Canal Design

(Alluvial Canal – Lacey Theory)

 COURSE LEARNING OUTCOMES
(CLOs) Taxonomy
S.No CLO Domain PLO
Level

1 Apply silt theories to design earthen canals Cognitive 3 2

Apply established theories to design hydraulics

2 components of the diversion head works. Cognitive 3 2

Practice flow measurements using various

3 models of hydraulic structures. Psychomotor 3 -

CLOs ASSESSMENT
Cognitive Psychomotor

Spreadsheet Rubrics
References:
1. Chapter 04 - Irrigation and
Hydraulic Structures by Dr. Iqbal Ali
2. Chapter 14 - Irrigation and
Hydropower Engineering by B. C.
Punmia
 Design of Alluvial Canals
Lacey Regime Theory
• Dimensions, width, depth and slope of a regime channel to carry a
given discharge loaded with a given silt charge are all fixed by nature
• Regime Channel: Lacey defined regime channel as a stable channel
transporting a regime silt charge. A channel will be in regime if it flows
in unlimited incoherent alluvium of the same character as that
transported and the silt grade and silt charge are all constant.
• Incoherent Alluvium: It is a soil composed of granular graded
material which can be scoured with the same ease with which it is
deposited
• Regime silt charge: It is the minimum transported load consistent
with fully active bed
 Design of Alluvial Canals
Lacey Regime Theory
• Regime Silt Grade: This indicates the gradation between the small
and the big particles. It should not be taken to mean the average
mean diameter of a particle.
• Regime Conditions: A channel is said to be in regime when the
following conditions are satisfied:
• The channel is flowing in unlimited incoherent alluvium of the
same character as that transported
• Silt grade and silt charge are constant
• Discharge is constant
• If the above three conditions are met with fully, then the channel is
said to be in true regime
 Design of Alluvial Canals
Lacey Regime Theory
True Regime
1. Constant (Q) 2. Uniform flow 3. Silt Charge 4. Silt grade
Initial Regime: One of the conditions of attaining regime of a channel is that
there should be freedom for the channel to form its own section. Initial
regime is the state of channel that has formed its section only and yet not
secured the longitudinal slope
Final Regime: When a channel is constructed with defective slope, it tries to
throw off the incoherent silt on the bed to increase their slopes. To attain the
final regime, the channel forms its section first before the final slope. The
channel after attaining its section and longitudinal slope will be said to be in
final regime.
• The A,S,P can change with varying Q and Silt grade
 Design of Alluvial Canals
Lacey Regime Theory
• Permanent Regime: When channel is protected on the bed and side with
some kind of protecting material, the channel section cannot be scoured
up and so there is no possibility of change of section or longitudinal slope;
the channel will then said to be in permanent regime. Regime theory is
not applicable to such channels.
• There is only one section and only one longitudinal slope at which the
channel will carry a particular discharge with a particular silt grade.
Natural silt transporting channels have tendency to assume a semi-
elliptical section. The coarser the silt, greater is the waterway of such a
channel and narrower the depth. The finer the silt, greater is the depth
and the channel closely approximates a semi-circle
Design of Alluvial Canals
 Design of Alluvial Canals
Lacey Regime Theory
• If a channel is constructed with too small a cross-section for a
particular discharge and the slope steeper than required, scour will
occur till final regime is attained. Similarly silting will occur in a
channel till final regime is attained in a channel with wider cross-
section and a flatter slope than required.
• Lacey stated that eddies are generated from bed and sides
• Assumed Hydraulic Mean Depth R as variable, unlike Kennedy who
assumed depth D as variable
• Variable R more logical in case when cross-section assumed to be
semi-elliptical
 Design of Alluvial Canals
Lacey Regime – Channel Design
 Design of Alluvial Canals
Lacey Regime – Channel Design

𝒇 𝟑/ 𝟐
𝑺= 𝟏/ 𝟐
𝟒𝟗𝟖𝟎 𝑹
 Design of Alluvial Canals
Lacey Regime – Channel Design - Example
 Design of Alluvial Canals
Lacey Regime – Channel Design - Example
 Design of Alluvial Canals
Lacey Regime – Channel Design – Example
Design an irrigation channel having slope of 0.2 per 1000. Lacey’s silt
factor = 1. Side slope = ½ : 1. Find full supply discharge as well.