DESIGN OF DRAINAGE

CHANNELS AND THE

BEST HYDRAULIC
SECTION
DESIGN OF DRAINAGE CHANNELS

What is drainage?
► It is the natural or artificial removal of a surface’s
water and subsurface water from an area with
excess of water.
 DESIGN OF DRAINAGE CHANNELS
TYPES OF DRAINAGE ACCORDING TO USE

1. SURFACE DRAINAGE
► remove excess water from the land’s surface.

1. SUBSURFACE DRAINAGE

► Drainage implemented beneath the top layer.

1. SLOPE DRAINAGE

► Built to allow water to flow from a structure in a downward direction.

1. DOWNSPROUTS AND GUTTER SYSTEM

► First defense against over-saturation from stormwater.

DESIGN OF DRAINAGE CHANNELS
FACTORS THAT AFFECT THE DESIGN OF THE DRAINAGE CHANNEL

❑ Topography of project area

❑ Selection type

❑ Design frequency

❑ Expected volume of stormwater

❑ Economy

DESIGN DISCHARGE

► Is affected by channel section, channel roughness, channel slope and runoff

coefficient factors.
DESIGN OF DRAINAGE CHANNELS
WHAT IS DRAINAGE CHANNEL?
► It is a system designed to quickly and effectively remove surface water
from a variety of application areas to help prevent flooding or standing
water.

Benefits of Channel Drainage

Drainage channels can help prevent water damage and prolong the life of your
pavement. By preventing standing water, channel drainage systems reduce the
likelihood of cracks, potholes, and other types of pavement damage that can be
caused by water.
DESIGN OF DRAINAGE CHANNELS
TYPES OF CHANNELS

A.). OPEN CHANNEL

► a channel without any cover. An open channel is a waterway, canal or conduit in which a liquid flows
with a free surface.

2 CLASSIFICATIONS

a. Prismatic
► channel in which the cross-sectional shape and size and also the bottom slope are constant is termed
as a prismatic channel.
● ARTIFICIAL CHANNELS
➢ These are the channels developed by men. They are usually designed with regular geometric
shapes. Examples: Irrigation canals, laboratory flumes, spillway chutes, drops, culverts, roadside
gutters, etc
DESIGN OF DRAINAGE CHANNELS
b. Non-Prismatic Channel

➢ All natural channels generally have varying cross-sections and, consequently,

are non-prismatic.
● NATURAL CHANNELS
➢ is one with irregular sections develop through natural ways. River,
creek, run, branch, anabranch, and tributary are some of the terms
used to describe natural channels.
TYPES OF OPEN CHANNEL

1. UNLINED CHANNELS
► are sometimes called earthen channels which are simply excavated channels in the
ground through which water flows.

KINDS:

a. COMPACTED EARTH LINING

b. SOIL CEMENT LINING
DESIGN OF DRAINAGE CHANNELS
2. LINED CHANNELS
► are excavated channels in which various lining
materials are placed on the bottom and sides of the
channel to provide stability and prevent erosion.

B.). COVERED CHANNEL/CONDUIT

► a channel having cover at the top. It is influenced by

Hydraulic pressure inside and has a known cross section
normally round/regular shape.
DESIGN OF DRAINAGE CHANNELS
Four common types of channel drains based on installation method

1. Cast in place
► This is the original standard for Channel drain systems. Here, a concrete trench
is formed in the ground using wood forms, reinforcing bar and manual labour.
This installation method is by far the most labour-intensive
2. Former Systems
➢ This installation method is the logical successor to the cast-in-place method. The
former system gives a cast-in-place product without the hassle of making the
form
DESIGN OF DRAINAGE CHANNELS
Four common types of channel drains based on installation method

3. Pre-cast concrete
► These channel drains are made in a factory that specializes in making concrete
shapes. Pre-cast trench drains made of a polymer concrete are also more sturdy and
reliable than cast-in-place trenches.
4. Linear system
► Made from materials such as polymer concrete, fiberglass, structural plastic and
steel, liner systems are the channel and grate components that are assembled in the
trench and around which concrete is poured to form a drain system.
DESIGN OF DRAINAGE CHANNELS
2 CLASSIFICATION OF LINING MATERIALS

1. RIGID LININGS
➢ includes concrete, stone masonry, soil cement,
grouted riprap, and precast interlocking blocks
➢ Rigid lining are called rigid because they tend to
cracks when deflected.
➢ Channels with rigid lining sometimes called as
Rigid-boundary channels
 Preferred for:
a. Transport water at high velocities to reduce construction and
excavation costs

b. Decrease seepage losses

c. Decrease operation and maintenance cost

d. Ensure the stability of the channel section

Note: Rigid linings, when properly designed and constructed, have a long
service life and can withstand the various forces and stresses acting on the
channel over time. This ensures the long-term stability of the channel
section, reducing the need for frequent repairs or reconstruction and
contributing to the overall efficiency and reliability of the water
conveyance system.
* All channels carrying supercritical flow should be lined with concrete and
continuously reinforced both longitudinally and laterally. Since channels with rigid
linings are capable of high conveyance and high-velocity flow, flood-control
channels with rigid linings are often used to reduce the amount of land required
for a surface-drainage system.

Some examples of Rigid Lining:

1. Concrete Lining: Concrete is one of the most common rigid lining materials
used in channels. It provides a durable, impermeable, and erosion-resistant
surface.
2. Reinforced Concrete Lining: Reinforced concrete combines the strength of concrete with the
tensile strength of steel reinforcement, creating a highly stable and structurally sound lining.

3. Brick or Stone Masonry Lining: Brick or stone masonry can also be used as a rigid lining, providing
a long-lasting and aesthetically pleasing solution for some historical or heritage water conveyance
systems.
 4. Precast Concrete Panels: Precast concrete panels are factory-produced and can be quickly
installed, creating a uniform and rigid lining for the channel.

5. Shotcrete or Gunite Lining: Shotcrete, also known as gunite, is a type of sprayed concrete that
can be applied directly to the channel walls, creating a seamless and rigid lining.
DESIGN OF DRAINAGE CHANNELS

2. FLEXIBLE LININGS

● Called flexible-boundary channels

● Flexible linings are able to conform to changes in channel
shape while maintaining the overall lining integrity.
DESIGN OF DRAINAGE CHANNELS
Types of flexible-lining materials that are used in practice:

1. Rolled erosion control products (RECPs).

RECP’s are temporary degradable or long-term nondegradable materials manufactured or fabricated into
rolls designed to reduce soil erosion and assist in the growth, establishment, and protection of
vegetation.
DESIGN OF DRAINAGE CHANNELS
Types of flexible-lining materials that are used in practice:

2. Vegetative lining
Vegetative lining consists of seeded or sodded grass placed in and along the channel. There is usually a
transition period between seeding and vegetation establishment, and temporary flexible flexible linings
linings.
DESIGN OF DRAINAGE CHANNELS
Types of flexible-lining materials that are used in practice:

3. Gravel and cobble linings

Gravel and cobble is characterized by stone sizes in the range of 2-64 mm for gravel and 64-256 mm for
cobble. Gravel lining is sometimes referred to as gravel mulch, and cobble linings are often used when a
decorative channel is needed (Chin,2013).
DESIGN OF DRAINAGE CHANNELS
Types of flexible-lining materials that are used in practice:

4. Riprap lining
Riprap is a loose assemblage of large angular broken stones that is commonly known to armor
streambeds, bridge abutments, pilings and other shoreline structures.
DESIGN OF DRAINAGE CHANNELS
Types of flexible-lining materials that are used in practice:

5. Gabions
Gabions consist of wire containers containing large stones. The wire container is usually rectangular and
made of steel wire woven in a uniform pattern, with reinforced corners and edges made of heavier
wire. Gabions are usually anchored to the channel side slope. Wire-enclosed riprap is typically used
when rock riprap is either not available or not large enough to be stable.
DESIGN OF DRAINAGE CHANNELS
Advantages:
● Conforms to movement
➢ Flexible linings can handle some settling or shifting of the ground without cracking.
● Less expensive
➢ Generally cheaper to install than rigid linings.
● Erosion control
➢ Certain types, like riprap (stones) and vegetation, can help prevent erosion
Disadvantages:

● Erosion resistance
➢ May not be suitable for channels with high water flow
● Limited lifespan
➢ Some flexible linings may need to be replaced sooner than rigid linings
BEST HYDRAULIC SECTION
The best hydraulic section, also known as the most
economic section, can be determined by requiring that
the flow area of the channel be minimized while
maintaining the hydraulic capacity. Consider the
Manning equation given by:
Where:
Q = flow rate in the channel (m3/s)
A = cross-sectional flow area (m2)
R = hydraulic radius
*R = A/P
P= wetted perimeter (m)
S0 = longitudinal slope of the channel
(dimensionless)
BEST HYDRAULIC SECTION

❖ For given value of Q, n, and S0, the flow area, A, is

proportional to the wetted perimeter, P, and
minimizing A also minimizes P.

Illustration: