Spatially varied steady flow in irrigation canals

Abstract

A mathematical model is developed for the analysis of spatially varied steady flow in an irrigation canal. The spatially varied steady flow equations are solved using the finite difference method. The model results are verified with the observed water surface profiles available in literature. The effect of canal seepage, canal condition, turnout flows, backwater and drawdown conditions are studied in terms of discharge in the canals, performance of turnouts and spatial variability of flow. It is observed that even for design roughness and seepage parameters, the actual depth and discharge in the canal is significantly different from the designed ones.