Design of minimum earthwork cost canal sections

Though the minimum area section is generally adopted for canals, it is not the least earthwork cost section as it does not involve the cost of earthwo rk which varies with the excavation depth. On account of complexities of an alysis, explicit design equations for minimum earthwork cost canal sections has not available yet. In this investigation explicit equations and sectio n shape coefficients for the design variables of minimum earthwork cost can al sections for triangular, rectangular, trapezoidal, and circular shapes h ave been obtained by applying non-linear optimization technique. Applicatio n of the proposed design equations along with the tabulated section shape c oefficients results directly into the optimal dimensions and corresponding cost of a least earthwork cost canal section without going through the conv entional trial and error method of canal design.