U.S. flagAn official website of the United States government
                    Here's how you know **Official websites use .gov**
                            
                            A **.gov** website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.
 **Secure .gov websites use HTTPS**
                            
                            A **lock** (                            
                              A locked padlock                                                      
                            
                            ) or **https://** means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.


Menu Agricultural Research Service
						
                    U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
 Agroclimate and Hydraulics Research Unit: El Reno, OK
 close



    Research

                    Research Projects
                                    Publications
                                    Collaborations
                                    News
                                    Software
                People

                    Staff Listing
                                    Careers


        


                    Explore
                        History
                                    Outreach/Education
                                    Visitor Information
                                    Media
                    Other Research Topics
                        Standard Embankment Design
                                    Dam Rehabilitation
                                    Site Specific Models
                                    Cloud Based Technology
                                    Decision Support Technology
                                    CEAP
                                    LTARSearch small
                    Search
            
            ARS Home
                                About ARS
                                Contact Us




ARS Home Plains Area El Reno, Oklahoma Oklahoma and Central Plains Agricultural Research Center Agroclimate and Hydraulics Research Unit Docs Docs from HERU Docs







Plunge Basinsheadline bar **Plunge Basins for Cantilever Pipe Outlets**-Reducing the risk of dam failure Water released through a cantilever pipe outlet such as a principal spillway pipe of a dam has a significant amount of energy associated with it. Water energy can result in serious erosion of the downstream channel if not dissipated appropriately. If not addressed, the erosion created at the principal spillway outlet can increase the risk of a dam incident and/or failure.In the early design of USDA-assisted watershed flood control dams, the principal spillway outlet basin was designed with bare soil. Observations noted in field investigations indicated significant erosion of the basin, which increased the risk for dam failure. To address the problem, a research program at the USDA-ARS Hydraulic Engineering Research Unit (HERU) was developed by scientist Fred Blaisdell. Small-scale study results provided an estimation on the scour depth and dimensions of the expected scour hole developed from a free-flowing cantilever outlet pipe. Eventually, the design concepts developed by Blaisdell would published in Agricultural Handbook ARS-76 Scour at Cantilever Pipe Outlets. USDA-NRCS adopted the design procedures in Design Note 6 of the National Engineering Handbook, Engineering Field Manual. As many research programs go, scientific discovery brings about more scientific questions. As such, HERU scientist, Charles Rice, continued research on the effects of submergence of cantilever pipe outlets and protection of the plunge basin. To learn more about this research, visit our publication index and request publications on related topics. /ARSUserFiles/30720500/Plunge Pool.jpg Development of an economical design for protection of plunge basins for cantilever outlets were adopted as a standard design by the USDA-NRCS.


Return to top


Connect with ARS Sign up


ARS Home
                            USDA.gov
                            Plain Writing
                            Policies & Links
                            Civil Rights Statements
                            FOIA
                            Accessibility Statement
                            Privacy Policy
                            Non-Discrimination Statement
                            Quality of Information
                            USA.gov
                            WhiteHouse.gov