1. ERDC Knowledge Core
2. Pre - Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC)
3. Hydraulics Laboratory - (8/1/1972 - 9/1996)
4. Publication
5. Miscellaneous Paper

Title:	Mathematical model study of a flow control plan for the Chesapeake and Delaware Canal
Authors:	United States. Army. Corps of Engineers. Philadelphia District. Johnson, Billy H.
Keywords:	Chesapeake and Delaware Canal Delaware River Chesapeake Bay Mathematical models Numerical models Control structures Open channel flow Flow control Sea level canals SOCHMJ
Publisher:	Hydraulics Laboratory (U.S.) Engineer Research and Development Center (U.S.)
Series/Report no.:	Miscellaneous paper (U.S. Army Engineer Waterways Experiment Station) ; H-74-10.
Description:	Miscellaneous Paper Abstract: In 1954 Congress authorized an enlargement of the sea level canal connecting the Delaware River and the Chesapeake Bay . This enlargement was to provide a 35-ft by 450-ft channel section instead of the 27-ft by 250-ft channel which existed at that time. As of 1974, about 90 percent of the project has been physically completed with about 1 mile of the eastern end of the canal remaining to be dredged. Extensive studies to define the ecological effects of channel enlargement have not thus far indicated any significant adverse effect which would warrant flow control in the canal. However, it was considered advisable to investigate the feasibility of flow control schemes in case such control ever became desirable. The primary objective of a flow control plan would be to restore net flows to approximately preproject conditions (i.e., 250-ft by 27-ft canal conditions). A second requirement suggested by the ecological studies was that the velocity in the main canal should not be allowed to fall below 1 fps during the majority of the tidal cycle. This requirement stems from the fact that,during the spawning season, striped bass eggs (which cannot survive on the channel bottom) rely upon flow velocities to maintain their suspension in the water column. Of the various flow control schemes considered (see Appendix A), a navigation lock and dam in the main canal, along with a small bypass canal, was selected as perhaps the best flow control plan to satisfy simultaneously the the two criteria previously discussed. A mathematical model, called SOCHMJ, for the computation of unsteady flows in a system composed of an unlimited number of open channels has been employed to determine the feasibility of such a flow control plan. Several test cases employing different bypass channel sections and lengths were run. During these tests it was found that the velocity in the bypass canal became so large for some bypass canal lengths as to become hazardous to small craft navigating through the bypass. Therefore, the additional criterion of restricting velocities in the bypass canal to be less than 6.0 fps was imposed. The results from the mathematical model study indicate that the proposed flow control plan is definitely feasible. Furthermore, it is shown that during extreme tide conditions a bypass channel section of 18 ft by 200 ft and a length of 1.0 mile is almost sufficient to satisfy simultaneously the net flow criterion, the main canal velocity criterion, and the bypass canal velocity criterion. Further refinement of this flow control plan would of course be required if construction of such a plan became desirable.
Rights:	Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited.
URI:	http://hdl.handle.net/11681/10783
Appears in Collections:	Miscellaneous Paper