Design of irrigation canals by the rational method

What is it about?

The design of irrigation canals that transport sediment-laden water should include the aspects of sediment transport as well as the future water delivery strategies. In these irrigation canals the sediment transport is defined by the actual flow conditions that depend on the way in which the water is supplied. The existent canal characteristics determine the sediment transport and the sedimentation or erosion. A canal design based on energy considerations (rational method) will result in less sediment problems. However, changes in the discharge and the connected sediment behavior are not covered by this design method. Mathematical modelling will help to analyze the distribution of sediment deposition or entrainment for particular flows and specific situations in time and place. The mathematical model Setric has been used to evaluate an existing canal design and its effect on the sediment transport. The rational method together with the sediment model Setric result in less sedimentation problems in canals that transport sediment laden water.

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