DESIGN OF STRAIGHT DROP STRUCTURE FOR IFEOBARA GRAVITY UNDERGROUND DRAIN

Drop structures are commonly used for grade control, flow control and energy dissipation
Changing the channel slope from steep to mild, by placing drop structures at intervals along the
channel reach, changes a continuous steep slope into a series of gentle slope and vertical drops.
A stilling basin protects the channel against erosion below the drop and dissipates energy.

Design Data

Straight drop with a rectangular weir used to reduce channel slope

Peak discharge for 50 years return period = 114 m3/s
h 2.5 m
Wo = 18 m
Upstream and downstream channel rectangular
B= 18 m
No side slopes, Z = 1V:3H does not apply
Slope after providing for the drop So = 0.002 m/m
n= 0.017

SOLUTION

Step 1. Estimate the required approach and tailwater channel elevation difference.
h, i.e, the drop height, given as = 2.5 m
The drop results in a slope, So = 0.002 m/m given

2.Calculate normal flow conditions approaching the drop to verify subcritical conditions

Total design discharge, Q = 114 m³/s

b= 18 m
Upstream and downstream channel is RECTANGULAR
Side slope, = 1V:3H, z = NA
Design using Manning's formula combined with the continuity equation
2/3 1/2
V = 1/n*R S ,
and
Q = VA = 1/n*AR2/3S1/2

Where,
Q = discharge, m³/s
V =velocity, m/s
n = Manning's roughness coefficient 0.017
R = hydraulic radius (A/P)
A = area, m²
P = wetted perimeter
S = slope of reach 0.002
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Q = 1/n*AR2/3S1/2
Section factor, AR2/3 = n*Q/S1/2 = 43.3349974

Proportioning by trial and error method

 Upstream and downstream channel is rectangular
2/3 2/3
b y A = (by) P(m) = R = A/P R AR Q
(m) (m) (m) b+2y
18 1.5 27 21 1.28571429 1.182495 31.92737 83.99
18 1.9 34.2 21.8 1.56880734 1.350346 46.18182 121.49

Velocity, V = Q/A; F= v/(gy)^0.5

where, g = acceleration due to gravity = 9.81 m/s2
Q V Fr
(m³/s) m/s
114 3.333 0.77

yo = 4.0m, vo = 1.58 m/s; Fro = 0.25, therefore flow is subcritical, we proceed to next step

3.Calculate the critical depth over the weir (usually rectangular) into the drop structure and the
vertical dimensions of the stilling basin using FHWA Hec No. 14, 3rd Edition, Chapter 11, Equations
11.7 through 11.9

Critical depth, yc, in a rectangular channel or culvert is calculated from the unit discharge, q
q= Q/B = 6.333

2 1/3 2 2 1/3
yc = (q /g) (Equation 11.5) q yc = (q /g)
(m)
40.111 1.599

The required tailwater depth above the floor of the stilling basin, y3 is calculated from Equation 11.7.

y3 = 2.15*yc = 3.438 m

The distance from the crest down to the tailwater, h 2, is calculated using Equation 11.8. (The negative
indicates the tailwater elevation is below the crest)

h2 = -(h-yo) h yo h2=(h-yo)
(m) (m) (m)
2.5 1.9 -0.6

To achieve sufficient tailwater and to maintain adequate drop from the crest to the tailwater. It is
sometimes necessary to depress the floor below the elevation of the tailwater channel.
The total drop, ho, from the crest to the stilling basin floor is obtained using Equation 11.9:
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h o = h 2 - y3 h2 y3 ho (m)

-0.600 3.438 -4.038

Since the nominal drop, h is 1.5 m, the basin floor must be depressed by 1.538 m
Absolute value ho-h = 1.538 m
4. Estimate the basin length. Start by using Equations 11.12. 11.13 and 11.14
Equation 11.10 gives the total length of the basin as
LB = L1 + L2 + L3

Where, L1, L2, L3 are as shown on the definition sketch, Figure 1

L1 = (Lf + Ls)/2

(3.195-4.368ho/y

(…)^0.5 -0.406
4.368ho /yc

(6) x yc
ho yc ho/yc
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
-4.038 1.599 -2.52522004 -11.03 3.77 3.37 5.38

Hence, Lf = 5.38 m

Ls = (0.691 +0.228(Lt/yc)^2 -(ho/yc))yc/(0.185 + 0.456 (Lt/yc)) 11.13

where,
Lt = (-0.406 + √(3.195 - 4.368* h2/yc))yc 11.14

(…)^0.5 -0.406
(3.195-4.368h
4.368h2/yc

(6)xy c
h2 yc h2/yc
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
-0.600 1.599 -0.37522004 -1.64 2.20 1.79 2.87

Lt = 2.87 m
Ls = (0.691 +0.228(Lt/yc)^2 -(ho/yc))yc/(0.185 + 0.456 (Lt/yc)) Eqn. 11.13

http://iodiyokestraining.diyokes.com 0.185+0.456(Lt/y
(0.691+ 0.228(L
0.228(Lt/yc)^2

(6)xy c
ho/yc

Lt yc Lt/yc
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
2.87 1.599 1.79 0.73 -2.525 3.95 6.31 1.002438

Ls = 6/7 6.30 m

But L1 = (Lf + Ls)/2 Lf Ls L1

(m) (m) (m)
5.38 6.30 5.84
L1 = 5.84 m
L2 and L3 are determined by Equations 11.15 and 11.16 as follows

L2 = 0.8yc L1 L2 = 0.8yc L3 = 1.75yc LB

L3= 1.75yc (m) (m) (m) (m)
5.84 1.28 2.80 9.92

Total basin length, LB = 9.92 m

Step 5: Design the basin floor blocks and end sill

Block height = 0.8yc = 1.28 m 0.8yc 0.4yc 0.4yc

(m) (m) (m)
Block width = block spacing = 0.4yc = 0.64 m 1.28 0.64 0.64

End sill height = 0.4yc = 0.64 m

6. Design the basin entrance and exit transitions

Sidewall height above tailwater elevation = 0.85yc 0.85yc 3yc

(m) (m)
Amour approach channel above headwall to length = 3yc 1.36 4.80

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