Abstract
Open canals are important water transfer structures used in water resources systems. As such, they may require substantial amount of investment depending on its length and cross section. Therefore, cross section design should be carried out on an optimization basis. Traditionally, optimal sizing of open canal cross sections are undertaken by nonlinear optimization techniques such as Lagrange Multipliers. In this study, optimum cross sections of different canal geometries are obtained using differential evolution algorithm and the findings of these exercises are compared with those of given in related literature. It is observed that differential evolution algorithm can be well applicable to the problem and capable of giving the global optima.