Steady and Unsteady Simulation of Lower Bari Doab Canal using SIC Model

Irrigation canal simulation models are representations of physical irrigation systems in computer which can be calibrated to simulate and optimize the actual canal hydraulics and operational conditions. This paper presents hydraulic simulation of canal reaches and structures of Lower Bari Doab Canal for effective canal management and operations to improve the performance of an irrigation system. The roughness coefficient of different canal reaches and calibration parameters for inline and off takes were determined. The field measurements performed for canal simulations included physical parameters of canal reaches and structures, upstream and downstream heads of water in canal reaches and corresponding discharges. Hydrodynamic simulation model SIC was applied to determine roughness values with steady flow profiles under different predetermined operating scenarios that match with the given upstream and downstream depths. Calibration parameters, coefficient and exponents were determined from field measurements by modeling of flow control structures during simulation process under known set of conditions. The model was calibrated for observed data August 20-27, 2010 and validated for different irrigation periods spanning over six years from 2006 to 2011. The observed and simulated flows were in close agreement during calibration and validation periods. The steady state behavior of the main canal was simulated for canal operations with different flow rates and unsteady flow state for different flow transitions. The results indicate that SIC model can be considered as a useful decision support tool for a large canal to evaluate its performance for better management and operation.