Rational Criterion for Designing Opening of Slit-Check Dam

Abstract

This paper presents a theoretical approach to the problem of designing the opening in a slit-check dam. The approach is based on the conservation of the mass of water and sediments and on the energy balance under steady conditions. It leads to a relationship among opening width, sediment characteristics, mountain river geometry, and water and sediment discharge. The final relationship can be simplified to make it suitable for practical applications. Also, the problem of unsteadiness of both water and sediment is considered, as well as the possibility of treating the unsteady flow as a sequence of steady states. The results of the theory were checked in a laboratory investigation using a scale model. Different opening widths were tested under conditions of steady and unsteady supplies of water and sediment. The mean grain size of the sediment, as well as the rates of sediment and water discharge, were changed in the experiments. The results of the experiments confirm the theory quite well.