Chapter 7: Regulating Structures

Prof. Debi Prasad Bhattarai

Department of Civil Engineering, Pulchowk Campus
Institute of Engineering, Tribhuvan University, Nepal

January25, 2026 [Magh 14,18, 27, 2082 BS]

Content

Regulating Structures

– Alignment of the off taking Channels

– Function of Head regulator, Cross Regulator, Outlet, Drop and Escapes
–Design of Regulators and Escapes (Crest, Length and thickness of impervious
floor)
–Types of Outlet, Design of pipe outlet ( Free and Submerged)
– Types of drop, Design of Vertical Drop (Crest, length of thickness of
impervious floor)

Prof. Debi P Bhattarai, Department of Civil Engineering, Pulchowk Campus 2

Regulation
Defination of Regulation

–The water which enters the main canal from the river intake has to
be divided into different branches & distributaries in accordance
with the relative demand on different channels. The process of
distribution of water in different channels is called regulation

Prof. Debi P Bhattarai, Department of Civil Engineering, Pulchowk Campus 3

 Types & Purpose of Regulation Structures
Head Regulator: To divert river water to parent canal from a barrage or weir
–Cross Regulator : To head up water in the parent channel to divert some of it
to the offtake channel or distributary canal

Distributary Head Regulator: To control the

amount of water flowing into off take channel

Prof. Debi P Bhattarai, Department of Civil Engineering, Pulchowk Campus 4

Types & Purpose of Regulation Structures

Canal Drop (Fall) :To lower the water level of the canal
Escapes : To allow release of excess water from the canal system

Canal Outlets or Modules : To take out

water for distribution to the field or
water courses

Prof. Debi P Bhattarai, Department of Civil Engineering, Pulchowk Campus 5

Functions of Cross Regulator

–When the water level in the main channel is low, it helps in heading up water
on the u/s & to feed the offtake channels to their full demand in rotation

Prof. Debi P Bhattarai, Department of Civil Engineering, Pulchowk Campus 6

Functions of Cross Regulator

–To effectively control the entire canal irrigation system

Prof. Debi P Bhattarai, Department of Civil Engineering, Pulchowk Campus 7

 Functions of Cross Regulator

➢They help in absorbing fluctuations in various sections of the canal system & in
preventing the possibilities of breaches in the tail reaches
➢ Cross Regulator is often combined with a road bridge to carry the road which
may cross the irrigation channel

Prof. Debi P Bhattarai, Department of Civil Engineering, Pulchowk Campus 8

 Functions of Distributory Head Regulator

✓ A distributary head regulator controls the supply of the off taking channels
while a cross regulator controls the supply of the parent channel

✓ They serve as a meter for measuring discharge entering into the off taking
canal

✓ They help in shutting off the supplies when not needed or when the off taking
canal is required to be closed for repair

Prof. Debi P Bhattarai, Department of Civil Engineering, Pulchowk Campus 9

 Canal Falls or Drops
Necessity of Canal Falls
✓ When slope of ground suddenly changes to steeper slope, permissible bed slope can not be
maintained
✓ When slope of ground is more or less uniform and bed slope is greater than permissible bed
slope of canal
✓ In cross drainage work, when difference between level of canal & that of drainage is small or
when F S L of canal is above bed level

Prof. Debi P Bhattarai, Department of Civil Engineering, Pulchowk Campus 10

Canal Drops or Falls

Canal has a designed longitudinal

slope but has to pass through an
undulating terrain

When a canal crosses an area that has a larger natural surface slope, a canal drop (also
called fall) , has to be provided suitably at certain intervals
Prof. Debi P Bhattarai, Department of Civil Engineering, Pulchowk Campus 11
Canal Drops or Falls

Prof. Debi P Bhattarai, Department of Civil Engineering, Pulchowk Campus 12

 Location of Canal Fall
It should be worked out properly such that there should be a balance between
the cutting & filling

Height of the fall has to be decided , since it is possible to provide larger falls at
longer intervals or smaller falls at shorter intervals

Prof. Debi P Bhattarai, Department of Civil Engineering, Pulchowk Campus 13

 Types of Canal Falls

1. Ogee Fall
2. Rapid Fall
3. Stepped Fall
4. Notch Fall
5. Vertical Drop Fall (Sarda type),
6. Glacis Type Fall
i. Stright Glacies Type
ii. Parabolic Glacies Type or Montague type
7. Well/Cylinder falls

Each type of fall is designed to dissipate energy and prevent erosion of canal bed
and bank.

Prof. Debi P Bhattarai, Department of Civil Engineering, Pulchowk Campus 14

 1. Ogee type Fall

An ogee curve
(combination of convex & concave
curve) provided for carrying canal
water from higher level to lower
level

Ogee fall is recommended when natural ground surface suddenly changes to a steeper slope
along the alignment of the canal
Prof. Debi P Bhattarai, Department of Civil Engineering, Pulchowk Campus 15
 Ogee type Fall

Ogee Fall consists of concrete vertical wall &

concrete bed
over the concrete bed the rubble masonry is
provided in the shape of ogee curve

U/s & d/s of the fall is protected by stone

pitching

Prof. Debi P Bhattarai, Department of Civil Engineering, Pulchowk Campus 16

 2. Rapid Fall

• When slope of the natural ground surface is even & long

➢ Consists of long glacis with longitudinal slope
➢Curtain walls are provided u/s & d/s side of the sloping glacis

Prof. Debi P Bhattarai, Department of Civil Engineering, Pulchowk Campus 17

 [Link] Fall

It consist of a series of vertical drops in

the form of steps
It is suitable where sloping ground is
very long and requires a long glacies
to join higher level to lower level

Prof. Debi P Bhattarai, Department of Civil Engineering, Pulchowk Campus 18

 [Link] Fall

It is actually a modification of rapid fall

The sloping glacies is divided into no of drops to dissipate the energy
Prof. Debi P Bhattarai, Department of Civil Engineering, Pulchowk Campus 19
 4. Trapezoidal Notch Fall
–Body wall is constructed across the canal
–Body wall consists of several trapezoidal notches between side piers &
intermediate piers

Prof. Debi P Bhattarai, Department of Civil Engineering, Pulchowk Campus 20

 4. Trapezoidal Notch Fall

–Notches are kept u/s bed level of the canal

–Body wall is constructed with masonry or concrete
–U/S & D/S side of the fall is protected by stone pitching with cement grauting
Prof. Debi P Bhattarai, Department of Civil Engineering, Pulchowk Campus 21
 5. Vertical Drop Fall (Sharda type Fall)

Consists of vertical drop wall constructed with masonry work

Water flows over the crest of the wall
Concrete floor provided on d/s side to control scouring effect
Prof. Debi P Bhattarai, Department of Civil Engineering, Pulchowk Campus 22
 5. Vertical Drop Fall (Sharda type Fall)

Curtain wall provided on d/s & u/s side

This type of fall provided at Sharda canal (also known as Sharda type fall)
Prof. Debi P Bhattarai, Department of Civil Engineering, Pulchowk Campus 23
 6. Stright Glecies Fall

It consists of a straight glacis provided with a crest wall.

For dissipation of energy of flowing water, a water cushion is provided
Prof. Debi P Bhattarai, Department of Civil Engineering, Pulchowk Campus 24
 6. Stright Glecies Fall

It consists of a straight glacis provided with a crest wall.

For dissipation of energy of flowing water, a water cushion is provided
Prof. Debi P Bhattarai, Department of Civil Engineering, Pulchowk Campus 25
 7. Montague type fall

Montaque fall is similar to straight glacis fall but, in this case, the glacis is not straight
It is provided in parabolic shape to introduce the vertical component of velocity
which improves the energy dissipation to more extent
Prof. Debi P Bhattarai, Department of Civil Engineering, Pulchowk Campus 26
 7. Montague type fall

The profile is parabolic and is given

by the following equation

4Y
X = 0.55 +Y
g

X= Horizontal ordinate of any point of the profile

measured from the d/s edge of crest
Y= Vertical Ordinate measured from the crest level

The curved glacis is difficult to construct & costlier, so normally not adopted
Prof. Debi P Bhattarai, Department of Civil Engineering, Pulchowk Campus 27
 8. English Falls or Baffle fall

In this case, straight glacis fall is extended as baffle platform with baffle wall.
This type of fall is suitable for any kind of discharge

Prof. Debi P Bhattarai, Department of Civil Engineering, Pulchowk Campus 28

 8. English Falls or Baffle fall

Here glacis is straight and sloping,

but baffle walls are provided at
the d/s floor dissipate the energy

Main body of glacis is made of concrete

Curtain walls both at toe and heel are provided
Stone pitching are essential both at u/s & d/s ends

Prof. Debi P Bhattarai, Department of Civil Engineering, Pulchowk Campus 29

 9.. Well or Cylinder Notch Fall

In this type, water of canal from higher level is

thrown in a well or cylinder-like structure from
where it escapes from bottom.
Energy is dissipated in the well in turbulence

Prof. Debi P Bhattarai, Department of Civil Engineering, Pulchowk Campus 30

 9. Well or Cylinder Notch Fall

They are suitable for low discharges &

economical

Prof. Debi P Bhattarai, Department of Civil Engineering, Pulchowk Campus 31

 Design of Vertical Drops ( Fall): Crest Length & Thickness of impervious floor

In a vertical drop, the energy of the flowing water is dissipated by means of

impact & by sudden deflection of velocity from vertical to horizontal direction.
A water cushion is provided at the toe of the drop to reduce the impact of falling
jet & to safe the d/s floor from scouring
Prof. Debi P Bhattarai, Department of Civil Engineering, Pulchowk Campus 32
Design of Vertical Drops ( Fall): Crest Length & Thickness of impervious floor
TEL

In Sarda type , we can provide 2 types of crest : a. Rectangular Crest b. Trapezoidal crest

If the discharge (Q) <14 cumec, then rectangular crest is provided., if it is > 14 cumec, then trapezoidal section

In trapezoidal case the face of slope is 3:1 (V:H) in u/s & 1:8 in d/s.
Cut off walls are provided both in U/S & D/S (not seen here)

Prof. Debi P Bhattarai, Department of Civil Engineering, Pulchowk Campus 33

Design of Sarda type Fall : Design Procedure
Step 1
Calculate the length of crest, If no fluming
Length of crest = width of bed

Step 2
Rectangular crest with both face vertical

For Q < 14 m3/sec , Top width (Bt) = 0.55 d

d= Ht of crest above d/s bed level
h+d
Minimum base width =
G
G = Sp gravity of brick material = 2.0

Prof. Debi P Bhattarai, Department of Civil Engineering, Pulchowk Campus 34

 Design of Sarda type fall : Design procedure
Step 3
If it is for trapezoidal case Top width (Bt) = 0.55 H +d

U/S face 1:3 & D/s is 1:8

Step 4 : Determination of the crest level

1
H3 6
Q = cd 2 g L H   2

 Bt 
Assume value of Bt if not given then take
Bt = 0.5m or o.7m or 0.8m

Cd = 0.415 for rectangle & = 0.45 for trapezoidal

Assuming value of Bt, find the value of H, because Q is given
L= Length of crest (already determined)
Prof. Debi P Bhattarai, Department of Civil Engineering, Pulchowk Campus 35
Design of Sarda type fall : Design procedure

Step 5: Design of U/S & D/S curtain wall

Basically, curtain walls are for protection purposes

U/S depth of curtain wall = Yu/3 where Yu water depth of u/s side
D/S depth of curtain wall = Yd/2 where Yd water depth of d/s side
Step 6: Design of Cistern Element

Length of Cistern(Lc) = 5 H L * H

Where
HL = U/S FSL-D/S FSL
H = Head over crest up to TEL = difference between level of TEL & Level of crest

Prof. Debi P Bhattarai, Department of Civil Engineering, Pulchowk Campus 36

Design of Sarda type fall : Design procedure
2
1
X = (H . H L )
3

4
X = Cistern depression (m)
H = Head of water over crest = TEL – Crest Level
HL = Head Loss
Step 7 : Length of Impervious floor
The length of impervious floor is determined either by Bligh theory or Khoslas theory
Minimum length of d/s depth = 2 (water depth+1.2m)+drop (HL)
Thickness
The floor thickness required on the d/s can be worked out for uplift pressure (Using
minimum thickness of 0.4 to 0.6m) & only nominal thickness of 0.3m is provided on the
u/s side

Prof. Debi P Bhattarai, Department of Civil Engineering, Pulchowk Campus 37

Design of Sarda type fall : Design procedure

Step 8 : Uplift pressure & Thickness

Maximum unbalanced head = (Crest level-d/s bed level)/(Total impervious floor length)
* Length from d/s to point considered

Prof. Debi P Bhattarai, Department of Civil Engineering, Pulchowk Campus 38

Design of Sarda type fall : Design procedure

Numerical

Prof. Debi P Bhattarai, Department of Civil Engineering, Pulchowk Campus 39

 Alignment of the off taking channel

– When a branch channel takes off from the main channel (called Parent
Channel), the offtake alignment must be carefully designed
–Best ideal alignment is when the off-taking channels makes zero angle
with the parent channel initially & then separates out in a transition as
shown in figure

The transition will have to be

properly designed to avoid
Accumulation of silt. As an
alternative to the transitions,

Prof. Debi P Bhattarai, Department of Civil Engineering, Pulchowk Campus 40

Alignment of the off taking channel

Prof. Debi P Bhattarai, Department of Civil Engineering, Pulchowk Campus 41

Alignment of the off taking channel

Prof. Debi P Bhattarai, Department of Civil Engineering, Pulchowk Campus 42

Alignment of the off taking channel

Prof. Debi P Bhattarai, Department of Civil Engineering, Pulchowk Campus 43

Alignment of the off taking channel

–Both the channels should make an

angle with the parent channel u/s
of the off take as shown in above
figure

Prof. Debi P Bhattarai, Department of Civil Engineering, Pulchowk Campus 44

Alignment of the off taking channel

When the parent channel has to be carried straight the edge of the
Canal, than the center line should be considered in deciding
The angle of the off-take

Prof. Debi P Bhattarai, Department of Civil Engineering, Pulchowk Campus 45

Components of Cross Regulators

–A regulator essentially consists of piers placed across the canal at regular

intervals in which either planks or gates can be used to control the supplies

–For small channels, Planks are used as it can handled only2m height manually
–For large channels, either hand operated or mechanically operated gates can
be used
– The hand operated gates can have spans of 6 to 8m, while mechanically
operated gates can have spans up to 20m or
so

Prof. Debi P Bhattarai, Department of Civil Engineering, Pulchowk Campus 46

Components of Cross Regulators

– A light bridge platform has to be laid on the piers for operation of planks
or gates
– For economy, the x regulator is combined with a bridge & also flumed the
channel to reduce the floor width

Prof. Debi P Bhattarai, Department of Civil Engineering, Pulchowk Campus 47

 Canal Cross Regulator

Distributary Head
Regulator
Combine Cross & Distributary
Head Regulator

Prof. Debi P Bhattarai, Department of Civil Engineering, Pulchowk Campus 48

Distributary
Head Canal
Regulator Cross
Regulator

Prof. Debi P Bhattarai, Department of Civil Engineering, Pulchowk Campus 49

Prof. Debi P Bhattarai, Department of Civil Engineering, Pulchowk Campus 50
Prof. Debi P Bhattarai, Department of Civil Engineering, Pulchowk Campus 51
 Cross Regulator : Stepwise Design Principles
Step 1: Crest Level: Crest level of a x regulator is kept at the u/s bed level of
the channel while the crest level of distributary head regulator is kept 0.3 to
1.0m higher than the crest level of the x regulator
Step 2: Water-way : is found out by using the drowned weir formula given by

2 3ൗ 3ൗ
𝑄 = . 𝐶𝑑1 2𝑔. 𝐵 ℎ + ℎ𝑣 2 − ℎ𝑣 2 + 𝐶𝑑2 . 𝐵. ℎ1 . 2𝑔(ℎ + ℎ𝑣 )
3
Upstream

where C d1 = 0.577, Cd2 = 0.80

B = clear water-way required

C d1 For U/S as Water accelerates and contracts over crest
Cd2 For d/s as Backwater resists flow and creates turbulence

Prof. Debi P Bhattarai, Department of Civil Engineering, Pulchowk Campus 52

Cross Regulator : Design Principles

h = Difference of water level u/s & d/s of the crest

h1 = Depth of d/s water level in the channel above the crest

hv = Head due to velocity of approach, which is very small & is generally ignored

The discharge formula then becomes

Q = B. h 1.69 h + 3.54 h1 

Prof. Debi P Bhattarai, Department of Civil Engineering, Pulchowk Campus 53

Design of Cross Regulator & Distributary Head Regulator

Q = B. h 1.69 h + 3.54 h1 
Conditions of flow for design
The design is done for the worst of the following 2 conditions
–Full supply discharge is passing down both the channels with all gates of x
regulator & head regulator fully open
–The discharge in the parent channel is low, but the off-take channel is running
full, & its FSL is maintained by the partial opening of the gates of x
regulator
–In the 1st condition, q & HL are fixed; in the 2nd case q reduces & HL increases
depending upon the low flow of the channel. The 1st condition of flow
generally governs the design.
Prof. Debi P Bhattarai, Department of Civil Engineering, Pulchowk Campus 54
Design of Cross Regulator & Distributary Head Regulator
Step 3: Calculate overall waterway
= No. of Bays x width of each bay + No. of pier x width of each pier

Q = B. h 1.69 h + 3.54 h1 
Step 4: D/S floor level or Cistern Level
–Stepi: For the above 2 flow conditions, q & HL are worked out (q= Q/B)
–Stepii : from plate10.1, find the value of E f 2
–Step iii: The level of d/s floor (level at which jump is formed)
= TEL- E f 2
–Step iv: Neglecting velocity head, d/s TEL = d/s FSL
– Level of d/s floor = d/s FSL- E f 2
Prof. Debi P Bhattarai, Department of Civil Engineering, Pulchowk Campus 55
Blench Chart

Prof. Debi P Bhattarai, Department of Civil Engineering, Pulchowk Campus 56

Design of Cross Regulator & Distributary Head Regulator

D/S floor level or Cistern Level: if the d/s floor for the worst condition works out to be higher
than the d/s bed level of the channel, the floor is provided at the bed level itself.

Step 5: Length of d/s floor = 5( y 2 − y 1 )

If this length comes out to be small in comparison to 2/3 of total floor length (worked out by
exit gradient method (b= .d) then, the length of the d/s floor is kept equal to 2/3 of the total
floor length G = H . 1
E
d  
From Montague's Curve, find y2
by plotting Ef2, (take larger
value of y2)

Find Ef1 = Ef2 +HL By knowing Ef1, again from Montaque’s curve find y1 (take smaller value of
y1) After getting y1 and y2, find the length of d/s floor
Prof. Debi P Bhattarai, Department of Civil Engineering, Pulchowk Campus 57
Montaque’s Curve

Prof. Debi P Bhattarai, Department of Civil Engineering, Pulchowk Campus 58

Design of Cross Regulator & Distributary Head Regulator

Step 6: Provision for cut offs

U/S cut offs

The minimum depth of u/s cut off below u/s floor level

=  + 0.6 m 
 yd
where yd is the depth of water in the channel u/s
 3 
D/S cut off
 yd 
The minimum depth of d/s cut of below d/s floor level =  + 0.6 m 
 2 
where yd is the depth of water in the channel d/s

Prof. Debi P Bhattarai, Department of Civil Engineering, Pulchowk Campus 59

Design of Cross Regulator & Distributary Head Regulator

Step 7: Total floor length

The total floor length b is worked out from safe exit gradient considerations
The total length is than suitably distributed u/s and d/s
H 1
GE = . where H= maximum static head which is caused when there
d  
is full water on U/S & no water on D/S

H = U/S FSL - D/s bed level

Prof. Debi P Bhattarai, Department of Civil Engineering, Pulchowk Campus 60

Design of Cross Regulator & Distributary Head Regulator
Step 8: Uplift Pressure and Floor Thickness

The floor thickness is calculated by working out the uplift pressure by Khosla’s theory.

The maximum unbalanced heads at key points are worked out for the maximum static
head
A nominal thickness of 0.3 to 0.5m is provided on the u/s side.

Prof. Debi P Bhattarai, Department of Civil Engineering, Pulchowk Campus 61

Design of Cross Regulator & Distributary Head Regulator

Numerical

Prof. Debi P Bhattarai, Department of Civil Engineering, Pulchowk Campus 62

Canal Outlets and its Type

– A canal outlet or a module is a small structure built at the head of the watercourse so as
to connect it with a minor or a distributary channel
– The control & maintenance of the entire network of canals upto the module falls under the
jurisdiction of the government & beyond the module the entire working of the water
courses (field channels) is taken care of by the cultivators.

Prof. Debi P Bhattarai, Department of Civil Engineering, Pulchowk Campus 63

Canal Outlets and its Type

– These outlets play a very prominent role in controlling the flow of water to different areas
so as to affect an equitable distribution of available water in accordance with the need
of whole area.

Types of Canal Outlets or Modules

The various types of modules can be classified into 3 classes
Non modular Outlets
Semi modules or flexible Modules
Rigid Modules

Prof. Debi P Bhattarai, Department of Civil Engineering, Pulchowk Campus 64

Non modular Outlets
A non modular outlet is the one in which discharge depends on the difference of head between
distributary and water course.
It may be in the form of a rectangular opening or open sluice or a simple submerged pipe.
Pipe outlet (when submerged) is a very simple type of a non –modular outlet used extensively.
Submerged pipe outlet : 2 types : horizontal & inclined

Prof. Debi P Bhattarai, Department of Civil Engineering, Pulchowk Campus 65

Non modular Outlets
Discharge (Q) = 𝐶 . 𝐴. 2𝑔𝐻𝐿 where Q = discharge through the outlet
A = Area of pipe
H L = Difference between FSL of distributary & water course also called working head of outlet
𝐶 = Coeff of discharge & is as high as 0.8 for submerged
• Since Q depends on H L , equitable distribution of water is not Possible in this method.
• Pipe dia varies from 10 to 30 cm (laid 21cm below WL), Generally, embedded in concrete &
fixed horizontally
• May also be laid sloping upwards by depressing the u/s end to increase the silt conductivity

L = Length of Pipe (m)

f = Friction coeff
d= dia of pipe in cm
Prof. Debi P Bhattarai, Department of Civil Engineering, Pulchowk Campus 66
Prof. Debi P Bhattarai, Department of Civil Engineering, Pulchowk Campus 67
Prof. Debi P Bhattarai, Department of Civil Engineering, Pulchowk Campus 68
Design of Canal Outlets

Numerical

A submerged pipe outlet has the following data: FSL of distributary = 150 m
FSL of Water course= 149.70m ; Length of pipe = l =10m
Diameter of pipe = 20cm Coeff of friction = 0.006
Find the discharge through the outlet
Find the discharge through the outlet

Discharge (Q) = 𝐶 . 𝐴. 2𝑔𝐻𝐿

Prof. Debi P Bhattarai, Department of Civil Engineering, Pulchowk Campus 69

Non modular Outlets

The velocity through the pipe can be computed by :

HL = Total head loss = Entry loss + Frictional loss + exit loss
V 2 f ' lV 2 V 2
= 0.5 + + where HL is the difference in the water level of the
2g 2 gd 2g
distributary & the water course, l is the length of pipe & d is the dia & f’ is the coeff of friction
of pipe

Prof. Debi P Bhattarai, Department of Civil Engineering, Pulchowk Campus 70

Semi modules or flexible Modules

Semi modules or flexible Modules are those through which discharge is

independent of the water level of the water course but depends only upon the
water level of the distributary so long as a maximum working head is available.
• The discharge through such an outlet
will, therefore, increase with a rise in the
distributary water surface level & vice versa
• Examples: Pipe outlet, venturi flume,
• open flume & orifice semi-module
This type of outlet can only be provided where
level difference between the distributary & water course is available
q = Cd . A . 2 g H o
Prof. Debi P Bhattarai, Department of Civil Engineering, Pulchowk Campus 71
Pipe Outlets discharging freely into the air

q = Cd . A . 2 g H o where

Cd = coeff of discharge = 0.62 for average condition of free over fall

H0 = Head on u/s side measured from FSL of distributary up to centre of pipe outlet
A = c/s area of pipe

Prof. Debi P Bhattarai, Department of Civil Engineering, Pulchowk Campus 72

Types of Canal Outlets or Modules

Rigid modules & modular outlets are those through which the discharge is
constant & fixed within limits, irrespective of the fluctuations of the water
levels of either the distributary or of the water course or both.
Gibb’s module is a common example of rigid outlet type.

Prof. Debi P Bhattarai, Department of Civil Engineering, Pulchowk Campus 73

 Types of Canal Outlets or Modules

Requirements of a good Modules

1. The module should fit well to the decided principles of water distribution.
[Link] module should be simple, can be easily constructed by local masons or technicians
3. It should work efficiently with a small working head
4. The outlet should be cheaper since they are required in large numbers
5. It should be sufficiently strong with no moving parts, thus avoiding periodic maintenance
6. The outlet should be such that any interference by the local cultivators should be made
difficult & easily detectable
7. It should draw its fair share of silt

Prof. Debi P Bhattarai, Department of Civil Engineering, Pulchowk Campus 74

 Performance Criteria of Outlet

To evaluate the performance criteria of outlet, 4 parameters are use. They are

Flexibility, Proportionality, Setting of canal outlet and Sensitivity of canal Outlet

Flexibility: It is the ratio of rate change of discharge of the
outlet to the rate of change of discharge of the distributary

𝑑𝑞/𝑞
F= where q= discharge through the outlet and Q=
𝑑𝑄/𝑄
discharge through the distributary

q = Discharge through Outlet = KHm

Q = Discharge through the distributary = CDn
Where H = Head acting on Outlet;
D- Depth of flow in distributary
K,C = Constants; m- Outlet index; n = Canal index

Prof. Debi P Bhattarai, Department of Civil Engineering, Pulchowk Campus 75

For Field Channel For distributary
q= KHm Q= C Dn
dq= m K Hm-1 dH dQ= n C Dn-1 dD
dq/q = m(dH/H) dQ/Q = n(dD/D)
𝑑𝑞/𝑞
F=
𝑑𝑄/𝑄
𝑑𝐻
𝑚 𝐷 𝑑𝐻 𝑚(𝐻)
F= ( ) ( ) F= 𝑑𝐷
𝑛 𝐻 𝑑𝐷 𝑛( 𝐷 )
For Rigid Module F=0

For Semi modular Outlet dD =dH

𝒎 𝑫
So, F= ( )
𝒏 𝑯

Prof. Debi P Bhattarai, Department of Civil Engineering, Pulchowk Campus 76

 Propertionality
An outlet is considered Proportional when its’ flexibility equals unity.
Rate of change of outlet discharge equals rate of change of channel discharge
𝑑𝑞/𝑞
F= 𝑑𝑞
=
𝑑𝑄
𝑑𝑄/𝑄 𝑞 𝑄

𝒎 𝑫
So, for F = 1; From F = ( )
𝒏 𝑯
𝒎 𝑯
= Ratio H/D is known as setting
𝒏 𝑫
Depending on value of F
If F =1, then Proportional Outlet
If F >1, then hyper-proportional Outlet
If F <1, then Sub-proportional Outlet

Prof. Debi P Bhattarai, Department of Civil Engineering, Pulchowk Campus 77

 Setting
It is the ratio of depth of sill or crest level of the outlet below the FSL of
distributary to full supply depth of distributary

𝑯
Setting =
𝑫

In Proportional Outlet
Setting = H/D = m/n

Prof. Debi P Bhattarai, Department of Civil Engineering, Pulchowk Campus 78

Setting

Prof. Debi P Bhattarai, Department of Civil Engineering, Pulchowk Campus 79

Prof. Debi P Bhattarai, Department of Civil Engineering, Pulchowk Campus 80
Design of Canal Outlets

Numerical

Prof. Debi P Bhattarai, Department of Civil Engineering, Pulchowk Campus 81

Design of Canal Outlets

Numerical

Design a pipe outlet for the following data

Full Supply Discharge at the head of water course = 90 lit/sec
FSL in Distributary = 205.00 m
FSL in water course = 204.00m

Define Flexibility, Proportionality, Setting and sensitivity of modules and derive

relationship between them

Prof. Debi P Bhattarai, Department of Civil Engineering, Pulchowk Campus 82

 Canal Escapes

Structures to release excess water from a canal which could be main canal, branch canal,
distributary or minor

Prof. Debi P Bhattarai, Department of Civil Engineering, Pulchowk Campus 83

 Canal Escapes

Situations that might suddenly lead to accumulation of excess water in a certain reach of canal
network may occur due to the following reasons

Reasons of Accumulation of Water

1. Wrong operation of head works in trying to regulate flow in a long channel resulting in
release of excess
water than the total demand in the canal system d/s
2. Excessive rainfall in the command area leading to reduced demand & consequent
closure of d/s gates.
3. Sudden closure of control gates due to a canal bank breach.

The excess water in a canal results in the water level rising above the FSL which, if allowed to
overtop the canal banks, may cause erosion & subsequent breaches
Hence, canal escapes help in releasing the excess water from a canal at times of emergency

Prof. Debi P Bhattarai, Department of Civil Engineering, Pulchowk Campus 84

Types of Canal Escapes

1. Weir or Surface escapes

This type of escapes are constructed in the form of weirs, without any gate or shutter & spills
over when the water level of the canal goes above its crest level

Prof. Debi P Bhattarai, Department of Civil Engineering, Pulchowk Campus 85

Canal Escapes

2. Sluice or surplus escapes

These are gated escapes
with a very low crest height

These sluices can empty the canal

much below its FSL & at a very fast
rate

Prof. Debi P Bhattarai, Department of Civil Engineering, Pulchowk Campus 86

Canal Escapes
Sluice or surplus escapes
In some cases, these escapes act as scouring sluices to facilitate removal of sediment

Locations for providing escapes are determined on the availability of suitable drains, depressions
or rivers with their bed level at or below the canal bed level

Escapes may be necessary u/s of points where canals take off from a main canal branch
Escapes u/s of major aqueducts is usually provided

Canal escapes may be provided at intervals of 15 to 20km for main canal & at 10 to 15km
intervals for other canals

Prof. Debi P Bhattarai, Department of Civil Engineering, Pulchowk Campus 87

Thank you

Prof. Debi P Bhattarai, Department of Civil Engineering, Pulchowk Campus 88