ARS | Publication request: DESIGN OF ROCK CHUTES

Submitted to: American Society of Agricultural Engineers Meetings Papers
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: August 14, 1997
Publication Date: N/A

Interpretive Summary: Rock chutes are cost effective and aesthetically pleasing structures, but they are often not considered because adequate design information is not available. This paper brings together design information from several sources to provide a current and complete design guide. Research was done to predict the stable rock size for a specific flow rate and channel slope. .The channel roughness and outlet stability are also predicted. Related design topics are also discussed that have a major impact on the performance of rock chutes. This paper should be of value to Federal, State, and private designers and owners of hydraulic structures. These design tools have generated much interest in the design community, and many rock chutes are already being built using these new criteria.

Technical Abstract: Rock chute design information is brought together from several sources to provide a comprehensive design tool. The slope stability, boundary roughness, and outlet stability of rock chutes are discussed, as are many related design topics. This paper contains most of the information needed to complete a rock chute design. Angular riprap with median stone sizes of 15 to 278 mm were tested on slopes ranging from 2.5 to 40%. Rock chutes ar cost effective, aesthetically pleasing structures that can be used confidently when applying this comprehensive design information.