Abstract
Approach channels, vital for hydraulic projects like navigation locks and trench intakes, connect rivers or reservoirs to ship locks or closed gates. Excessive water surface oscillations in these channels can reduce effective water depth, increase mooring forces, decrease ship maneuverability, and elevate tug drag, potentially causing marine accidents. Thus, unsteady flow in approach channels is a crucial area of water conservancy research. While traditional control designs for open channels have been used in irrigation and water supply systems, they are seldom applied to mitigate wave propagation in approach channels. The rise of automated ship lock management has intensified the focus on control design for these channels. Linear models associated with equilibrium regimes are often used for control analysis due to their simplicity. This research introduces a novel linear model based on ordinary differential equations for approach channels, evaluating first-order, second-order, and third-order dispersions. Comprehensive frequency domain, correlation, and time domain analyses using control design methodologies are performed to address unsteady flow issues, which can cause reduced water depth, increased mooring forces, decreased ship maneuverability, and elevated tug drag, potentially leading to marine accidents. The development of a more accurate and manageable model for analyzing and controlling unsteady flows enhances the management and operation of approach channels which can be applied in designing of hydraulic control in related engineering projects. These advancements support automated control systems in ship locks, improving navigation safety and efficiency. Hence, contributing to safer and more effective hydraulic infrastructure, benefiting both water conservancy and marine transportation.