Laceys Regime

Gerald
Lacey -- 1930
Theory
Lacey followed Lindleys hypothesis:
dimensions and slope of a channel to carry a given discharge
and silt load in easily erodable soil are uniquily determined by
nature.
According to Lacey:
Silt is kept in suspension by the vertical component of eddies
generated at all points of forces normal to the wetted perimeter.
Regime Channel
A channel is said to in regime, if there is neither silting nor
scouring.
According to Lacey there may be three regime conditions:
(i) True regime;
(ii) Initial regime; and
(iii) Final regime.

(1)True

regime

A channel shall be in 'true regime' if the following conditions are

satisfied:
(i) Discharge is constant;
(ii) Flow is uniform;
(iii) Silt charge is constant; i.e. the amount of silt is constant;
(iv) Silt grade is constant; i.e., the type and size of silt is always
the same; and
(v) Channel is flowing through a material which can be scoured
as easily as it can be deposited (such soil is known as incoherent
alluvium), and is of the same grade as is transported.
But in practice, all these conditions can never be satisfied. And,
therefore, artificial channels can never be in 'true regime; they
can either be in initial regime or final regime.

(ii) Initial regime

bed slope of a channel varies
cross-section or wetted perimeter remains unaffected

(iii) Final regime

all the variables such as perimeter, depth, slope, etc. are
equally free to vary and achieve permanent stability, called
Final Regime.
In such a channel,
The coarser the silt, the flatter is the semi-ellipse.
The finer the silt, the more nearly the section attains a semicircle.

Laceys Equations:
Fundamental Equations:
2
5V2
V
fR or f
5
2 R

Af 2 140V 5
2

V 10.8 R S
3

Qf 2
V

140

S
V

4980R

The equations for determination of Velocity, Slope,

etc are function of the silt factor, whereas silt factor
is function of sediment size.

2
1

D 50 is average grain/particle size in mm

Derived Equations:

P 4.75 Q

where f 1.76 D50 ,

For upper Indus basin,

f = 0.8 to 1.3

For Sindh plain,

f = 0.7 to 0.8

3340Q

1 3 4 12
R S
(Laceys
Non-regime flow equation)
Na

13

Q
Lacey's Normal Regime Scour Depth 0.473
f
The above scour depth will be applicable if river width follows the

relationship P 4.75 Q
For other values of active river width,
q
Lacey's Normal Scour Depth 1.35
f

13

where

q = discharge intensity, and

L = actual river width at the given site

Q
L

Laceys Channel Design

Procedure

Problem:
Design an irrigation channel in alluvial soil from following
data using Laceys theory:
Discharge = 15.0 cumec;
Laceys silt factor = 1.0;
Side
slope = : 1
Solution:
Qf 2 16 15 1 16
V (

140

140

0.689 m / sec

Q
15

21.77 m 2
V 0.689

P 4.75 Q 4.75 15 18.4 m

P P 2 6.944 A 18.4 (18.4) 2 6.944(21.77)
D

1.36 m
3.742
3.742

B P 5 D 18.4 5 (1.36) 15.36 m

5 V 2 5 (0.689) 2
R

1.185 m
2 f
2
1

3340Q

(1) 5 3
3340 (15)

5245

Problem:
The slope of an irrigation channel is 0.2 per thousand. Laceys
silt factor = 1.0, channel side slope = : 1. Find the full
supply discharge and dimensions of the channel.
Data:
S = 0.2/1000 = (0.2 x 5) / (1000 x 5) = 1/5000
Solution:
S

3340Q

Q
3340
S

1
11.25cumec

1
3340

5000

4980 R

f 2 2
1
1.008m
R(
)
4980 1

4980 S
5000

P 4.75 Q 4.75 11.25 15.93m

A PR 15.93 1.008 16.06m 2
P P 2 6.944 A 15.93 (15.93) 2 6.944(16.06)
D

1.153 m
3.742
3.742

B P 5 D 15.93 5 (1.153) 13.35 m

Problem:

Design an earthen channel of 10 cumec capacity. The value of

Laceys silt factor in the neighboring canal system is 0.9.
General grade of the country is 1 in 8000.
Data:

Q = 10 cumec;
Sreq= ?.
1
Solution:
2

2
10 0.9

140

Qf
V

140

f = 0.9;
1

Sn=1/8000;

B = ?; D = ?;

0.622 m/sec

Q
10

16.08 m 2
V 0.622

P 4.75 Q 4.75 10 15.02 m

P P 2 6.944 A 15.02 (15.02) 2 6.944(16.08)
D

1.25 m
3.742
3.742

B P 5 D 15.02 5 (1.25) 12.22 m

S req

3340Q

0.9 3

1
334010 6
5

3
1

5844

Which is steeper than the natural grade of the country (i.e. 1 in 8000),
therefore not feasible.

Now putting S = 1/8000 in the relationship

S

3340Q

f 3340 SQ 6

3340 1

8000

10

0.7454

Hence silt factor will be reduced to 0.7454 by not allowing coarser

silt to enter the canal system by providing silt ejectors and silt
excluders.
2

f 1.76 D50 D50 f

1.76

0.179 mm

i.e. silt having mean diameter > 0.179 mm will not be allowed to
enter the canal system.

Lacey's Shock
Theory
Lacey
considered absolute rugosity coefficient N a as;
Constant and
Independent of channel dimensions.
In practice Na varies because;
V-S and y-f relationships are logarithmic,
Due to irregularities or mounds in the sides and bed of the
channel (ripples), pressure on front is more than the
pressure on
the
rear.
The resistance to flow due to this difference of pressure on the
two sides of the mound is called form resistance.
Lacey termed this loss as shock loss, which is different from
frictional resistance or tangential drag.
Shock loss = f (size, shape and spacing of bed forms)
Total resistance = frictional resistance + shock loss
(due to bed)
(due to irregularities)

Lacey suggested:
Na should remain constant
Slope should be splited
to overcome friction and
to meet shock loss
3
i.e. V 1 R 4 S s 12
Na

where, s = slope required to withstand shock losses.

According to Lacey
Na = 0.025 with shock loss
Na = 0.0225 without shock loss
1
1
R3 4 S1 2
R 3 4 S s 1 2
0.025
0.0225

Therefore,

s = 0.19 S

i.e. for a channel in good condition

19 % slope for shock loss
and 81 % slope for friction

Drawbacks in Laceys theory:

The

concept of true regime is only theoretical and

cannot be achieved practically.

The

various equations are derived by considering

the silt factor of which is not at all constant.

The
The

concentration of silt is not taken into account.

silt grade and silt charge are not clearly

defined.
The

equations are empirical and based on the

available data from a particular type of channel.

The

characteristics of regime of channel may not

be same for all cases.

Kennedy theory

Laceys theory

1.It states that the silt carried by the

flowing water is kept in suspension by
the vertical component of eddies
which are generated from the bed of
the channel.

1.It states that the silt carried by the

flowing water is kept in suspension by
the vertical component of eddies
which are generated from the entire
wetted perimeter of the channel.

2. Relation between V & D.

2. Relation between V & R.

3. Critical velocity ratio m is

introduced to make the equation
applicable to diff. channels with diff.
silt grades.

3. Silt factor f is introduced to make

the equation applicable to diff.
channels with diff. silt grades.

4. Kutters equation is used for finding 4. This theory gives an equation for
the mean velocity.
finding the mean velocity.
5. This theory gives no equation for
bed slope.

5. This theory gives an equation for

bed slope.

6.In this theory, the design is based

on trial and error method.

6. This theory does not involve trial

and error method.