( Reaffirmed 1999 )

IS : 11485- 1985

Indian Standard
CRITERIA FOR
HYDRAULIC DESIGN OF SLUICES IN
CONCRETE AND MASONRY DAMS

Spillways Including Energy Dissipators Sectional Committee, BDC 54

Chairman Rcpresen t ing

SRRI J. F. MISTRY Irrigation Department, Government of Gujarat,
~Gandhinagar
Members
DR A. S. CRAWLA University of Roorkee ( WRDTC ), Roorkee
CHIEF ENGINEER ( DAM DESIGN ) Irrigation Department, Government of Uttar
Pradesh, Lucknow
SHRI LAX~I NARAYAN ( Alternate )
CAIEF ENGINEER, CD0 Irrigation Department, Government of Andhra
Pradesh, Hyderabad
SUPERINTENDINGENGINEER
( DAMS ) ( Alternate )
CHIEF ENGINEER AND DII~EGTOR Maharashtra EngineeringResearch Institute, Nasik
SHRI K. A. GRAMPUROHIT ( Alternate )
CHIEZ ENGINEER ( PWD ) Irrigation Department, Government of Karnataka,
Mysore
SWERINTENDIN~ ENGINEER
ESIGNS) ( Alternate )
CHIiFD ENGINEER/R-• UM- Irrigation & Power Research Institute, Punjab,
DIRECTOR Amritsar
CHIEF ENGINEER, THEIN DAM Irrigation Department, Government of Punjab,
DESIGN Chandigarh
DII~ECTOR ( SPILLWAYS &
POWER PLANT ) ( Alternate )
CHIEF ENQIN~ER & DIRECTOR, Irrigation Department, Government of Tamil Nadu,
INSTITUTE OF HYDRAULICS & Madras
HYDROLOOY POONDI
DEPUTY DIRECTOR ( HYDRAULICS ) ( Alternate)
SHRI M. L. Dns Irrigation and Power Department, Government of
Orissa. Bhubaneswar
SHRI B. DASS Irrigation and Waterways Directorate, Government
of West Bengal, Calcutta
DIRECTOR Central Water and Power Research Station, Pune
SHRI R. M. K~ATSURIA ( Alternate )

( Continued on page 2

@ Cqyright 1986
INDIAN STANDARDS INSTITUTION
This publication is protected under the Indiun Copyright Act ( XIV of 1957 j and
reproduction in whole or in part by any means except with written permission of the
I publisher shall be deemed to be an infringement of copyright under the said Act.
IS:11485-1985

( Continues from page 1 )

Members Representing
DIRECTOR(CMDD-I) Central Water Commission, New Delhi
KUMARI E. DIVATIA National Hydroelectric Power Corporation Ltd,
New Delhi j
SRRI K. K. FRAMJI Consulting Engineering Services ( India ) Pvt Ltd,
New Delhi
PROF HARI KRISHNA ( Alternate )
DR JAQDISH NARAIN Institution of Engineers ( India ), Calcutta
SHRI S. P. JAIN Bhakra Beas Management Board, Nangal Township
SRRI J. C. BASUR ( Alternate )
Snnr D. G. KADKADE Jaiprakash Associated Pvt Ltd, New Delhi
SHRI A. B. ODAK ( Alternate )
SRRI H. K. KHOSLA Irrigation Department, Government of Haryana,
-Chandigarh
SRRI M. L. GUPTA ( Alternate )
SHRI M. U. PURO~IT Irrigation Department, Government of Gujarat,
Gandhinagar
SHRI N. B. DESAI ( Alternate )
SHRI M. S. RAMA RAO Karnataka Power Corporation Ltd, Bangalore
SHRI D. M. SAVU~~ The Hindustan Construction Co Ltd, Bombay
SHRI M. V. S. IYENGAR ( Alternate )
SUPERINTENDINO ENO~NEER Irrigation Department, Government of Maharashtra,
(MD) Bombay
SHRI V. N. PENDSE ( Alternate )
KUMARI PRATIMA NAIDU ( Alternate )
SHRI C. D. TRATTE Gujarat Engineering Research Institute, Vadodara
SHIZI B. K. RAO ( Alternate )
DR R. S. VARSHNEY Irrigation Department, Government of Uttar Pradesh,
Lucknow
SHRI G. RAMAN, Director General, IS1 ( Ex-ojicio Member )
Director ( Civ Engg )

Secretary
SHRI K. K. SHARMA
Joint Director ( Civ Engg ), IS1
 IS:11485- 1985

Indian Standard
CRITERIA FOR
HYDRAULIC DESIGN OF SLUICES IN
CONCRETE AND MASONRY DAMS

0. FOREWORD
0.1This Indian Standard was adopted by the Indian Standards
Institution on 20 November 1985, after the draft finalized by the
Spillways Including Energy Dissipators Sectional Committee had been
~approved by the Civil Engineering Division Council.

0.2 Sluices are provided in the body of the dam to release regulated
supplies of water for a variety of purposes which are briefly listed below:

4 River diverson;

b) Irrigation;

c>Generation of hydro-electric power;

4 Water supply for municipal or industrial uses;

4 To pass the flood discharge in conjunction with the spillway;

f) Flood control regulation to release water temporarily stored in

flood control storage space or to evacuate the storage in anticipa-
tion of flood inflows;

d Depletion of the reservoir in order to facilitate inspection of the

reservoir rim and the upstream face of the dam for carrying out
remedial measures, if necessary;

h) To furnish necessary flows for satisfying prior right uses down-

stream; and

j> For maintenance of a live stream for abatement of stream

polation, preservation of aquatic life, etc.

0.3 The flow through a sluice may be either pressure flow or free flow
along its entire length or a combination of pressure flow in part length
and free flow in the remainder part.
0.4 In the formulation of this standard due weightage has been given to
International co-ordination among standards and practices prevailing in
IS:11485-1985

different countries in addition to relating it to the practices in the field

in this country. This has been met by deriving assistance from the
following publication:
EM-1 110-2-1602 Hydraulic design of reservoir outlet works, U.S.
Army ,Corps of Engineers.

1. SCOPE

1.1 This standard lays down the criteria for hydraulic design of sluices
in concrete and masonry dams.

1.2 It does not cover the hydraulic design of openings for penstocks.

2. TYPES OF SLUICES

2.1 Sluices may be classified depending upon their purpose, their

hydraulic operation or their alignment. The first two types have been
described in 0.2 and 0.3. Based upon their alignment, sluices may be
classified as under.

2.1.1 Straight Barrel Sluice - The barrel of this sluice is kept nearly
horizontal between the entry and exit transitions ( see Fig. la). This
sluice has the advantage of having minimum length due to which lesser
friction losses take place.

2.1.1.1 Horizontal sluices are generally used under the following

conditions:

a) When the sluices are drowned at the exit; and

b) When they have to be located at or near the river bed level, for
example, in construction sluices for river diversion.

2.1.1.2 The width of the sluice barrel is generally kept uniform

throughout the length except in the entry transaction.
2.1.1.3 If the sluice is designed for pressure flow conditions then the
top profile of the sluice may be given a slight constriction in accordance
with 3.4.1. On the other hand, if free flow conditions prevail then no
such constriction is required.

2.1.2 Trajectory Type Sluice - The barrel of this sluice is generally

kept horizontal downstream of the entry transition up to the service gate
to facilitate resting of the latter. Beyond the service gate the bottom of
the sluice conforms to the parabolic path of the trajectory and meets the
downstream face of the dam section tangentially ( see Fig. 1 ).

4
 IS : 11485- 1985

OoWNSrREAM FACE
OF SPILLWAY/NON-OVERFLOW

RGENCV GATE

IA Straight Barrel Sluice

UPSTREAM FACE
OF DAM

1B Trajectory Type Sluice

FIG. 1 TYPE OF SLUICE

2.1.2.1 The equation of the bottom profile after the service gate
shall be:.
x2 = k.H.y
where
k= coefficient ( A value of about 4 is generally used depend-
ing on the distance avaiIable to accommodate this curve
in the reach between the service gate and the downstream
face of the spillway/non-overflow section ).
H= head at the centre line of the gate opening.
x,y = co-ordinates of any point on the profik ( see Fig. lb ).
5
IS : 11485 - 1985

In case the trajectory profile defined by the above ~equation would

not permit meeting the downstream face tangentially, the adjustment of
pro& may be effected alternatively by introducing a small tilt in the
co-ordinate axes through a small transition zone just downstream of
service gate.

2.1.2.2 The width of the sluice is kept uniform throughout the length
except in the entry transition.

2.1.2.3 The height of the sluice is gradually reduced from down-

stream of the service gate to the exit in order to ensure pressure flow in
the sluce. The constriction shall be in accordance with 3.4.1.

3. DESIGN CONSIDERATIONS

3.1 Fixation of Size and Number of Sluices - The size and number
of sluices required to pass the desired discharge at a predetermined
reservoir elevation may be found based on the type of flow required to
be maintained in the sluice, that is, either pressure flow or free flow or a
combination of both. The sluice dimensions shall be so proportioned as
to provide a minimum of two number of sluices but simultaneously to
permit inspection and repair of the same.

3.1.1 Pressure Flow in the Sluice - For pressure flow conditions, the
following basic relation may be used:

HT = hL + hv
where
HT = total head needed to overcome various head losses to
produce discharge;
hL = the cumulative losses of the system in terms of velocity
head; and
hv == velocity head at the sluice exit.

For a free discharging sluice Hr shall be measured from the reservoir

water surface to the centre of the sluice at the exit. I~f the outflowing
jet is supported on a downstream floor the head shall be measured to the
point of greatest contraction and if the sluice is submerged at the exit
then the head shall be measured to the tail water level. The losses shall
consist of trashrock losses, entrance losses, friction losses, gate or valve
losses, bend losses, expansion and contraction losses. They may be ex-
pressed in terms of velocity head. The above equation may be re-written
in a simplified form as follows:
LIZ
HT = XL.---
2g
 IS : 11485- 1985

2g HT
Then Q = al 7
J L

where

KL = constant, which is obtained after considering all the

losses in the system;
V- velocity in the portion of the sluice where the cross
sectional area is al;
al = cross sectional area of the sluice, where the velocity is V;

g = acceleration due to gravity; and

Q = ~i~~~,g,essa~v~~rpe~~v~~i~~gh the sluice at a predeter-
.
3.1.2 Frte Flow ( Open Channel Flow > in the Sluice

3.1.2.1 When open channel flow is controlled by regulating gates,

the following relation shall be used.

Q = --&/G C.L. ( HI 312 - Hi 313)

where

Q= discharge to be passed through the sluice;

g= acceleration due to gravity;

L= width of the sluice;
&Hz = heads ( including the velocity of approach ) up to the
bottom and top of the gate, respectively; and
C= coefficient of discharge ( see Table 1 ).

TABLE 1 COEFFICIENT OF DISCHARGE, C, FOR CONDUIT ENTRANCES

( Chzuu 3.1.2.1 )

PARTICULARS COEBFICIENT OF DISCHARGE, C

c___--__--_*.--_-_-_--_-1-‘-7
Maximum Minimum Average

Gate in thin wall-unsuppressed Il.70 0.60 O-63

contraction
Gate in thin wall-bottom and 0.81 0.68 0.70
sides suppressed
Gate in thin wall-corners 0’95 0.71 0.82
rounded

7
IS:11485 - 1985

3.1.2.2 When there is high rail water either due to canal water
supply level or downstream ituences in the streambed, the regulating
gate~opening may be either partly or entirely submerged. For the
unsubmerged part of the gate opening the discharge shall be calculated
according to 3.1.2.1. However, for the submerged part of the gate open-
ing discharge shall be calculated by the following relation:

Q= C.A. 1/ 2gH
where
Q = discharge through submerged portion of the gate open-
ing,
A = area of the submerged portion of the sluice,
H = difference between upstream and downstrem water levels,
and

C = coefficient of discharge for submerged orifice or tube

flow. ( Its value generally varies between 0.62 to 0.81).

3.1.3 For calculating the size of the sluice and plotting the water
surface profile maximum losses should be considered. However,
minimum losses shall be considered for the design of the energy dissipa-
tion arrangements for the flow through sluices.

3.2 Shape of Sluices - Generally rectangular gates are preferred.

Therefore, the shape of sluices is also normally kept rectangular. Generally
the height of the sluice is kept as 1.5 times the width. However, circular
shapes may also be provided when small diameter openings ( less than
one metre ) are required to be regulated by valves.
3.3 Entry Transitions - The efficient functioning of a sluice depends
to a great extent on the design of its entry transitions. TO obtain the
best inlet efficiency, the shape of the entrance should simulate that of a
jet discharging into air. A bell mouth entrance which conforms to or
slightly encroaches upon the free jet profile will provide the best entrance
shape. Elliptical entrances have been found to be suitable.

3.3.1 For a rectangular or square sluice the entrance transition may

be defined by the following equation

X2
_I __
02 + ( o.&q5 = l

where D is the vertical height of the sluice ( downstream of the entrance

curve ) for top and bottom curves and the horizontal width of the sluice
( downstream of the entrance curve ) for the side curves.

8
 1s : 11485- 1985

3.3.2 For _a rectangular entrance with bottom placed even with

upstream floor, the side curves at the entrance may be defined by the
above equation. However, the top contraction curve may be given by
the following equation:

X2 YZ
02 + (0.67 D )2 = '
where D is the vertical height of the sluice downstream of the entrance
transition.

3.3.3 For a circular entrance the entry transition is given by the

following equation:

YZ
( O*5x; )Z + (0’15D)z = 1
where D is the diameter of the sluice downstream of the entrance transi-
tion.

3.4 Exit of the Sluice - The exit of the sluice shall be tangential to
either the downstream face of the spillway/non-overflow section or the
bucket or it may be upturned ( see Fig. 2 ).

3.4.1 In order to ensure the pressure flow conditions throughout the

length of the sluice and to avoid negative pressures the section of the
sluice should be constricted at the exit so as to give reduced cross-
sectional area commensurate with the increase in the velocity of flow. A
constriction of 10 to 15 percent in ilow area is generally found adequate
by effecting constriction in the roof profile only.

3.4.2 When the exit of the sluices is not drowned, the top profile of the
sluices is given a small turn of about 1.0 to 1.5 metres normal to the
downstream face of the spillway/non-overflow section. This helps in the
aeration of the sluice ( see Fig. 2 ).

3.4.3 In case of an upturned exit, the shape and dimensions of the

profile may be best worked out on the basis of the model studies. It has
to be used with caution in spillway/non-overflow sections because the
flow from the sluice may damage the energy dissipation arrangements of
the spillway or the downstream face of the spillway/non-overflow section,
if it falls over them. Alternatively, a jet disperser of suitable shape,
based on model studies may be provided.

3.4.4 In case the sluices are located in a spillway section, then no

separate energy dissipation arrangements are necessary. However, if
they are provided in a non-overflow section, then separate energy
dissrpation arrangements may have to be provided.

9
IS : 11485- 1985

TANGENTIAL TO
SPILLWAY PROFILE
i7

SLUlCE ___f

UPTURNED
SLUICE
__~ _
-\
\

FIG. 2 TYPESOF SLUICE EXIT

10
 IS : 11485 - 1985
3.4.5 In case the spillway and sluice run together then either sluice
eyebrow deflectors Mary be provided on the exit of the sluice or aeration
be provided at the exit end.
3.5 Control Devices - The flow through sluices is controlled by either
gates or valves. Generally, two sets ~of gates, that is, emergency and
service gates are provided. In case of construction sluices, the flow is
generally uncontrolled and only stoplogs are provided for the eventual
plugging of the sluices. Where the construction sluices are required to
be closed under flowing water, provision of emergency gates may be
considered.
3.5.1 The control ( service ) gates shall be located as far upstream as
possible. The operation and servicing may be done from operation
galleries/chambers in the dam (see Fig. 3 ). In order to repair the
gates without emptying the reservoir should they become inoperative, the
usual practice is to install a guard or emergency gate further upstream in
the sluices. These emergency gates may be placed either at the entrance
or inside the sluice and operated from galleries.

1
UPSTREAM -AIR VENT
FACE OF SLUICE
/
OAM -., OPERATION
CHAMBER

GATE

NOTE - The above dimensions are suggestive only. These may be changed to
meet local requirements.
FIG. 3 A TYPICAL ARRANGEMENT WITH GATES OPERATION FROM
OPERATION CHAMBER ( DETAILS OF GATES AND HOBTS NOT SHOWN )
11
IS : 11485- 1985

3.5.2 Sometimes when the sluice have to be located at high levels near
the crest in the spillway section, where it is not possible to provide a
gallery for gates operation, the sluices may also be located in thick
spillway piers in which the gates are operated from the top of pier ( see
Fig. 4 ).

~SPILCWAY PER

SiEC-flGklAL PLAN AA

FIG. 4 TYPICAL DETAILS OF SLUICE LOCATED IN THICK SPILLWAY PIER

3.5.3 In case of high heads ( more than 30 m ) gate controls may also
be located near the downstream end of the sluice to minimize possibilities
of cavitation.

3.5.4 For better slot hydraulics, the gate slots should be as small as
practicable and adequately streamlined.
12
 IS : 11485- 1985

3.6 Air Vents - Air vents of suitable size should be provided down-
stream of the control gates to supply air and thereby avoid or minimize
cavitation damages. The air demand for calculating the size of air vent
may be calculated from the following formulae:
i) For hydraulic jump formation in the conduit
fi = 0.006 6 ( FI, - 1 )l*J
ii) For spray flow

p = 0.20 F,,

iii) For free flow

p = 0.09 Fl,
where
volume flow rate of air
p = air-demand ratio
- volume flow rate of water

Fl, = Froude number at Vena contracta

= cc 1/ g he
VlC - Velocity of flow at the vena contracta
dl, = Depth of flow at the vena contracta
g = Acceleration due to gravity.

The size of air vents as determined above assume that the maximum
air demand occurs at a gate opening of 80 percent fully open and the
maximum air velocity in the vent does not exceed 50 m/s. Air vent
passages should use generous bend radi and gradual transitions to avoid
losses and particularly excessive noise. The air vent intakes should be
so located that they are inaccessible to the public and should be protected
by grills. The intake entrance average velocity should not exceed 10 m/s.
The air vent exit portal should be designed to ensure spread of air across
the full width of the conduit. The air vent should terminate into a
plenum located in the conduit roof and immediately downstream of the
gate. The plenum should extend across the full width of the conduit and
should be vaned so that the air flow is evenly distributed.

3.6.1 The size of the air vent should be such that the pressure drop
downstream of the gate does not normally exceed 2 m.
3.6.2 Hydraulic jump formation in the sluice should normally be
avoided. When unavoidable, sufficient clearance shall be provided
above the jump profile to avoid choked jump conditions.

3.6.3 Normally a sluice located in a spillway section should not

operate simultaneously with the spillway. However, if it is obligatory

13
IS : 11485 - 1985

to run the sluice in conjunction with the spillway, proper aeration should
be ensured at the exit either by running the sluice partially full or by
providing a suitable air-vent at the exit of the sluice.

3.6.4 Sometimes a steel liner may also be provided in the sluices near
the gates to avoid cavitation damages. In case of control being located
at the exit end, the entire length of sluice shall be provided with steel
liner.

3.7 Made1 Studies - Hydraulic model studies are desirable to test the
efficacy of the hydraulic design of the sluice and to verify the air-
demand. They should be done for the pre-determined minimum
reservoir elevation at which the sluice is designed to pass the required
discharge and also for higher reservoir elevations under the gate open-
ing necessary to pass the same discharge.

14