Abstract:As an important navigation hub for Wushen (Wuhu-Shanghai) Channel, Xiaba Navigation Lock undertakes the transportation of goods in large quantities. In addition, the maximum head difference designed is up to 9.78 m. At present, this lock is one of the navigation locks with the maximum head difference in Jiangsu province. In the engineering design of Xiaba twin-line navigation lock, in view of the characteristics of large design head and great throughput of vessels, an in-depth study was carried out for the layout of the concentrated water supply system of the navigation lock; the existing conventional layout of concentrated water supply system was further improved and optimized by integrating the advantages of concentrated and dispersed water supply with the characteristics of Xiaba navigation lock; the new water supply system without unruffled segments was adopted; and desirable effects were achieved via hydraulic model tests. The concentrated water supply system free of unruffled segments boasts obvious effects in energy dissipation. Vessels can be well berthed in the lock chamber during lock filling and emptying, and be directly berthed at the rear of the head bay due to the absence of unruffled segments in the lock chamber, having shortened water delivery time, increased throughput capacity of the lock and saved construction investment. Therefore, such a system shall be applied more widely in similar projects.