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Introduction to Irrigation

Presentation · April 2017

DOI: 10.13140/RG.2.2.13991.75687

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Sanjeev Gadad
Indian Institute of Technology Bombay
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DESIGN OF ALLUVIAL CANALS/CHANNELS

1. Source of water for channels is river. Silt is carried in the channel along with river
water. This silt can be either suspended or along the bed.
2. Silt load carried by channel imposes difficulty in designing.
3. For design of an irrigation channel/canal, following quantities should be known
a. Design Discharge – ‘Q’
b. Surface & soil properties – rugosity coefficient – ‘N’ &
c. Silt factor – ‘f’
4. To design a canal following parameters are required to be determined
a. Area of cross section – ‘A’
b. Hydraulic mean depth – ‘R’
c. Velocity of flow – ‘V’
d. Bed slope – ‘S’
5. We know, Q = A ´V
6. Resistance/Flow equation – V = f(N,R,S)
1 23 12
7. Velocity equation by Manning’s expression – V = R S - (1)
N
é 1 0.00155 ù
ê 23 + + ú
8. Velocity by Kutter’s expression - V = ê N S ú RS - (2)
ê1 + æ 23 + 0.00155 ö N ú
êë è ç ÷ úû
S ø R

Since there are four unknowns in the design of channels, two additional equations are
required to obtain the solution. They may be obtained from

a. Use of channel of best discharge section and thus obtaining relation between
A and R
b. Limiting equation of velocity from consideration of scouring & silting
c. Using the slope by available ground slope
d. Fixing suitable B/D ratio by experience

NOTE: Criteria (a) is not suitable for alluvial soil, where non-silting/non-scouring
velocity is must for design.
Wood’s table provides B/D ratio for various discharge values.

for academic purpose – Dr. Sanjeev Gadad

KENNEDY’S THEORY

by- Mr. R.G. Kennedy, Punjab Irrigation Dept.

• The theory has been developed Based on number of sites in Upper Bari Doab Canal
system,.
• For carrying out investigation about the velocity and depth of channel.
• Considering these channels section were non-silting & non-scouring.
The study revealed that
• Flowing water has to counteract friction against bed of canal. This leads to development
of vertical eddies, which gently rise up to surface. These eddies keep silt in suspension.
• Silt supporting power is proportional to bed width of stream and not its wetted perimeter.
• Critical velocity ( Vo ) – the non-scouring velocity.
• Vo = 0.55 D 0.64 generalized as Vo = CD n
D - depth of water over bed portion of channel
n – any index number
Type of silt Value of C
Light sandy silt 0.53
Coarser light silt 0.59
Sandy loam 0.65
Coarser silt/debris of hard soil 0.70

The equation is applicable to only those channels which are flowing in sandy silt of same
quality & grade as that of Upper Bari Doab Canal system.
• To consider the importance of silt grade on critical velocity Kennedy introduced a factor
– ‘m’ known as ‘Critical Velocity Ratio (CVR)’.
Vo = 0.55mD 0.64 - (3)
!"#$#!%& ()&*!#$+ *, %")%
CVR, m =
!"#$#!%& ()&*!#$+ ,*" -..)" /%"# 0*%1 2%3%& 4+4$)5

Type of silt Value of m

Light sandy silt in rivers of North India 1.00
Coarser light sandy silt 1.10
Sandy, loamy silt 1.20
Coarser silt/debris of hard soil 1.30
Silt of river Indus in Sind 0.7

Generally, higher CVR is considered in head reaches and lower CVR for tail ends
Value of m for sand coarser than standard, m is in between 1.1 to 1.2
For sand finer than standard, m is in between 0.9 to 0.8

for academic purpose – Dr. Sanjeev Gadad

Procedure for design of channels by Kennedy’s theory

Case 1: Given data are – Q, N, m and S

1. Assume a trail value of D (m)
2. Calculate the velocity Vo using equation (3)
3. Calculate the area of the cross-section : A = (Q/Vo)
4. Assume side slope of 0.5:1 and then estimate the bed slope
A = BD2+0.5D2

5. Calculate the perimeter, P = B + D 5 and

A
Hydraulic mean depth, R =
P
6. Use Kutter’s equation and calculate the actual mean velocity of flow (V).
7. If V = Vo, then assumed depth (D) is correct.
Else, repeat the procedure with different value of D, until V=Vo is reached.

B
Case 2: Given data are – Q, N, m & ratio (from Wood’s table)
D

1. Calculate the Area in terms of ‘D’,

B
A = BD2+0.5D2, i.e. A = D2( +0.5)
D
2. Calculate the velocity of flow Vo using equation (3)
æB ö
Substitute the Vo in Q = AVo i.e. [ Q = D 2 ç + 0.5 ÷ 0.55mD 0.64 ]
èD ø
Solve for D.
3. Calculate B and R using the above D-value.
4. Calculate the Vo using equation (3)
5. Using Kutter’s equation (2) determine the bed slope ‘S’

Note: Kennedy did not provide equation for slope of channel. The slope is decided according
to the slope of ground.

for academic purpose – Dr. Sanjeev Gadad

 B
Woods Normal Design Table. (for ratio, for N = 0.0225)
D
Discharge B ratio B (m) D (m) Slope V Mean V
(cusecs) (cumecs) D 1 in __ Vo (m/sec)
10 0.283 2.9 1.45 0.49 3333 0.92 0.344
25 0.708 3.4 2.21 0.66 3636 1.011.00 0.424
50 1..416 3.7 3.13 0.84 4000 1.00 0.476
100 2.832 4.2 4.42 1.04 4444 1.01 0.555
250 7.079 4.5 6.70 1.43 4444 1.00 0.700
500 14.158 5.7 9.75 1.72 5000 1.03 0.775
1000 28.315 7.6 15.28 1.98 5000 1.03 0.880
2000 56.63 11.3 25.41 .26 5714 0.98 0.945
5000 141.575 22.5 56.5 2.50 6666 1.03 0.975
10000 283.15 41.0 105 2.59 6666 1.03 1.03
20000 566.3 78.0 212 2.72 8000 0.94 0.975

for academic purpose – Dr. Sanjeev Gadad

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