ROCK CHUTE OUTLET STABILITY

C. E. Rice, K. C. Kadavy, K. M. Robinson, K. R. Cook

ABSTRACT. Rock chutes, rock riprap on steep slopes, are used as grade control structures to safely conduct a water flow
to a lower elevation. Previous studies have reported relationships to predict the highest stable unit discharge on the
sloping face as a function of the material D50 and the bed slope. However the studies do not report the riprap size
required for stability at the toe of the chute. The riprap size required for outlet stability was examined in two separate
flumes and two field-scale structures. For all tests, the D50 size predicted for stability on the sloping bed was also stable
at the toe of the chute. The tailwater elevation resulting from the outlet reach and downstream channel resistance was
sufficient to prevent movement of the riprap in the outlet reach. Keywords. Riprap, Rock chute, Grade control,
Hydraulic structures.

G
radient control structures are used to locally drop individual minimum stone size (diameter and weight of
the channel bed level and decrease the channel spherical specimen) for a range of bottom velocities up to
grade to a stable gradient between structures for 17 ft/s (presented in English units). If the bottom velocity
man-made or naturally occurring channels. One cannot be determined, the local velocity may be
type of grade control structure is a rock chute. Rock chutes substituted. This procedure for sizing riprap has been
can be used in many situations to stabilize steep reaches of presumed to be conservative.
the channel. Depending on site conditions and stone Robinson et al. (1997) presented the following equation
availability, rock chutes may offer economic advantages to relate the maximum recommended unit discharge, stone
over the more traditional grade control structures. size, and bed slope (NOTE: The second equation is in
The rock chute is formed by lining the channel with a English unit):
geotextile and riprap. The riprap serves to stabilize the
chute and dissipate a portion of the flow energy. In order to q-
- (Dso s)(l.40+0.213/ti) exp (-11.2 + 1.4616) (la)
function properly, the chute must have a stable outlet. For
ease of construction, it is desirable to use the same size of
rock and diameter distribution for the outlet as is used on
q= [ lo.76 (305&, S)(1-40+o.213/‘@
the chute slope.
exp (-11.2 + 1.46/s)] (lb)
B ACKGROUND
Procedures for sizing riprap for overtopping flows and where q is the unit discharge, m3/s/m (ft3/s/ft); D50 is rock
embankment slopes have been presented by Isbash (1936), size for which 50% of the sample is finer by weight, mm
Abt and Johnson (1991), Stephenson (1979), and (ft); S represents slope, m/m (ft/ft), dimensionless; and
Robinson et al. (1997). These procedures may not be exp is the exponential. Equation 1 is not a curve fit to the
applicable for riprap placed at the toe of rock chutes to data, but a curve enveloping the data. Thus, the predicted
ensure stability as the flow transitions from the values should be somewhat conservative.
embankment to the toe and the downstream channel. Previous studies do not address the stability of riprap at
The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation presented a procedure the toe of the chute (chute outlet). This article extends the
for sizing riprap at the exit of stilling basins (Peterka, research by Robinson et al. (1997) by examining the
1964). A curve (Figure 165, Peterka, 1964) gives the stability of riprap at the chute outlet.

Article was submitted for publication in September 1997; reviewed EXPERIMENTS

and approved for publication by the Soil & Water Div. of ASAE in
December 1997.
A schematic drawing describing the test variables is
The authors are Charles E. Rice, ASAE Member Engineer, Research presented in figure 1. Table 1 presents the range of
Hydraulic Engineer, Kem C. Kadavy, ASAE Member Engineer, flume/chute dimensions used in the study. Two three-
Agricultural Engineer, Kerry M. Robinson, ASAE Member Engineer, dimensional field-scale chutes, with 2.74 m (9.00 ft) wide
Research Hydraulic Engineer, and Kevin R. Cook, ASAE Member bottoms and 2:l side slopes were tested. Figures 2, 3, and
Engineer, Agricultural Engineer, Hydraulic Engineering Research Unit,
Plant Science and Water Conservation Research Laboratory, USDA-
4, respectively, present the 1.07 m (3.5 1 ft) wide flume, the
Agricultural Research Service, Stillwater, Oklahoma. Corresponding 1.83 m (6.00 ft) wide flume, and the 16.7% slope field
author: Kem Kadavy, USDA-ARS, 1301 N. Western Street, Stillwater, structure prior to testing (The flume slopes are variable).
OK, 74075; tel: (405) 624-4135; e-mail: [email protected]. The properties of the riprap used in the tests are presented

Applied Engineering in Agriculture

VOL. 14(2): 145-148 1998 American Society of Agricultural Engineers 145

bed slope predicted by equation 1 will be stable for the REFERENCES
outlet reach. Also, the results show that the minimum Abt, S. R., and T. L. Johnson. 1991. Riprap design for overtopping
tailwater that occurs as a result of the outlet reach and flow. J. Hydr..Engng. 117(8):959-972.
downstream channel resistance is sufficient to ensure Isbash, S. V. 1936. Construction of dams by depositing rock in
stability of the riprap. running water. In Trans., Second Congress on Large Dams,
Washington, D.C., 123-136.
Observations were made during each test to establish
Peterka, A. J. 1964. Hydraulic Design of Stilling Basins and
the required length, Lb, of the horizontal riprap at the toe of Energy Dissipators. Engineering Mono. No. 25. Washington,
the chute. For all tests, the waves and significant turbulent D.C.: U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, U.S. Dept. of Interior.
activity in the outlet reach did not continue beyond 14 D50 Robinson, K. M., C. E. Rice, and K. C. Kadavy. 1997. Rock chutes
downstream of the sloping bed. It is recommended that for grade control. In Proc. Conf. on Management of
Lb/D50 2 15 for the outlet section downstream of the toe. Landscapes Disturbed by Channel Incision, University of
The elevation of the top of riprap at the exit of the outlet Mississippi, 211-216. Oxford, Miss.: The Center for
reach should be at or below the downstream channel bed Computational Hydroscience and Engineering.
elevation to prevent unraveling or sloughing of the riprap. Stephenson, D. 1979. Rockfill in Hydraulic Engineering, 215:127-
Unraveling or sloughing of the riprap in the outlet reach 129. New York, N.Y.: Elsevier Scientific Publishing Company.
could result in failure of the chute structure.

NOTATION
SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS The following symbols are used in this article:
Studies reported in the literature relative to rock chutes Cu =
coefficient of uniformity, D60/D10
predict conservative riprap size required for stability on the D10 =
riprap size for which 10% is finer by weight, mm (ft)
sloping bed of the chute but do not address the stability of D50 =
riprap size for which 50% is finer by weight, mm (ft)
riprap at the toe of the chute. This article extends the D60 =
riprap size for which 60% is finer by weight, mm (ft)
research studies on rock chutes reported in the literature by D84.1 =
riprap size for which 84.1% is finer by weight, mm
examining the stability of riprap at the chute outlet. (ft)
Tests were conducted in two flumes and two field-scale Gs = specific gravity
structures at slopes ranging from 8 to 40%, riprap ranging L = length of stone, m (ft)
from 52 to 278 mm (0.171 to 0.912 ft), and discharges Lb = length of outlet riprap section, m (ft)
5 0.752 m3/s/m (8.09 ft 3/s/ft) to develop criteria for the q = unit discharge, m3/s/m (ft3/s/ft)
size of riprap required for stability at the toe of the chute. S = bed slope, expressed as a decimal
Results of the study show that the riprap size required for Tw = tailwater depth, relative to top of riprap, m (ft)
stability on the sloping bed of the chute using equation 1 W = width of stone, m (ft)
will be stable for the outlet reach. Movement of the riprap = geometric standard deviation, D84. 1/D50
in the outlet reach was not observed in any of the tests even
with the worst case conditions.
The length Lb of the outlet section downstream of the
toe of the chute should be 2 15 D50 The elevation of top of
riprap at the exit of the outlet reach should be at or slightly
below the downstream channel bed elevation to prevent
unraveling or sloughing of the riprap in the outlet reach
which could result in failure of the chute structure.

148 APPLIED ENGINEERING IN AGRICULTURE