Canal Lock

Canal Lock: A Canal is a man-made Waterway. Canals are Built for a variety of uses including irrigation, land drainage, Urban Water Supply, Hydroelectric Power generation, and Transportation of Cargo and People. Navigation Canals may be shallow Facilities Designed for barge traffic, or they may be deep enough to accommodate Ocean going Ships.

Conserve Water and to Facilitate two way Travel: Canals are Built Level. If there is a difference in Elevation between the ends of a Canal, the Channel is Built as a series of level sections linked by Locks. A Lock is a rectangular chamber with Gates at Both ends; with Both Gates closed, the Water level within the Lock can be adjusted to Match the Canal Water level on either side. A Vessel entering the Lock can be Raised or Lowered in order to enter the Next Level Canal section.

Locks: Flash Locks, the first attempts to Carry Boats over difficult Elevation changes on Rivers or Canals, Consisting of a Single Gate, Flash Locks carried boats Downstream on a Rush of Water; boats headed upstream could be Pulled Forward while Floating on the Torrent released by opening the Gate. The base of the Upstream Gate in a Lock is Higher than the base of the Downstream Gate.

A Lock is a Rectangular Chamber: with Gates at both ends; with both Gates closed, the Water Level within the Lock can be adjusted to match the Canal Water level on either side. Thus, a vessel entering the Lock can be raised or lowered in order to enter the next level Canal section.

Raw Materials: Waterproof Linings keep a Canal Water from Seeping into the ground. For many years, the best choice was Puddle, a mixture of Sand, Clay, and Water that dried to a Waterproof State. Modern Materials and additives that are more durable include concrete, Fly Ash, Bentonite, Bituminous Materials, and Plastic Sheeting. Locks are usually made of Concrete, occasionally lined with Steel. If Construction of the Lock exposes bedrock, the Floor need not be lined.

Design: Early Canals followed the most level surface route possible because large-scale Earth moving was so difficult and expensive. Better Excavation Equipment and Lock Construction Capabilities Permit the Construction of Shorter, more Direct Canal Routes. Because of Geographic Obstacles, Sections of some Canals are Built in Tunnels or on Aqueducts.

Modern Designs Place Sluices in the Gate sills: It is important to Fill and Empty a Lock Chamber while producing minimal Water Turbulence. Modern Designs Place Sluices in the Gate Sills or in the Chamber Floor or Walls. A Lock may also be Equipped with a Submerged Bubbler that releases air below the Gate Closure area; the resulting Gentle Turbulence keeps the area clear of Debris that might Prevent the Gate from Sealing Properly.

Upstream and Downstream ends of a single Lock: Miter Gates are one of the most Popular Choices. Another Common Choice is the Tainter Gate, a Curved Plate that Rotates Vertically. In this efficient design, which is used for Valves in Water transfer Culverts as well as main Lock Gates, Water Pressure actually assists in the Gate Rotation. Flat Gates that Slide up, Sideways, or down into the Lock Floor are other options, as are flat Gates that are Hinged at the Bottom and Curved Gates that Rotate horizontally into wall Recesses.

The Manufacturing Process:
A Survey of the Canal Route must be made, for Accurate Depths of Cuts and Fills. Primary Excavation is done with Earth Moving equipment like Bulldozers and Excavators. A Crawler Track mounted Trimming Machine is used to Remove the final 12-18 in (30-46 cm) of Soil to create the desired wall Slopes and Flat bed for the Canal. Grids of Reinforcing Steel are Built and Lifted into place on the Canal Walls and Floor.

Slipforming means Pouring Concrete between the Canal Surface: Concrete is Mixed, Vibrated to remove air Pockets, and applied with a Slipform machine, encasing the Reinforcing Steel. Slipforming means Pouring Concrete between the Canal Surface and a Form (mold) that Slowly moves forward; the Concrete Hardens quickly enough to retain its Shape by the Time the Form moves out of contact with it.

Lock: A Temporary Cofferdam is Built around the Proposed Lock site. Steel sheet Piles are driven into the ground to Form a series of Adjacent, Vertical Cells that Extend above the Waterline. The Cells are filled with Sand. Water is Pumped out of the enclosed space to create a Dry Construction area. The Lock site is Excavated. Piles are Driven into the ground to support the Lock Structure.

Wooden forms are Built to shape the Floor and Walls of the Lock: Space for Culverts and Valve Chambers is included within the Forms, as are Slots for the Gate Hinges and Recesses to contain open Gates. Additional Forms are Built to Shape the approach Walls that Will Guide Vessels into the Lock.

After reinforcing Steel Cages: are Constructed in the Forms, Concrete is Poured. When the Concrete has Cured, the Forms are removed. Control valves for Filling and Emptying the Lock are installed, along with Hydraulic and Mechanical Equipment for Operating the Valves and Gates.

Gates are Prefabricated and shipped to the site: Very large Gates may be shipped in sections, which are Welded together as they are installed in the Lock. Accessories such as Guardrails, Mooring Posts, and escape Ladders are installed on the Lock Walls.

Byproducts/Waste Disposing of the Excavated Material is one of the challenges of Canal and Lock Construction. It may be used to Construct Embankments or be spread over the surrounding Countryside where it is Carefully Landscaped for Erosion Control as well as appearance. During Lock Construction, Excavated Material can be used to Fill Cofferdam Cells.

Wishing you all the best,
http://www.seeyourneeds.in