BAFFLED APRON OR DROP SPILLWAYS

BAFFLED APRON OR CHUTE SPILLWAYS

Baffled apron or chute spillways are used in flow ways where water is to be lowered from one level to another and where it is desirable to avoid a stilling basin. The baffle piers partially obstructs the flow, dissipating energy as the water flows down the chute so that the flow velocities entering the downstream channel are relatively low. Advantages of baffled aprons include economy, low terminal velocity of the flows regardless of the height of the drop, downstream degradation does not affect the spillway operation, and there are no requirements for the initial tail water depth in order for the stilling action to be effective.