supply discharge of the
canal.
d. A free board of about 0.50 m should be provided.
e. The height and section of piers are designed according to the highest flood level and
velocity of flow of the drainage.
f. The piers may be of brick masonry, stone masonry or reinforced cement concrete.
g. Deep foundation (like well foundation) is not necessary for the piers. The concrete
foundation may be done by providing the depth of foundation according to the
availability of hard soil.

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B.Siphon Aqueduct

The siphon aqueduct, the bed of the drainage is depressed below the bottom level
of the canal trough by providing sloping apron on both sides of the crossing.
a. The sloping apron may be constructed by stone pitching or cement concrete.
b. The section of the drainage below the canal trough is constructed with
cement concrete in the form of tunnel. This tunnel acts as a siphon.
c. Cut off walls are provided on both sides of the apron to prevent scouring.
d. Boulder pitching should be provided on the upstream and downstream of the
cut-off walls.
e. The other components like canal trough, piers, inspection road, etc. should be
designed according to the methods adopted in case of aqueduct.

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2. Canal below the drainage

Type II (Drainage passes over the irrigation canal)
(a) Super passage
(b) Siphon super passage

(a) Super passage

 The hydraulic structure in which the drainage is passing over the irrigation canal is
known as super passage. This structure is suitable when
the bed level of drainage is above the flood surface level
of the canal. The water of the canal passes clearly below
the drainage
 A super passage is similar to an aqueduct, except in this
case the drain is over the canal.
 The FSL of the canal is lower than the underside of the
trough carrying drainage water. Thus, the canal water runs
under the gravity.
 Reverse of an aqueduct

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The super passage is just opposite of the aqueduct. In this case, the bed level of the drainage is
above the fully supply level of the canal. The drainage is taken through a rectangular or
trapezoidal trough of channel which is constructed on the deck supported by piers.

a. The section of the drainage trough depends on the high flood discharge.
b. A free board of about 1.5 m should be provided for safety.
c. The trough should be constructed of reinforced cement concrete.
d. The bed and banks of the canal below the drainage trough should be protected by
boulder pitching or lining with concrete slabs.
e. The foundation of the piers will be same as in the case of aqueduct.

(b) Siphon super passage –

siphon Super Passage

It is just opposite siphon aqueduct. In this case, the canal passes below the drainage trough. The
section of the trough is designed according to high flood discharge. The bed of the canal is

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depressed below the bottom level of the drainage trough by providing sloping apron on both
sides of the crossing.

a. The sloping apron may be constructed with stone pitching or concrete slabs.
b. The section of the canal below the trough is constructed with cement concrete in
the form of tunnel which acts as siphon.
c. Cut-off walls are provided on upstream and downstream side of sloping apron.
d. Other components are same as in the case of siphon aqueduct.

1. If two canals cross each other and one of the canals is siphoned under the other, then the
hydraulic structure at crossing is called “canal siphon”. In
case of siphon the FSL of the canal is much above the bed
level of the drainage trough, so that the canal runs under
the siphonic action.
2. The canal bed is lowered and a ramp is provided at the exit
so that the trouble of silting is minimized.
3. Reverse of an aqueduct siphon
4. In the above two types, the inspection road cannot be
provided along the canal and a separate bridge is required for roadway. For economy, the
canal may be flumed but the drainage trough is never flumed.

3. Canal at the same level as drainage

Type III (Drainage and canal intersection each other of the same level)
(a) Level Crossing

(b) Inlet and outlet

(a) Level Crossing –

In this type of cross-drainage work, the canal water drain water are allowed to intermingle with
each other. A level crossing is generally provided when a large canal and a huge drainage (such
as a stream or a river) approach each other practically at the same level. A typical layout of a
level crossing is, Fig.

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A regulator is provided across the torrent (drainage) just on the stream side of the crossing
so control the discharge passing the torrent. At the outgoing canal, a regulator is also provided so
as control the discharge into the canal. A regulator at the end of the incoming canal is also
sometimes required. The arrangement is practically the same as is provided on the canal head
works. This arrangement is generally provided when a huge canal crosses a large torrent carrying
a very high but short lived flood discharge. In this arrangement, the perennial drainage discharge
is sometimes advantageously used, so as to augment the canal supplies. .
During dry season, when there are no floods, the torrent regulator is generally kept closed
and the outgoing canal regulator is kept fully open, so that the canal flows without any
interruption. During floods, however, the torrent regulator is opened so as to pass flood
discharge.

(b) Inlet and outlet-

An inlet is a structure constructed in order to allow the drainage water to enter the canal and get
mixed with the canal water and thus to help in augmenting canal supplies. Such a structure is
generally adopted when the drainage discharge is small and the drain crosses the canal with its
bed level equal to or slightly higher than the canal F.S.L. Moreover, for the canal to remain in
regime, the drain water must not admit heavy load of silt into the canal. Thus, in an inlet, the
drainage water is simply added to the canal.

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But, when the drainage discharge is high or if the canal is small, so that the canal section
cannot take the entire drainage water, an outlet may sometimes be constructed escape out the
additional discharge at a suitable site, a little downstream along the canal. It is not necessary that
the escaped discharge should be equal to the admitted discharge.
Similarly, it is also not necessary, that the number of inlets and outlets should be the same.
There may be one outlet for two or three inlets. The outlet is generally combined with some other
work where arrangement for escaping is in any case to be provided or may be added at a small
extra cost
An inlet essentially consists. of an open cut in a canal bank, suitably protected by
pitching, to admit the upland drainage water into the canal. The bed and sides of the canal are
also pitched for a certain dist upstream and downstream of the inlet. Similarly the outlet is
another open cut in canal bank with bed and sides of the cut properly pitched. The escaping'
water from the outlet is taken away by a lead channel to some nearby drain, on the downstream
side the' surface outlet.
This type of cross-drainage work (i.e. those requiring intermingly of canal water with
drainage water) is inferior to aqueduct or super passage type of works, but they are cheaper.
Hence, the aqueduct or super passage types of works are generally used when high flood
drainage discharge is large and continues for a sufficient time. A level crossing is used when the
high flood drainage discharge is large but short lived. Inlets and outlets are used when the high
flood drainage discharge is small

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Factors which influence the choice / Selection of Cross Drainage Works

The following factors should be considered while selecting the most suitable type of the
Cross-drainage work.
1. Relative levels and discharges:

The relative levels and discharges of the canal and of the drainage mainly affect type of
Cross-drainage work required. The following are the broad outlines:

1. If the canal bed level is sufficiently above the H.F.L. of the drainage, an aqueduct is
Selected.
2. If the F.S.L. of the canal is sufficiently below the bed level of the drainage, a
Super-passage is provided.
3. If the canal bed level is only slightly below the H.F.L. of the drainage, and the
drainage is small, a siphon aqueduct is provided. If necessary, the drainage bed is
depressed below the canal.
4. If the F.S.L. of the canal is slightly above the bed level of the drainage and the canal is
of small size, a canal syphon is provided.
5. If the canal bed and the drainage bed are almost at the same level, a level crossing is
Provided when the discharge in the drainage is large, and an inlet-outlet structure is
provided when the discharge in the drainage is small. However, the relative levels of the
canal and the drainage can be altered to some extent by changing the canal alignment to
have another crossing. In that case, the most suitable type of the cross-drainage work will
be selected depending upon the levels at the changed crossing.
2. Performance:

As far as possible, the structure having an open channel flow should be preferred to the
Structure having a pipe flow. Therefore, an aqueduct should be preferred to a syphon
aqueduct.
Likewise, a super-passage should be preferred to a canal siphon. In the case of a syphon
aqueduct and a canal syphon, silting problems usually occur at the crossing. Moreover, in
the case of a canal syphon, there is considerable loss of command due to loss of head in
the canal. The performance of inlet-outlet structures is not good and should be avoided.
3. Provision of road:

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An aqueduct is better than a super-passage because in the former, a road bridge can easily
be provided along with the canal trough at a small extra cost, whereas in the latter, a
separate road bridge is required.
4. Size of drainage:

When the drainage is of small size, a syphon aqueduct will be preferred to an aqueduct as
the latter involves high banks and long approaches. However, if the drainage is of large
size, an aqueduct is preferred.
5. Cost of earthwork:

The type of cross-drainage work which does not involve a large quantity of earthwork of
the canal should be preferred.
6. Foundation:

The type of cross-drainage work should be selected depending upon the foundation
available at the site of work.
7. Material of construction:

Suitable types of material of construction in sufficient quantity should be available near

the site for the type of cross-drainage work selected. Moreover, the soil in sufficient
quantity should be available for constructing the canal banks if the structure requires long
and high canal banks.
8. Cost of construction:

The cost of construction of cross-drainage work should not be excessive. The overall cost
of the canal banks and the cross-drainage work, including maintenance cost, should be a
minimum.
9. Permissible loss of head:

Sometimes, the type of cross-drainage is selected considering the permissible loss of

head. For example, if the head loss cannot be permitted in a canal at the site of cross-
drainage, a canal syphon is ruled out.
10. Subsoil water table:

If the subsoil water table is high, the types of cross-drainage which requires excessive
Excavation should be avoided, as it would involve De-watering problems.

11. Canal alignment:

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The canal alignment is sometimes changed to achieve a better type of cross-drainage

work. By changing the alignment, the type of cross-drainage can be altered. The canal
alignment is generally finalized after fixing the sites of the major cross-drainage works.

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