Design and Development of Efficient Under-Drainage System for Lined Canals

Abstract

Under-drainage system for lined canal is present beneath the canal bed to drain off the water present over there. It consists of longitudinal and transverse perforated drain pipes along with the arrangement of pressure relief valves. Cases of failure of lining of canal are there due to inconsistency in under-drainage system. Performance of geocell is exceptionally well in soil compaction, slope stabilization, earth retention and as reinforcement in case of retaining structure, road construction and railway embankments. Contrary to other researches, here performance of geocell as reinforcement of buried pipe under canal bed is investigated. Experimental study is carried out on canal model and on an under-drainage system. Strain in the buried pipe is observed due to application of various loading patterns on canal model. For sustained loading, 29% increase in strain is observed in pipe buried in unreinforced soil as compared to 18% in pipe buried in reinforced soil. For maximum loading almost three times more strain is stored in pipe in unreinforced soil. Yield is also observed in pipe without geocell, whereas at same loading no such behaviour is observed in pipe with geocell. It is reported that geocell can act as reinforcement for buried drain pipes under canal bed, and this helps in making under-drainage system efficient. © 2021, Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd.