Optimal Design of a Special Class of Curvilinear Bottomed Channel Section

Abstract

Section elements of a new class of curvilinear bottomed channel whose boundary maps along a circle onto the hodograph plane have been investigated in the study. The perimeter of this type of channel always lies between an ellipse and a parabola of the same top width and flow depth. Presented herein are optimal section properties from least area and minimum seepage loss point of view for the curved channel section. The study also addresses the constraints on the channel dimensions and the velocity of flow. A nondimensional parameter approach has been used to simplify the analysis. Design procedures for different cases have been presented to demonstrate the simplicity of the method. © 2007 ASCE.