PWD, WRO

Irrigation Design Handbook

1. DESIGN OF CHECK DAM

Before taking up the design calculations the following particulars may be made
available:

a) Cross section of the river, covering ridge to ridge at every 100m intervals for
a distance of 300m U/S and 500m D/S marking therein the maximum
observed flood level.

b) LS of river for a distance of 1km U/S and 1km D/S from the axis of the
proposed Check Dam.

c) Spot level at the proposed locations of Check Dam at 5m intervals for a

distance of 15m U/S and 30m D/S from the axis of Check Dam in the form of
a grid.

d) Capacity calculations at FTL / FRL.

e) Trial pit particulars.

f) Theoretical bed fall of river and theoretical bed level at the proposed site.

g) Component register (or) River diagram.

h) Scheme report

i) Spot level along the left and right bank of river for a distance of 1km U/S and
1km D/S to decide the height of flood banks.

LOCATION OF CHECK DAM

a) The location of Check Dam should not interfere with the hydraulic function of
the other Check Dam proposed either in the U/S or D/S

b) The Check Dam should not be proposed either on shoal formation (or) on
made up soil.

c) The Check Dam should be founded on natural ground (i.e) theoretical bed
level.

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d) The alignment of Check Dam should be normal to the flow direction (i.e) the
flow should be normal to the axis of Check Dam.

e) Before taking up the design calculation, all the proposed Check Dams should
be marked in the LS plan and the details regarding existing bed level,
theoretical bed level, maximum water level, proposed elevation of flood bank.

STEP BY STEP PROCEDRUE FOR DESIGN

(refer Circular No.2)

1) Maximum flood discharge

The maximum flood discharge may be finalised by considering the following

aspects.

a) By area slope method.

b) Using Ryve’s formula.

c) Based on old records, River diagram, Final reports from IHH, Poondi, based
on existing structure (i.e) bridges, culverts and anicuts etc located in the U/S
and D/S of the proposed Check Dams.

2) Water Way.

a) The width of water way would be finalised based on “Lacey’s equation”

P = 4.83 Q
Where P = Stable width of river in meter
Q = Maximum flood discharge in m3 / sec

b) For effective hydraulic function and economic design, the linear water way
may be reduced upto 25 %. At the same time the width of overflow section
(Check Dam) may also be increased about 50% of the Lacey’s stable width
P. Therefore, the width Check Dam may be proposed in between 0.75P to
1.5 P for effective functioning, considering the existing site condition.
3) Scour depth and looseness factor.

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Irrigation Design Handbook
a) Looseness factor

The ratio of the existing waterway of river (or) odai to the Lacey’s regime
width is known as “looseness factor”.

b) Scour depth

The normal scour depth should be estimated by using the following formula.

 If the looseness factor is greater than one, then the normal scour depth

R = 0.475 [Q/f ]1/3

Where Q = Maximum flood discharge

 If the looseness factor is less than one, then the normal scour depth is
R = 1.35 [q2/f]1/3

Where q = the unit discharge / m run

f = silt factor

4) Check Dam:

Discharge capacity and profile:

a) The profile for the Check Dam shall be proposed considering the following
aspects.

 Head over crest

 Height of anicut

b) If the head over crest is maximum (say 3m and above) and the height of Check
Dam is between 1 to 2 m, narrow crested weir shall be proposed.

c) If the head over crest is small (say 0.6m to 1m) and height of anicut is more
than 2.5m, WES profile shall be adopted.

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Irrigation Design Handbook
d) However, according to the hydraulic conditions, under stability requirements
any one of the profile mentioned below shall be suitably adopted.

 Narrow crested weir

 Broad crested weir
 Sharp crested weir
 WES profile

The field engineers shall apply their rich experience and knowledge to select
suitable profile for the Check Dam.

e) Discharge through narrow crested weir

If the tail water, during floods is more than the crest level of Check Dam (usually
occur in Check Dams of small height), Drowned weir equation as explained below
shall be adopted.

Q1 h

h1 Q2 h1

Q1 = 2/3 Cd1 2g B [ (h+hv) 3/2 - hv3/2] (Free weir equation)

Q2 = Cd2 B h1 2g(h+hv) (Drowned weir equation)

Total discharge Q = Q1 + Q2

Where Cd1 = 0.577

Cd2 = 0.8
h = The difference of the U/S and D/S water level

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hv = Head due to velocity of approach
B = Clear width of water way
h1 = Depth of D/S water level above the crest

a) Scour vent

The dimensions of scour vent shall be proposed to discharge 10 to 20 % of

maximum flood discharge. The discharge and location of scour vent shall be
decided by the Executive Engineer in charge of the work.

b) Total discharge

Discharge over Check Dam + discharge through scour vent = designed

discharge

Condition 1- Force Diagram

W’ - Submerged Wt. Of
Check Dam

W1

P1 W’ P2
h

Condition 2- Force Diagram

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Irrigation Design Handbook
W = Weight of Check Dam.

Crest Level

P1
h=
Height of anicut

5) Structural Design

Stability of anicut

The stability of Check Dam shall be checked for the following conditions.

a) Condition 1

During maximum flood (i.e) maximum water level at front and the corresponding
water level in river of Check Dam.

In this condition the Check Dam will be fully submerged and the submerged
weight of the Check Dam may be considered for analysis

b) Condition 2

When the water level is at crest level

6) Energy Dissipation Arrangement:

The length, thickness of apron and dimension of Stilling Basin shall be finalised
based on sub surface and surface flow conditions using Khosla’s theory.
(Ref : Standard text books)

7) Cut Off Walls:

a) Upstream cut off

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Irrigation Design Handbook

The U/S cut off shall be taken 1.25 times normal scour depth (Front MWL -
1.25 R ) The minimum depth of U/S cut off will be 1.5 m to 2 m from the
deepest bed level of river course.

b) Down stream cut off

The D/S cut off shall be taken 1.5.times normal scour depth (i.e Rear MFL -
1.5.R ) The minimum depth of cut off wall shall be 2 to 2.5 m below the
deepest bed level.

However for exit gradient consideration, the D/S cut off shall be taken upto 4.5m
depending upon the site conditions.

If the purpose of Check Dam is to impound sub surface water the U/S and D/S
cut off ( either one or both ) shall be taken upto impervious strata.

8) Protection Works

Down Stream of Check Dam:

Inverted Filter:

Plain concrete blocks of size 1.5 x 1.5 x 0.90m shall be provided for a length of
1.5 to 2 times of D, Where D is the Scour depth below the river bed.
Launching Apron

After the inverted filter the loose apron called as launching apron shall be
provided for a length of 1.5 D, Where D is the Scour depth below the river bed.

The volume of stone/m width will be 2.25 t m 3 / metre run

Where ‘t’ is the thickness of launching apron.

Similarly plain concrete blocks and launching apron shall be provided in the
upstream also.
9) Substructures:

a) Abutment

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Irrigation Design Handbook
b) U/S wings and returns
c) D/S wings and returns

The top of abutment shall be fixed based on the following aspects.

(i) Front MFL + Free board

(ii) Height of shutter + 0.3m (clearance) + thickness of operating platform.

The maximum value of (i) and (ii) will be considered as the height of abutment
from the sill level of scour vent.

The top of D/S wing wall shall be fixed at Rear water level + Free board

The typical calculation for abutment for 5 metre height is enclosed for reference.

The typical calculations for D/S wing wall for a height of 4 metre m is enclosed
for reference.

The typical calculations has been prepared manually. Hence the field Engineers
can design walls of any height based on the same calculations furnished
herewith.

For economical section of abutment and wing walls minimum stress will be
permitted at the order of (-) 0.5 tones / m 2to (-) 1 tones / m 2( tension ) within
the masonry.

Under any circumstance tension should not be allowed at foundation level (i.e)
contact surface with the soil.

Note

1. All round cut off wall shall be provided in the form of box
2. Weep holes in the abutment wing walls shall be provided above the
maximum water level.

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3. The back fill material shall be of sand or gravel.

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