River Structures: Submitted By: Deborah B. Barriatos

RIVER STRUCTURES
SUBMITTED BY:
DEBORAH B. BARRIATOS
SUBMITTED TO:
ENGR. MARJORIC PENETRANTE
I. OBJECTIVES
 To learn about the role of river structures
 To understand the importance of river structures
 To know the types of river structures
II. OVERVIEW
Every river is part of a larger system—a watershed, which is the land drained by a river and
its tributaries. Rivers are large natural streams of water flowing in channels and emptying
into larger bodies of water.
III. DISCUSSION
Rivers are the corridors connecting the terrestrial environment to the ocean realm. They play an
important role in the sustenance of life systems of nature.
River System
Rivers are natural systems that carry precipitation falling on the land to areas lower in
altitude, usually the sea. Precipitation can be rainfall on lowland areas or originate as snow
in high mountains.
Energy is dissipated during the movement of water from higher to lower altitudes. This
energy allows water to perform a number of actions that are expressed mainly as the
erosion and deposition of sediment.
Erosion occurs when water picks up sediment from the surrounding landscape, the
riverbank or the river bottom. Deposition occurs when water drops sediment on the river
bottom or on the river lowlands during floods.
River Defense Structure

Man-made structures used to prevent river from bursting their banks when there is flood.
Role of River Structure in River
1. Control water levels and flows;
2. Facilitate the abstraction of water;
3. Maintain navigation;
4. Control flooding;
5. Measure the discharge
Rivers – and to a lesser extent canals – experience fluctuating water levels and flows that depend
on the runoff from its catchment, together with any other sources such as catchment transfers or artificial
releases from storage.
Design Flows
The first steps in designing a river structure are to:
 define its function (what the structure is expected to do);
 identify the range of conditions that it will operate in.
The most fundamental of operating conditions is generally the range of flows to which the structure
will be exposed. But, depending on the type of structure and its location, there may also be a need to
consider sediment load, trash and debris load, boat impact and vandalism. It is also essential to consider
the safety of operatives and members of the public who may have access to the structure.
There is an inherent uncertainty when choosing design flow values for structures in rivers. Flows
can and do exceed design expectations. Designers need to manage this risk in the face of uncertainty.
Creating a structure that copes with this uncertainty, while retaining economy in its design, requires an
assessment of the damage that may be caused to it or its elements under exceptional circumstances. The
level of damage that can be accepted for different loading conditions needs to be assessed. Such damage
should not result in an increased threat to life and property compared with the situation before the
structure’s construction.
River transitions
River structures are static elements in a dynamic system and, as such, they can disturb the natural
equilibrium of the river channel. This disturbance can be minimized by:
 avoiding sudden changes of flow direction (from channel to structure, and structure to channel);
 providing transitions between the natural channel and the rigid structure.
Types of River Structures
1. Gated control structures
Used to control water levels in rivers, sluices or canals, for water flow management, flood control
and navigation. Gates can be undershot (for example, a sluice gate) or overshot (that is, acting like a weir).
An undershot gate can be fully closed (allowing no flow), partly open (see radial gate illustration) or fully
open (lifted clear of the water surface). Undershot gates produce a jet of water which can pose a significant
erosion risk. This is normally addressed by the provision of a stilling basin. Often used with multiple gates in
parallel to enhance redundancy.
Types of Gated Control Structures
2. Weirs
A weir or low head dam is a barrier across the width of a river that alters the flow characteristics
of water and usually results in a change in the height of the river level . The opening, called a notch,
may be rectangular, trapezoidal or triangular.
Rectangular Weir Triangular Weir Trapezoidal Weir

3. Drop Structure
A drop structure, also known as a grade control, sill, or weir, is a manmade structure, typically small and
built on minor streams, or as part of a dam's spillway, to pass water to a lower elevation while controlling
the energy and velocity of the water as it passes over.
Unlike most dams, drop structures are usually not built for water
impoundment, diversion or raising the water level. Mostly built on
watercourses with steep gradients, they serve other purposes such as
water oxygenation and erosion prevention.
4. Flumes
Flow measurement structures that rely on channel
contractions. Used where there is risk of blockage. They cause much
less headloss than most weirs and are less affected by incoming flow
velocity. Not suitable for large flows or on wide, shallow rivers. Can be
used as a means of flow control, for example creating an elevated
backwater which can be diverted into a flood storage area, taking the
peak off the flood hydrograph.
5. Dams
A dam is a barrier that stops or restricts the
flow of water or underground streams. Reservoirs
created by dams not only suppress floods but also
provide water for activities such as irrigation, human
consumption, industrial use, aquaculture, and
navigability.
6. Levees
Dike, dyke, embankment, floodbank or stopbank is an
elongated naturally occurring ridge or artificially
constructed fill or wall that regulates water levels. It is
usually earthen and often parallel to the course of a river in its floodplain or along low-lying
coastlines.
IV. SUMMARY
Rivers are natural systems that carry precipitation falling on the land to areas lower in altitude,
usually the sea. Precipitation can be rainfall on lowland areas or originate as snow in high mountains.
Energy is dissipated during the movement of water from higher to lower altitudes. This energy allows water
to perform a number of actions that are expressed mainly as the erosion and deposition of sediment.
Role of River Structure in River
1. Control water levels and flows;
2. Facilitate the abstraction of water;
3. Maintain navigation;
4. Control flooding;
5. Measure the discharge
Rivers – and to a lesser extent canals – experience fluctuating water levels and flows that depend
on the runoff from its catchment, together with any other sources such as catchment transfers or artificial
releases from storage.
Reference:
https://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/River_engineering
http://www.kennisbank-waterbouw.nl/DesignCodes/rockmanual/chapter%208.pdf
http://www.cangeoeducation.ca/resources/learning_centre/classroom_activities/river_system.asp
https://www.riverstructures.com/hydraulic-structures/
Review Questions:
1. What are the roles of river structures?

2. What are the types of river structure?
3. What is a river?
Name: ________________________________ Section: ___________ Date:__________
Test I : Write T if the statement is true and F if the statement is false.
___________1. Rivers are the corridors connecting the terrestrial environment to the ocean realm. They
play an important role in the sustenance of life systems of nature
___________2. Rivers are artificial systems that carry precipitation falling on the land to areas lower in
altitude, usually the sea
___________3. Erosion occurs when water picks up sediment from the surrounding landscape, the
riverbank or the river bottom.
___________4. Deposition occurs when water drops sediment on the river bottom or on the river lowlands
during floods.
___________5. River Defense Structure is a natural structure used to prevent river from bursting their
banks when there is flood.
___________6. There is an inherent uncertainty when choosing design flow values for structures in rivers.
Flows can and do exceed design expectations. Designers need to manage this risk in the face of
uncertainty.
___________7. River structures are static elements in a dynamic system and, as such, they can disturb
the natural equilibrium of the river channel
___________8. Weirs are used to control water levels in rivers, sluices or canals, for water flow
management, flood control and navigation
___________9. A drop structure, also known as a grade control, sill, or weir, is a manmade structure,
typically small and built on minor streams
___________10. Flumes are flow measurement structures that rely on channel contractions
Test II. Enumeration
1. Role of river Structure (5)
2. First Steps in designing river structure (2)
3. Types of river structure (6)
4. Types of Weir (3)
5. Types of Gated control Structures (3)
Test III. Draw the River System for 11 pts.
Test IV. Essay
1. Why do we need river structures?

Answer Key:
Test I.
1. T 6. T
2. F 7. T
3. T 8. F
4. T 9. T
5. F 10. T
Test II
1. Control water levels and flows; facilitate the abstraction of water; Maintain navigation; Control flooding;
Measure the discharge

2.  define its function (what the structure is expected to do);  identify the range of conditions that it will
operate in.
3. Gated control structures, Weirs, Drop Structure, Flumes, Dams, Levees
4. Rectangular, Triangular, Trapezoidal
5. Radial Gate, Vertical Hinged Gate, Vertical Lift gate
Test III.

River Structures: Submitted By: Deborah B. Barriatos

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

River Structures: Submitted By: Deborah B. Barriatos

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

River Structures: Submitted By: Deborah B. Barriatos

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

RIVER STRUCTURES

River Defense Structure

Rectangular Weir Triangular Weir Trapezoidal Weir

1. What are the roles of river structures?

Test I : Write T if the statement is true and F if the statement is false.

Test II. Enumeration

1. Role of river Structure (5)

2. First Steps in designing river structure (2)

3. Types of river structure (6)

4. Types of Weir (3)

5. Types of Gated control Structures (3)

Test III. Draw the River System for 11 pts.

Test IV. Essay

1. Why do we need river structures?

Measure the discharge

You might also like