Thesis (MEng)--University of Stellenbosch, 2003. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This study sets out to explore the possibilities and accuracy of flow measurement at
natural controls, focussing specifically on Western Cape cobble-bed rivers. These
rivers are regarded as being difficult in terms of flow measurement, mostly due to their
large scale roughness and very turbulent and uneven flows.
The aim is to determine a system through which various types of natural controls can be
calibrated, by establishing a relationship between the discharge coefficient and the
physical characteristics of each control type. This was achieved by conducting an
extensive field investigation, focussing on the identification and gauging of both critical
and uniform natural controls. Two types of critical controls were identified and
investigated, namely step-pool controls and horizontal constriction controls as well as
one type of uniform flow control, namely the plane bed control.
Step-pool controls were found to be very robust controls which provided efficient
critical controls for a wide range of flows. Horizontal constriction controls proved to be
reasonably accurate measurement sites and, because of their physical characteristics,
they are able to measure the full range of flows from low to flood flows. Uniform
controls are widely used for flow measurements on deep rivers, but such measurements
become highly unreliable when flow depths are small and bed roughness high as is the
case with cobble-bed rivers. Under conditions of high roughness, generally speaking
critical controls can be calibrated more accurately than uniform controls and are
therefore to be preferred.
The field study was followed by a series of laboratory tests, focussing on horizontal
constriction controls. Calibration equations were derived by which the discharge
coefficient value can be determined for a given constriction ratio and upstream energy
head. Results from both the fieldwork and laboratory work were analysed and integrated to
determine a calibration system applicable to natural controls in Western Cape cobbleand
boulder-bed rivers. Reasonably accurate values of the discharge coefficients for
different types of natural controls were established, which should be widely applicable.
Additionally, guidelines were drawn up for the measurement of flow at natural controls,
to be used by both engineers and non-engineers.
Discharge measurement at natural controls in the Western Cape was found to be a
viable and reasonably accurate way of determining river discharge. It proves to be an
environmentally acceptable way of measurement, using the natural river characteristics
rather than seriously interfering with them or damaging them. These advantages make
discharge measurement at natural controls a promising means of determining river
discharge in the future. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die beste posisie vir vloeirneting in riviere is waar die topografie van die rivier 'n
unieke verhouding tussen die deurstroming en die water diepte bewerkstellig.
Hierdie studie ondersoek die uitvoerbaarheid en akkuraatheid van vloeirneting by
natuurlike kontroles met die fokus op Wes-Kaapse spoelklip riviere. Vloeirneting in
spoelklip riviere word as baie ingewikkeld beskou weens die grootte van die
bedpartikels relatieftot die vloeidiepte en gevolglike onewe, turbulente vloeie.
Die doel van die studie was om 'n stelsel te ontwikkel waardeur verskillende tipes
natuurlike kontroles gekalibreer kan word deur verwantskappe te bepaal tussen die
deurstromings koëffisiënt en die stroom-op energie hoogte. Bogenoemde is bepaal met
behulp van 'n uitgebreide veldstudie waarin die hoof tipes natuurlike kontroles, nl. die
kritiese vloei kontrole en die uniforme vloei kontrole, geidentifiseer en gekalibreer is.
Twee tipes kritiese vloei kontroles is ondersoek, naamlik die trap-poel ("step-pool")
kontrole en die horisontale vernouing kontrole.
Daar is bevind dat beide die trap-poel kontrole en die horisontale vernouing baie
effektiewe kritiese kontroles is, waarmee 'n wye reeks van vloeie gemeet kan word.
Uniforme vloei kontroles word algemeen vir vloeimeting in diep vloeiende riviere
gebruik, maar sulke metings word hoogs onbetroubaar wanner die vloeidiepte klein is
relatief tot die partikel grootte van die rivierbed, soos in die geval van spoelklip riviere.
Onder hierdie omstandighede kan kritiese kontroles in die algemeen meer akkuraat
gekalibreer word en word hul gevolglik bo uniforme vloei kontroles verkies.
Die veldstudie is gevolg deur 'n reeks laboratorium toetse, wat fokus op die horisontale
vernouing kontrole. Kalibrasie vergelykings is afgelei waarmee die deurstromings
koëffisient vir 'n gegewe stroom-op energiehoogte en vernouings-verhouding bereken
kan word.
Resultate van beide die veldstudie en die laboratorium toetse is geanaliseer en
geïntegreer om 'n kalibrasie stelsel te bepaal wat van toepassing is op natuurlike kontroles in Wes-Kaapse spoelklip riviere. Aanvaarbare waardes vir die deurstromings
koëffisiente vir verskeie tipes natuurlike kontroles is bepaal, wat algemeen toepasbaar
behoort te wees.
Riglyne vir die meting van riviervloei by natuurlike kontroles is opgestel vir die gebruik
deur beide ingenieurs en nie-ingenieurs.
Vloeimeting deur middel van natuurlike kontroles is 'n lewensvatbare metingsmetode
waarmee riviervloei redelik akkuraat bepaal kan word. Dit is 'n omgewingsaanvaarbare
metings metode wat die natuurlike karakter van die rivier gebruik, eerder as
om ernstig daarmee in te meng of dit te beskadig. Hierde positiewe eienskappe maak
vloeimeting deur middel van natuurlike kontroles 'n belowende metingsmetode vir die
toekoms.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:sun/oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/53395 |
| Date | January 2003 |
| Creators | Barnard, M. M |
| Contributors | Rooseboom, A., Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Engineering. Dept. of Civil Engineering. |
| Publisher | Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Language | en_ZA |
| Detected Language | Unknown |
| Type | Thesis |
| Format | 1 v. |
| Rights | Stellenbosch University |
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