If you’re one of the many water management systems that uses weirs in a natural channel, then you know that energetic flow is always a risk. In order to manage energetic flow and to preserve the integrity of the system, a great deal of water management operations will employ some sort of tool used for energy dissipation. However, if you’ve never considered the need for energy dissipation before, you might not know the risks it can cause to your system.
Fortunately, with the right tips, you can easily address the risks of energy dissipation downstream of your wear and preserve your system. Learn about energy dissipation and fiberglass weirs so that you can make sure that your water management system is consistently successful.
The Risks Related to Energy Dissipation
Any natural system using a weir will need to employ energy dissipation, usually at the nappe of the weir. However, this can also prove a serious risk to the health of your natural channel, especially those made of earthen materials. When energy dissipation is not addressed in a natural channel, it can lead to souring and serious erosion, compromising the health of the channel and the success rate of your water management operation.
Channel souring and erosion may also affect the overall accuracy of your weir, making this phenomenon a serious concern to water operators everywhere. As you can see, you must address energy dissipation if you want to preserve your weir and your natural channel.
Forming a Rip-Rap
The most typical way that you would address energy dissipation to protect the integrity of your system is to armor the downstream channel. Armoring the channel should provide a higher level of support and will work to ward off the erosion that is typical with energy dissipation. Fortunately, there are several armoring methods for you to choose the right fit for your water management system.
First, you could choose to armor the downstream channel with a reinforced apron, which allows for better management of dissipating energy. However, for the higher velocities, you might consider forming a rip-rap, which is a stone formation that controls the dissipating energy and protects your downstream channel. Whichever of these methods that you choose, you should be able to address the effects of energy dissipation and keep your earthen channel patent.
Other Methods for Addressing Dissipation
It’s important to note that armoring is not available in every natural channel, which means you would need to turn to alternative methods for counteracting the degradation associated with dissipating energy. Typically, when armoring isn’t an option, you would form a small depression in the bed of your downstream channel, forming a stilling basin that will help with energy dissipation.
Learn More About Fiberglass Weirs
Although it should be a concern for anyone who pairs a fiberglass weir with a natural channel, energy dissipation, and its associated erosion are easily addressed when you target the right methods. Before you can think about energy dissipation, however, you need the right fiberglass weirs, which is why you should start shopping with Tracom, FRP today.
Tracom’s focus is on manufacturing top-quality fiberglass water management tools, and we can help you browse our catalog for your needed products. Contact us today for more information.
