JWSS - Journal of Water and Soil Science

---

Physiographic characteristics of Atrak Watershed described by a number of parameters were used in regression models to estimate maximum daily discharges. These parameters were sub-watershed area, main waterway length, mean waterway slope, mean watershed elevation and mean watershed slope. Based on the results of correlation between the above parameters and their suitability for discharge estimation, three regression models were developed for further analysis. Model 1 applied area as the independent variable to estimate maximum daily discharge. In model 2 area and mean watershed elevation were the independent variables. Model 3 used area and mean waterway slope as the independent variables. Even though the results of testing did identified all three models as appropriate for application, further testing selected model 1 as the most appropriate. Recommendations were made for model application to similar watersheds lacking the necessary data.

---

Peak discharge is one of the basic parameters in the design of hydraulic structures. There are various methods for peak discharge determination. Regional flood frequency analysis is based on physical, climatological and hydrological characteristics of basins. The objective of this study is to examine different models for the estimation of quantiles for some catchments in western Iran (namely: Gharehsoo, Gamasiab, Kashkan, Seimareh, Sezar and Abshineh) for which only maximum daily mean discharge data exist. In this research, peak and maximum daily mean discharges for 11 stream gauging stations were collected for a 21-year period. The ratio of these two discharges (R) and mean and standard deviations of peak discharges and maximum daily mean discharges were computed. Catchment characteristics including catchment area, catchment perimeter, main channel length, mean elevation, mean slope equivalent rectangle length, circular ratio, Gravelius coefficient, drainage density, time of concentration, relief ratio and diameter of the circle having equal area with the catchment were computed. Linear regression analysis was performed between independent variables of the catchments and mean standard deviation of the parameter “R” to develop a relation. The results of this study can be applied to the estimation of extreme flow values for non-recording stream gauging stations (daily reading sites).

---

Life in central Iran depends on the Zayandehrood river, making the preservation of its quality important. Salinization and pollution of the flow as a result of different organic and inorganic pollutants create serious threats to the environment and to the agricultural activities in the region. Although the role of the main drains discharged into the Zayandehrood in changing its quality is well known, little information is available on the volume and quality of the discharged drains. The purpose of this research was to study the quantity and quality of three main drains (Zoab-Ahan, Rudasht and Segzi) discharging into the Zayandehrood, Monthly samples were taken from each drain and their chemical properties were measured in 1998. The discharge rates were also measured simultaneously at sections near the discharge points.

The results showed that all three drains were alkaline and, therefore, had no negative effects on the pH of the river flow. Mean annual EC of Zoab-Ahan, Rudasht and Segzi drains were 5.56, 27.18 and 42.41 dS/m, respectively, and the salt loads discharged into the river by these drains were 39258.4, 37672.9 and 259781.2 ton/year, respectively. Annual mean N concentrations were 4.49, 3.92 and 4.18 mg/L and annual mean P concentrations were 0.26, 0.16 and 0.12 mg/L in the drains, respectively. The most important effect of the drains on the Zayandehrood was salinization, especially in the lower parts of the river. The increase in soluble salt contents of the river after Segzi drain discharge was so high that it made the water thereafter unusable for any purpose.

---

Flood is one of the catastrophic events that has attracted the hydrologists’ attention. In this research one of the important flood indices, i.e. maximum-daily mean-discharge, was determined for several western Iran watersheds, namely, in the catchments of Gamasiab, Qarasou, Saimare, Kashkan, Sezar and Abshineh. Daily data were prepared from stream-gauging stations and a 30-year concurrent period was selected.

 Flood frequency analysis was performed using HYFA and TR computer programs and optimum distributions were chosen by goodness of fit tests. Extreme flow values having different return periods of 2, 5, 10, 25, 50, 100, 500 and 1000 years were calculated. Modeling was done with regional analysis using multiple regression technique between maximum-daily mean-discharge and physiographic characteristics of the basins. The most important parameter for the selection of the model was the adjusted coefficient of determination while significant level, standard error and observed discharger vs. computed discharge plot acted as controlling parameters. Finally, different models with different parameters were selected from power, exponential, linear and logarithmic forms. The results showed the power model to be the best among the four types. The main channel length, drainage density and time of concentration were the most effective parameters on flow. After analyzing the errors, it appeared that increasing the return period would cause an increase in the model error. At 1000-year return period, the error reached 32.2%.

---

Of the many hydraulic structures developed by man, the weir is perhaps the oldest. Weirs are used for the measurement of discharge and regulation of water flow. The most common types of weirs are broad-crested, sharp-crested, circular-crested and cylindrical, and ogee crest weirs. Advantage of the circular-crested and cylindrical weir compared to the other weirs include simplicity of design, stable overflow pattern, larger coefficient of discharge and the associated lower costs. In the present study, potential flow around a circular cylinder are adapted to determine the velocity distribution at the crest section and to develop a model for coefficient of discharge (C_d) for circular-crested weirs. These results were evaluated using present test data for three types of weir models, namely, cylindrical, semicylindrical and semicylindrical with different heights and also Dressler theory. The results of the study showed that the experimental velocity profile agree very well with the theoretical profiles for the range of the study. Also, the prediction of the velocity distribution over the weir crest using Dressler theory is always less than the proposed model and measured data. The predicted values of coefficient of discharge (C_d) based on the proposed model agree well with C_d determined from direct discharge measurements. For the cylindrical model, the coefficient of discharge can be predicted from the proposed model within an error of –7% and for the semicylindrical and semicylindrical with different heights within ± 5%.

---

Side weirs as flow diversion devices are widely used in irrigation, land drainage and urban sewage systems. In the present study, the effects of the length and height of inclined side weir crest on discharge coefficient were investigated in prismatic and nonprismatic rectangular channels.. In this study, 675 laboratory tests were conducted. Analysis of experimental tests showed that the discharge coefficient is strongly correlated with uptream Froude number, height of weir to depth ratio at upstream of weir, ratio of water depth on weir to length of weir, and with prismatic factor. Based on experimental results, a model is proposed. The model is capable of estimating the discharge coefficient under subcritical flow conditions. Finally, the data from the proposed model was compared with those obtained by other researchers under different side and bed slopes. There was a good agreement with a relative error of less than ten percent.

---

The vertical pipe intake is an economical structure relative to the other alternatives. VPI usually installed near the water surface and prevents from the coarse sediment entrance to the system. The strong vortex in VPI entrance is a major problem which may reduce the system efficiency. Recognizing the vortex affected parameters, helping engineers to design anti vortex structures. In this study an experimental model is built to study the effect of tangential velocity, flow direction at approach channel outlet on the discharge coefficient of vertical pipe intake. By dimensional analysis it is indicated that the vortex in VPI could be defined by the dimensionless numbers (Reynolds, Weber, Froude, Circulation and Submergence). The relationship between the Froude, Circulation and Submergence numbers are presented. By using this relation one can determine the Submergence number and then calculate the discharge coefficient of vertical pipe intake.

---

Because of slight variation of the static head due to discharge fluctuations, the labyrinth weirs are considered to be economical structures for flood control and water level regulation in irrigation networks, as compared to other devices. Labyrinth weirs are composed of folded sections observed as trapezoidal and triangular in plan view. In this study, rectangular and U-shaped labyrinth weirs were investigated. Experiments were conducted on 15 labyrinth weir models. The models included eight rectangular labyrinth models and six U-shaped labyrinth models with different heights and lengths, and one linear model. All the experiments were performed in a horizontal rectangular flume, 7 m long, 0.32 m wide and 0.35 m high. The results indicated that for all the models, discharge coefficient increased sharply with an increase in Ht/P and attained a maximum value. This coefficient then decreased smoothly with a further increase in Ht/P. Increasing height of weirs increased the discharge coefficient for both rectangular and U-shaped weirs. The results also showed that increasing the length parallel to the flow direction decreased and increasing the length perpendicular to the flow direction increased the discharge coefficient. Generally, the discharge coefficient for rectangular weir was less than that of the U-shaped weir. The obtained results compared with those of Tullis et al. (1995) showed that discharge coefficient for U-shaped weir is more and for rectangular weir is less than that of the trapezoidal weir for angle of the side legs of 8 and 12 degrees.

---

  Continuous measurement of river discharge is a hard and expensive task in hydrology. To overcome this problem, the stage readings at hydrometric gauges are permanently taken and the discharge of any time at which the actual discharge is unavailable will be estimated through a relationship between discharge and stage. To study the stage-discharge relations and the capability of long-term data in establishing a permanent stage-discharge relationship, and also to determine the best time to measure the discharge of rivers, a study was conducted at the hydrometric station of the Zayandehrud regulatory dam using data from 1990 to 2003. The data were analyzed using simple regression analysis, the percentage of relative error and factor analysis. The results indicated that the best model to show the stage-discharge relation at the studied station is a power function model. Moreover, the model used for every year can only be used for that year. The results also showed that the most suitable times for the measurement of discharge are July, December and March.

---

Climate change has different impacts on extreme events such as flood and drought. However, in Iran there are few researches about the impacts. This research was aimed to investigate maximum annual discharge (magnitude and frequency) that may occur due to climate change in Aidoghmoush Basin during 2040-2069 (2050s). At first, monthly temperature and precipitation data of HadCM3 model under the SRES emission scenario, namely A2 , was provided for the basin. Then, these data were downscaled spatially and temporally to Aidoghmoush basin by proportional and change factor downscaling methods. Results showed that the temperature increases (between 1.5 to 4) and the precipitation varies (30 to 40 percent) in 2040-2069 compared with baseline period (1971-2000). A semi-conceptual model (IHACRES) for simulation of daily runoff was calibrated. Downscaled temperature and Precipitation for 2050s were introduced to IHACRES and daily runoff was simulated for the future. Probability distribution was fitted to maximum annual discharge series and the maximum discharge regime of the future was compared with the baseline. Results indicated that climate change affects Maximum discharge in the regime of the basin. Also, the analysis showed that the intensity of maximum discharges for the time period less than 50 does not show any significant difference but by increasing the return period, the intensity increases in future periods. Moreover, it was shown that the probability of maximum discharges with constant intensity will decrease in the future compared to the baseline.

---

Direct measurement of discharge in rivers is time-consuming and costly, and sometimes, impossible under flood conditions because of the high speed of water, its transitory nature, and the existence of different floaters along the water. Therefore, the discharge-stage relation, known as Discharge Rating Curve is used. Moreover, to design hydraulic constructions, the maximum flood discharge and its maximum height are required. Therefore, to calculate the flood discharges, one should extend the discharge rating curve by using appropriate methods. In this study, in order to determine the best method for the extension of discharge-stage curve, and to estimate the corresponding discharge with high stages, the logarithmic method, the Manning method, the Chezy method, and the Area-Velocity method in 13 hydrometric stations at the Karkheh watershed in Lorestan province were compared. Data measured at each station were gathered for a ten-year statistical period. Results of calculating the Root Mean Square Error (RMSE) and the Mean Bias Error (MBE) for each method showed that the logarithmic method was more accurate than other methods, and it was more appropriate for the extension of the curve at the low average discharge stations. The Area-Velocity method, after the logarithmic method, especially at the stations with higher average discharge showed good results. The Manning and Chezy methods showed the least accuracy.

---

This study was conducted on subsurface drainage network under operation in Behshahr. DRAINMOD model was used to simulate drainage system using measured data in 2006. The model was evaluated to estimate soil hydraulic conductivity by comparing the measured and predicted values of water table depth and drain discharge for different values of hydraulic conductivity. The results of this method were compared with the results of output drainage water method (as a baseline method). Use of water table depth simulation results in estimating hydraulic conductivity model resulted in considerable error, while the simulation results of drain discharge rate could be used with good accuracy for estimating it. There was a small difference between the output drainage water method and the inverse solution of DRAINMOD model to estimate soil hydraulic conductivity (2.3 and 2.5 cm/h, respectively). Thus, the comparison between the measured and predicted values of drain discharge could be a good criterion to estimate soil hydraulic conductivity using the inverse solution of the DRAINMOD model

---

One of the usual ways to dissipate excess energy in the dam's downstream is hydraulic jump. Hydraulic jump is a rapidly varied flow, in which the flow conditions change from supercritical to sub-critical with a large amount of energy loss. In this research, a combination of two water jets in the form of overflow dam and underflow through a slot on the body of an ogee dam with the USBR standard was established in order to decrease the length and sequent depth in a hydraulic jump. In these experiments, the underflow from the slot was designed with three out passages of 0, 45, and 90 degrees in respect horizontal line. Six different discharge ratios were used for each slot and the effect of each experiment conditions on decreasing of the length and sequent depth of hydraulic jump was investigated. The results showed that the confluence of two jets with 45 degrees from the slot had the maximum effect on the reducing of the length of hydraulic jump and sequent depth, and when 26 percent of the total discharge passed through the slot as underflow, it caused the length of hydraulic jump to be reduced by 50 percent in comparison with the classic jump. This slot not only decreases the length and sequent depth of hydraulic jump but also the sediment behind the dam can be evacuated through it. Moreover, it increases the discharge coefficient.

---

Stage – discharge relationship is mainly developed from measured data in any hydrometry station. Measured data usually obtain in low to medium flow discharge, because in most cases it is very difficult to measure the flow discharge during flood. Therefore, the stage–discharge is extrapolated beyond the measured data to compute the flood which may estimate low or higher value. This is because during the high flow, the bed form is developed which causes the flow resistance to change. In order to establish a better stage – discharge relation, it is important to apply methods which consider the bed form resistance. In this study an attempt has been made to determine the best method for developing such relationship. To reach the goal, the required data such as river cross section, discharge and related stage and bed material gradation from Ghorbaghestan hydrometry station were measured for two years. Then a computer program was developed. Using this program and applying the measured data, the stage – discharge relationships were computed by five different methods. From the statistical comparison of the results of these methods with measured data, it was found that Shen, Brownlie, Engelund and White’s method overestimate the flow discharge. The best method was found to be the Einstein – Barbarossa’s method that provided the minimum absolute mean errors 0.31 and 1.468 m3/s and minimum root mean square error 0.112 and 0.466 m3/s for the two study years, respectively

---

Drip irrigation is a new method of irrigation that is rapidly growing in different countries. The emitters are the most important parts of a drip irrigation system. Many factors such as physical, chemical and biological clogging, pressure, water temperature affect the emitter´s uniformity of water emission. In this study, to investigate pressure effect on the hydraulic performance of emitters, 7 kinds of compensating emitters in the market were selected and studied in laboratory conditions. For this purpose, a drip irrigation system was designed in irrigation laboratory in faculty of water sciences engineering, Shahid Charm University, Ahwaz. Average flow of emitters, Manufacturer´s coefficient of variation of emitter(CV), emission uniformity(EU), Christiansen coefficient of uniformity(CU) and Flow Variations for all types of emitters at pressures of 5, 10, 15 and 20 meters were calculated and compared. Also, in order to compare the pressure compensating capacity, for every emitter the equation of Flow- pressure was extracted. Results showed that the D-type emitter has the best hydraulic performance from among the emitters tested. Therefore, to achieve higher efficiency and also to use it on slopes and uneven lands this emitter is recommended as the best. However, performances of other emitters are also acceptable.

---

Floor intake is one of the best options for diverting mountain rivers' flow. Determination of discharge diverted in different conditions of flow in main channel is one of the main objectives for intake under rack floor condition. Gradient and shape of grid rod floor can affect the discharge deviated. In this experiment, placement and gradient of grid rods and also their effects on the discharge coefficient and hydraulic parameters were investigated. For this purpose, a physical model made of glass with variable gradient was used for the main channel. To conduct and measure the discharge diverted, a sub-channel 8 meters away from the entrance of main channel was installed below the main channel. Length and width of intake entrance were 10 and 50 cm, respectively. At the entrance of intake a longitudinal grid with four different rod diameters, constant-space passing, and four different gradients were used. Meanwhile, for the investigation of flow rate four discharges were used. The results showed that intake discharge coefficient was increased with an increase in diameter of grid rod floor, reduction in floor gradient, and increasing of depth in the upstream network. In all cases, increasing the Froude number resulted in an increase in the intake discharge coefficient in the upstream network

---

  Prediction of sediment load transported by rivers is a crucial step in the management of rivers, reservoirs and hydraulic projects. In the present study, in order to predict the suspended sediment of Taleghan river by using artificial neural

network, and recognize the best ANN with the highest accuracy, 500 daily data series of flow discharge on the present day, flow discharge on the past day, flow depth and hydrograph condition (respectively with the average of 13.83 (m³/s), 15.42 (m³/s), 89.83 (cm) and -0.036) as input variables, and 500 daily data series of suspended sediment, as the output of the model were used. The data was related to the period of 1984-2005. 80 different neural networks were developed using different combinations of variables and also changing the number of hidden-layer neurons and threshold functions. The accuracy of the models was then compared by R² and RMSE. Results showed that the neural network with 3-9-1 structure and input parameters of flow discharge on the present day, flow discharge on the past day and flow depth was superior (R²= 0.97 and RMSE= 0.068) compared to the other structures. The average of the observed data of sediment and that predicted by the optimal model (related to test step) were 1122.802 and 1184.924 (tons per day), respectively.

---

The combined system of gate and weir is used for flow measurement in open channels. But in case the passing water has floating material and sediment it damages their performance and hence error of measurement will increase. In order to solve this problem, weir and gate can be combined and a concentrated hydraulic system known as weir-gate can be developed, thus allowing sediments transportation from under the gate and floating particles on weir. The principal goal of this study was to investigate the passing flow characteristics by trapezoidal weir and sharp-edge rectangular sluice gate in rectangular channel, and also suggest a discharge coefficient for combinational flow in different flow conditions. The experiments were carried out in laboratory channel on models with different geometric dimensions under various hydraulic conditions. Discharge coefficient was presented for various condition of passing flow of trapezoidal sharp-edge weir and below rectangular sluice gate using statistical analysis conducted on dimensionless geometric parameters affecting the flow. Resulting discharge coefficients were in agreement with laboratory results.

---

Side weir is the structure to evacuate extra water from a canal when level of water rises. This structure is mounted on the wall of canal. It is used predominantly to set flow in irrigation and drainage systems or urban wastewater harvesting systems. Implementing guide vanes is a simple way to increase side weir efficiency. In this study, the effect of using guide vanes on discharge and discharge coefficient of rectangular sharp-crested side weirs was investigated. ADV instrument was applied for recording vertical velocity over the crest of side weir. Local discharge was calculated by vertical velocity data for both conditions of presence and no presence of guide vanes. Results showed that in both cases, increasing the Froude number results in the decrease of passing discharge and discharge coefficient of the rectangular sharp-crested side weir. Data analysis also showed that by increasing the Froude number, guide vanes have more effect on increasing discharge coefficient and local discharge. The local discharge increased along the crest and the most passing local discharge occurred near the end of the side weir.  Analysis indicates that using guide vanes leads to the increase of discharge coefficient by about 32%.

---

Morning glory spillway is one of the spillways and used when it is not possible to use any other spillways. With the onset of submergence and flow loss, and intensification of circulation and vortexes, spillway performance decreases severely. With decreasing discharge coefficient, the height of water in the reservoir increases and the risk of dam damage, caused by the lack of spillway ability of great flow discharge, increases. Anti-vortex piers are used to solve this problem. The increase of the submergence threshold can provide ability of greater flow discharging, without spillway submergence and its negative consequences. Anti-vortex piers, in addition to correcting circulation and vortexes, may also be effective in increasing the submergence threshold. To investigate this possibility, 110 experiments were performed with the physical model on spillways with square and circular inlet section in different modes and number of anti-vortex piers. Results show that increasing number of Anti-vortex piers increases the submergence threshold and spillway can discharge greater inflow and height of water without being submerged. The effect of the overflow of the circle shape, because currents and vortexes spinning in a circle overflow is higher than square spillway. Also the maximum discharge coefficient was observed when 4 vortex breakers were installed at the angle of 90 degrees.