ERODIBLE

CHANNELS
 DESIGN OF EARTHEN
CHANNELS
A. maximum
permissible
velocity method

B. tractive force
method
General guideline: Froude number should be less than 0.35
A. maximum permissible velocity
sample problem
Design a trapezoidal channel with side
slopes of 3H:1V that carries a flow of 20
m3/s on a channel slope, So of 0.0015.
This channel is to be excavated in stiff
clay and to carry water with colloidal
silts. Check whether the channel will be
susceptible to erosion or not.
TABLE 1. Maximum permissible velocities proposed by Fortier and Scobey (1926).
MEAN VELOCITY (m/s)
WATER
CLEAR WATER TRANSPORTING
CANAL MATERIAL n NON COLLOIDAL
WATER (no TRANSPORTING SILTS AND OTHER
detritus) COLLOIDAL SILT COARSE-GRAINED
SOILS

FINE SAND (colloidal or C) 0.02 0.46 0.76 0.46

SANDY SOIL (non-colloidal OR NC) 0.02 0.53 0.76 0.61
SILT LOAM (NC) 0.02 0.61 0.91 0.61
ALLUVIAL SILT (NC) 0.02 0.61 1.07 0.61
ORDINARY FIRM LOAM 0.02 0.76 1.07 0.69
VOLCANIC ASH 0.02 0.76 1.07 0.61
FINE GRAVEL 0.02 0.76 1.52 1.14
STIFF CLAY 0.025 1.14 1.52 0.91
GRADED LOAM TO COBBLES (C) 0.03 1.14 1.52 1.52
ALLUVIAL SILT (C) 0.025 1.14 1.52 0.91
GRADED SILT TO COBBLES (C) 0.03 1.22 1.68 1.52
COARSE GRAVEL (NC) 0.025 1.22 1.83 1.98
COBBLES AND SHINGLES 0.035 1.52 1.68 1.98
SHALES AND HARD PANS 0.025 1.83 1.83 1.52
A. maximum permissible velocity
1. For a given channel material, determine n and the
mpv from the table :
 A. maximum permissible velocity
2. Having the channel bottom slope (S) and the design
side slope (z), compute the hydraulic radius (R) using
the Manning’s Equation.
 A. maximum permissible velocity
3. Having the design discharge (Q) and the mpv,
determine the required flow area (A).

4. Compute the wetted perimeter (P).

 A. maximum permissible velocity
5. Using expressions for A and P, solve simultaneously
for b and d.
 A. maximum permissible velocity
6. Check the design safety.
 A. maximum permissible velocity
6. Add free board (FB).
 B. tractive force method
tractive force
the force acting on the particle
composing the perimeter of the channel
and is the result of the flow of water
past these particles.
 B. tractive force method
tractive force
 B. tractive force method
tractive force ratio (k)

IF k > 1 bottom scours

k < 1 side scours
B. tractive force method
 B. tractive force method
tractive force
Consider the
shear stress at
incipient motion
(which just
begins to move
particles) for
uniform flow.
B. tractive force method
B. tractive force method
B. tractive force method
tractive force ratio (k)
 Design Approaches
 Tractive Force-Based Design for
Coarse, Non-Cohesive Materials
(Sample 1)
 Tractive Force-Based Design for Fine,
Cohesive Materials (Sample 2)
Sample 1 (Coarse, Non-Cohesive)
Design a trapezoidal channel to carry
2.70 m3/s through a channel on a slope
of 0.0015 and a side slope of 2 with a
b/d of 4. The channel is to be
excavated in coarse alluvium with a 75
percentile diameter of 2 cm of
moderately rounded particles and the 50
percentile, 15 mm.
 tractive force method (C,NC)
1.Given D50, compute for the roughness coefficient.

2.Given D75 and the soil texture, select the appropriate angle of repose
(α)from the table:
Table 1. Angle of repose (α in degrees) for different soil textures.

Particle Size Very Moderately Slightly Slightly Moderately Very

(mm) Angular Angular Angular Rounded Rounded Rounded
5 32 29.5 26.5 24 21.5 18.5
10 35 33 30.5 28.5 26.5 24
15 36.5 35 33.5 31 29.5 27.5
20 37.5 35.5 34 32 30.5 29
25 38.5 37.5 35.5 34 32.5 31
51 40.5 39.5 39 38 37 36.5
76 41 40 39.5 39 38.5 38
102 41 40.5 40 39.5 39 38.5
 tractive force method (C,NC)

3. Having the z, compute for the side slope angle (θ).

4. Compute for the critical tractive force at the bottom

(τBc)

D75 < 5 mm

D75 > 5 mm

τ in (N/m2); D75 in (mm)

 tractive force method (C,NC)
5. Compute the tractive force ratio (k).

6. Using k and (τBc), compute for the side tractive force.

 tractive force method (C,NC)
7. Having the side slope and the bottom-depth ratio,
select the appropriate coefficient (c) from the table.
Table 2. Tractive force distribution values.
Tractive Force Coefficient
Side (C)
Shape of Channel b/d
Slope
Bed Side
2 2 0.89 0.76
2 4 0.97 0.77
2 8 0.99 0.77
TRAPEZOIDAL
1.5 2 0.89 0.735
1.5 4 0.97 0.74
1.5 8 0.99 0.76
2 0.686 0.686
RECTANGULAR 4 0.936 0.744
1 0.372 0.468
 tractive force method (C,NC)
8. Determine the canal dimensions (d, b, and t).

9. Check design safety.

10. Add free board.

 Sample 2 (Fine, Cohesive)
 Design an earthen canal of the main
irrigation line for an area dominated by
heavy clay soils with an average porosity of
50%. The channel is to carry a diversion
water requirement of 5 m3/s over a bottom
slope of 0.002. The b/d ratio is 2 and the
side slope is 1.5. Assume a roughness of
0.025.
 tractive force method (F, C)
1. Determine the permissible tractive force for cohesive
soils using the texture and the void ratio.
 tractive force method (F, C)
2. Having the side slope and the bottom-depth ratio,
select the appropriate coefficient (c) from the table.
Table 2. Tractive force distribution values.
Tractive Force Coefficient
Side (C)
Shape of Channel b/d
Slope
Bed Side
2 2 0.89 0.76
2 4 0.97 0.77
2 8 0.99 0.77
TRAPEZOIDAL
1.5 2 0.89 0.735
1.5 4 0.97 0.74
1.5 8 0.99 0.76
2 0.686 0.686
RECTANGULAR 4 0.936 0.744
1 0.372 0.468
 tractive force method (F, C)
4. Determine the canal dimensions (d, b, and t).

5. Check design safety.

6. Add free board.

 Specific Design Guidelines
For sinuous channels, permissible velocities
and tractive forces should be reduced.
Degree of Correction Factor Correction
Sinuousness for Vmax Factor for τc
Straight Channels 1.00 1.00
Slightly Sinuous 0.95 0.90
Moderately Sinuous 0.87 0.75
Very Sinuous 0.78 0.60