A mathematical model is developed to simulate the filling/emptying of navigation locks and to compute the stress on mooring lines of barges during lockage. The model, verified for different filling and emptying systems (end-filling systems with valves-in-gate or loop culverts and wall culverts with side-ports), reproduces satisfactorily the hydraulic transient generated in the lock chamber and the hawser force. A procedure is proposed to design the optimal valve operation for end-filling systems, which gives the minimum lockage time, keeping the hawser force below the admissible value. It is concluded that valving at a progressively increasing rate diminishes the lockage time in comparison to a valve operated at a constant rate.
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