UNIT 8 TILE DRAINAGE SYSTEM DESIGN

Structure
Introduction
Objectives

Depth and Spacing of the Tile Drains

8.2.1 8.2.2

Hooghoudt's Equation US Bureau of Reclamation (USBR) Formula

Capacity of Tile Drains Grades of Tile Drains Size of Tile Drains Load on Tile Drains Testing of Tiles Tile Joint Spacing Summary Key Words Answer to SAQs

8.1 INTRODUCTION
A tile drainage system consists of a drainage outlet, tile main, sub-main and laterals. The laterals remove free water from the soil; and the submains and mains carry drainage water to the drainage outlet. The movement of water into sub-surface drains is influenced by the following factors: a) b) c) Permeability of the soil horizon availability and location of free water, presence and magnitude of artesian pressure or back pressure in drain depth and spacing of drains

d) drain diameter e)
f)

tile joint spacing depth to impervious layer below the ground surface.

All these factors are important while taking up design of tile drainage system. Design of tile drainage system should be such that it meets the functional and locational requirements. The design of tile drains as stated in Unit 7 includes: 1) the layout and arrangement of drain line, 2) selection of suitable outlet, 3) 4) proper depth and spacing of laterals to collect excess water efficiently, determination of length and size of drains,

5) selection of good quality material for different segments of the system, and

6 ) design of inlet and outlet structures. The layout and arrangement of drains has been explained to you already. The performance of a drainage system and its longevity depends upon proper design, installation and maintenance of different parts of drainage system including layout and

D - 1 ~ e o f Agricultural Lands

accessories like inlet and outlet structures. In preceding unit selection of materiaal for tile drainage has also been discussed.

Objectives
After studying his unit, you should be able to select proper drainage outlet, determine depth and spacing of tile drains, derive and explain different mathematical formula in determining depth and spacing of tile drains, determine required discharge capacity and accordingly grades and size of drains, find out load on tiles, and exvlain testing procedures for tiles.

8.2 DEPTH AND SPACING OF TILE DRAINS

?'he depth and spacing of sub-surface drains is a function of movement of water into drains. A definite relationship exists between depth and spacing for the soils of uniform permeability; the deeper the drains wider the spacing; hence less number of drains are required. The key aim of a tile drainage design system is to provide adequate root depth above the saturated zone. The depth and spacing of tiles apply only to laterals and not to mains and submains. The depth of mains and submains is governed by the outlet conditions and the topography of the drainage area. The optimum tile depth for laterals is influenced by (i) the hydraulic conductivity of the soil, (ii) the rate of infiltration during irrigation, (iii) tile spacing, (iv) type of crop and its optimum water table depth, (v) crop responses to fluctuating water table, and (vi) depth of impermeable strata. The depth of the tile drains should be such that midway between the drains, the water table should be at a satisfactory depth. Where an impermeable layer is encountered the tiles should be placed above such layer, except when the impermeable layer occurs at very shallow depth. If the tiles are located below the impermeable layer, back filling of the trenches should be done with permeable soil. The depth and spacing are determined using different requirements in humid and arid region. In humid areas, as during heavy raigfall water table rises to near the surfaces, hence, the rate of drop of the water table is important. In arid region under irrigation, the main consideration is to maintain minimurn depth of the waterable for optimum crop growth. As mentioned above, in general, the deeper the drains the wider the spacing and less number of drains are needed. On the other hand, deeper drains will result in greater installation costs and may cause outlet problems. The following table gives the general depth and spacing that could be adopted under cliff erent conditions.
Table 8.1: Average Depth and Spacing of Tile Drains (adopted from Schwab et al; 1993) ~ ~ d r a hClass ic Conductivity (mlday) Spacing (m) Depth (m)

Clay 10% Average loam Fine sandy Sandy loam Peat & Muck
Irrigated

very slow Slow Moderately slow Moderate Moderately rapid Rapid Variable

0.001 0.001-0.005 0.005-0.02 0.02-0.06 0.06-0.13 0.13-0.25 0.025-25

9-15 12-21 18-30 30-37 30-60 30-90 45-180

Based upon the hydraulics of flow of water in soils several formulas for determination of depth and spacing of tiles are proposed.

Tile Drainage System Design

8.2.1 Hooghoudt's Equation

This equation gives the relation between the spacing of drains and the height of the water table built up between the drains due to a constant rate of irrigatioii or rainfall. The analysis applies to open drains as well as for sub-surface drains. Figure 8.1 indicates the physical situation considered in deriving the expression for depth and spacing of tiles. In deriving this relationship, the following assumptions are made:

1) The soil is homogeneous,

2) Darchy's law is valid for the flow,
dx
L

3) The llydraulic gradient at any point is equal to the slope i = @ of the water table above that point, and
4)

the water flows horizontally.

Rain f a l l or
6.L
K (cmbec)

irrigation R (cm/sec)

Impermeable Layer
Figure 8.1: Defmition Sketch for Hooghout's Equation

Considering a vertical plane through the centre line between the drains it can be seen that all the water entering the right side of plane will go the right drain and all the water entering left side will go to the left drain. Considering a unit thickness of the soil (perpendicular to the plane of the paper) the quantity of water passing through any olane at (n,v) Der unit time can be given by :

Using Darcy's law and the assumption (3) given above, we can also write

Equating Equations 8.1 and 8.2, we get

Integrating both sides

Substituting the initial and boundary conditions

Drainage of Agricultural Lands

x=o,y=h+d

We get

This equation gives the spacing of either tile or open drains under the given set of In that conditions. For all practical purposes the drain is considered to be empty (h = 0). case the above equation reduces to

The origin of the coordinate system can be shifted to the midpoint between the drains. L For this condition, x in Equation (8.3) needs to be substituted by (- -x), in 2 Equation (8.3) reduces to

Rearranging the terms, we can write.

? .

The Equation (8.6) is the equation of an ellipse. Another method to derive this relationship in terms of total flow rate (q) into die urain per unit length and height of water table (b) from the impermeable layer, we can approach in similar fashion. Thus, assuming that flow is removed from the drains on both side equally, we can write

where,
qx = rate of flow towards drain across a vertical plane of unit width at any distance x from origin

L = spacing between drains

By equating Equations (8.7) and (8.2), we get
...(8.8)

Integrating Equation (8.8) from x = 0 and y = d to x = x and y = y, we get fl-d2=&(~~-x)2

...(8.9)

The Equation (8.9) is identical to Equation (8.6) and substituting x = - and y = b for 2 the mid point, we obtain,

L=

4K (b2- d2) 4

...(8.10)

Hut q = L i, where i = drainage rate, nence

Tile Drainage System Design

-[

where d , is the equivalent depth of water conducting layer below the drain. Example 8.1 Compute the drain spacing, for an irrigated area, assuming the depth to the centre of drain is 1.8 m and the minimum depth to the water table is 1.5 m. Given that hydraulic conductivity K = 0.5 miday above an impervious layer at a depth of 6.7 m. The excess irrigation rate is equivalent to drainage coefficient of 1.3 mmlday. Solution Refer Figure 8.1 for calculating different parameters. 1) Depth of impervious layer below the centre of tile (d) = 6.7-1.8 = 4.9 m 2) Compute equivalent depth for the water conducting layer below the drain for d = 4.9 m. Using Figure 8.4 we get equivalent depth (de) = 2.9 m

3) For tiles flowing half filled, H = 1.8 - 1.5 = 0.3 m 4) b = H+de=2.9+0.3=3.2m 51 Tofindout spacing,useEquation(8.11)

where.
K = 0.5 &day, and
i = drainage coefficient &day (Given) = l.Yl000

Substituting the value, we get

Therefore, the design value of spacing of tile drains is 55.2 m.

8.2.2 U.S. Bureau of Reclamation (USBR) Formula

As stated earlier Hooghoudt's formula considers the water table to be in equilibrium with rainfall or irrigation water. It is, therefore, referred to as a steady state equation. When the position of water table with respect to time is considered the resulting condition is known as the transient or unsteady state. The USBR equation is for the transient state of the water table. In deriving this equation all the assumptions as in case of deriving the Hooghoudt's equation are mde. Consider an elemental volume of dx dy dz (Figure 8.2). Taking the surface oi the impervious bed to be horizontal, the horizontal component of the flow velocity is given by

considering unidirectional flow qx in the x-direction per unit width in the z - direction, then the flow entering through the left face of the column is the product of the area ydz and the velocity V X , or

Drainage of Agricultural Lands

dv Impervious bose
Figure 8.2: Definition Sketcli for USBR Equation

a qx Moving from left to the right face of the column, the flow is changing at a rate 31
when leaving the right hand face of the column, qx dx has changed to ( q,

+ ?-@ dr) d
ax

~ .

The difference between the outflow and inflow per unit time in x - direction is

Substituting for q, = KL If in time At, there is a change in height, Ay and iff be the drainable porosity, we have

Putting the limits i.e. when Ay 0 andAt + o and col~sidering x direction only the above Equation (8.14) is written as

If y is large as compared with changes in y, we may consider y a constant with the me-an value D and neglecting second order terms, we have

where,

y =height of water table,

K = hydraulic conductivity, D = average thickness of the aquifer from the impermeable layer to the water table, and
f = drainable porosity in percent by volume (equivalent to specific yield).

Now consider Figure 8.3 wherein,D = d + mo/2. Thus Equation (8.16)with partial derivative terms can be written as Equation (8.17).
Snilsurface

Tile Drainage System Design

W ter

toke

'S

*c\\\ I
Origin
.I

\\\ \ \ \ \ \ \ A

.............................

Impervious Layer

Figure 8.j: Depiction of Symbols for Solution to USBR Equation

For study of non-steady state conditions the Dupuit-For chheimer meory is applicable. Here it is assumed that flow is horizontal and the velocity is proportional to the slope of the free water surface. The equation may be written as

The equation is identical to heat flow equation. By assigning appropriate boundary conditions Equation (8.17)can be solved in terms of a sine series retaining only the first term. The spacing equation as derived by Glover using the symbols as described in Figure 8.3 is given by

l l ~ i equation s is also known as Glover's Equation for tile spacing. Because of the assumption made in its derivation, Equation (8.18)ignores the resistance resulting from the convergence of the flow lines near the.dain and is based ,on a thickness of the water - conducting zone equal to d + mo/2. The equation was further modified ,and takes these factors into consideration. Thus, the present equation is in the following form:
9Ktde
~~[~[ln[m~(2de+m))-ln{m(2de+mo))

where,
de = Equivalent depth from Figure 8.4,
m = Height of water table above the centre of the drain at mid plane after time r, mo = Initial height of water table, f = Drainable Porosity in fraction, and

t = Time for water table to drop from mo to m.

The remaining symbols carry their usual meatiing. The Equation (8.19)is recommended for design purposes only as it does not yield a practical solulion where de = 0

Drainage of Agricultural Lands

Depth d (m)

Depth d (ft)

Figure 8.4: Nomograph lor Equivalent Depth (Soora: Schwab et al)

S.%$ I

Example 8.2
calculate the drain spacing for a falling water table assuming K = 0.35 rnldidy,
f = 0.02, drain depth to centre line = 0.9 m, mo = 0.9 m, m = 0.6 m, t = 1 day for

the water to drop from the soil surfiace to 0.3 m below, and depth of impervious layer below drains d = 0.6 m, (Refer Figure 8.3). Also calculate drain depth for a 100 rnm dia tile if initial water table is at soil surface.

Solution
First we have to evaluate equivalent depth for the water conducting layer. The be determined equivalent depth de = d + mo, (Refer to Fiure 8.3) and the same cSan from Figure 8.4. Assume a spacing L = 20 m and read corresponding value of de from Figure 8.19.

= 19.44 rnm = 19.5 m

-,

Since 18 m is close to the estimated spacing of 20 m, de would not change and spacing of 19.5 m is acceptable. Since the water table, initially, was at soil surface, for a 100 mm drain pipe is = mo +1/2 (outside dia of drain) = 0.9 + drain depth (?I) 0.06 = 0.96 m for outside dia of drain = 120 m r n .Hence drain depth = 0.96 m.

Tile Drainage System Design

8.3 CAPACITY OF TILE DRAINS

After the spacing of the tile drains is determined, the discharge U~rough the tile drains can be calculated either by using the Hooghondt's approach for steady state conditions or the USBR approach for the unsteady state condition. In Hooghondt's approach, the inaximum rate of flow per unit length of the drain is given by

In USBR approach, q is given by

I 1 1 Equations (8.20) and (8.21) q is the drain discharge per unit length of the drain in unit time and remaining symbols carry their usual meaning. The design flow of tile drains is estimated under humid and arid condition using different approaches. Under humid conditions, the main purpose of the tile drains is to remove the excess rainfall appearing as sub-surface flow. The concept of draimage coeificient is used for determining the capacity of the field drains. Table 8.2 gives the values ol' the drainage coefficient for field crops. These values vary depending upon the local soil, crop and surface drdnage conditions. Some experience is necessary for deciding the value of the drainage coefficient.
Table 83: Drainage Coefficient for Tie Drains in Humid Regions Surface Drainage Condition

I
a) Normal
h) With blind inlets

& -------i
Drainage Coefficient (cmlday) Mineral Soils

Organic SOL

c) With surface illlets

1.9 - 2.5

1.9 3.7

In determining the capacity of the tile line, the area actually to be drained by that particular line is to be considered. Additional allowance is to be made where there are surface inlets into the tile line or side hill seepage.

8.4 GRADES OF TILE DRAINS

Tile &dills grades sliould be such that no sedimentatioil occurs in the tiles. A minimum velocity of 45 crn/second is generally recommended. A desirable working grade is 0.2 a n be adopted. Higher grades result in higher velocities per cent while higher grades c which may cause undermining of the tiles. These recomrnendatio~~s are for the laterals. The grades of the main lines are to some extent depend upon the outlet selected. Grades upto 2 to 3 per cent were found to be satisfactory for the main lines. The value of minimum grades for pipe drains is presented in Table 8.3.

Draiuage of Agric~dturalLands
7
I

Table 8.3: Minimum Grades for Pipe Drains

I

Nominal Diameter (mm)

Fine Sand or Silt Not Present a

I

Fine Sand or Silt May Enter the Drain (P)

Tile (Grade%)

Tile

Tubing
0.10 0.07

Tubing 0.81 0.55

0.4 1

75

0.08 0.05 004 0.03

0.60 0.41 0.30

0.24

100
125

0.05 0.04

150

0.32

(a) Minimum cleaning velocity of 0.1 5 nits

(p ) Minimum cleaning velocity of 0.42 m/s

Example 8.3

In a sub-surface drainage system, 200 m long laterals were laid out 50 in apart. The laterals have a grade of 0.3 per cent,
i) If the drainage coefficient of the area is 2 cm per day, what size of tiles would you recommend?

ii) If the drainage coefficient is increased to 3 cm per day, what will be the spacing of Ule laterals?

Solution
i) Quantity of water to be drained by the laterals in 24 hrs

Rate of flow =
I

24

x 60 x 60 = 0.002315 rn3/s

Consider tl~e rate of flow through a 10 cm tile, we get Wetted perimeter (P)= n: x 0.1 = 0.3 142 m

Hydraulic radius (R) =

x 0.1 x 0.1 4
1L

71 x 0.1

= 0.025

The velocity of flow through tile wit11 n = 0.011

Capacity of the tile (Q)

Hence, a 10 cm dia tile will be satisfactory.

ii) Let the laterals be located at a dist211ce of' W and length kept at 200 m. Amount of water to be drained in 24 hours from such an arrangement

3 =Wx200x-m 100

Volumetric Capacity of the tile line

Tile Drainage System Design

: .

Spacing (W) =

0.003343 x 60 x 60 x 24 xl00 200 x 3

= 48.14 rn r 50 rn (say)

8.5 SIZE OF TILE DRAINS

The size of the tile drains is determined using the maximum expected flow and the grade. Manning's Eormula is used for the design. The value of n in Manning's formula recommended is 0.01 1 for concrete tiles. If other materials are used a suitable value of n can be chosen as given in Table 8.4. Using Manning's formula, the following relationship is developed for the size of the tiles flowing full.

where all symbols cany their usual meaning as in Manning's equation of flow. By equating the design flow to the hydraulic capacity at full flow, the diameter would be
d = 5 1.7 (Dc x A x n)0.375 s -

...(8.23)

where,

d = inside drain diameter in mm,

Dc = drainage coefficient in rnmlday,

A = drainage area in ha,

n = roughness coefficient in Manning's equation, and

s = drain slope in mlm.

For practical purposes the nearest available commercial size is selected. In ordzr to take care of sedimentation and also of any misalignment during installation, a size slightly larger than the calculated size is selected. In case of concrete or clay tiles size of 10 cm, 12.5 cm and 15 cm are used. Nomograph based on above equations have been developed for clay and concrete pipe drains and corrugated plastic tubing. These nomographs are presented in Figure 8.5 and 8.6. Table 8.4: Recommended Values of n foF Various Conduit Materials Conduit Material Clay tile Concrete pipe Vitrified clay pipe Perforated plastic pipe corrugated plastic tubing Manning's n
0.01 1

0.017

Example 8.4
Determine the diameter of cormgated plastic tubing and the flow rate where the slope is 0.4 per cent, drainage area is 12 ha and drainage coefficient is 15 &day.

Solution
Using the formula

Drainage of Agricultural Lands

Figure 8.5: Nomograph for Selection of Concrete and Clay Pipe Drains
Hectaes drained

'Space betveen lines s the range for tubing G e ! shown between the lines.
n = 0.015 for 76-203mmdia.

m]
Drainage coefficient

n = 0.017 for254-305 rnm dia. n = 0.02 for > 305 rnrn d ~ a .

Figure 8.6: ~ r ' b m o ~ r a for ~h Selection of Cormgated Plastic Tubing

d=51.7 ( D c x Ax n )

0.375

s- 0.1875

Tile Drainage System Dcsigli

Substituting the values in appropriate units of measurement, we get

We would select next higher size. Using Figure 8.6 next available pipe size is of 254 mrn is diameter. From Figure 8.6, we also get Flow rate = 18.0 Ips discharge capacity of the corrugated pipe with the expbsted We can check th~s flow rate, i.e.

Since both the flow rates are very near to each other, our selection of pipe is correct.

1)

How do you calculate load on a tile drain?

b)
C)

How (10 you find tile strength? Which of the methods is inore close to actual I'ield condition for laying tile drains'!
Wntc down the criteria for tile joint spacing.

8.6 LOAD ON TILE DRAINS

-

In calculating load on tile drains the Ditch Conduit Formula are in use. Ditch conduit condition apply to narrow trenches while projecting conduit conditions occur in wider trenchers of about two to three times the outside diameter of the conduit pipe (Figure 8.7). Projecting conduit conditions generally exist when the settlement of soil prism A and C is greater than that of soil prism B. Projecting conduit conditions are found in places where conduit is placed on undisturbed soils. The Ditch Conduit Formula is used for calculating the load on pipes in narrow trenches and is given by:

where,
Wc = load'on the pipe
C d = load coefficient

W =unit weight of fill material, and

Bd

= width of trench at the top of the pipe

The Projecting Conduit Formula for wide ditches is

where.
Cc = Load coefficient for project conduits, and

Bc = Outside diameter of the conduit.

Ground surface

(a 1

fbl

Figure 8.7: Frictioi~ol Forces on (a) Ditch Type and @) Projecting Type Rigid Conduit Loading

The load coefficient Cd and Cc in the above formula are functions of the frictional coefficients of the soil, the height of the fill H; and the width of the atch or the width of the conduit as the case may be. In case of ditch conduits, it is assumed that the density of the soil filled is less than that of original soil. Sides of the ditch offer an upward frictional resistant to the fill material and as such the load on the conduit is less than the weight of the soil directly above it. But in case of projecting conditions, the load on the conduit is greater than the weight of the soil directly above it, for the reason that the shearing forces due to greater settlement of soil on both sides are downward rather than upward.

8.7 TESTING OF TILES

There are two methods in use for testing the strength of concrete or clay tiles. The first one more commonly used is known as the three-edge bearing test. The equipment for this test (Figure 8.8) consisting of (a) two wooden blocks on which the tile is placed and (b) a point load which can be increased and is applied on top of the tile. This load is applied either by a mechanical jack or a hydraulic system. The load is gradually and lhe load at which the tile breaks is noted. The second method is known as the sand bearing test in which the procedure is the same but the arrangement IS different. In this method (Figure 8.8 (b)) the bottom of the tile is supported by a bed of sand. This represents the conditions found under normal installations procedures more closely than the three edge bearing test. The crushing strength found by the sand bearing method are nearly 1.5 times higher than the strength found by the three edge method. The testing of plastic pipes used for tiles is done differently. Plastic pipes do not get crushed like clay or concrete tiles but instead get deformed under load. Deformation is the characteristics that is measured in case of plastic pipes.

In a tile drainage system, water must enter the drain through the space between successive tiles. Doubling the crack width increases the flow into the drains by about 10 per cent under ponded conations but increased crack width gives rise to risk of sedimentation. Crack space should be minimum in case of unstable soil. Even itregularities at the ends of the tiles are sufficient to provide the necessary space in such situations. The maximum permissible crack in silt loan soil and silty clay loam varies

[a)Three edge bearing test

(b)Sund b r a r i n g *test

Rsure 8.8: Testing of 'Ills

from I to 3 mm but, it is negligible in case of sandy and sandy loam soils. Preliminary laboratory study are useful to obtain the desired tile joint spacing. For this purpose, a tile inflow meter can be used. In this, different spacing lor the joint could be tested with a cover of soil from the experimental plot filled around the tile line in the flour meter. Water is pounded above the soil surface and the inflow rate is measured. The same may be collated with desired drainage rate and necessary adjustments in tile joint spacing can be incorporated. -

8.9 SUMMARY
A tile drainage system consists of a drainage outlet, tile main, submains and laterals. 'lbe lateral remove free watcr from the soil; and the main and sub-mains carry drained water to the drainage outlet. The design of tile drains includes layout and arrangement of drain lines, selechon of suitable outlet, designing proper depth and spacing of laterals to collect excess water efficiently, detemnation of length and size of drains, selection of g o d quality material for dfferent segments of the system and finally, design of inlet and outlet structures. Out of these, depth and spacing of laterals are the most critical. Hooghouclt's eqtution is used for determination of depth and spacing in steady state conditions where the rainfall rate or irrigation rate is coilstant with t i ~ ~ l e . US Bureau 01' Reclamation Formula gives depth and spacing for unsteady state condition where position of water hble with respect to time varies. After the spacing of tile drams rs determined, the discharge through the tile drains can be calculated either by using the Hooghoudt's approach for steady state condition or USRR's approach for unsteady state condition. The grade of tile drains should be such that no sedimentation occurs in the tiles. A mimmum velocity of 45 cm/s is generally recornmended and a desirable working grade is 0.2 per cent, however, higher grades can also he adopted depending upon the ground conditions. The size of tile drains is determined using indxilnum expected flow and the grades. 'Ihe Manning's formula is used to calculait: velocity of flow. Nomograplis are also available depicting relations between discharge rate. grade, drain diameter, drainage coefficient, velocity of flow and area to be drained using concrete tiles, clap tiles or corrugated plastic tubings. Tllese nomograplls can be sultably used in des~gn. The load on tile drains can be calculated with the help of the ditch-conduit formula or projecting conduit fornlula whicl! takes into consideralion unit weight of fill material #andconduit diameter, size of conduit and state of sub-grzde on which conduit is to rest. Tile strength is another important factor -and the same may be testcd using three-edge bearing test or sand hearing test. 'l'he latter represents the conditions found under normal instsllations procedure mofe closely than the tkree edge-bearing test. Finally, in a tile drain system, water must enter the drain througb the space hetween successive tiles and the crack space should he minimum in unstable soils. The maxlmum permissible crack in silt loam and silty clay loam varies from 1 tc~ 3 mm but, lt is negligible ip case of sandy and smdy loam soils.

Dra~nage ot Agricultural Lands

8.10 KEY WORDS

Hooghoudt's Equation
:

This equation is used to find out the depth and spacing in steady state condition for sub-surface and surface drains. For conditions where the rainfall rate or irrigation , rate is constant, the drain discharge will also be constant if the water table does not change with time. The Equation is used to find out tbe drain spacing in unsteady state conditions for sub-surface. The discharge through the tile drains can t~ calculated either by using the Hooghoudt's approach for steady state conditions nr the USBR's approach for the unsteady state condition. Tile drains grades should be such that no sedimentation occurs in the tiles. The size of the tile drains is determined using the maximum expected flow and the grade. Manning's formula is used for the design. It is the dead load of the soil on the pipe. Maximum bearing capacity of the load on concrete or clay tiles. It is determined by three-edge beating test and sand bearing test. Ditch conduit conditions occur in narrow ditches when conduits are laid underground. No differential settlement of soil is noted in this case.

Steady State

Glover Formula Capacity of Tile Drains

s .

Grade of Tile Drains Size of Tile Drains

Loads on Drain Pipe Tile Strength

: :

Ditch Conduit Conditions

Projecting Conduit Conditions

These conditions occur in underground conduits laid in wider trenches which leads to differential settlement of soil prisms when the conduit rests on undisturbed soil.

8.11 ANSWERS TO SAQs

SAQ 1

a) The main steps in design of a tile drain system are; i ) Making layout and arrangement of drain lines,
ii)

Selection of suitable outlet,

iii) Design of proper depth and spacing of laterals to collect excess water efficiently, iv) Determination of length and size of drajns, v) Selection of good quaWty material, and vi) Design of inlet and outlet structure. b) In steady state condition, tile spacing is determined with the help of Hooghoudt's equation whereas, in case of unsteady state condition tile spacing is determined with the help of USBR or Glover's equation. c) Please derive the Hooghoudt's equation, yourself (Refer section 8.2).

SAQ 2
a) Load on a tile drain is calculated by Ditch conduit or projecting conduit formula which is given as
We = Cd

Tile Drainage System Design

1
where,

w ~2(for Ditch conduit conditions), and

We = Cc W B~' (for projecting conduit condition)

Wc = load on the pipe,

Cd = load coefficient for Ditch conduit condition, Cc = unit weight of fill material,

W = unit weight of hill material,

Bd

= width of trench at top of the pipe, and

t1

Bc = outside diameter of pipe.

b) Strength of a tile may be tested using three-edge bearing test or sand bearing test. In first case, tile is placed between two wooden block and a variable point load is applied top of the tiles by mechanical jack or hydraulic system. The load at which tile breaks is noted. In second method arrangement is different but procedure is same. Here bottom of the tile is supported by a bed of sand. This arrangement is more closure to actual condition of normal installation of tile drain system. While providing tile joiat spacing, care should be taken that space should be minimum in unstable soils. The maximum permissible crack in silt loam and silty clay loam varies from 1 to 3 mm but it is negligible in case of sandy and sandy loam soils.

c)