Surge Problems in Canals with High-Lift Locks

Investigations for new navigation canals and rehabilitation of existing canals are leading to larger lock sizes and higher lifts. In order to maintain a high traffic capacity and a short transit time for the canal, shorter filling and emptying times are required for the locks in spite of the larger volumes of water which must be moved. The high rates of filling and emptying have increased surge problems in the canal sections upstream and downstream of these large, high-lift locks. The paper does not research into the complex mechanics of a surge but provides a discussion of surge problems and solutions. Descriptions are given of prototype surge problems in existing canals, including, the Welland Canal, St. Lawrence Seaway and Soo Locks. Investigations made during studies on the Lake Erie-Lake Ontario Waterway concerning the use of surge basins for filling and emptying are described. These studies were made by the Buffalo District of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.