Stream Bank Protection Works

Stream b
baank Protection
nk

Guide Banks

By: Melkamu T.
 2.1 General

• Bank caving is one of the causes of deterioration of river conditions

• Bank protection is therefore forms an important part of river training

works.

• The purposes of bank protection may be any of the following:

 Protection of adjacent land and valuable property

 Protection of hydraulic structures – E.g. banks u/s and d/s of

structures like weirs, barrages, bridges have to be protected.

 Protection of flood embankments

 Affording facilities for water transportation

2.1 General
 2.2 Types of Stream Bank protection works

The generally adopted method for river channel stabilization

are:

• Guide banks
• Groynes or spurs
• Pitching of banks and provision of launching aprons
• rip rap, or retaining structures
• back filling or reshaping the bank
• Checkdams/drop structures
• bioengineered solutions
• Applying erosion controls on the catchment
 2.2 Types of Stream Bank protection works

• Owing to its extent, bank protection is usually bulky and expensive

• Engineers are therefore prone to prefer the cheapest type of construction
to the stronger and expensive ones.
• Many failures may be attributed to over-economizing in construction.

Therefore, the cause of bank failure must be fully known before

taking up the protective works:

 Washing away of soil particles from the bank by a strong current – due to
erosion
 Undermining of the toe of the bank by eddies, followed by a collapse of
overhanging material deprived of support – due to erosion
2.2 Types of Stream Bank protection works

• Sliding of slope when saturated by floods of long duration -due to

reduction of internal pressure (a decrease in shearing strength of the soil)

• Piping in sub-layers due to movement of ground water towards the river

which carries away materials in it – due to foundation failure.
2.2.1 Guide banks : Definition and functions

• Guide banks, as the name implies, artificial embankments meant for

guiding the river flow past a hydraulic structures like weirs, barrage
and bridges, without causing damage to the structures and its
approaches.
Guide bunds : purpose
• Alluvial rivers in flood plains spread over a very large area during
floods and it would be very costly to provide bridges or any other
structure across the entire natural spread. It is necessary to narrow
down and restrict its course to flow axially through the diversion
structure.
• They are constructed on either or both on the upstream and
downstream of the structure and on one or both the flanks as required.
2.2.1 Guide banks : Definition and functions

• With straight shanks of suitable length, they end in heads

of adequate curvature.

• Generally the core is built in sand with stones on the

sloping faces and an apron is provided for protection.

• Sufficient freeboard and top width are provided in a good

design.
2.2.1 Guide banks : typical layout
 2.2.1 Guide banks : Design principles

i) Top level of guide banks:

 Is governed by HFL, afflux, velocity head, and freeboard
 Is obtained by adding all these four values

ii) Shape of guide banks in plan:

 Guide banks are usually provided in pairs, symmetrical and
parallel

iii) Length between guide banks:

 The length of the structure between the abutments (L) or the
water way between two guide bands may be estimated by
Lacey’s regime water way, P = clear water way
= 4.75Q
 2.2.1 Guide banks : Design principles

Separation of flow is found to occur after

the curved head, leading to obliquity of
flow.

Give uniform flow from the head of guide

bunds to the axis of the diversion structure

Due to gradual change in the curvature, the flow

is found to hug the bunds all along their lengths

provide better control on development and

extension of meander loop towards the approach
embankment.
 2.2.1 Guide banks : Design principles

Have the disadvantage of excessive attack

and heavy scour at the head and shoaling
all along the shank rendering the end bays
inactive.

The approach embankment gets relatively

less protection under worst possible
embayment and hence divergent guide bunds
require a longer length for the same degree
of protection
 2.2.1 Guide banks : Design principles

iv) Length of guide banks :

 The upstream length of the guide bank with the length of the structure
between the abutments (L) is correlated as a function of discharge as:
1.25L for Q up to 2000cumecs
1.5L for Q> 2000cumecs

 Downstream length = 0.25L to 0.4L

 It is a guide line; should be tested and modified by model studies.

 This is because if the river channel is wide, the length of the guide banks
should ensure the safety of the approach embankments against the worst
embayment (cutting-off and meandering of channel).
2.2.1 Guide banks : Design principles
 2.2.1 Guide banks : Design principles

v) Radius of curved head of the guide banks:

a) Upstream curved portion (impregnable head)

 The radius of curvature should be sufficient enough not to cause intense

eddies.

 Greater the radius, flatter the curve and lesser the probability of
formation of intense eddies.

 A safe value for the radius, R1 is usually taken as 0.4 to 0.5L.

 The curve is extended to subtend an angle of 120o to 145o

at its center.
 2.2.1 Guide banks : Design principles

b) downstream curved portion (impregnable head)

 on the downstream, the rivers fans out so as to attain its normal width

 the d/s portion should ensure the safety of approach embankments and
prevents the river from attacking them.

 This is possible by providing short guide bund with sharp curved head.

 A radius equal to half the radius (usually 0.3 to 0.5R1) at the u/s side
may be adopted and sweep angle of 45o to 60o may be provided.
 2.2.1 Guide banks : Design principles

vi) The shank portion and section of bund:

 The straight portion of the guide bank is called the shank
portion

 The guide bank should have a minimum top width of 4m (usually4 to 9m

so as to provide sufficient carriage-way) (e.g passage of vehicle).

 Side slopes generally kept as 2H:1V but may vary from 1.5H:1V
to 3H:1V depending upon the construction material and the
height of the bund.

 A free board of 1.0 to 1.5m is generally provided.

 2.2.1 Guide banks : Design principles

vii) Slope pitching:

 The sloping water side of the guide bund and the rear portion of the
curved portions are normally pitched stone or concrete blocks.

 The size and weight of stone for pitching can be determined from graph
(see graph).

 For average velocities up to 2 m/sec, burnt clay brick on edge can be used
as pitching material.
 For an average velocity up to 3.5 m/sec, pitching of stone weighing from
40 to 70 kg (0.3 to 0.4 m in diameter) and
 for higher velocities, cement concrete blocks of depth equal to the
thickness of pitching can be used.
2.2.1 Guide banks : Design principles

Fig. Graph for determining the size

and weight of the stones for slope
pitching
 2.2.1 Guide banks : Design principles
 It is desirable to place the stones over filters so that fines do not escape
through the interstices of the pitching.

 It is always desirable to provide an inverted (graded) filter below the pitching

stones to avoid the finer bund materials getting out through the interstices.
 The thickness of the filter may be 20 to 30 cm. Filter has to satisfy the criteria
with respect to the next lower size and with respect to the base material:
(i) For uniform grain size filter,

(ii) For graded material of sub-rounded particles

 2.2.1 Guide banks : Design principles

 Pitching should extend up to 1m higher than HFL.

 The rear side of the shank portion is not pitched but is generally coated
with 0.3 to 0.6 m earth for encouraging vegetation growth or turfing of
the slope is normally found to be adequate.

 The thickness of the pitching on the river side may be calculated by:
t = 0.06Q1/3

Where, t = thickness of stone pitching, m

Q = the discharge in cumecs
 However, it should not be less than 0.25m.
 wherever the velocities are high for which the size of stone is greater
than 0.4 m, cement concrete blocks of thickness 0.4 to 0.6 m may be
used.
 2.2.1 Guide banks : Design principles

viii) Launching apron:

 The pitching on the sloping side is extended beyond the toe on the bed in the
form of packed stone – launching apron.

 Otherwise, scour will occur at the toe with subsequent undermining and collapse
of the stone pitching.

 The required size of stone for the apron can be obtained from the curves. In case
of non-availability of required size of stones, cement concrete blocks may be
used.

 The apron is generally laid in a width equal to 1.5 times the depth of the scour
below the original bed
2.2.1 Guide banks : Design principles

Fig. Graph for determining the size and

weight of the stones for Launching
 2.2.1 Guide banks : Design principles

 The total scour below HFL is taken as xR, where R is the Lacey’s normal scoured
depth given by:
R = 0.47(Q/f)1/3

Where, Q is the discharge in cumecs and f is the silt factor.

 The total scour depths to be adopted in the calculations for the launching apron
would be different along the length of the guide bund from upstream to
downstream.
Location xR
Noses of guide bank 2.25R
Transitions from noses to straight portions 1.50R
Straight reaches of guide bunds 1.25R

 The depth of scour below the original river bed, D is then found by:

D = xR – y, where, y is the water depth above bed.

 2.2.1 Guide banks : Design principles

 Generally, the slope of the launched apron for calculation of the quantity
can be taken as 2:1 for loose boulders or stones, it may be taken as 1:5:1
for concrete blocks.
 The thickness of the launched apron is 1.25t (normally 25 to 50% more),
where t is the thickness of stone pitching.
 The volume of stone required in the launching apron per meter length is
estimated as:
Vs = (22+12)x D x (1.25t) = 2.8tD
 If the width of the launched apron is 1.5D, then the thickness of the
launched apron is given as:

T = 2.8tD/ 1.5D = 1.9t (for loose boulders)

Note: The width of apron (1.5D) varies at different portions of the

guide bank.
 2.2.1 Guide banks : Design principles

Example: The following hydraulic data is collected at a bridge site of a

river. Design and sketch Bell’s bunds including the launching apron to
train the river. Assume plentiful availability of boulders near the site.

Maximum discharge = 6000cumecs

Highest flood level = 104.00m

River bed level = 100.00m

Average diameter of river bed material = 0.10mm

 2.2.1 Guide banks : Design principles

Solution:
The water way between two guide bands,
The Lacey’s regime water way, P = clear water way
= 4.75Q
= 4.75 6000 = 368m
Allowing 20% extra for piers, etc., the net spacing between the two
guide bunds at the site, L = 1.2x368 = 440m

The length of the bund u/s of bridge = 1.25L = 550m

The length of the bund d/s of bridge = 0.25L = 110m

The radius of the curved head (u/s) = 0.45L = 194m

The u/s end of guide may be curved by 130o with R1 = 194m

 2.2.1 Guide banks : Design principles

The d/s end of the bund may be curved to make an angle of 60o with
R2 = R1/2 = 194/2 = 87m.

X-sections of the bunds:

HFL = 104.0m (given)

Assume a free board of 1.5m and no afflux condition, and
ignore the velocity head. Therefore,

Top level of guide bank = 104+1.5 = 105.5m

To be more safe and make an allowance for future settlements, etc., let
us make top level = 106m

Therefore, the height of bund above river bed level = 6m

 2.2.1 Guide banks : Design principles

Assume top width of the bund = 5m; side slope = 2:1

Design of stone pitching and apron:

Thickness of stone pitching on the side, t = 0.06Q1/2

= 0.06(6000)1/2
= 1.09m, say 1.1m

The thickness of apron = 1.9t = 1.9x1.1 = 2.09m, say 2.1m

Length of apron = 1.5D

But D = 1.25R-y and R =0.47(Q/f)1/3, and f = 1.76dm

f = 1.76dm = 1.76 0.1 = 0.556

2.2.1 Guide banks : Design principles

Therefore, R = 0.47(6000/0.556)1/3 = 10.36m

And, y = 104 – 100 = 4m

Therefore, D = 1.25x10.36 -4 = 9m

Length of apron in the straight section = 1.5D = 1.5x9 = 13.5m

For the curvilinear transition portion, D = 1.5R-y = 1.5x10.36-4

= 11.54, say 12m
The length of apron in the curved portion = 1.5D = 1.5x12 =18m

D at the noses portion = 2.24R-y = 2.24x10.36-4 = 19.36m

The length of apron at noses =1.5D = 1.5x19.36 = 30m

2.2.1 Guide banks : Design principles

Fig. Plan of guide bank

2.2.1 Guide banks : Design principles

Fig. Section A-A of the straight reach of Bell’s bund

2.2.1 Guide banks : Design principles

Fig. Section B-B of the curved portions of the Bell’s bund

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