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Bell's waterway and guide bund, 7500 m3/s

A barrage is to be constructed across a river, having 100 year flood discharge of 7500 m³/s and high flood level is 238.00 m. River bed level is 232.00 m and average diameter of bed material is 5.07 mm. Find out the desired waterway for the barrage. Design Bell's guide bunds including launching apron.

Desired waterway of the barrage

Lacey's regime waterway (wetted perimeter) is

W=4.75Q=4.757500=411.4 mW = 4.75\sqrt{Q} = 4.75\sqrt{7500} = 411.4\ \text{m}

For a barrage the waterway is generally kept equal to this regime width (1.0 to 1.2 times); adopt W=411W = 411 m between abutments. Flood depth h=238.0−232.0=6.0h = 238.0 - 232.0 = 6.0 m.

Data and design basis (Bell's guide bund)

  • Bell's guide bund is designed on Lacey's regime width; bed material is gravel (5.07 mm).
  • Silt factor (Lacey): f=1.76dmm=1.765.07=3.96f = 1.76\sqrt{d_{mm}} = 1.76\sqrt{5.07} = 3.96
  • Flood depth above bed: h=238.0−232.0=6.00h = 238.0 - 232.0 = 6.00 m
  • Design discharge for scour/apron: Q=7500Q = 7500 m³/s

1. Waterway and length of guide bund

Lacey's regime waterway: W=4.75Q=4.757500=411.36W = 4.75\sqrt{Q} = 4.75\sqrt{7500} = 411.36 m. Adopt W≈411W \approx 411 m. Length of guide bund (Garg): upstream shank =1.0=1.0 to 1.5 W1.5\,W, downstream tail =0.2=0.2 to 0.5 W0.5\,W. Adopt

Lus=1.25W=1.25×411=514 mLds=0.25W=103 m\begin{aligned} L_{us} &= 1.25W = 1.25\times 411 = 514\ \text{m} \\ L_{ds} &= 0.25W = 103\ \text{m} \end{aligned}

Curved heads: upstream radius Ru≈0.5W=206R_u \approx 0.5W = 206 m with sweep 120∘120^\circ to 145∘145^\circ (adopt 120∘120^\circ); downstream radius Rd≈0.25W=103R_d \approx 0.25W = 103 m with sweep about 45∘45^\circ. Arc length of upstream head =Ruθ=206×2.094=430= R_u\theta = 206\times 2.094 = 430 m, so total length on the upstream side ≈944\approx 944 m.

2. Thickness of stone pitching

t=0.06 Q1/3=0.06×75001/3=0.06×19.57=1.17 mt = 0.06\,Q^{1/3} = 0.06\times 7500^{1/3} = 0.06\times 19.57 = 1.17\ \text{m}

Adopt t≈1.2t \approx 1.2 m (pitching on the river side slope 2:1, over a 0.15 to 0.3 m graded filter).

3. Scour depth and launching apron

Lacey's normal scour depth:

R=0.47(Qf)1/3=0.47(75003.96)1/3=5.81 mR = 0.47\left(\frac{Q}{f}\right)^{1/3} = 0.47\left(\frac{7500}{3.96}\right)^{1/3} = 5.81\ \text{m}

Maximum scour below HFL: 2R2R at the upstream nose, 1.5R1.5R at the shank (straight portion). The apron must launch to the slope 2H:1V2H:1V, so its horizontal width is 1.5D′1.5D' and, when launched, it covers a slope length 5 D′\sqrt5\,D' with thickness 1.5t1.5t.

PortionScour factorScour depth below HFLDepth below bed D′D'Apron length 1.5D′1.5D'
Nose (u/s curved head)2.0R11.63 m5.63 m8.44 m
Shank (straight)1.5R8.72 m2.72 m4.08 m

Thickness: pitching t=1.17t = 1.17 m, so the launched apron thickness is 1.5t=1.5×1.17=1.761.5t = 1.5\times1.17 = 1.76 m. Equating volumes per metre, the thickness as laid over 1.5D′1.5D' width is T=1.5t×5D′1.5D′=5 t=2.63T = \dfrac{1.5t\times\sqrt5 D'}{1.5D'} = \sqrt5\,t = 2.63 m (about 2.25t2.25t).

Summary

ItemValue
Lacey waterway WW411.36 m (adopt 411 m)
Length of guide bund (u/s)514 m; d/s tail 103 m
Pitching thickness tt1.17 m
Apron at shank: width 1.5D′1.5D' / thickness4.08 m / 1.76 m launched (2.63 m laid)
Apron at nose: width / thickness8.44 m / 1.76 m launched (2.63 m laid)

Sketches

Plan of guide bunds:

 U/S                                          D/S
                       bridge / weir axis
   Shank (straight)                |
 ________________________________  |  ___
/  1.0-1.5 W upstream            \ | /   \  tail
\________________________________/=|=\___/  0.25 W
 curved head                       |
 R, sweep 120 deg    <-- waterway W -->
 ________________________________  |  ___
/                                \ | /   \
\________________________________/=|=\___/

Section at the shank (straight portion):

           top width 6 m
         ___________  <- HFL + 1.5 m
        /           \
 HFL ---/-------------\---  2:1 slopes
       / pitching t    \
 bed__/__ filter ______ \___
      \_ launching apron _/ (launches at 2:1)

✓ Answer checked by Claude Opus 5.5 (high effort)

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