UNIT 11 RIVER TRAINING METHODS

Structure
11.1 Introduction
Objectives
11.2 Objectives of River Training
11.2.1 Guiding the Flow
11.2.2 Flood Protection
11.2.3 Navigation
11.2.4 Sediment Control
11.2.5 Stahilisationof River Qlanoel
11.3 Methods of River Training
11.3.1 Levees
11.3.2 Spurs
11.3.3 Guide Banks
11.3.4 BankProtection
11.3.5 Pitched Islands
11.3.6 Other River Training Methods
11.4 Summary
11.5 Key Words
11.6 Answers to SAQs

11.1 INTRODUCTION
Rivers are a source of water needed for irrigation, water supply td towns and industry,
recreation, hydropower; they also provide a means of providing transportation, water for
cooling machines in thermal stations, and sinks for the disposal of industrial wastes.
Unless the river is confined within well defined banks, it is likely to cause floods, bank
erosion and change of its course. Such disturbances can be controlled by what is h o w n
as training the river.
Objectives
After studying of this unit you will be able to describe
the objectives of river trainifig,
various methods of river training,
methods of bank protection,
function and construction of spurs,
action of attracting and repelling types of spurs, and
usefulness of pitched islands m river training.

11.2 OBJECTIVES OF RIVER TRAINING

-
The purpose of training a river may be to achieve one or more of the following
objectives :
(a) Guiding the flow appropriately,
(b) Flood protection,
(c) Efficient navigation,
(d) Sediment control,
(e) Stabilisation of the course and cross-section of river channel.
River Training 11.2.1 Guiding the Flow
Canal headworks and other hydraulic stnrctures, md bridges and slmilp comnunication
structures require protection against ouflflanking and direct attack of the river flow. For
this a system of guide banks, called Bell's guide banko, on one or both sides of the stream
at the bridge site is required to be constructed over W. corlsiderable reach of the river to
train the river flaw, Such guide banks ensure that the river flow is copfiped appropriately
,between the abutments of the bridge. The spacing between the guide banks is such that
the design flood discharge can be passed through the constricted river channel. At any
river site also, guide banks are provided to direct the flowas desired. Marginal bunds and
lateral spurs lead the flow through the guide banks.
Sometimes one or more spurs projecting from the bank and ism the river are constructed
to deflect the flow away from a bank to protect some portions of the river bank or for
contracting the river channel.
11.2.2 Flood Protection
Fertile lands and heavily populated areas have to be probcted from flood waters. One or
more of the following methods, known as "high water training" or "tminingfor
discharge" can provide protection against floods :
(a) Construction of embankments or levees to restrict the river to a narrower
channel,
(b) Increasing the discharge capacity of the river by straightening,widening or
deepening,
(c) Provision of diversion or escapes from the mabi channel into a spilling
channel for carrying water in excess of the mdn river course (this by-pass cm
join the main river somewhere downstream), and
(d) Construction of reservoirs on the river to be temporarily detain some flood
waters.
11.2.3 Navigation
Adequate depth and width needed for navigation should be available even at low stages
of the river. This can be achieved by training the river. Wvea training for navigation is
known as "low water training" or "trainingfor depth". Dredging may be done for
obtaining adequate depth for navigation in the shallow reaches of the river or spurs may
be provided to contract the river channel and thus increase its depth. The desired depth
and width are sometimes achieved by augmenting supplies from anotber source during
periods of low flow in tlie river. By constructing a series of darns or weirs wd locks,
canalisation is possible which allows a non-navigable river to become navigable. Tt is
necessary to eliminate sharp curves along the river so that the vessels can move and be
manoeuvred easily.
11.2.4 Sediment Control
River training measures for sediment control are known as "mean water training" or
"training for sediment". The training method, herein, aims at rectifying the river bed
configuration for efficient movement of sediment load in order to keep the river in a state
of equilibrium. For sediment control, river training methods involve tlie construction of
structures which would induce the desired local curvature to the flow with particular
reference to feeding a canal. Such structures include spurs and pitched islands.
11.2.5 Stabilisation of River Channel
Training methods such as stone pitching, lining and so on are needed to protect weak
river banks tliat are likely to cave in or get eroded. These measures stabilise the bed or
sides which may be endangered in some reaches on account of increase in shear on bed
and sides occurring due to local flow conditions.
 River Training Methods

(C) navigalion.
id) scdirnent conlrol.
(1:) stabilisatico~~
of il river charmel.

11.3 METHODS OF RIVER TRAINING

Empirical methods, evolved by long experience, and using intuition and judgement of
experienced engineers go in as inputs for the planning and design of river training
structures. Model studies are carried out to fiialise the plans and design of river training
structures. The common methods of river training include the use of the following
works :
(1) Levees,
(2) Spurs or gropes,
(3) Guide banks,
(4) Bank protection,
(5) Pitched islands, and
(6) Other river training methods.

11.3.1 Levees
A levee (also termed as bund, dike, dyke or embankment) is an embankment constructed
barallel, or nearly so, to the river, to protect the area on one side of it from flooding.
Construction of levees on one or both sides of a river to contain the floods within the
leveed portion is the oldest and the most common method of flood control.
The location of important cities, industries and other important areas along the river.
which require to be protected against floods, determine the alignment of levees.
Closely-spaced levees would necessarily be very high (to pass off large volumes of
water), and so are massive and expensive. Thus, economic considerations govern levee
spacing. Levees should be set farther apart considering : (a) the desirability of having
high discharge capacity of river for a given stage, and (b) the requirement that the entire
ineander belt lies within the levees so that they are not strongly attacked by the river. In
order that the river does not attack the levees, the levees should follow the general
curvature (i.e., alignment) of the river.
Levees are designed on the same principles as an earth dam. However, it should be noted
that the upstream face of an earth dam is exposed to water most of the time, while that of
a levee is exposed to water for a very short period - only during flood seasons. The top
wi4h of the levee is usually kept between 3 m and 8 m or more depending upon the levee
(height. The levee height is determined such that the levee is able to contain a flood of
rtfasonable return period, say 500 years. The water surface level at any section of the river
corresponding to such a flood is obtained by routing the flood through the river. A
freeboard of 1 m to 2 m is added to the flood stage to get the top elevation of the levee.
The likely settlement of the levee (being made of earth) after construction should also be
considered while determining the height of tl~elevee. The side slopes of the levees vary
from 1 : 2 (V : H) to 1 : 6 (V : H). Berms are also provided on the land side of the levee
in case of very high levees.
Due to levee construction, the regime of the river is greatly affected as the width of the
river (while in floods) gets reduced and there is a corresponding increase in the velocity
River Training of flow. As a result, the scdhllent which would otherwise have been deposited ill die flood
plains witl~outthe leeves, is now carried downstream and tlcposited either in the unleveed
portions nf the river or ~nthe sea, Confining fie tlood to within the leveed portion has
other effects as well, such as :
(a) Increase in the rate of travsl of flood wave in the direction of flow,
(b) Rise in the water surface elevation of the river during floods, .
(c) An increase in the maximum discharge downstream, due to reduction in river
storage,
(d) Aggradation occurring upstream of the leveed portion as a result of decrease
in the water surfnee slope of the stream above the leveed portion.
'The following causes may lead to failure of levees, either singly or due to a combination
of two or more factors :
(a) Overtopping,
(b) River current m y erode rbe dverside slope,
(c) Banks may cave in,
(d) Infiltration through the foundation,
(e) Infiltration through the embankment,
( Leaks resulting from holes dug by rodents, and crabs, rotten roots eaten by
white ants and shrinkage of soil leading to cracke,
(g) Wind action on large trees planted on the embankment i.e.. getting loosened,
and
(h) Human activities.
Thus, levees are highly susceptible to failure during floods requiring continued vigilance,
especially, during floods to detect breaches, and availability of sufficient labour force and
materials on the spot to plug breaches in time in the levees,
Flood control by levees is fairly simple and economical a8 it uses material and labour,
locally available, for its construction and maintenance. Moreover, more and more area
can be protected by extending the levees along the course of the river.
11.3.2 Spurs
Spurs, also known as groynes, are small jetties, solid or permeable, constructed of timher,
sheet piling, dry vegetation, and stone rubble, etc. They usually project into the stream,
generally positioned normal to the bank; but sometimes they are inclined io the upstream
or downstream direction. The main purpose of spurs is to reduce channel width and
remove the danger of scour of the banks. Their ends in the river are ligble to scour, while
sediment accu~nulatesbetween any two consecutive spurs. Since thetr effect is mainly
local. the spacing between the spurs, as per practical experience, should not exceed about
five times the spur length. But, it is kept usually much smaller. A spacing of about two
lengths results in a well defined channel for navigation, The larger the ratio of spur
spacing to river width, the stronger is the local acceleration and retardation, and thus
greater the obstruction to navigation. Details of spur design are greatly influenced by the
economic factors, and a cost-benefit rulalysis for tlle determillation of their height,
spacing, length, and material is usually needed. In more iinportailt cases these aspects
have to be tested through model studies. Permeable spurs are usually constructed of
vegetation (say, tree tops) and they exert a less severe effect on the flow than solid ones,
and by reducing the current they do assist in the deposition of sediments in the space
between them.
Spurs, which are the most widely used river training structures, serve the following
purposes :
(a) Train the river along a desired course by attracting, repelling or deflecting the
main or subsidiary flow in a channel,
(b) Induce a slower current with the object of silting up the area in the vicinity,
(c) Protect the river bank by keeping the attacking or fast flow away from it, and
(d) Contract a wide river channel usually for improving the depth for navigation.
Spurs Inay be used either singly or in a series rtr in cdmbination with other river trninillg
measurzs for achieving the desired results.
Figure 11.1 presehtb ohe,tjf the typicd deployment plan of spurs. A combif~atfvncrf some
spurs with short longitudinal dykes along the fiver course, protect the head against
erosion and further encourage sediment deposition between the spurs. In rnountain
streams it is advisable to offset h e stlhall dykd Slightly into €he space between the spurs.

Figure 11.1 :River Iiaining by Groynes (@I&) Alone

Longitudinal dykes (or training walls) are usually more economical than Bpufg and, if
properly located, prove equally or even more effective. The material of construction is
rubble, stone, or fascine work (on soft river beds). Figure 11.2 gives construction details
of a solid spur. Training walls may Re ~ingle,that is laid on only one side of the channel,
or 111ay be double.

\
'&rtle~I: hor~zmbl1 :&
F O u ~ o ~ t lOF
o~
SUNKEN MATTRESS
LONGITUDINAL 5.6f ION

PAVING B1
PLAN

SECTION A-B 7 :250

Figure 11.2 :Groyne Construction

Figure 11.3 shows a combination of spurs and dykes in river training. The open end of the
training wall and its comectiod with the old river bank may be noted. High water dykes
are used in flood protection works (Figure 11.4), and their design and construction are
similar to earthen dams.

KEV

Figurn 11.3 I River Traidng with Gropes and a Training Wall (Dyke)

SECTION 1 I - SECTK)N 11- I1 -

Figure 11.4 :Hi&, Mean .ad Low W a r M a g

,:.* .r* g : . r
,T

,<> ,,$.
?:I ,,; . <(?..f!*< !-,,.c,,... :.! :, f i , , ! h:;;.1kI , . ! l ! t ! <;.,, ,$;:.I
.;; <,..,
:::..i a

Design of Spurs
Spur designs relevant to a given situation are finalised only after conducting model
studies; however, the following basic parameters always influence the basic design of
spurs :
(a) River discharge,
(b) Angle of attack,
(c) Sediment load,
(d) Meander length,
(e) Curvature of the river, and
(0 Upstream and downstream river training measures.
Length
The length of the spur is kept more than 1.5 to 2 times the depth of flow while at the
same time keeping it less than 0.2 times the width of river for its effective role.
 Rlver Training Methodu
Spacing
The spacing between a series of spurs is determined as per following criteria :
(a) Spacing between adjacent spurs is usually kept 2 to 2.5 times the spur length.
(b) Spurs used for bank protection should be spaced at 5 times their length.
(c) Spurs used in navigation channels are generally spaced at 0.75 to 2 times their
length.
(d) Conditions being similar, the spacing of spurs on a wide river is more than on
a narrower river.
(e) A convex bank requires a larger spacing while a concave bank needs a smaller
spacing.
(f) An intermediate spacing may be adopted in the straight reach between two
consecutive bends of a river, called a crossing.

Top Wldth
The top width of a spur is kept between 3 and 6 m.

Freeboard
A freeboard of 1 m to 1.5 m above the highest flood level should always be provided for
non-submersible spurs (spurs can also be designed as submersible ones).

Side Slopes
The upstream face is given a slope of 1 : 2 (V : H) while the downstream face is given a
slope of 1 : 1.5 or 1 : 2 (V : H) (Figure 11.5). The slopes are provided with stone pitching
placed manually. Below the pitching, a graded filter 20 cm to 30 cm thick is provided.
The stone pitching is protected by a launching apron.

Classification of Spurs
Following classifications are applicable to spurs
(a) Classification based on the method of construction and material used as
permeable and impermeable,
(b) Classification based on the height of the spur with respect to the high flood
level as sumberged and non-submerged,
(c) Classification based on the functions as attracting, repelling, deflecting and
sedimenting, and
(d) Special types as Denehy's T-headed groynes, hockey type, etc.

Permeable Spurs
A single permehble spur or a series of permeable spurs allowing a partial flow through
them, decreases the velocity of flow between the spurs leading to deposition of sediment
carried by the river water. Rivers carrying heavy sediment loads require such spurs. These
spurs when provided in rivers carrying clear water, dampen the erosive strength of the
current and thus prevent local bank erosion. Permeable spurs are more effective in
regulating the river course or protecting the banks and levees, than are solid spurs,
especially in a sediment laden river. Permeable spurs do not change the flow through
them abruptly (as do the solid spurs) and thus prevent eddies and formation of scour
holes. Permeable spurs could be submerged or non-submerged.,They are comparatively
economical but not strong enough to withstand shocks and pressures from debris, floating
ice and logs; and are, hence, not suited in the upper reaches of a river.
Permeable spurs are either tree spurs or pile spurs. For the construction of a tree spur,
a 25 mnm diameter wire rope is anchored firmly to the bank at one of its ends, while the
other end is tied to a heavy buoy or a concrete block (Figure 11.6). Trees with strong
stems and branches and having leaves are tied to the main rope by additional ropes
inserted through holes drilled through the tree stems. The trees are placed as close to each
other as possible. As the trees entrap sediment, they become heavy and then sink.
 I FLOW
-C 3510 6 b m ~

I
3 0 ~ 0

1
6
m
0 & 3
/ ~?oZ%wc
0 ~ ~ ~ ~

HIGH B A N & QFi rl-GD / T THICK 30-

i).i&L\iur(~Wi, I ,--v PITCHING OVER
GRADED FILTER

3
213 J THICK
STONE PITCHING
SLOPE
LAUNCHING APRON
TONE PITCHING 1-25 TO 1-5 T THICK
0.3 m THICK
15 TO 30

3T06m
r
T THICK STONE
, PITCHING .
i II
I
/,- GRACED FILTER 20 TO 30Cm
1.0 TO 1.5 m FREE BOARD

WIRE CRATES OR CEMEKT COKCRETE L 1.25 TO 1.5 T

BLOCKS 1.5 X 1.5 X 1.0 TO 1.5 m I N
TWO LAYERS

ENLARGED SECTlON X - X

,- 0.3 m.THICK STONE

1
3m6m.4 PITCHING
rlTOl.5m.FREEBDIRD

RIVER 8EO
MATER~ALFILL hFL
2 2 5 1 =

CRATES OR CEMENT CONCRETE

).OD m b x .
LAJNCHING APRON IN STONE WlRE

BLOCK 1.5 X 1.5 X 1.0 m.lN TWC LAYERS

- 7
G.L.

ENLARGED SECTlCN- Y - Y

Figure 11.5 :Typical Devip of n Spur

FL~ure11.6 1 A Typicnl ' k e Gmyne

In the second case piles of timber or RCC or sheet piles are driven 6 m to 0 In illside tl~c
I
4
river bed lo form pile spurs. These piles are spaced 2.4 m to 3 n~apilrt uld in n l least 2 o r I
3 rows. The piles are inter-twined between themselves by tncnns of horizo~ltalriiilinps or I
i
branches of brushwcmd. The upstream and downstream rows of piles u e braced by I
diagonals nnd transverses. The space between the rows of piles is filled by alternate
layers of 1.8 m thick brushwood weighted down by 0.6 n~thick layer of sand bags or !
stones. As the spur is intended to be permeable the whole filling should not be of stone.
At the nose of these spurs deep scour holes may develop but they do not cause any
damage because the stones from the face of the spur would fall into the scour hole and
forin a blanket that prevents undermining.
Impermeable or Solid Spurs
These are constructed either as a rockfill or ear* core embankments armoured with a
scour resistant surface. They can be made to attract or repel the flow away from the bank
along the desired direction. Depending on the material of construction the side slopes
inay vary from 1 : 1 to 1 : 5 (V : H). The nose of the spur is kept flat with a slope of
1 : 5 (V : H). Generally straight spurs are provided for river training for purposes of
navigation. However, other shapes of spurs, such as hockey spurs and T-shaped spurs
have also been used.
The scour patterns for different shapes of spurs are shown in Figure 11.7.It may be seen
that the scour around a T-head spur is the minimum requiring least stone apron for
protection and so process to be the most economical.

STRAIGHT SPUR HOCKEY S W R

. .
INVERTED HOCKEY SPUR T - HEAD SPUR
Figure 11.7 :Scour Pattern for Vmjous sputa
Attractlng Spurs
Spurs meant for attracting the river flow towards the bank have their axes pointing
towards the downstream. An attracting spur is subject to the full fury of the frontal attack
of the river on its upstream face. Thus, the upstream has to be heavily armoured, while
the downstream requires a much lesser protection. Figure 11.8depicts the action of spurs
on the local flow pattern.

~ z @ . s4,
- w qqp
. L - - -

C
,C
c'.
# w
Actlgn of win o( Fhroded g q m

SINSLE REPEUINO SROYNE SI(UE ArmUCTNG 6R(MIE SINGLE DEFL~CIIC CROW€

FEg- 11.8 : ofspurs on Local Flow Regime

Repelling Spurs
Repelling spurs are oriented with their axes pointing upstream so that during floods the
flow is directed towards the middle of the river. As a consequence, strong currents are
kept away from the flood plains and flood dykes. Such a spur produces a more favourable
curvature to the flow downstream, thus assisting in marked deposition of sediments.
Moreover, a large stagnant pool is created on the upsixearn side which is able to protect a
greater lerlgth of the bank than an attractjng spur. The inclination of a repelling spur is
River Trqiniqg kept 10' to 30' i11 the upstream direction measured from a normal to the bank. The head
of the repelling spur causes disturbance to the flow at its nose and as a consequence
heavy scour occurs downstream due to eddy formation. These spurs should, therefore,
have a strong head to withstand the direct attack of a swirling current. The intensity of
scour decreases from the head towards the bank, and thus the protection of the slope and
the apron can be reduced accordingly.
Deflecting Spurs
When the sbur, usually of short length, changes only the direction of flow without
repelyig it, then it is known as a deflecting spur and gives only local protection
(Figure 11.8).

11.3.3 Guide Banks

Artificial embankments meant for guiding the river flow past a hydraulic structure such
as a bridge, weir or a barrage without damaging the structure itself or its approaches are
called guide banks. These guide banks are constructed along the direction of flow both on
the upstream and the downstream sides of the abutment and on one or both sides of the
river as per requirement. The guide banks prevent the outflanking of the structure on
account of a change in the course of the river by restricting the waterway at the site of the
structure. The work of Spring and Gales fonn the basis of the design criteria of guide
banks.
Design of Guide Banks
The following steps are followed in the design of guide banks with reference to a bridge :
(a) Estimation of the minimum and a safe waterway : The clear waterway to be
provided between the guide banks is got by equating it to Lacev's regime
perimeter, P, in m, given by :

where, Q = design discharge, cumec.

-P-L A N

RESERVE STONE
'L \\, \
PITCHED -
SLOPE
,
. . _'. - . . .. .. . .
'.

D 4:;s:,:='1 .2r t
-i/- - - EDEEPEST S E C T I O N AT A - A
S C C U LEVEL

Figure 11.9 :Guide Baak in Plan and Section

 The overall waterway between the guide banks is got by adding the thickness River Training Methods
of all the piers to the clear waterway as obtained above. A smaller waterway
would lead to a large afflux resulting in the possibility of outflanking.
(b) The plan and section of a typical guide bank is shown in Figure 11.9. The
guide banks could be parallal, converging or diverging in the downstream
direction as observed in plan (Figure 11.lo). Usually, guide banks converging
downstream are longer than straight or diverging guide banks.
The length of the guide banks on one or both sides of the river, as the case
may be, should be 1.1 times and 0.25 times the length of the bridge between
abutments, on the upstream and downstream of the bridge, repsectively.
(c) Radius of curved heads : Onthe upstream sidethe radius, R = 2.2 @ m. In
smaller rivers a smaller radius is allowed. On the downstream side, the radius,
R2 = 0.5 R1.
(d) Sweep angle :On the upstream side the sweep angle generally varies between
120' and 145'. While on the downstream side the sweep angle is kept
between 45' and 60'.
(e) Elevation of top of guide banks : The top elevation of the bund is obtained by
adding a freeboard of 1.5 m to 2.5 m to the high flood level with a return
period of 100 years or freeboard of 1 m over the 500 year flood may also be
adopted depending upon the importance of the site as well as intended
economy.

RIVER CURRENT

3z
0
x
EMBAY~ENT

DIVERGENTUPSTREAM \

RIVER

CONVERGENT UPSTRE AM
RIVER CURRENT
1 , 1

-f- , A("7 .-

PARALLEL

Figare 11.10 :Various Configurations olCudde Banks

Top width of the guide banks is usually kept between 6 and 9 m.
Both the faces are given a slope of 1 : 2 (V : H).
Construction materials : Locally available sand, silt and gravel form the core
of the guide banks. On the face towards the bridge and on the back of the
~vrvedheads, large stone pitching is provided to prevent severe erosion of the
River Trnining + bank material. No augA%prprpfpctionis necessarypn the other embankment face
of the guide banks.
(i) The artones used for pitching should be large @vuu$F b resist the force of the
current and re- ~ place. The smallest size of boulders (with a relative
density of 2.65) to be used is given by :
d = 0.046 v3 . . . (11.2)
where, d = diameter in m, and
V = velocity in m/s. -,

Usually, graded and angular stones capable of i~t@rloclking and being able to
be lifted by on8 m;ln (called one-man stone) are used for slope protection.
The thickness of the stone pitching, t, jn metres is given by

for small streams rivers; and for large rivers

where, Q .r dver diecharge in cumec.

The thickness of pitching should be 1.25 times t for the curved head region.
(i) Launching aprons : Failure at the curved heads imd,fihanks(l.e., straight
portion) of gui& banks due to undermining of the stone pitching is caused by
heavy scour of the river bed. Such failure of guide banks can be prevented by
laying launching aprons beyond the toe of the guide banlc8 (Figure 11.11).
With the scour continuing, the launching apron i# undermined and the
material of the apron covers the face of the scour hole adjoining the guide
bank. In the launched position the slope of the apron would lie between 1 :
1.25 (V : H) and 1 : 2.6 (V : H). But while designing the apron, a slope of 1 : 2
(V : H) for loose boulders and 1 : 1.5 (V : H) for concrete blocks i s assumed.

f --
N X l l L E llWWW6)APRON
I CUWC COWIEWTS 1 I.25 0 PER m run )

Figure 11.11 :Launching Apron on Guide Banks, os well am w Weirs

Near the guide banks, the scour depths (measured below the HFL) can be
taken as K times Lacey's normal depth, such as :

where, Q = design flood discharge, in cumec,

q = discharge per unit width, in cumec 1 m,

$f= silt factor = 1.76 vz md

d = size of sediment in mrn.
 Values of K are given in Table 11.1. W v c r Trnini~rgM r l l ~ o d v

Table 11.1: Coefficient for Scour Depth (or Scour Factor)

Location of Scolrr

portion to nose of guide

Width of a launching apron is usually kept equal to 1.5 times the estimated
depth of the scour at that place below the bed.
The stone required for the launching apron is calculated assuming a uniform
apron thickness of 1.25 t in the launched position. The quantity of stone
required for the launching apron (in 1 m length along the guide bank per
metre depth of scour) = 6 x 1.25 t of 2.8 t m3,This quantity of stone is
provided in the form of a wedge as ~ h o w nin Figure 11.9, This is to account
for the non-uniform thickness of the stone layer in the launched position. The
launching apron is provided on either side of the guide bank in the curved
head regions. A guide bank should not have a spur projecting from it. A stock
of boulders is generally kept, as a reserve, on top of the guide bank for
dumping, if the bank is subject to undue scow,
11.3.4 Bank Protection
Bank protection by dlrect methods (in contrast to indirect methods, such as using spurs,
etc.) against the action of water is done by one or more of the following available
treatmentslmethods :
a) Articulated concrete mattresses (Figure 11,12),
b) Asphaltic concrete,
c) Asphalt mattress (Figure 11.13),
d) Asphalt slabs,
e) Bagged concrete,
f) Concrete mattresses (Figure 11.14),
g) Concrete slabs,
h) Faggotting (faggots or fascines are bundles of branches of trees or shrubs)
(Figure 11.13,
i) Flexible brick pitching (Figure 11.16)
j) Gabions (Figure 11.17),
k) Geotextiles (calnpasites of different shapes and ct?mtiluents.grids, mcsl~cs,
sheets, strips, woven or nan-woven fabrics,
Plamting,
Prefabricated concrete interlocking units with or without vegetation,
Rubble,
Soil-cement blocks,
Stone pitching (Figure 11.18),
Thatching,
Used tyres,
Wattling (structure of sticks or twigs woven about sticks), and
Willow framed mattress (Figure 11.19).
The basic constructional featurcs o f thesc 111ethoil~are self cvidelit from llie above
mentioned Figures.
~och
unit ~ ' - I o ~ * x2~'-11''
2 0 blocks 10 b r a c k e t s . ,

PLAN
'rm
-7
L , - . . . ..
7

CROSS S E C T I O N

Figurn 11.12 :Articulated Concrete Mnttrpss fnr Rank Protection

N o 12 w i r e 2 " d~ r n e c h - D7

PLAN CJ -
SECTION C 0

2' toL3 1~.q--x--

f
SECTION A - 8

Figure 11.13 :Aspl~;~lt

M:rttt.esb for R w ~ kYrnier.tio11

LGROUW ANCHOR

WOVEN GEOTEXTILE

Figure 11.14 :Bmk Protectin11with Floxible Mattress of Cnncrete Elements

BRUSH ROUERS F N E O
W I T H STONES

Figure 11.15 : Rank Protection with Fawines ;md Rrush Rollers Filed with Sto~res
 WIRES

WIRE
BLOCK KNOTS

DETAILS OF BRICK JOINTS

F i p m 11.16 :Flexible Brick Pitching

Figure 11.17 :Bank Protection with Gabions (Dimensions in m)

Figure 11.18 :Stone Pitching with Apron

p- s'* 5'4
r

tP
Upper chord A

i_
ECTION A - 8

I
S t a n c h i o n 3 2 long.
c. SECTION C . D

Figure 11.19 :willow-Framed Mattress for Bank Protection

All the above mentioned measures may be adopted without, or with membrane linings
(e.g. nylon, polythene, rubber, etc.) to render these devices less permeable.
111e choice of material depends on: access to the site, available mechanisation, design
life, durability, environmental requirements, extent of the area to be protected, flexibility,
hydraulic conditions, material availability, material and labour costs, required
impermeability, robustness, roughness, soil conditions, etc.
River Training. Many conunercial products arc available and manufacturers should be able to supply
illforn~atioi~
about tlie best conditio~isfor their adoption, durability, coefficients of friction
or equivalent roughness, arld maximum allowable velocities that these lnaterials can
withstatid.
Table 11.2 gives the permissible velocities applicable to different materials.
Table 11.2 :Permissible Velocities

I 1 Na
Material Permissible Velocities,

1 2, 1 Shingle 1 1 .S I
3. Hard clay 1.85
I I
1 4. 1 Grasses 1 0.8 - 2.1 1
1 5. 1 ~ t o n e f i l l dwire
mesh mattress and
I 5 .O
1
gabions thicker that1
0.3 111

Any protective facing of banks must be continued to tlie river bed and be provided with a
good footing. Drainage of adequate capacity below inore or less impermeable revetment,
and a good filter to suit the subsoil are essential.

11.3.5 pitched Islands

A pitched island (Figure 11.20) causes re-distribution of velocity and tractive force
around itself. The tractive force near a pitched island begins to increase rapidly after the
isl'md is constructed, and a deep scour begins to form round the island. As a result, the
depth of tlow increases near the island; and gradually the inail] river current is drawn
towards, itself and, ultimately holds it permanently.

,
+I2 4/,
-PLAN

-*
Stone p ~ t c h ~ na2g
Graded cpawls = 1
RL.17652

I--- 12 --cl
L Rd.171.PS- - -4 - - - A
170nL3
I r.

S E C T I O N ON C - C

R g w 11.20 : Pitched Lqland

Pitched island can be used either singly or ill series, for the following purposes : E v e r Trailling MetLocl\

(a) Ctarecting oblique approach upstream of weirs, barrages and bridges by

inducing (training) the river to be axial,
(b) Rectification of adverse curvature for effective sand exclusion,
(c) Redistributing harmful concentration of flow for relieving attack on marginal
bunds, guide banks u ~ river
d bends,
(d) Training the river in th~!reach away ficlm the conVol points, m d
(e) Iinproving chtlltnels far navigation.
The pitched island may not be effective in the case of wide, shallow and flaahy rivers l'o~
obvious reasons.

11.3.6 Other River Training Methods

In addition to the above mentioned i;vnfksi thete are dso other measures which are
adopted for training of fivers.
They include the following:
(a) Constructing a reservoir to control floods by storing water allring a flood and
releasing it after the flood recedes,
(b) Diverting part of the flood discharge ffom the main channel. The diverted
water can flow through either a natural or attificial channel and ultimately join
a lake, or meet the sea, or the pdfent kltrbr B u ~ w h e r downstream.
e -
(c) Channel improvement measltres, such a6 fedacitig channel roughness,
dredging a channel to wide11 or deepen it and incteasing the d i s c h ~ g e
carrying capacity of the channel. One may evett permit it to pass the flood
discharge at a relatively smaller stage,
(dl Adopting soil conservation practices to increase the infiltration rale, and hence
decrease the peak runoff,
(e) Providing marginal bunds or embankments that run longitudinally along the
river upstrerun of a weir to protect low-lying areas from being inundated.
These bunds are extended to high ground level to the same level as the top of
the main bund which is kept 1 m above the anticipated water level.
(f) Providing bed sills to counteract the tendency of excessive scour in parts nf
the river cross section. Bed sills are placed across the deepest pnrt o T the cross
section so as to partially block the flow in the deeper parts of the channel. The
sills promote sediment deposition. The flow near the hcd gets diverted
towards the shallower portion of the channel. thus increasing the depth of
flow in the shallower part. Sills are used to make non-navigable river bends
navigable.
(p) Providing artiticial cutoffs to reduce flood levels and flood periods. Artificial
cutoffs have been used to reduce the travel distance and increasc ease of
manoeuvring along the bend while navigating.

SAQ 4
Tl -g.r
h,,,. ,I dc:.:i!- d CPSSY otl river t;anlifi~,j!~vn.giie;t %%I I,r>clledskctclw~

11.4 SUMMARY
River training works have a special importarice with regard to safety, arid efficient aid
durable functioning of engineering construction that cross a river, or are located on its
balks, and safcty of property and population lying in the flood plains :
River training works guide the river waters appropriately to avoid river meandering,
flooding of flood plains, undermining river banks, foundations and abutments, controlliri '
 -

River Training scouring and silting of a river at the desired location, Thesc works conlprise lcvees. spurs,
guide banks, pitched islands. Moreover, v d o u s b;mk proteaion measures. conslruclion
of tlood-control reservoir, by-pass cha~mels,iniproving river cross-sedion, bed sills, etc.
also help in managing the river tlow wherever necessary.

11.5 KEY WORDS

Spurs
Groynes
Attracting Spurs
Repelling Spurs
Bank Pmtectlon
Deflecting Spurs
Flood Protection
Gulde Banks .
Guiding the Flow
Levees
Navigation
Pitched Islands
Sediment Control
: They are small jetties, solid or permeable, collstructed of
timber, ~ h e e t ' ~ i l i nvegetation,
g, and atone ruhhle, elc.
They usually project into the stream tior~rialto tlie balk.
: They are also calleci spurs.
: Spurs meant for nttracti~tgthe river flow towards the hank
ou which they are located and having their axes pointing
towards the downstream,
: Spurs that are provided on a bank to divert the tlow away
from the h,ulk to which they are attached.
; A measure to save the bank from erosion clue to the
current of water flowing along the balk.
: Spurs usually o f short length, which change only Llie
direction of tlow without repelling it, are known ;IS
detlecting spurs.
: Pmviding safety to the population a~tdcities or structures
situated along the banks of a river.
: Artificial embankments nleant for guiding tl~eriver tlow
past a hydraulic structure sucli as a bridge, wier or a
barrage without damaging the structure tlself or its
appro?c-1les.
: A feature necessary to provide against oultlanking ot
canal headworks, bridges and otlier comninunication
structures.
: Levees (also termed as bunds, disks, or dykes) are
elllba~~kments constructed parallel, or nearly so, to the
river, to protect the area on one side of it l'roni flooding.
: Tratisportation of nien and materials over water flow~ng
in rivers and canals.
: They are formcd in a river to concentrate the tlow
towards then~selvesthereby protecting hydraulic
structures from the effects of floods.
: Regulating the flow of sediments past the hydraulic
structure of river channel t o make more effective use of
tlie structure or river channel for purpose of navigation.

11.6 ANSWERS TO SAQs.

Read through the relevant sections and the reference materials.