HYDRAULICS ENGINEERING LABORATORY

DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING

FACULTY OF ENGINEERING, SLIIT

B.SC ENGINEERING – YEAR 03 SEMESTER 01

CE 3712 – PUMPS AND OPEN CHANNEL FLOW – LABORATORY ASSIGNMENT

The purpose of the laboratory is to

• Demonstrate how energy and force momentum concepts are applied in open channel flows

• Gain experience in computing gradually varied flows in an open channel.

Most important things in the report

1. Accuracy of the discharge measurement (2 methods)

2. Accuracy of flow depth measurement

3. Understanding of distribution of energy loss

4. Understanding of force momentum applied at a jump.

5. Ability to compute gradually varied flow profile

6. Clarity of discussion and conclusions

7. Presentation skills in the report.

Report and Analysis

Your report should be submitted within 2 weeks of the date of the experiment. The usual penalties apply
for late submission. The following should be included in the report.

1. Introduction to the experiment and derivation of the specific force equation.

2. Results and discussion of energy and force momentum analysis.

3. Results and discussion of gradually varied flow analysis.

4. Results and discussion of energy dissipation through hydraulic jump.

5. Results of the numerical problem.

6. Conclusions.

1
Introduction

The aim of this experiment is to demonstrate how the energy and force- momentum principles can be applied
to open-channel flow. The work will be conducted in an Armfield flume with a sluice gate and hydraulic jump
in the channel. This is sketched below. Part of the work will be to measure and compute the gradually varied
flow profile for two set of readings from yvc to y1.

y4

Procedure:

The following procedure is suggested for the tests:

1. Switch on the pump of the Armfield flume. The water depth upstream should be in the range 240 to 260
mm. The valve has been preset to give suitable discharge.

2. The sluice gate is fixed for an opening around 25mm. Note down the opening of sluice gate. Establish
the hydraulic jump and stabilize it some distance downstream of sluice gate. This can be achieved by
adjusting the downstream level control flap (tailgate) until a good stabilized hydraulic jump is formed
after the sluice gate at approximately:

 1.5 – 2.0 m from the gate (For first set of readings)

 2.0 – 2.5 m from the gate (For second set of readings)

Note: Care should be taken to avoid overflow at the start of the channel upstream while
adjusting the flap.

3. Once the flow is steady, start measuring discharge by the following two methods.

i). Floating polystyrene:

Measure surface velocity upstream of the sluice gate. The velocity is measured by the time-distance
method. Take three readings. Make an average and calculate discharge by using area-velocity method.

2
ii). Current meter method:

This method involves the measurement of the mean flow velocity by using a current meter combined with
calibration chart and accurate depth measurement at a particular cross-section. Take three measurements at
different cross-sections and average the discharge.

4. Average the discharge calculated by the two methods. This will give a Q value from which discharge
per unit width (q) can be calculated.

5. Start the measurements of water depths in section 0, vena contracta “vc”, section 1 and 2, by taking great
care in avoiding surface waves especially at vena contracta. Measure the depth by using point gauge.

6. For gradually varied profile, you need of three points on the profile from yvc to y1 as sketched. The
corresponding ∆X value should be measured at each depth.

7. Comparison is then carried out with your computed profile starting with known yvc value and
working downstream. Assume Manning’s “n” value is 0.01 and the bed slope So = 0.
8. Compute gradually varied flow profile from yvc to y1 using DIRECT STEP method.

Table 1: Discharge measurement by floating polystyrene ball

Velocity Discharge Average Discharge

No of reading Distance (m) Time (s)
(m/s) (m3/s) (m3/s)

3
Table 2: Discharge measurement by current meter
Upstream Between gate End of the
After Jump
Parameters sluice gate and jump channel
(at y2)
(at y0) (at y3) (at y4)
Left

Middle
Water depth (m)
Right

Ave

Left

Middle
Current meter depth
(m)
Right

Ave

Channel width (m)

Sectional Area (m2)

Left
Number of revolution
Middle
at 20 seconds (n)
Right

Left

Middle
Velocity (m/s) from n
values
Right

Ave

Discharge (m3/s)

n Value Velocity (m/s)

n < 1.92 V=0.0542n + 0.0236

n = 1.92 to 8.52 V=0.0514n + 0.0289

n > 8.52 V=0.0469n + 0.0674

4
Table 3: Water depth at different sections

Water depth (m)

Observation
yo yvc y1 y2 y3 y4
Left
Middle
Right
Ave

Table – 4: Computation of gradually varied flow profile by DIRECT STEP method

y A R V V2/2g E E Sf Sf S0 S f ∆X ΣX
R4/3

5
 Numerical Problem

A vertical sluice gate is placed across a rectangular channel of 7.50m wide. The channel carries a discharge
of 50m3/s. The gate opening is 1.2 meter and the coefficient of contraction at venacontracta is 0.67.
Assuming there is a hydraulic jump occurring after the gate,

(a) If downstream depth attains to normal depth of 2.5m, calculate the conjugate depth of the jump.
(Assume α = β = 1.0)
(b) Calculate the length of the jump (Lj) and the energy dissipated in this jump.
(c) Calculate the depth upstream of the gate (y1) and the force on the gate. The energy loss in the
converging flow at a sluice gate is quite small, so take the head loss through the gate is 0.05 V22/2g
(d) Calculate the momentum function and plot momentum (M-y) diagram. Show critical depth and
conjugate depths in this graph.

yj