Diversion Head Works

Any hydraulic structure which supplies water to the off taking canal is called a
headwork. Head works may be divided into two classes.
Storage headwork-comprises the construction of a dam
JIMMA UNIVERSITY Diversion headwork- serves to divert the required supply into the canal from the
JIT, WREE river.

A diversion headwork serves the following purposes.
 Raises the water level in the river so that the command area can increases
Hydraulic Structures II  Regulates the intake of water into the canal

Chapter Five  Controls the silt entry into the canal

Diversion Head Works  Reduces fluctuations in the level of supply

A diversion headwork is usually undertaken using weirs or barrages.
A weir is a solid obstruction put across the river to raise its water level and
divert the water into the canal.
2

Weir and Barrage: pond

Crest Level = pond level level Shutter
P2=0 P2 Crest Level

P=P1 P1
P Small weir
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 Small barrage
a) Without crest b) With crest

Barrage

Key: P = total ponding ; P1= Ponding by crest; P2= Ponding by shutter

3 4
 5.1 Seepage theories 5.1.1 Bligh’s Creep Theory

• The theory assumes that the water u/s of the weir creeps to its d/s along the
 Determination of the water uplift pressure and its distribution under hydraulic
contact base of the structure with the soil.
structures is a significant part of their engineering design.
•The residual uplift pressure at any point along the base is proportional to the
 Failures of weirs on permeable foundations can occur as a result of sub-surface
distance of the point from the u/s of the foundation.
flow actions.
 A weir can fail when the uplift pressure creates an overturning moment in

excess of the superstructure’s balancing moment.

 To avoid this happening, the uplift pressure must be estimated correctly and
the structure dimensioned properly.
 There are different approaches (theories) for assessing the uplift pressure in
pervious foundations.

Fig: Treatment of Vertical Faces in the Bligh’s Method

5 6

Calculate the uplift pressure at the point X. • To avoid undermining of the foundation by the piping action at the toe of the
Total length of creep= Leq=2a+t1+L1+2b+d+L2+2c+t2 foundation, the calculated exit gradient ie must be less than the recommended
Length of creep up to point X=t1+2a+L1+2b+d safe hydraulic gradient is.
From the pressure diagram, the uplift pressure according to Bligh at point X is
Limitations of Bligh’s Theory
Hx/(Leq-Lx) =H/Leq o Bligh made no distinction between horizontal and vertical creep
Exit gradient ie=H/Leq<is o No distinction is made between the effectiveness of the outer and inner
H/Leq =percolation coefficient faces of sheet piles
Where H=actual head water o No indication on the significance of exit gradient.
Leq = equivalent creep length according to Bligh Theory o The assumption of a linear relationship between loss of head and creep
hx = Uplift pressure along the base length is not true and actual uplift pressure distribution is not linear.
is = safe exit gradient which is dependent on the material of river bed

7 8
 5.1.2 Lane’s Weighted Creep theory

In Lane’s method, the equivalent creep length is calculated as follows. a) Safety against piping
Leq=N/3 +V • the creep length should be sufficient to provide a safe hydraulic gradient
N= sum of all the horizontal contacts and all the sloping contacts less than 45o according to the type of soil.
V= sum of all the vertical contacts and all sloping contacts greater than 45o • bligh recommended certain values of C for different soils
Example: For the fig above, • according to Bligh if the hydraulic gradient, H/L < 1/c, there is no danger of
Total horizontal distances N=L1+L2 piping.
Total vertical distances V= t1+2a+2b+2c+t2
Leq = (L1+L2)/3 +(t1+2a+2b+2c+t2)
Horizontal distance from left to X =L1+d
Vertical distance from left to X =t1+2e+2b
Lx =(L1+d)/3 +(t1+2a+2b)
Hx =H(Leq-Lx)/Leq
9 10

b) Safety against uplift pressure

Exercise: A hydraulic structure shown below built on fine sand
Upward pressure force by the percolating (C=15, C1=8.5). Determine:
water must be counterbalanced by weight of  Whether the percolation gradient is safe
 Uplift pressure at point A, B and C at distance of 15, 25 and 35m from the
the floor. i.e wh’=Gwt upstream end
w(h+t)= Gwt ⇒ t=(h/G-1)  Thickness of the floor at these points.
Use Bligh's and Lane’s theory
Generally a factor of safety of 4/3 is
adopted
t=4/3 (h/G-1)
Where, w is sp. weight of water; G is
specific gravity of the material (floor)

11 12
 5.1.3 Khosla’s Theory cont…

Applying the theory of complex variables(of potential theory) involved with • In reality, the weir foundations are composite in construction consisting of floor
the seepage flow under a flat floor, a Laplace differential equation can be slabs (horizontal or sloping), piles or cut off structures and a direct solution of
formulated, which on integration with appropriate boundary conditions the Laplace equation is not feasible.
suggests that the pressure head (P) at any point beneath the floor is a • Khosla et al (1954) introduced a method of independent variables splitting the
fraction,Φ, of the total head ,H. composite weir/barrage section into a number of simple forms of known
Thus a solution to Laplace equation (Khosla 1954, Leliavsky, 1965) can be written analytical solutions and by applying some corrections in transferring the results
as Φ =P/Hs= (1/π
π) cos-1(2x/b) for the under side of the floor. to the composite section.
Where b is the total length and x is the distance from the center of the floor to
the point where the uplift pressure head is P.

13 14

The simple standard forms of a composite section are: b. A straight horizontal floor of finite thickness(depressed floor) with no cut off
a) a straight horizontal floor of negligible thickness with a sheet pile at either
end piles

Floor with thickness d

(a) Pile at the U/S end (b) Pile at D/S end

ΦD’=ΦD-2/3(ΦE-ΦD)+3/α2
Or calculate ΦD’ from Graph
ΦD1’=100-ΦD’
ΦE =(1/π) cos-1((λ-2)/λ)
ΦD =(1/π) cos-1((λ-1)/λ) λ=(1+√(1+α2))/2
ΦC1 =100-ΦE α = b/d
ΦD1 =100-ΦD
15 16
c. A straight horizontal floor of negligible thickness with an intermediate sheet
Khosla et al produced pressure charts from which the pressures at key points
pile
(junction points of the floor and the pile and the corners of the depressed
floor) of the elementary forms explained above can be read off.

These are then corrected for the mutual interference of piles, the floor
thickness and the slope of the floor if any.

The pressures at intermediate points may be assumed to vary linearly.

Intermediate pile of depth d

17 18

Fig: Khosla’s curve 2

Fig Khosla’s Curve 1
19 20
 cont…

The percentage pressures at these key points for the simple forms is
valid for the complex profile itself, if corrected for:
a) correction for mutual interference of piles;
b) correction for thickness of the floor;
c) correction for the slope of the floor.

Khoslas Curve 3
21 22

i. Correction for the thickness of the floor Case (a) : Pile at U/s end
The pressures at key points at key points for the specific cases of i to iii above
Correction for C1 = ((ΦD-ΦC)xt1)/d1 (additive)
were determined assuming thickness of floor to be negligibly small.
Hence, Pressure at C1 = ΦC1+((ΦD-ΦC)xt1)/d1
Thus the pressure at these key points has to be corrected.
Case (b) : Intermediate pile
Correction for E1= ((ΦE-ΦD)xt)/d (subtractive)
Correction for C1= ((ΦD-ΦC)xt)/d (Additive)
Case (c): Pile at D/S end
Correction for E1=((ΦE-ΦD)xt2)/d2 (subtractive)

Fig: Correction for the floor thickness

23 24
 cont..

ii) Correction for the mutual interference of piles

The correction (C) is given by
√(D/b’) ((d+D)/b)
C=19√
Where C= percentage of correction to be applied to the pressure head
b’= distance b/n the piles
d= depth of the pile on which the effect of another piles of depth D is required to
be determined
D = Depth of pile whose effect is required to be determined on the neighboring Figure 5-8: Correction for interference of piles

pile of depth d
 Correction is positive for points in the rear or back and subtractive for
points forward in the direction of flow.

25 26

cont.. cont..

iii) Correction for slope Table 5.1 Slope correction

• Correction is plus for the down slopes and minus for the u/s slopes following Slope (V: H) Correction (% of pressure)
the direction of flow. 1:1 ---------------------------------------- 11.2
• These corrections are further to be multiplied by the proportion of the 1:2 ------------------------------------------ 6.5
horizontal length of the slope to the distance between the two piles lines in 1:3 ----------------------------------------- 4.5
which the sloping floor is located. 1:4 ----------------------------------------- 3.3
•The slope correction is applied only to those key points of pile line which is fixed 1:5 ---------------------------------------- 2.8
at the beginning or the end of slope. 1:6 ---------------------------------------- 2.5
• If bs is the horizontal length of the sloping floor and b′ is the distance between 1:7 ----------------------------------------- 2.3
the two pile lines between which the sloping floor is located, then the amount of 1:8 ---------------------------------------- 2.0
slope correction is equal to Cs(bs/b′).
• The value of Cs depends on the slope of the sloping floor and is as given in table
below. 27 28
 5.2 Diversion Headwork Components

Exit Gradient (Ge) A diversion head work consists of the following component parts.
For the case of pile at the d/s end, the exit gradient is given by (a) Weir/barrage
π√λ)
π√λ
Ge= (H/(dπ√λ (b) Divide wall
Where λ =(1+√(1+α2))/2 (c) Scouring Sluices
α =b/d (d) Canal Head regulator
Ge Values (e)) River training works (Wing walls and Guide banks)
Fine sand --------------------1/6 -1/7 (f) Gates
Coarse sand -----------------1/5 -1/6 (g) Fish Ladder
Shingle ---------------- 1/4 – 1/5

29 30

(a) The Weir

The procedure of design of a barrage is similar to that of a weir. Weirs are of the
following three types:
(i) Masonry weirs with vertical downstream face,
(ii) Rockfill weirs with sloping apron, and
(iii) Concrete weirs with glacis.

Fig 5.11 Component Parts of a Diversion Headwork

31 32
Masonry Weirs with Vertical Downstream Face:
Rockfill Weirs with Sloping Aprons
•A masonry weir which consists of a horizontal masonry floor and a masonry
• Figure below shows the longitudinal section of a typical rockfill weir whose
crest with vertical (or nearly vertical) downstream face.
main body consists of dry boulders packed in the form of glacis with few
• Shutters provided at the top of the crest raise the water level further.
intervening walls.
• During floods, these shutters are dropped down to pass the floods effectively
• This type of weir is the simplest one, but requires a large quantity of stones for
and reduce the afflux upstream.
construction as well as maintenance.
• As such, this type of weir is suitable in areas where a large quantity of stones is
available in the vicinity of the site and where labour is cheap.

33 34

Based on the site conditions, general and economic considerations, and other
Concrete Weirs with Glacis
data, the designer decides (i) the afflux, (ii) the pond level, (iii) the minimum
• Figure below shows the longitudinal section of modern weir and barrage .
waterway (or the maximum discharge per metre length of weir), and (v) the weir
• Design of such weirs is mainly based on the method proposed by Khosla et al.
crest level.
discussed above.
• On pervious foundations, only concrete weirs are constructed these days.
Their detailed design requires the knowledge of:
(i) the maximum flood discharge and corresponding level of the river at and
near the selected site for weir,
(ii) the stage-discharge curve of the river at the weir site, and
(iii) the cross- section of the river at the weir site.

35 36
(b) Divide wall (c) Scouring Sluices – maintains a deep channel in front of the head regulator and
 The dividing wall is built at right angles to the axis of the weir, separating the
dispose of heavy silt and a part of flood discharge on the d/s side of the weir.
under sluices and the weir.
Functions:
 It usually extends beyond the beginning of the regulator and d/s to the
 Preserve a clear and defined river channel approaching the regulator
launching apron.
 Control silt entry in to the canal
Functions:
 Scour the silt deposited in the river bed above the approach channel;
 Essential to separate the floor levels of the under sluices and the main weir
 Pass low floods without dropping the shutter of the main weir
 Concentrates scouring action of the under sluices for washing out the silt by
 Provide greater waterway for floods, thus lowering flood levels
ensuring a straight channel
Provides comparatively “still pocket” in front of canal head regulator,
facilitating entry of clear water into the canal
 Can serve as a side wall of the fish ladder

37 38

5.3 Design of a modern weirs and barrages founded on permeable foundations

(d) Canal Head Regulator Design of weir

This is a structure constructed at the head of a canal taking off from a reservoir  Hydraulic design
behind a weir or a dam.  Structural design
(e) River Training Works (wing walls and guide banks) A. Hydraulic design •Maximum flood discharge
Wing walls – wing walls flanking the barrage/weir and supporting the abutting • H.F.L before construction of weir
Involves determining the section of the weir
earth bunds are designed as retaining walls. • D/s Bed level
 for surface flow actions
• F.S.L of canal taking off from the weir
Cut-off walls (taken below the scour levels) below the wings and abutment walls
 for subsurface flow actions • Allowable afflux
at both sides, in addition to the u/s and d/s cut-offs across the river, form an
Surface flow analysis • Lacey’s silt factor f
enclosed compartment providing weir foundation conditions.
 determination of flow conditions u/s and d/s of the weir at different flow
(f) Silt Excluder
rates and to size the different parts of the structure accordingly finding
A device by which silt is excluded from water entering the canal.
water profiles around the weir location

39 40
  Points to be consider in deciding crest elevation
 The weir crest is provided flat at the computed level with a width of about 2 m.
 If the weir is to behave as a broad-crested weir, the width should be more than
2.5 times the head over the weir.
 The upstream slope of the weir is fixed between 2(H):1(V) to 3(H):1(V).
a. height of crest affects Cd, Water above weir and back water curve  The slope of the downstream glacis should be around 3(H):1(V)
Q=CLHe3/2 where, He =Hd+V2/2g  The level of the downstream horizontal floor is fixed in such a manner that the
When piers are placed on the crest the above equation should be revised hydraulic jump starts at the end of the glacis and from allowable afflux depth.
b. shape and location of jump

41 42

 water head required to deliver the main canals . (a) Weir/Barrage width
 The barrage width must be sufficient to pass the design flood safely.
 if the entire flow of river at low flows is diverted, the crest elevation must be
The present trend is to design the barrage for a 100–150 year frequency flood
set at level so that the ponded water gives the required head to supply the
The minimum stable width of an alluvial channel is given by the regime
canal with design flow .
equation
 if the minimum flow in the river exceeds the discharge of the off take canal, the
B=4.75Q1/2
crest level of the weir can be set lower than the river water level, to allow for
(b) Regime scour depths
d/s water rights
 The river bed is scoured during flood flows and large scour holes (not to be
 maximum u/s water surface elevation must also be considered in selecting the
confused with local scour) may develop progressively adjacent to the concrete
crest elevation (considers bridges, buildings, roads) the minimum free board
aprons which may cause undermining of the weir structure.
must not be less than 0.5m

43 44
R= 1.35(q2/f)1/3 ,R is scour depth (c). Design of Impervious Aprons
q is discharge density, f is lacey’s silt factor. • Calculate the pressure heads using the appropriate seepage theory discussed in
f=1.75√d, d is mean diameter of bed material(mm) section 5.1.
Total scour below HFL is taken as XR • The worst condition will be when the water at the u/s is up to the crest of weir
Value of x is usually 1.5 for design of d/s protection work and 1.25 for the design or shutters and there is no tail water, thus percolation head of Hs
of u/s protection work • For the initial settings of the design for the impervious floor, following
recommendations by Bligh can be used.
• The length of the upstream horizontal floor, provided at the river bed level, is
decided in such a manner that the resulting exit gradient, GE is less than the safe
exit gradient for the soil under consideration.

45 46

• The length of the downstream horizontal floor should be such that the entire (d) Concrete aprons and inverted filter
jump is confined only to the floor. This will ensure that the filter and the stone  The aprons are of plain concrete blocks of about 1m*1.5m*0.75m deep, cast in
protection provided on the downstream of the floor are not affected adversely situ.
by the jump.  The downstream apron is laid with 70–100mm open joints filled with spawls
•Thus, knowing the value of the safe exit gradient GE, the head H, and the depth (broken stones), so that the uplift pressure is relieved.
of the downstream cutoff d, one can determine the total floor length required,  An inverted filter of well-graded gravel and sand is placed under the concrete
using apron (Fig. below) in order to prevent the loss of soil through the joints.
 The upstream apron is laid watertight so that the uplift pressure and downward
The thickness of the impervious floor is decided from considerations of the uplift flow is reduced (due to the increase in creep length).
pressures which can be determined using the method proposed by Khosla.  Aprons of boulder or stone are laid downstream and upstream of the concrete
 For the thickness of down stream floor the maximum uplift would occur when aprons (fig. below).
the water is at the pond level on the upstream without any tail-water (or flow) on
the downstream side.
47 48
 B. Structural analysis
Acting forces on weir
1. static water pressure of the surface water
 U/s water pressure
 D/s water pressure
2. uplift water pressure
3. weight of the weir
4. weight of the water wedges
5. soil reaction at this weir base
Fig. Inverted filter and flexible (launching) apron 6. friction forces at the base which develop to balance the horizontal forces

49 50

i.e. eccentricity, e<B/6 or e=/(B/2)-X/ < B/6

Safety against overturning:
Where, X = ∑M/ ∑Vf
•The summation of all moments about a point must be equal to zero. ∑M = summation of all moments about the structure toe
∑Vf = summation of all vertical forces excluding the base reaction
i.e. the moments which tends to topple must be equal to the moments which X = distance of the resultant of the forces from the toe
B = width of the weir base
balances it.
But unpredictable situation likely to occur and cause the toppling moment to Safety against sliding:
The structure may slide in the flow direction if there is not enough
exceed the balancing one and hence the structure fails. friction between the base and the foundation. To prevent this, the following
condition should be fulfilled.
Thus, usually a safety factor of about 1.5 to 2 is applied.
[∑Mbalance/ (∑Mtopple)] > 1.5 to 2 [(Horizontal external forces)/(vertical external forces)]< f

Where, f is the friction factor between the base and the foundation
f is a function of the materials used in the construction and nature of
Safety against tension:
the foundation. The USBR suggests 0.35 for concrete structures on
•In order to avoid lifting up the structure’s heel and tension occurrence at the common f= 0.65 for the friction between masonry & concrete
(Varshney’s recommendation)
base, the forces acting on the structure must pass through the middle third of the
structures base. 51 52