Module 5

Types of Diversion head works- weirs and barrages, layout of diversion head work –
components. Causes and failure of Weirs and Barrages on permeable foundations, -Silt
Ejectors and Silt Excluders, Weirs on Permeable Foundations – Creep Theories – Bligh’s,
Lane’s and Khosla’s theories, Determination of uplift pressure- Various Correction Factors –
Design principles of weirs on permeable foundations using Creep theories – exit gradient,
U/s and D/s Sheet Piles – Launching Apron.

Head Works: Diversion Headworks refer to a hydraulic structure built across a river or
stream to divert water into an irrigation canal or conveyance system without the need for
storage. It helps regulate and control water flow for irrigation, water supply, and flood

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management.

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Functions of Diversion Headworks:

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1.​ Diverting Water – Guides river water into irrigation canals.
2.​ Regulating Flow – Controls water levels and discharge into canals.
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3.​ Sediment Control – Reduces sediment entry into the canal system.
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4.​ Flood Protection – Helps manage high river flows and prevent damage to canals.
5.​ Providing a Controlled Water Supply – Ensures a steady flow of water for irrigation.
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Main Components of Diversion Headworks:

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1.​ Weir or Barrage – A low dam across the river to raise water levels and divert flow.
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2.​ Head Regulator – A gated structure that controls the flow entering the canal.
3.​ Scouring Sluices – Openings to flush out sediment and debris from the river.
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4.​ Fish Ladder – A passage for fish migration past the structure.
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5.​ Divide Wall – Separates the scouring sluices from the canal intake to manage water
flow efficiently.

Importance or objects of diversion head work:

The following are the objects of diversion head works
➢​ To raise the water level at the head of the canal
➢​ To control flow of water into the canal
➢​ To control the direct entry of flood water into the canal.
➢​ To form a storage by constructing dykes on both the banks of the river so that water
is available throughout the year.
 ➢​ To control the entry of silt into the canal and to control the deposition of silt at the
head of the canal.
➢​ To control the fluctuation of water level in the river during different seasons.

Weirs and Barrages

A weir is a small barrier built across a river or stream to control and measure the flow of
water.
Purpose:

●​ Helps in water level regulation.

●​ Used to divert water for irrigation or power generation.
●​ Helps in measuring river discharge.

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Structure:

●​ Made of concrete, wood, stone, or metal.

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●​ Has an opening (crest) where water flows over.
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Yadamuri falls, Mysore

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Balmuri falls, Mysore

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A barrage is a type of hydraulic structure built across a river to regulate water flow using
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gates.
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●​ Purpose:
■​ Controls water levels for irrigation, flood control, and power generation.
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●​ Structure:
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■​ Consists of gates that can be opened or closed to regulate water flow.

■​ Built across rivers or estuaries, usually near the mouth of a river.
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Module 5 Canal Falls
Types of falls and their location, Design principles of Notch Fall and Sarada type Fall.
Canal regulation works, principles of design of cross and distributary head regulators, types
of Canal escapes – types of canal modules, proportionality, sensitivity, setting and flexibility.
Cross Drainage works: types, selection of suitable type, various types, design
considerations for cross drainage works.
Meaning Canal Fall or Canal Drop:
Whenever the available natural ground slope is steeper than the designed bed slope of the
channel, the difference is adjusted by constructing vertical falls or drops in the canal bed at

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suitable intervals as shown in the figure.

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Such a drop in the natural Canal bed will not be stable and therefore, in order to retain this
drop, a masonry structure is constructed. Such a pucca structure is called Canal fall or a

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Canal drop. IL
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Proper Location of Canal Falls:

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●​ The location of a fall in a canal depends on the topography (land shape) of the area
the canal passes through.

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●​ For a main canal (which doesn’t directly irrigate land):
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1.​ The location of the fall is decided by balancing the cost of excavation and
filling versus the cost of constructing the fall.
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2.​ Excavation and filling on both sides of the fall should be balanced to avoid
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high costs.
●​ If a larger drop is provided in one step, it increases unbalanced earthwork, but
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reduces the number of falls needed.

●​ A balance between earthwork costs and the number of falls should be considered
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before deciding the fall locations.

●​ For branch canals and distributary canals (canals that distribute water to specific
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areas):
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1.​ Falls are located based on the commanded area (area to be irrigated).
2.​ The Full Supply Level (FSL) at the head of off-taking channels and outlets is
marked on the canal section.
3.​ The FSL of the canal is adjusted to cover all the commanded points, which
helps in deciding the locations for falls.
●​ The fall’s location may also depend on combining it with a bridge regulator or other
masonry works. Combining these structures can be more economical and provide
better water regulation.
●​ When a fall is combined with a regulator and a bridge, it is called a fall-regulator with
a road bridge.
Advantages of Canal Fall:
The advantages of Canal Falls are:

○​ Controls water flow and minimises erosion.

○​ Facilitates energy dissipation.
○​ Enables water level regulation.

Disadvantages of Canal Fall:

The shortcomings of Canal Falls are:

○​ Construction cost.

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○​ Maintenance and repair expenses.

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○​ Potential for sediment accumulation.

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Types of Falls:
The various types of Canal Falls are:
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a. Ogee Fall
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https://testbook.com/civil-engineering/canal-falls
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Fig: Ogee Fall

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The ogee fall incorporates a combination of both convex and concave curves. This design
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ensures a smooth transition of water flow and minimizes adverse effects. It is typically
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recommended for canals unless a sudden change in natural terrain to a steeper slope
occurs, in which case stone pitching is added both upstream and downstream to manage
the transition effectively.

b. Rapids Fall

Fig: Rapids Fall

The rapid fall features a long sloping glacis and is constructed when the natural ground
surface is relatively flat and extensive. A bed of rubble masonry is used, finished with a
cement mortar mixture. Curtain walls are provided upstream and downstream to maintain
the slope of the bed, although it's worth noting that rapid falls can be more expensive to
construct.

c. Stepped Fall:

Fig: Stepped Fall

Stepped fall involves vertical steps at gradual breaks and is an adaptation of the rapid fall

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design. It is suitable for canals where the upstream is significantly higher than the

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downstream, connecting these two levels with vertical steps or drops to control water flow
effectively.

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d. Well-type Fall:
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Fig: Well Type Fall

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Well-type falls, also known as siphon drop falls, incorporate an inlet well with a pipe at its
base upstream. This pipe conveys water to a downstream well or reservoir, with the choice
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between the two depending on discharge capacity.

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e. Trapezoidal Notch Fall:

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Fig: Trapezoidal Notch Fall

Trapezoidal notch falls feature a raised crest wall across the channel with trapezoidal
notches. They are cost-effective and suitable for lower discharge conditions, making them
increasingly popular due to their simplicity and efficiency.

f. Simple Vertical Drop Fall:

Fig: Simple Vertical Drop Fall

The simple vertical drop fall consists of a single vertical drop, allowing upstream water to
descend with a sudden impact on the downstream section, which acts as a cushion and
dissipates excess energy. This design is used in the Sarda Canal UP in India and is often
referred to as a Sarda Fall.

g. Straight Glacis Fall:

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Fig: Straight glacis fall
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A straight glacis fall includes a raised crest over the canal and a smooth rectangular surface
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slopes from the crest to the downstream section. This design efficiently dissipates energy
as water from upstream flows over the elevated crest and onto the inclined surface.
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h. Montague Type Fall:

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Fig: Montague Type Fall

Similar to a straight glacis fall, the Montague fall features a non-straight glacis, often in a
parabolic shape, enhancing the vertical component of velocity and thus increasing energy
dissipation.

i. English Falls or Baffle Fall:

Fig: English Falls or Baffle Fall

In this design, a straight glacis fall is combined with a baffle platform and wall. The baffle
wall is strategically placed near the toe of the straight glacis to create a hydraulic jump,
making it suitable for various discharge scenarios.

Canal regulation works:

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Canal Regulation: Canal regulation involves dividing the water entering the main canal from
the river into different branches and distributaries based on the demand for water in each

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area. This process is called regulation. To distribute the water effectively, the flow is
adjusted to the required amount using a regulator.
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Canal regulation works: are structures built to control and regulate the flow, velocity, and
discharge in canals. These works ensure the efficient functioning of a canal irrigation
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system by giving full control over the canals.

Important canal regulation structures include:
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●​ Canal Falls
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●​ Canal Regulators (Head Regulators & Cross Regulators)

●​ Channel Escapes
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●​ Metering Flumes, etc.

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●​ Canal Outlets and Modules.

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Head Regulator:

A head regulator is a hydraulic structure constructed at the off-take point of a canal from a
river, reservoir, or main water source. Its primary function is to regulate and control the flow
of water entering the main canal system. It prevents excessive flow, sediment, and debris
from entering the canal.
Distributary Head Regulator:

A distributary head regulator is a control structure located at the off-take of a distributary

canal from the main canal. Its role is to manage and regulate the flow of water into the
distributary, ensuring proper distribution and equitable water supply to different branches or
areas served by the distributary canal.

Cross Regulator:

A cross regulator is a structure built across the canal to control the flow and water level
within the canal. It is used to maintain the desired backwater level for the proper functioning
of off-takes, such as distributary canals, and to ensure efficient water distribution in the

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canal system downstream.

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Aspect Head Regulatory Distributary Head Cross Regulatory

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Regulatory

Location Start of the main canal Junction of Within the

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distributary canal main/branch canal
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Purpose Controls inflow to main Distributes water to Regulates flow and
canal distributaries levels in main/branch
canals
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Size Largest Medium-sized Smaller, but specific

to needs
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Focus Source water control Distribution control Level and flow

management
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Cross Drainage works:

A cross drainage work is a structure built on a canal where it crosses natural drainage, such
as a stream or a river.
As the work is constructed for a crossing the drainage is called crossed drainage work.
such additional works on Canal increases the cost of the project. hence as far as possible
they should be avoided.
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​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Aqueduct

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​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Super Passage
Functions:

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Cross drainage works perform following functions
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1.​ They allow the Canal to cross Over drain without hindrance.
2.​ They take the canal below the intercepting drain.
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3.​ They permit crossing of the canal and drain at the same level.
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It may be noted that a particular cross drainage works performs any one function at time.
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Necessity of Cross Drainage Works:

Cross Drainage Works play an important role in irrigation engineering due to the following
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reasons:
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a.​ They maintain water flow smoothly and prevent water from mixing in the canal and
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drainage systems.
b.​ The natural flow direction of the canal and drainage cannot be changed at the
crossing point sites. Hence, cross drainage works are offered to keep their flow in
the appropriate directions.
c.​ Natural drainages are not crossed by the watershed canals. Nevertheless, due to the
real canal network's direction, this perfect situation could not exist, and natural
drainage systems might block the canal. To run the irrigation system, cross drainage
works must be provided.

Selection of suitable type of cross drainage works:

Factors which affects the selection of suitable type of cross drainage works are,

1.​ Relative bed levels and water levels of the canal as well as the drainage works.
2.​ Size of the channel and Drainage.
3.​ Nature of foundation available at site.
4.​ Existing condition of natural drain.
5.​ Availability of construction materials and other facilities.

The Following considerations are very important

a.​ When the bed level of the canal is much above the H.F.L of the drainage, so that
sufficient head way (free board) is available then an aqueduct is the obvious choice.

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Similarly if the bed level of the drainage is well above the F.S.L of the canal super

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passage is provided.
b.​ If the canal bed level is slightly below the H.F.L of the drainage and drainage is
small, a siphon aqueduct is provided.

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c.​ When the canal is much lower, but the F.S.L of the canal is higher than the bed of the
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drainage canal, siphon is preferred.
d.​ When the drainage and Canal cross each Other practically at the same level, a level
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crossing is preferred.
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Selection of Site for Cross Drainage Works:

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The following should be kept in mind while selecting the site of a cross drainage works.

a.​ At the site, the drainage should cross the canal alignment at right angles.
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b.​ The stream at the site should be stable and should have stable banks.
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c.​ A firm and strong soil should exist at a reasonable depth.

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d.​ The length and height of the marginal banks and guide banks for the drainage
should be small.
e.​ In case of an aqueduct, sufficient headway should be available between the canal
trough and the height flood level of the drainage.
f.​ The water table at the side should not be high.

Types of Cross drainage structure:

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