Effect of Sediment Load on Stable Sand Canal Dimensions

An experimental study was taken up by the writers with the object of providing a clear picture of the effect of sediment load on the dimensions of stable canals. These experiments were carried out in a recirculating sand tray at a constant discharge using sand of median size of 0.27 mm. Variation in sediment load was achieved by suitable changes in the initial cross section and slope given to the channel; the equilibrium sediment concentration could thus be varied from 150 ppm to 2500 ppm by weight. It was found that the final stable cross sectional dimensions of the channel were practically insensitive to sediment concentration, whereas the final slope was strongly dependent on it. It is thus concluded that relations for cross-sectional dimensions of a stable canal may be evolved ignoring the effect of sediment concentration, but the regime slope ought to be related to the sediment concentration apart from the discharge and sediment size.