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3.1. Introduction
 Diversion headwork are structures constructed across a river to facilitate a
regulated and continuous diversion of water into the off-taking canal.
 In rivers, it is hardly possible to divert a regulated and continuous flow into
main canal without such headwork.
 This is due to the fact that the flow in the river is never uniform and varies
from season to season.
 Headwork structures could be two types:
 Storage Headwork – to store surplus water when the river discharge is in
excess of demand and releasing it when demand overtake available
supplies.
 Water is supplied from the reservoir through the canal head regulator/outlet
works
 The reservoir may serve as a multipurpose function
 E.g. Dam
 Diversion Head Work – constructed across a perennial river to raise the
water level and divert the water to the canal.
 Again, the diverted water is controlled by a canal head regulator.
 E.g. Weir/ barrage are common regulatory structures in irrigation
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 Canal head regulator
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7/24/2023 4
Function of diversion head work
• The main functions/purposes of a diversion head work:
– To raise the water level at the head of the canal
– To control entry of silt into the canal and control the
deposition of silt at the head of the canal
– To reduce expensive cutting in the head reaches of the canal
and facilitate water supply to the command area by gravity
flow
– To control the fluctuation of water level in the river during
different seasons

• Thus, there is a need to regulate the flow into the canal system
in order to ensure a continuous diversion of water
• There is practically no storage provided by a diversion structure
• The purpose is to raise and keep the water level more or less
constant (reduce the fluctuation of water levels) at the head of
the canal
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3.2. Head Work for Diversion of Rivers

• Diversion head works can be classified as

based on the structures provided at the
crest
1. Weirs and
2. Barrages

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 Weir and Barrage:
pond
Crest Level = pond level level Shutter
P2=0 P2 Crest Level

P=P1 P
P1

P1 >> P2
a) Without shutter b) With shutter
Weir

pond pond
level level Shutter
Shutter
P =P2 P2
P Crest Level
P1
P1=0
P1 << P2
a) Without crest b) With crest

Barrage

7/24/2023 Key: P = total ponding ; P1= Ponding by crest; P2= Ponding by shutter 7
 Small weir

Small barrage

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Weir

– Weir: A weir is a barrier (structure) constructed

across a river to raise the water level in the river
behind it so as to enable regulated diversion of
water.
– A weir has a raised crest behind which a small
ponding of water will take place.
– Can be constructed with or without shutters on
the crest of the weir.

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• Types of weirs:
The following types are based on the geometry
of the crest and materials used for
construction
– Masonry weirs with vertical or slightly sloping u/s
and d/s face
– Rock fill weirs
– Concrete weirs with sloping glacis
– Ogee crest weirs

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 Masonry vertical drop weirs
• Have a horizontal floor constructed of masonry and a
crest wall with vertical or slightly sloping downstream
face
• The height of the crest depends on the actual site
conditions and head required behind the weir
» How much head is available?
» How much head is required?
• Are suitable whenever the drop in water level is small

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 Vertical drop weirs

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 Rockfill weirs
• Are constructed of rocks with extremely sloping downstream
face. WHY?
• Are suitable whenever there is excess stone available for
construction.

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  Concrete sloping weir

• The crest of this weir has sloping glacis both on the

upstream and downstream

• Cutoff sheets are provided at the upstream, intermediate

and downstream of the floor to the depth equal to the
scour depth

• Hydraulic jump is formed on the downstream slope for

energy dissipation

• These weirs are suitable whenever the drop in water level

is large
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Glacis weirs

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  Ogee crest weirs
• Is a weir whose crest wall is rounded to increase the
discharge coefficient
• It consists of a concrete weir wall with vertical upstream
face and rounded top at downstream
• It is designed as gravity section similar to vertical drop
weir.

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  Gravity and non-gravity weirs

• Seepage water causes uplift force on the base of the

weir

• Whenever the weight of the weir is sufficient to balance

the uplift pressure caused by seeping water, it is called
gravity weir

• When the concrete slab (floor) is designed continuously

with the weir body to keep the structure safe against
uplift, it is called as non-gravity weir.

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 Barrage
• A barrage is also an obstruction constructed across a
river for raising the water level and regulate the
diversion of water to canals

• However, the crest wall of a barrage is low and

ponding of water takes place by gates.

• The gates are fitted on the top of the crest wall and can
be closed and opened as required based on the flow in
the river.

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7/24/2023 19
Barrage

Piers

Gates

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 Advantages and disadvantages of weirs and
barrages
Weir:
Advantage
• Low initial cost
Disadvantage
• High afflux (increase in water level) during floods;
• Siltation or sedimentation problem due to relatively
high crest;
• Lack of effective control during floods

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Barrage

Advantage
– Effective control of flow is possible;
– Low afflux and thus flooding is small during floods
– Silt inflow into the off-taking canal can be
effectively controlled

Disadvantage
– It has a disadvantage that its initial cost is high

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Some technical considerations for diversion
head works
 When planning a new diversion headwork,
investigations to be made can be classified into:
– Reconnaissance study
– Preliminary investigation
– Detailed investigation
• The technical considerations include:
• Location of headworks
• Construction materials and resources
• Topographic survey
• Soil investigation
• Hydrological data
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  Location of Head works

• For best site of diversion headwork, one has to have

clear information of the site.

• Generally topographic maps are required for the

purpose.

• However, one can also have a walk along the river to

find out possible sites for the headwork during the
reconnaissance study.

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 Factors when selecting site for diversion weirs

• Location of the Irrigated Area

– If the area is too far away from the headwork, it necessitates
construction of long canals with high cost
– If area to be irrigated is close to the headwork, some area
located on the upper reach of the canal may not be commanded
• Stability of the river bank
– Affects the cost and the performance
– Ideal site: straight reach of a river with stable and narrower
section
– River banks are unstable in shallow and wide cross sections;
thus larger and costlier structure is needed
• Flow velocity at these sections is small and results in more sedimentation
and problem on the performance

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  Construction materials and resources

• Most important factor

• Questions to be made during site visit of diversion
headworks.

– What are the construction materials available in the area?

– Is there a shortage of required construction material in the
local market?
– Is it possible to hire construction machinery in the area?
– The availability of skilled labor in the area and the rates?

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  Topographic survey
• After site selection, the designer has to be able to have a
detailed information of the cross section and profile of the
river at this section.

• Thus a topographic survey of the site is needed.

– Moreover, the topography of the command area is
needed to determine whether the highest spot points
can be irrigated by gravity from the selected site or
not.
» Particularly, this is important in flat areas where head
is not available.
» Whenever, the site of the diversion is sufficiently
higher than the command area, loss of head is a not a
problem.

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  Soil investigation
• Preliminary soil investigation is needed during the first
visit of the site.

• The soil can be visually tested and its physical

characteristics described. Shallow pits can be dug to
describe the soil profile.

• The investigation is important to judge the suitability

of the soil for foundation, its seepage condition and
bearing capacity.

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  Hydrological data
• Is needed in order to determine design discharges

• The size of the structure depends on the maximum flood

discharge that has to pass over the structure (fixes- h)

• Moreover, the minimum flow in the river is also needed for the
design

• The design engineer visiting the site for the first time has to
find out if there are river gauging and meteorological stations
in the area.
 If not, the local people can provide useful information on the
maximum and minimum flows.
 Flood marks
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 3.3. Components and Layout of Diversion
Headworks
Diversion headworks generally consist of the following
components:

– Weir wall/Barrage
– Undersluices
– Divide wall
– Canal head regulator
– Silt excluder
– Guide banks
– Wing walls
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Components and layout…

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 Undersluices
• Adjacent to the canal head regulators, under sluice section is
provided

• When canal intake is only in one direction, the under sluice is

provided on that side only

• There is a divide wall between the weir body and the under sluice
section to separate the two portions and to avoid cross flows

• Its crest is at lower level than that of the crest of the weir (usually
at river bed)

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 Functions of under sluice
• Maintains well defined river channel near the head regulator

• To scour (remove) away the silt deposited in front of the head

regulator

• To pass small floods of 10% to 20% Qd during rainy season

• To quickly lower the u/s high flood level because the discharge
intensity over the sluice portion is greater than that in the weir
portion

• To minimize the effect of main river water current on the head

regulator
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 Divide wall
• This is a wall placed parallel to flow direction in the river

• Separates the weir section from the undersluice section

of the headwork to avoid cross currents

• On the upstream, it extends to little upstream of the

head regulator and on the downstream it usually
extends to the end of loose protection

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 Functions of divide wall

• Separates the floor of the undersluices and weir

• Provides a clear pocket near the head regulator where silt can
accumulate
• Isolates the silt accumulation pocket to ensure scouring
• Helps to avoid cross currents which might cause deep scour of the
river bed
• Helps to concentrate the scour action of the undersluices on only
the silt accumulation pocket
• Minimizes the effect of river current on the head regulator

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 Canal head regulator

• A structure provided at the head of the off-taking canal

to regulate and control the inflow into the canal

• Usually provided at one or both banks of the river with

its axis making an angle 600 to 900 to the weir axis

• It will be sized in such a way that it can pass the

required design discharge of the canal when the water
level on the upstream is at the pond level

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Layout of head regulator

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 Functions of head regulator
• Regulates the supply of water into the off-taking canal
• Controls silt entrance into the canal
• Prevents flood water from entering the canal
• Used to stop the water supply into the canal for:
»maintenance and
»when highly silt-laden water flows in the
river

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Section through head regulator…

Direction of river flow or weir axis???

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 Head regulator

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 Silt excluder

• Provided in the undersluices portion to pass highly silt-

laden water through the undersluices
• It enables only relatively clear water to enter the canal
• Aligned at right angle to the axis of the canal
• They are small lined tunnels through which the bottom
silt-laden water will be passed down to the scouring
sluices

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 alignment of silt excluder

RIVER FLOW

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 Guide banks
• rigid structures provided on either side of the
headwork to:
– guide the river flow directly to the headwork and
– to avoid scouring and meandering of the river near the work

• Particularly important when the headwork is located

near alluvial banks of the river where bank scouring
and meandering are evident

• Wing walls (Marginal bunds): are used to protect valuable

areas and property from flooding.
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7/24/2023 44
 3.4. Design of weirs and Barrages:
Theory of Seepage

• The design of any hydraulic and irrigation structures

have to consider the hydraulics of surface and
subsurface flow

– Surface flow is meant for the flow which occurs over the
weir crest & undersluices

– Subsurface flow is seepage flow occurring under the

foundation.

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 Suburface flow (Seepage) Theory
• The seepage flow under the foundation of hydraulic
structures is one of the major design components of
structures

• Seeping water under the structure causes uplift

pressure on the base of the structure

• The determination of this uplift pressure constitutes a

significant part of the engineering design

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Seepage theory

• For safe design of hydraulic and irrigation structures

on permeable foundation, the hydraulic gradient
should be less than the critical hydraulic gradient.

– Hydraulic gradient is the loss of head per unit creep length

– The length of the path traversed by water is called creep
length

• There are some theories developed on seepage of

water under the foundation of hydraulic and
irrigation structures.
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 3.4.1. SEEPAGE ANALYSIS THEORIES

• This theory assumes that the seeping water creeps from the
upstream to the downstream of the structure along the contact
base of the soil with the structure.
• The length of seepage path traversed by the seeping water is
called creep length (L)
• This means that the residual uplift pressure at any point along the
base is proportional to the distance of the point from the
downstream end.

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 Cont…
• One of the shortcomings of the Bligh’s theory is that it
does not make differences between vertical and
horizontal creep

– But the horizontal creep is less effective in reducing uplift (i.e.

it only cause a small head loss compared to the vertical creep)
– According to Bligh’s creep theory, the hydraulic gradient (i) is
constant throughout the seepage path

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Bligh’s theory…
fig. 1 fig. 2

7/24/2023 Creep under the base of the foundation 50

Bligh’s theory…
• Considering the above figures, the hydraulic gradient of
seepage is given by:

H
i 
Where L
H= the seepage head (difference in water level between
upstream and downstream
L=the creep length

• In both the figures, the arrows show the path followed by water
• In fig. 1 the creep length is the length of the floor L, while
• in fig. 2 the creep length is increased due to vertical creep at
the sheet piles
51
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Bligh’s theory…
For fig. 2
L  2d1  L1  2d3  L 2  2d2

• There is vertical drop in pressure head at the vertical cut-offs.

• The uplift pressure u at any point along the seepage path is
given by:
u   *h
Where
ɣ = unit weight of water and
h=the residual head at the point

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 Bligh’s theory…

 Residual head: the ordinates of the HGL above

the bottom of the floor represents the residual
uplift water head at each point

h  H  i 2d1  l  
H
L  2d1  l 
L

• Or it is equal to the head loss between point P

and the downstream end,

h  i * l  2d 3  2d 2
'
 
H '
L

l  2d 3  2d 2 
• Despite the inaccuracy and shortcomings of Bligh’s creep theory
in estimating the uplift pressure and hydraulic gradients, it is
popular due to its simplicity and high safety factor in simple and
flat-base hydraulic structures.
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 Design criteria based on Bligh’s creep theory
1. The hydraulic gradient should be less than permissible
value (i.e. safe or critical hydraulic gradient)
H
i  isafe
L
1 Where C is Bligh’s creep coefficient
i
C
H 1
  L  CH
L C
Values of Bligh’s creep coefficient C
Material Bligh’s ‘ C’ 1/C
Very fine sand and silt 18 1/18
Fine sand 15 1/15
Coarse sand 12 1/12
Gravel and sand 9 1/9
Boulders 4-6 ¼ to 1/6 54
7/24/2023
 Criteria…

• The coarser the particle size, the smaller is the value of

the Bligh’s C or the steeper is the safe hydraulic
gradient. (i.e.  smaller L causing larger steeper slope
of i=H/L) WHY???
– Cause as the particles size increases it need more force to
detach and pipe it)

• This is due to the fact that the seepage force required to

dislodge coarser materials is greater than that required
for finer materials.
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 Criteria…
2. The floor thickness and weight should be sufficient to
withstand the uplift pressure
• Considering a horizontal floor of length L subjected to
seepage head H, the residual head, h at any point P
having length l from u/s is given by:
H
h  H  l * 
 L
• The vertical intercept of the HGL ‘’h’’ is measured above the
top surface of the floor. If h’ is vertical intercept of HGL above
the bottom of floor,

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h’= h + t 56
Uplift pressure

H
h  H  l * 
 L

H
Or, h  (L  l) *  
 L
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 Uplift pressure…[d/s thickness consideration]
• The upward uplift force for unit area (1m²)of the floor is

U  u * A  h'*1   * h  t 
• Downward force due to the weight of the floor is W  G  * t *1
b / cmaterial /   G ,
thusG  material
• For equilibrium, the upward force should be counter-balanced by the
downward weight: W=U
h'  Gt
  h  t   Gt
 t G  1  h

• G is relative density of floor material (2.24)

 h 
t  
 G  1 
4  h 
FS=4/3, t  *
7/24/2023 3  G  1
 58
Upstream impervious floor

• The thickness using the above equation is on

downstream side; however on the upstream side the
weight of water will sufficiently counterbalance the
uplift pressure force

• In theory no thickness of floor is required on u/s;

however some nominal thickness will be provided.

• Moreover, larger length of u/s floor will reduce the

residual pressure on the downstream floor and thus
smaller thickness of floor can be provided.
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 Cutoffs
• Upstream sheet pile walls reduce the uplift pressure on
the base of the structure.

– However, only downstream sheet pile wall is not effective to

reduce the uplift force except reducing the hydraulic gradient
to avoid piping failure.

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 2. Lane’s Weighted Creep Theory
• This theory gives different weights for horizontal and vertical
creeps.
• It is an improvement over Bligh’s theory due to the weightage
of vertical creep given.

• According to this theory, vertical creep is 3 fold more effective

than horizontal creep.

• Thus, if a weightage of unity is given to vertical creep, the

weightage of the horizontal creep will be 1/3.

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 Lane’s Theory…
N
Leq  V
3
Where:
Leq =the equivalent creep length
N = the sum of horizontal contacts and all sloping contacts
less than 450
V=the sum of vertical contacts and all sloping contacts
greater than 450

Criteria for the design are:

1. To be safe against piping: the exit gradient should be
less than the safe exit gradient
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Lane’s theory
H 1
  Leq  C1 * H
Leq C1

Where: H is the total seepage head

C1 is Lane’s creep coefficient

Recommended Lane’s creep coefficient

Material Lane’s C1 1/C1

Very fine sand or silt 8.5 1/8.5
Fine sand 7.0 1/7
Coarse sand 5.0 1/5
Gravel and sand mixture 3.0 1/3
Boulder, gravel and sand 2.5 1/2.5
Soft clay 3.0 1/3
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 Lane’s theory
2. The thickness of the floor at any point should be sufficient to
withstand the uplift pressure.
4  h 
t  *  ,h is the residual pressure above the floor.
3  G 1

• The residual pressure at any point should consider the weightage

given to vertical and horizontal creep. The residual head at any
point at distance of l from the upstream end and with cutoff d1 at
the u/s end is:

H l 
hres H  *   2d1 
Leq  3 
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 Example:
Assume there is a weir founded on pervious foundation with floor
thickness of 0.5 m all along cross section.
– Seepage head= 6 m
– Upstream cutoff depth = 6m
– Downstream cutoff depth = 8 m
– Middle cutoff depth= 3 m
– Upstream impervious floor up to middle of wall = 10m
– Downstream impervious floor from middle of wall =20 m
– Distance from the middle to heel of the weir wall=5m

a. Determine the hydraulic gradient of seepage using the Bligh’s and

Lane’s theory and say on the safety against piping.
b. Calculate the uplift pressure at the heel of the wall using both the
theories.
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 6m
T=0.5m

3m
6m
8m
5m

10m 20m

7/24/2023 66
 Solution:
a.Bligh’s creep length
= 2*6 + 2*3 + 2*8 +10 + 20 + 2*0.5 = 65 m
Lane’s equivalent creep length=2*6+2*3+2*8+(10+20)/3+2*0.5= 45 m
Bligh’s gradient, i =6/65=1/10.8 … Safe for gravel and sand
Lane’s gradient, i = 6/45=1/7.5 …Safe for Fine sand

b. Uplift: Bligh’s length of creep up to the heel of the wall, Lx=33.0 m

Lane’s equivalent length of creep to the heel of the wall, Lx=23.0m
Bligh: Lx=2*6+10+2*3+5=33 6
h (65  33)  2.95
H 65
h  (H  l) *  
 L Bligh is more conservative!
Lane: Lx=2*6+10/3+2*3+5/3=23 6
h (45  23)  2.93
7/24/2023 45 67
• After studying a lot of dam failure constructed based
on Bligh’s theory, Khosla came out with the following;

 Seeping water below a hydraulic structure does not

follow the bottom profile of the impervious floor as
stated by Bligh but each particle traces its path along
a series of streamlines

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• For steady flow, seepage in a homogeneous soil obeys
the Laplacian equation:

Where
Q = K*h - Flow potential
h = residual head at any point within the soil
K= coefficient of permeability as defined by Darcy.
the above equation represents two sets of curves
streamlines and equipotential (velocity potential) lines
which intercept each other orthogonally.

7/24/2023 69
7/24/2023 70
Flow network
• Streamline
– A streamline is the path traced out by particles of water
seeping through the subsoil.
• Every particle traces out its own path which represents the streamline
for that particle.
– The first streamline, immediately below the hydraulic structure
follows the bottom profile of the structure and will be almost
the same as Bligh’s creep path.
– The others streamlines will be curves as they proceed through
the pervious soil. If an impervious boundary intervenes, then
the last streamline near the boundary follows the boundary.

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 Equipotential Lines
• Let us consider that there is no water on the downstream side. If we assume
the downstream bed as the datum, then the upstream side water is h.
• The entire floor at the upstream side and every particle of water entering the
subsoil on the upstream side will be having a head h.
• This head will be gradually utilized as the particle traces out the streamline
and when it emerges at the downstream end, the entire head h will have
been utilized so that the head at the exit end will be zero.
• At any intermediate position along the streamline, the particle will be
having a head h1 which is the residual head; which will be dissipated by the
particle while traveling the remaining path on the streamline.
• Thus every streamline moving from a head of h to a head of zero will pass
through a residual head of h1.
 If all points on all streamline with a residual head of h1 are joined, we shall
obtain a curve called an equipotential line. Thus equipotential line is a line
joining points of equal residual head.

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 h=0

Field
Residual h1

7/24/2023 73
Flow nets
 Flow Nets
 The streamlines and equipotential lines always intercept at
right angles.
 In a flow field, the combination of the two groups of lines form
a network in the flow field called the flow net.
 The space enclosed between any two adjacent streamlines
and equipotential lines is known as a field.
 Though it is possible to draw an infinite streamlines and
equipotential lines, for the sake of practical convenience and
easy interpretation, only a limited number is usually drawn in
such a way that every field becomes an elementary square.
 By drawing the flow net, all characteristics such as flow rate,
velocity etc can be obtained.

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 3.4.2. Exit and Critical Gradient

Every particle exerts a force f,

which will be tangential to the
7/24/2023
streamline at any point. 75
• Every particle of water while seeping through the sub-soil, at any
position will exert a force f, which will be tangential to the
streamline at any point.
• As the streamlines bend upward, the tangential force f will be
having a vertical component f1. Also at that point, there will be a
downward force W due to the submerged weight of the soil
particle.
• Thus at that point there will be two forces on the particle; one
 upward vertical component of f, (i.e. f1) and
 the submerged weight

7/24/2023 76
• Hence for stability of the soil and for the prevention of erosion and
piping, the seeping water when it emerges at the downstream side,
at the exit position, the force f1 should be less than the submerged
weight W.
• In other words the exit gradient at the downstream end must be
safe.
 If at the exit point at the downstream side, the exit gradient is such
that the force f1 is just equal to the submerged weight of the soil
particle, then that gradient is called critical exit gradient (i.e. f1 = W)
 Safe exit gradients = 0.2 to 0.25 of the critical exit gradient. (1/4 to
1/5th)
 When a factor of safety equal to 4 to 5 is used, the exit gradient can then
be taken as safe.
• Values of safe exit gradient may be taken as:
0.14 to 0.17 for fine sand, 0.17 to 0.20 for coarse sand, 0.20 to 0.25
for shingle
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 Method of Independent Variable of Khosla
• For the determination of seepage below the foundation
of hydraulic structure Khosla developed the method of
independent variable.
• In this method, the actual profile of a weir which is
complex is divided into number simple profiles, each of
which can be solved mathematically without much
difficulty.

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 The most useful profiles considered are:
i. A straight horizontal floor of negligible thickness provided with
a sheet pile at the upstream end or a sheet pile at the
downstream end.

ii. A straight horizontal floor depressed below the bed, but

without any vertical cut-off.

iii. A straight horizontal floor of negligible thickness with a sheet

pile at some intermediate point

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• The mathematical solutions of the flow-nets of the above
profiles have been given in the form of curves.
– From the curves, percentage pressures at various key points E, C,
E1, C1 etc) be determined.
• The important points to note are:
 Junctions of pile with the floor on either side {E, C (d/s), E1, C1 (u/s)
}
 Bottom point of the pile (D), and
 Junction of the bottom corners (D, D’) in case of depressed floor
• The percentage pressures at the key points of a simple form
will become valid for any complex profile, provided the
following corrections are effected:
 Correction for mutual interference of piles
 Correction for the thickness of floor
 Correction for slope of the floor

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Plate no. 1

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Plate no 2

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a. Correction for Mutual Interference of Piles
Let b1 = distance between the two piles 1 and 2, and
D = the depth of the pile line (2), the influence of which on the
neighboring pile (1)of depth d must be determined [INFLUENCER]
b= total length of the impervious floor
d= the depth of the pile on which the effect is considered [INFLUENCED]
c= correction due to interference
The correction is applied as a percentage of the head

This correction is positive when the point is considered to be at the rear of

the interfering pile and negative for points considered in the forward or
flow direction with the interfering pile.

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• For example, correction for pressure at C1 for pile line
(1) by the interference of pile line (2) is positive as pile
line (1) is to the rear of the interfering pile line (2).
• Similarly, correction for pressure at E2 for pile line (2)
due to the interference of pile line (1) is negative,
because E2 is in the forward or flow direction of
interfering pile line (1).

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The interference effect will not be present on the
intermediate pile if:
 the outer pile is equal to or longer than the
intermediate pile (d outer >=d int.) and
 if the distance between the intermediate pile and
outer interfering pile is less than twice the length
of the outer pile (l<=2*d outer)

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 b. Correction for Floor Thickness
• Standard profiles assume the floors with negligible thickness. Hence the
values of the percentage pressures computed from the curves
corresponds to the top levels (E1*, C1*) of the floor. However, the
junction points of the floor and pile are at the bottom of the floor (E1,
C1)
• The pressures at the actual points E1 and C1 are interpolated by
assuming a straight line variation in pressures from the points E1* to D1
and from D1 to C1*
• The corrected pressures at E1 should be less than the computed pressure
at E1*.
Therefore the correction for the pressure at E1 will be negative. And so also
is for pressure at C1.

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 C. Correction for Slope of Floor
• A correction for a sloping impervious floor is positive
for the down slope in the flow direction and negative
for the up slope in the direction of flow.

-ve +ve

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• The correction factor must be multiplied by the horizontal length of
the slope and divided by the distance between the two poles
between which the sloping floor exists.
• In the diagram below, correction for slope can be applied only to
point E2. As the point E2 is terminating at the descending slope in
the direction of flow, the correction will be positive. The value of
correction will be:
Cs= C.F. *bs/b1
Where C.F. =correction factor
bs = horizontal length of sloping floor
b1 = horizontal distance between the pile lines

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 Exit Gradient
• For the standard form consisting of a floor of a
length b, and a vertical cut-off depth d, the exit
gradient at its downstream end is given by:

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• By referring to plate (11.2), for any value of α = b/d, the
corresponding value of ʎ can be read.
• When H and d are given, GE should be easily calculated.
The value of exit gradient GE should be within safe limits as
given below.

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 Use of Khosla’s Pressure Curves
FOR END PILES
• First consider plate no 1, Values of 1/α = d/b are plotted as
abscissa and percentage pressure Φ = P/H x 100 are
plotted as ordinates.
• There are three curves, one for ΦD and one for ΦE for sheet
piles fixed at the ends of the floor and the last one for Φ’D
for depressed floor
• To find the percentage pressure at the points C1 and D1 of
the upstream pile, calculate
α = b/d and then 1/α = d/b
• For this value of 1/α determine the value of ΦD from the
curve
Then, subtract this value of ΦD from 100 to get ΦD1
ΦD1 = 100 – ΦD

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• Similarly, determine the value of ΦE for the value of 1/α.
Subtract this ΦE from 100 to get ΦC1
ΦC1 = 100 – ΦE

Example: Let b = total length of floor = 60.0 m and d = depth of

u/s pile = 6.0
Then 1/α = d/b = 6/60 = 0.1
For this value of 1/α, we read the values of ΦD = 20 and ΦE =26
Then ΦD1 = 100 – 20 = 80
ΦC1= 100 – 26 = 74
These percentages pressures must be corrected for mutual
interference

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 FOR INTERMIDIATE PILES
• Next, let us consider plate 2, This gives pressure curves for ΦC, ΦD for
sheet pile not at end condition.
• The ratios b1/b are plotted as abscissa and ΦC = Pe/H x 100 plotted as
ordinates on the left portion of graph and
ΦD = Pe/H x 100 plotted on the right side of graph for different values of α.

• To find ΦE for any value of α and base ratio b1/b, read ΦC for base ratio
(1 - b1/b) for that value and subtract this value from 100.
• Thus for finding φE for base ratio b1/b = 0.3 and α = 3.0
(1 – b1/b) = 1 – 0.3 = 0.7 for α = 3.0
Φc = 20
ΦE = 100 – Φc = 100 – 20 = 80%
• ΦD can be calculated for values of b1/b less than 0.5.
Similarly finding ΦD for b1/b = 0.13 and α = 2.0
(1 – b1/b) = 0.87
Corresponding to 0.87 and α = 2.0 value of ΦD’ = 40
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ΦD = 100- ΦD’ =100 – 40 = 60%
7/24/2023 96
Reading assignment
3.4.3. Silt control devices
The entry of silt in to a canal, which takes off from a head works, can be
reduced by constructing certain special works called silt control works.
These works may be classified in to the following two types.
Silt Excluder
Silt excluders are those works which are constructed on the bed of the
river, upstream of the head regulator. The clearer water enters the head
regulator and the silted water enters the silt excluder. In this type of
works, the silt is, therefore, removed from the water before it enters the
canal.
Silt Ejectors
Silt ejectors also called silt extractors, are those devices which extract the
silt from the canal water after the silted water has travelled a certain
distance in the off take canal. These works are therefore, constructed on
the bed of the canal, and a little distance downstream from the head
regulator.
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Example
• Determine the uplift pressures at the key points in the
following weir. Check the structure against uplift and
piping failure ( Gs = 2.24 and GE = 1/7 )

RL=103m
1:1

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• Solution: the structure is a composite structure
which can be split into standard simple profiles.

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 RL=103m

1:1

C=0%
E=28.55%
E=100% C=73.5% E=44.63% C=33.11%

D=78.83%
D=22.71%
D=38.03%

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 These pressures for the simple profiles can be super imposed
to find the pressures at the key points for the whole profile.
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 ,

ØE=(ØE-ØD)*t
d

ØC=(ØD-ØC)*t
d

ØE=(ØE-ØD)*t
d
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 d=influenced pile depth
D=pile depth which influences
the neighboring pile
99=100-1m

d=99-94=5
D=99-92=7
97=99-2m
d=97-92=5
D=97-94=3
98=99-1m

d=98-92=6
D=98-92=6

d=97-92=5
D=97-92=5

Starting depth for subtraction: deduction should be done form the bottom
base of the floor reducing the floor thickness of the influenced pile under
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consideration.
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• Uplift pressures
• Point C of u/s pile (1), Pc = 0.7305 * 4m = 2.92 m
• Point E of pile 2:- PE = 0.4463 * 4m = 1.79m
• Point C of pile 2:- Pc = 0.3311 * 4m = 1.32m
• Point E of pile 3 :- PE = 0.2855 *4m = 1.14m

4mthe difference between 103m -99m

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