IS 15527:2004

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Indian Standard
MEASUREMENT OF LIQUID FLOW IN OPEN
CHANNELS — MEASUREMENT IN MEANDERING

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LICENSED TO LANCO INFRATECH LIMITED, UDUOG VIHAR, GURGAON,
RIVERS AND IN STREAMS WITH ,:--w
,“
UNSTABLE BOUNDARIES

ICS 01.040.17; 17.120.20

0 BIS 2004

BUREAU OF INDIAN STANDARDS

MANAK BHAVAN, 9 BAHADUR SHAH ZAFAR MARG
NEW DELHI 110002

December 2004 Price Group 3

Hydrometry Sectional Committee, WRD 01

FOREWORD
This Indian Standard was adopted by the Bureau of Indian Standards, after the draft finalized by the Hydrometry
Sectional Committee had been approved by the Water Resources Division Council.
Various methods of measurement of discharge in open channels are available, of which the velocity-area method
is most extensively used. The principles of this method are published in IS 1192: 1981 ‘Velocity area methods
for measurement of flow of water in open channels’. This Indian Standard deals specifically with measurements
of flow in meandering rivers and in streams with unstable boundaries and elaborates some of the provisions in

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IS 1192.
[n the formulation of this standard, considerable assistance has been derived form ISO/TR 9210: 1992
‘Measurement of liquid flow in open channels —Measurement in meandering rivers and in streams with unstable
boundaries’.
Composition of the Committee responsible for the formulation of this standard is given at Annex A.
For the purpose of deciding whether a particular requirement of this standard is complied with, the final value, ‘-4
observed or calculated, expressing the result of a test or analysis, shall be rounded off in accordance with IS 2: 1960 4
‘Rules for rounding off numerical values (revised)’. The number of significant places retained in the rounded off
value should be the same as that of the specified value in this standard.

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 IS 15527:2004

Indian Standard
MEASUREMENT OF LIQUID FLOW IN OPEN
CHANNELS — MEASUREMENT IN MEANDERING
RIVERS AND IN STREAMS WITH
UNSTABLE BOUNDARIES

1 SCOPE separated by shoals, with little or no erosion of the

main banks. The channel as a whole does not meander,
This standard provides guidelines for discharge
although local meandering in minor channels generally
measurements in meandering rivers, in streams with
occurs.
unstable boundaries and from bridges, following the
provisions of IS 1192. 3.5 Transition; Crossover — Stretch of channel

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between adjacent meander loops where the main flow
2 REFERENCES crosses over from one side of the channel to the other.
The following standards contain provisions which, It is characterized by a reduction in depth of flow.
through reference in this text, constitute provisions of 3.6 Transverse Flow — Flow perpendicular to the
this standard. At the time of publication, the editions main direction of flow which is parallel to the axis of
indicated were valid. All standards are subject to the channel. Sometimes referred to as secondary flow,
revision, and parties to agreement based on this to differentiate it from the main or primary flow.
standard are encouraged to investigate the possibility Transverse flow occurs in all channels, both straight
of applying the most recent editions of the standards and curved in plan, although it is more evident in
indicated below: curved channels, causing super-elevation of the water
1SNo. Title surface on the outside of a bend.
1191:2003 Hydrometric determinations — 3.7 Node; Nodal Point — Point in the plan of a sinuous
Vocabulary and symbols channel at which the amplitude of the sinuous path is
1192:1981 Velocity-area methods for minimum. It is located in the transition, or crossover,
measurement of flow of water in in the channel. In a dynamically stable channel which
open channels @rst revision) meanders, the node migrates downstream with the
meander loops, but may be prevented from migrating
3 DEFINITIONS
by natural or artificial obstruction, thus creating a static
For the purpose of this standard, the definitions given stretch of river downstream.
in 1S 1I91 and the following shall apply.
3.8 Specific Discharge — This term has two meanings
3.1 incised River — River which has cut its channel depending on local usage.
through part of the valley floor or which has formed
its channel by erosion. The sediment in transit in an a) Discharge per unit area of catchment otlen used
incised river is generally dissimilar to the boundary to compare the magnitude of flow in different
material through which the channel is carved out. rivers (maximum, mean or minimum).

3.2 Alluvial River — River which flows through b) Discharge corresponding to a specific stage or
alluvium formed from its own deposits. The sediment, gauge height. Often used to illustrate changes
which it carries, except for the wash load, is similar to in the conveyance capacity of a channel caused
that in its bed. by changes in sediment load and bed level
during a particular period (flood, annual flow,
3.3 Meandering River — Channel which follows a flow between years, etc). Sometimes used to
sinuous path owing to natural physical causes not detect aggrading or degrading channels over a
imposed by external constraints. The conditions are period of years.
characterized by curved flow and alternating shoals
and bank erosion. 4 SITE SELECTION IN STABLE AND STRAIGHT
REACHES OF MEANDERING RIVERS
3.4 Braided River — River characterized by an
extremely wide and shallow channel in which flow As far as possible the channel at the measuring site
passes through a number of small interlaced channels, shall be straight and of uniform cross-section and slope,

“.- “ .- -.
IS 15527:2004

in order to avoid an abnormal velocity distribution. curvature is large, continued erosion and filling result
Further the accuracy of the determination of discharge in formation of a hairpin bend, ultimately forming a
by the velocity-area method is increased, if the cut-off across the bottleneck. In this process, the
velocities at all points are parallel to one another and meander changes its shape.
at right angles to the meandering cross-section.
Thus, depending on the bend curvature, bank recession
At a measuring site, even if properly located to satisfy and changes in meander position andlor shape occur,
the requirement during flood season, the flow direction rendering the river course unstable. Requirements of
can change appreciably during lean season. As far as site stability cannot be satisfied in such rivers.
possible, the basic stream gauging section should not
Local strata of stiff clay or rock are sometimes
be changed. However, when the flow directions during
encountered along the meandering course of alluvial
flood and lean seasons are very different, it is
rivers. This natural constraint obstructs free passage
permissible to suitably adjust the orientation of gauging
of the meandering river. The meanders accumulate
section during lean season, taking into account the
upstream of such constraints. On the downstream
requirements of IS 1192.
side after some distance, the river course again
5 SITE SELECTION IN RIVERS WITH forms meanders. However, within and immediately
RELATIVELY STABLE MEANDERS downstream of the constraint, the river profile does

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not change appreciably. These locations are termed
In alluvial rivers, the course over long reaches is nodal points and, in view of the stability of the river at
sometimes comprised of one meander followed by these points, they are better suited for locating gauging
another. Finding a sufficiently long straight reach then sites on rivers which have an otherwise unstable course.
becomes difficult. Under these conditions the gauging
site shall be located either in the reach of two bends or Even if natural constraints do not exist, sometimes
at the transition between successive bends. artificial constraints in the form of a bridge with a
constricted waterway may exist. The effect of such an
In a bend, transverse flow develops, and the resultant artificial constraint is to produce nodal points. The river
direction and velocity of flow are composed of the net reach immediately downstream of such structures,
effect of normal and transverse flow. The distribution where the river course remains locally stable, can
of velocities and depths across the section also becomes therefore be utilized for locating gauging sites.
extremely heterogeneous.
7 DISCHARGE MEASUREMENT IN BRAIDED
On the other hand, in the transition between successive
RIVERS
meanders, the river course is relatively straight over a
short reach. The cross-section is more uniform and One difflcuky experienced in discharge measurement
better defined within the bend. A transition, therefore, in braided rivers with sandy beds carrying sustained
provides better site conditions for a gauging station. heavy floods is the instability of the bed forms.
When a straight reach over a sufficiently long distance Different bed forms, such as ripples, mega-ripples,
is not avai[able, the best alternative is, therefore, to dunes and sand waves, can occur simultaneously in
se iect a site in a transition. different portions of the cross-section. Their size can
be relatively large (for example, a wave height up to
The important factors that affect the accuracy of the 0.3 m, 1.5 m, 7.6 m and 15.2 m, with corresponding
discharge measurement in meandering rivers are the wave lengths up to 1.5 m, 152 m, 488 m and 914 m
scouring and silting and the change in flow direction respectively). These bed forms can also exhibit a
at the discharge measuring section. In regard to the significant rate of downstream movement (as much
former, the measuring time should be shortened as far as 3 m/day, 122 m/day, 167 m/day, 204 m/day
as possible by operating more than one crew respectively have been observed). The bed form
simultaneously. In regard to the latter, the velocity controls bed rugosity, and hence different parts of a
measured at each point shall be corrected for angle cross-section can have different rugosities and depths
using a direction-measuring current meter. merely due to different bed forms. Movement of bed
forms in single day causes continual variation in local
6 SITE SELECTION IN RIVERS WITH UNSTABLE
rugosity coefficients and also in depths. All these
MEANDERS
factors can bring about appreciable variation in water
In alluvial rivers, meanders are often unstable. If the level, even with the same discharge. Under these
bend curvature is small, the meander tends to progress conditions, in addition to the mean stage-discharge
downstream by continued erosion along the concave curve, curves at extremes of depth must be established,
bank and filling along the convex bank. In this process, For instance, upper levels and freeboards of
the river course changes its position. If the bend engineering structures have to be designed with respect

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 IS 15527:2004

to upper stage curves, whereas foundation levels have take fresh cross-sections and update rating curves after
to be designed with respect to the depth of flow every major flood event.
according to the lower stage envelope curves.
8 DISCHARGE MEASUREMENT FROM A
Another cause of instability in braided rivers is the BRIDGE
downstream movement of islands separating channels.
In wide flood plains, sometimes the spill is so
These islands are eroded at their upstream end and built
substantial that the overbank area is subjected to
up at their downstream end, resulting in migration of
extensive inundation in the case of meandering and
the islands. The rate of such movement is, however,
braided rivers.
slow and the accuracy of daily observation of discharge
at the gauging site, therefore, may not be affected. On the overbank area, numerous obstructions to flow
Segmentation, however, needs to be suitably changed can exist, such as buildings, crops, trees, bushes and
when daily and periodic observations are made during weeds. Negotiating such obstructions during discharge
the flood season. measurement using a boat is difficult. This difficulty
is not encountered if discharge measurements are made
When several major channels are required to be gauged
from a bridge. The discharge of the river channel and
along the measuring line, it may become necessary to spills may be spread over an extensive area, but it
employ two or more survey boats and crews to work converges and passes through the relatively narrow and

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simultaneously in order to complete one discharge well-defined bridge structure. Discharge measurements
measurement at a single time. Whenever possible, it is from a bridge then are more practical.
preferable to locate the gauging site where the river is
narrow and has fewer active channels due to natural In making depth and velocity observations from a
or artificial constraints. bridge, the choice of the upstream or downstream side
of the bridge for the observation cross-section should
Braided rivers in sub-mountainous regions often be guided by comparative merit. For instance, when
experience flash floods wherein the stage changes the upstream side is chosen, the hydraulic conditions
rapidly. Discharge measurements, therefore, shall be are normally found to be superior and approaching
made as quickly as possible to keep the change in stage floats can be seen and more easily avoided. On the
to a minimum. This can be achieved by using a single- other hand, if the measurement is made from the
point method for measurement of velocity instead of downstream side, the vertical angles are more easily
the two or multiple-point method; by re-reduction, the observed, the flow is straighter due to the guiding effect
resulting error shall be less than the error caused by a of the bridge and damage to the current-meter due to
rapid change in stage during the period of a single possible collision with piers is avoided. The physical
discharge measurement. conditions at the bridge, such as location of walkways,
As an illustration, atypical rapid discharge measurement traffic hazards and accumulation of debris against the
can be made using the following procedure: piers, also need to be considered.
When making observation from a bridge, it must be
a) Use the 0.6 depth method instead of the 0.2
to 0.8 depth or multi-point method; noted that the discharge distribution along the
measurement line is affected by the obstruction caused
b) Use the 0.2 depth or a subsurface method, if by the bridge piers. The effect is local and is restricted
the 0.6 method creates a vertical angle to a limited width on either side of the piers. Within
requiring time-consuming correction or if the this width, measurement of velocity and depth is
vertical angle increases because of drift, thus difficult and risky, with increased uncertainty. The
increasing the sounding time; greater the number of piers, the greater the uncertainty
c) Reduce time of velocity observation to about in the measurement of the total discharge. In such cases,
20 to 30 s; estimation of discharge flowing through the cross-
d) Reduce the number of observation verticals sectional width adjoining the piers is preferred to direct
to about 15 to 18. measurement. The estimation is made by first
determining the discharge intensity ‘qm’ over the
This procedure reduces the time for discharge
vertical at the end of the affected zone on either side
measurement from 15 to 20 min.
of each of the piers. Next, it is assumed that, in the
Braided rivers in sub-mountainous regions are often absence of the pier, this discharge intensity would have
subje~ to sedimentation, with a tendency to shifting been operative over the entire width ‘b,,,’between the
channels. This instability affects not only the scheme vertical at the end of the affected zone and the center
of segmentation but also the rating curve. Specific line of the pier. The discharge flowing through the
gauge-discharge curves are useful in such cases to keep affected zone adjoining each pier is then estimated as
track of the sedimentation rate. It may be advisable to qmbln (see Fig. 1).

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IS 15527:2004

7m = OISCHARGE INTENSITY
[MEAN) ovER THE
VERTICAL AT PO INT’A’
bm= WIDTH OF AFFECTED
FLOW ZONE ON EACH SIOE
OF P(ER.
w= WIDTH OF PIER.
s= CLEAR WIDTH OF
PASSAGE FOR FLOW
o BETWEEN TWO PIERS.

- w

l/,
/

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LICENSED TO LANCO INFRATECH LIMITED, UDUOG VIHAR, GURGAON,
d
/
I

/ I
/ I

/
I POINT ‘A’

Iu
o“121cs 0“12!4s ●

I
;1 BRIDGE BRIDGE /\
(
0“76%s +
ABUTMENT ~ ym I Y \ ~\ . A8UTMENT
WIDTH bm
FOR VELOCITY
MEASUREMENT
~DiSCHARGE INTENSITY ~M I
ASSUMED TO BE CONSTANT OVEfi
WIDTH bm bm =0.12 sS+~

FIG. 1 WIDTHOFAFFECTED
ZONEFORFLOWMEASUREMENT
DUETOBRIDGEPIERS

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 IS 15527:2004

ANNEX A
(Foreword)
COMMITTEE COMPOSITION

Hydrometry Sectional Committee, WRD 01

Organization Representative(s)

CentralWaterCommission,NewDelhi Ss+mM. K. SHARMA(Chairman)

AIMILPrivateLtd, New Delhi SHIUS. C. JAIN
Srms K. S. SUBRAMANSAM
(Alternate)

Bhakra Beas Management Board, Punjab (WR)

DUWCTOR
(WR) (Alternate)
SENIORDESIGNENGUWER

Central Water & Power Research Station, Pune SHSUA. R. CHAVAN

Smu B. S. Kuuc.uuw (Alternate)

Central Water Commission, New Delhi SHRIS. K. SENGUPTA

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DIRECTOR (RD) (Alternate)

Consulting Engineering Services (India) Private Ltd, Smu T. S. BATHSIA .-

New Delhi (Ahernate)
Wru S. S. NARANG

Electronic Equipments, Pune Smu V. R. MUNAGEKAR

Smo S. R. MUNAGSKAR
(Alternde)

Fluid Control Research Institute, Palghat (Kerala) DR NAGARAISITARAM

Smtr JACOBCHANDAPUU(Alterna~e)

Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore DR K. SRSDHARAN

Indian Institute of Technology (Department of Civil DR G. L. ASAWA

Engineering), Roorkee
Irrigation Department, Government of Andhra Pradesh, DUWTOR(ERS)
Hyderabad
Irrigation Department, Government of Kamatak% Bangalore (ERS)
DIRSCTOR

Irrigation Department, Government of Punjab, Chandigarh CSSSEF

ENGSNESR (IPRI)
RrzsizutcHOsmcsnt(IPRI) (Ahernde)

Irrigation Department, Government of Uttar Pradesh, DIRECTOR

(IRI)
Lucknow Cm ENGSNSER
(GANGA)(Alternate)

Ministry of Railways (RDSO), Lucknow Jonw DULKTOR(STANDARDS)

DEPUSYDIRECTOR (Ahernate)
(STANDARDS)

National Hydroelectric Power Corporation Ltd, Faridabad Srmr SHANKRACHARYA

(Alternate I)
,%smFWsv BABDOTA
Smu Arm BHATNAGAR(Alternate II)
National Institute of Hydrology, Roorkee DIRECTOR
(Alternate)
DR P. K. MOHAFATRA

National Physical Laboratory, New Delhi IG3EARCHGFFICER

DIRECTOR(Alternate)

In personaI capacity (425/14 T. V. Nagar, Pune 411037, DR S. V. CFUTALE

Mrharashtra)
BIS Dlrcctorate General Director and Head (WRD)
[Representing Director-General (Ex-@7cio)]

.Member-Secreta~
Smu R. S. JUNFJA
Dhector (WRD), BIS

r.. ,. -—
 T-

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Amendments Issued Since Publication

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