Experiment #6: Calculation of Forces on a Sluice Gate, Smooth Step and Head Loss

through the Hydraulic Jump

The sluice gate provides a convenient means of flow regulation, especially in irrigation and
drainage schemes where flow has to be distributed in networks of interconnected channel.
The gate is provided with a lifting mechanism so that the aperture beneath it may be set to
any desired position. When closed, the aperture is sealed so that no flow can pass through the
gate.

In this experiment, a sluice gate will be placed across a mild channel and it will lowered to a
level below the critical depth line of the channel. Then a hydraulic jump will be formed using
a smooth step and the flow state will be changed from supercritical flow to subcritical flow.
The objective of this experiment is to determine the forces acting on the gate and the step
and compute the head loss through the hydraulic jump.

The equipment used in this experiment are sluice gate, smooth step and two depth gauges.

Description of the Apparatus

The open channel shown in Figure 16 will be used in this experiment. Detailed information
about the apparatus can be obtained from the section of Experiment 5.

Theoretical Considerations

Smooth
(1) (2) (3) step (4)

The force on the gate can be calculated by writing momentum equation between sections 1
and 2 as;

Pf
F1 F2 (12)

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where Fi is the specific force at section, (i), i=1,2 and given as;

Fi 1 2 q 2
yi (13)
b 2 gyi

As seen from the above equation, if in a channel, y 1 and y2 are measured, then the force on
the gate can be calculated by knowing the specific discharge, q.

In the channel, the specific discharge can be found by using the relation between the
conjugate depths of the jump.

y3 1

y2 2

1 8F22 1 (14)

V2
F2 (15)
gy 2

q = y2V2 (16)

Now the force on the gate can be calculated by using equation (12).

Also, the head loss through a hydraulic jump occurring in a rectangular channel can be
computed using following equation:

hl
y3 y 2
3
(17)
4 y 2 y3

Experimental Procedure

1) The channel is first set to a mild slope of about 1/750. The slope can be easily checked
by using the depth gauge to establish the change of depth over a length of channel
with static water retained in the channel.
2) The sluice gate is then fixed in the channel at a convenient station, say 0.75 m
downstream of the channel entrance. The aperture is set to value which is less than
the critical flow depth of the channel.
3) Place the smooth step across the channel at a convenient station, say 0.70 m upstream
of the channel outlet.

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 4) Run the pump and wait for the steady state flow conditions to occur.
5) Measure the flow depths at Sections (1), (2), (3) and (4).
6) Measure the flow rate using the gravimetric tank.

Tasks to be done
1) Calculate the force acting on the gate.
2) Calculate the force acting on the step.
3) Calculate the head loss through the jump.
4) Classify the hydraulic jump.
5) Compare the measured discharge with the computed one.
6) Compute flow depths at Sections (2), (3) and (4) using appropriate equations. Then,
compare the measured flow depth with the computed ones.
7) Draw the water surface profile and energy grade line for the given channel
arrangement using measured flow depths.

Table 17 Discharge data table for Experiment #6.

Channel slope:
Weight of the
water in the Time Discharge
Measurement
gravimetric tank (sec) (m3/s)
(kg)
1

Table 18 Data table for the water surface elevation measurements of Experiment #6.

Section 1 Section 2 Section 3 Section 4

Channel bottom elevation (cm)

Water surface elevation (cm)

Water depth (m)

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