Hydraulic Downpull Forces on Large Gates

Robert Ian Murray · W. P. Simmons

Jan 1966 · United States Department of the Interior, Bureau of Reclamation

About this eBook

General studies were made to determine design parameters for hydraulic down pull and uplift forces on downstream seal, roller-mounted gates located in entrance transitions of large conduits. Effects of various gate lip extensions, and recesses in the gate shaft, were investigated for one seal extension. Uplift forces great enough to prevent closure of gates under their own weight were found. Uplift forces were controlled by proper shaping of offsets and recesses in the face of the gate shaft or bonnet. A gate lip extension of leaf thickness ratio of 0.55 was selected as the optimum compromise between structural and hydraulic considerations, Pressures on the gate bottoms, and hence the down pull, were significantly affected by the gate slots and sidewalls. Effects of air admission were also determined. The data were applied to the 17.50- by 22.89-foot San Luis Outlet Works gates operating under a 273-foot head. Data presented in both dimensional and nondimensional form.