Specific Energy Concept

In
Open Channel Flow
Applying Bernoulli Equation at any location along the channel
gives the sum of the vertical distance measured from a
horizontal datum z , the depth of flow y and the kinetic
energy vav2/ 2g . That sum defines the energy grade line and is
termed the total energy, H.
Accepting that, the pressure distribution in open channel flow is
hydrostatic (i.e. p = .y) and using the channel bottom as the
datum (i.e., z = 0), then total head above the channel bottom can
be defined as Specific Energy, E.

where Ei : Specific Energy available at that point (m),

yi: the deepest flow depth at that point (m),
vav i: averege flow velocity at that point (m/s),
g: gravitational
g: (m22)./s).
acceleration(m/s
gravitational acceleration
 Using continuity equation (Q = vav . A), the specific energy can be
expressed in terms of the discharge as

Knowing that area of the cross-section is a function of depth

it is obvious that, the energy and the flow depth is related
with a power of 3. Taking the rectangular cross-section as an
example, this relationship can be observed very easily.

or

3rd degree polynomial

hence, having 3 roots.
In fact one of the roots is imaginary but the remaining two roots
are real.
These real roots are called alternate depths in
literature. Implying that any flow can create the same energy at
two different depths:
one at sub-critical regime and
the other at super critical regime.

Among these two real roots only one value is correct for any
specific case and the proper one is determined with the help
of Froude number.
 For a fixed flow rate (discharge), this equation is represented by
the types of curves shown:
Depth
d
[m]
[m] Sub-critical regime

ydupper

Super critical regime

Discharge
ydlower Discgarge
Q
45 [m3/s]
E Energy
E
[m]

Note that for every specific energy E and flow rate Q , there are at most 2
associated +ve flow depths upper and lower .
These two depths are the ALTERNATE depths (stages).
The upper depth upper occurs if the flow is at sub-critical tranquil flow regime;
The lower depth lower occurs if the flow is at super critical flow regime.
 Upper asymptote

45
2
Specific Energy Curve Lower asymptote

Figure illustrates the alternate depths y1 and y2 for which E1=E2 or

, the range of subcritical flow and the range

of super critical flow along with the location of the critical flow
states.
 Sub-critical regime

Critical regime

45
Super critical regime
Ecr Emin

Schematic representation of alternate and critical depths locations

and the flow regimes on the specific energy curve.
 45

Specific Energy curve showing subcritical and super critical

flow ranges and the variation of the curve as discharge varies
[Q3 > Q2 > Q1]
At a constant discharge, minimum specific energy occurs at the
critical flow condition Fr =1.0 (i.e., dE/dy = 0), so that:

Knowing that the top width is defined as T= dA/dy so the above

equation can be expressed as:

or

to denote the critical conditions cr

to define T, A, vav and y as Tcr, Acr, vav cr and ycr. so
Rearranging the above equation yields,

The Hydraulic depth is defined as D=A/T so the final form of the

equation becomes

or

This is basically the Froude Number Fr, which is 1 at critical flow.

For a rectangular channel Dcr=Acr/Tcr=ycr , so the Froude number
for critical flow becomes:
Energy minimum min for any cross-section is determined by
inserting the critical depth ycr value for defining area A:

For RECTANGULAR cross-section, by inserting the relevant value of

ycr (and also Tcr and Acr where B = Tcr) through Froude number
(Fr=1.0):
= =

So
therefore the minimum Energy relationship for Rectangular channel
cross-section is determined as:
This means that, at the critical stage of flow (critical depth), the
velocity head equals half the critical hydraulic depth (for
rectangular cross-section only).
So when y = ycr and Fr = 1, the critical stage of flow represents the
boundary between super critical and sub-critical flow regimes.
Question 9.1
A rectangular channel carries a discharge of Q = 12.0 m3/s of
Manning s roughness n= 0.013. Channel bed slope is s0= 1.2 % and
the channel bottom is B = 2.0 m. Determine:
a- ycr ,
b- Emin ,
c- draw the Specific Energy - curve for different y values of this Q ,
d- determine the normal and alternative depths that satisfies the
same energy,
e- show the energy and both occuring and alternative depths of this
flow on the same curve.
Solution
a- 1 3 2 13
Q2 12
y cr y cr 2
1.542 m
b 2g 2 x9.81

b- For rectangular channels Emin =3/2 ycr

Emin = 2.314 m
c- Select depths below and above ycr to get the specific energy curve data

y Area Q2/(2gA2) E
(m) (m2) (m) (m)
0.6 1.2 5.10 5.70
1.0 2.0 1.83 2.83
1.2 2.4 1.27 2.47
1.4 2.8 0.94 2.34
1.6 3.2 0.72 2.32
1.8 3.6 0.57 2.37
2.0 4.0 0.46 2.46
2.2 4.4 0.38 2.58
3.0 6.0 0.20 3.20
4.0 8.0 0.11 4.11
d- to obtain the available energy the normal flow depth from
Mannings should be used.

s0 Baa

By trial and error y = 1.0 m 3/s increase y

y = 1.2 m 3/s decrease y

y = 1.10 m 3/s OK

so 2.616
x1.12
 2.616
19.62 x 22x 1.12

The roots (depths) that satisfy this enery value are:

yn= + 1.10 m occuring
yn= + 2.26 m alternative
yn= - 0.74 m - value so eliminate.
 y
[m]

Q= 12 m3/s

alternative2.26

critic 1.542
supercritical
normal 1.10

45

v2
E y
[m] 2g
Emin=2.314
E= 2.616
Question 9.2
A rectangular channel whose bottom width is 4.0 m carries
a discharge of Q = 3 m3/sec, having Manning roughness coefficient
of n = 0.02 and the channel bottom slope is s0= 0.004.
a) compute the critical depth,
b) determine the normal depth y,
c) calculate the Froude number of the given cross-section
d) classify the flow regime i- using Froude Number
ii- using flow depth
iii- using channel bed slope
e) obtain the specific energy of this reach,
f) calculate Emin
g) obtain the alternate depth
h) draw the longitudinal reach and
i) draw the specific energy curve.
Solution
a)Froude Number for critical flows is equivalent to 1 should be used.

b) The normal depth is obtained by Manning s equation

either by trial and error or by using programmable calculator

= 0.459 m.
c)

d) i- Using Froude number

Fr = 0.770 < Frcr= 1.0 flow regime is subcritical

ii- Using flow depth

= 0.459 m > flow regime is sub-critical.

iii- Using channel bed slope

Obtain critical slope using critical depth using Manning equation
scr = 0. 00685

sb = 0.004 < 0.00685 hence MILD slope therefore

flow regime is subcritical
e)

f) Emin = 1.5 ycr Emin = 0.578 m

g)

The solution gives 3 roots:

y1 = 0.459 m subcritical regime (given)

y2 = 0.327 m super critical regime (alternate)

y3 = - 0.191 not possible

h)
i)

(GIVEN)

(ALTERNATE)
Question 9.3
For a rectangular channel of 20.0 m width, construct a
family of specific energy curves for Q = 0, Q = 1.36, Q = 2.7 and
Q = 8.1 m3/sec.

Solution
Computing critical water depth ycr and the minimum energy Emin
for each discharge values Q
2 13
Q
Q 0 y cr 0 Emin = 0 m
gb 2
13
1.362
Q 1.36 y cr 0.078 m Emin = 1.5x0.078 = 0.117 m
9.81x 202
13
2.7 2
Q 2.7 y cr 0.123 m Emin = 1.5x0.123 = 0.184 m
9.81x 20 2
2 13
8.1
Q 8.1 y cr 0.256 m Emin = 1.5x0.256 = 0.384 m
9.81x 202
The specific energy is computed using the following equation for
different discharges and are listed below:
y [m]

E [m]
 ESTIMATION OF GRADUALLY
ESTIMATION OF GRADUALLYVARIED FLOW
VARIED FLOW LENGTHS
LENGTHS
ed with the
help of specific energies and the average slope of the formed water profile slopes.

E end E begin
x
sf begin sf end
sb
2

Eend : specific energy at the end of the curve (m)

Ebegin : specific energy at the beginning of the curve (m)
sb : bed slope of the channel below that formed curve
sfbegin : water surface profile slope at the beginning of the curve beginning
sfend : water surface profile slope at the end of the curve end
x : estimated length of the curve (m)
Example 9.4:
Estimate the length for the given surface profile between the given flow depths,
occurring within the rectangular channel of width B= 2.85 m, neq = 0.0157 that carries the
discharge of Q = 6.780 m3/s.

s0
1.765 1.765
1.765
 2.436 1.876
x 659.2 m
0.000615 0.000286
0.0013
2
Question 9.5:
A rectangular channel of bottom width B = 7.55 m carries an
average discharge of Q = 8.965 m3/s. There are two succesive long
reaches. The first reach has s01=0.0018 and n1=0.018; and the second
reach has s02=0.0013 and n2=0.021.
a) Classify the slopes,
b) Draw the longitudunal flow profile by showing the flow depths
c) Name the occurance of non-uniform portion (G.V.F.)
d) Determine the length of the occuring G.V.F. surface profile
e) Draw the specific energy curve and show all the important points.

s01 0.0018

s02

7.55 m
ANSWER:
a- s01: Mild s02 : more mild
scr1=0.004684 scr2=0.00637
b- y1: 0.710 m, y2: 0.870 m , ycr:0.524 m
c- E1= 0.853 m, E2= 0.965 m, Ecr(min)= 0.786 m
d- M1 occurs
e- xM1 = 448 m
Example 9.6:
A rectangular channel of bottom width B = 6.55 m carries
an average discharge of Q = 8.965 m3/s. There are two succesive
long reaches where first reach s01=0.0032 and n1=0.018; and the
second reach s02=0.013 and n2=0.021.
a) Classify the slopes,
b) Draw the longitudunal flow profile by showing the flow depths
c) Name the occurance of non-uniform portion(s) (G.V.F.)
d) Determine the length of the occuring G.V.F. surface profile(s)
e) Draw the specific energy curve and show all the important points.
ANSWER:
a- s01: Mild s02 : Steep
scr1=0.0047 scr2=0.00645
b- y1: 0.653 m, y2: 0.462 m , ycr:0.576 m
c- M2 - S2
d- xM2 = 17.33 m, d- xS2 = 14.046 m
e- E1= 0.877 m, E2= 0.910 m, Ecr= 0.864 m
Question 9.7:
A rectangular channel of bottom width B = 6.55 m carries an
average discharge of Q = 8.965 m3/s. There are two succesive long
reaches. The first reach has s01=0.0032 and n1=0.018; and the second
reach has s02=0.0013 and n2=0.021.
a) Classify the slopes,
b) Draw the longitudunal flow profile by showing the flow depths,
c) Name the occurance of non-uniform portion,
d) Draw a proper Specific Energy (E) Water depth (y) graph and
show the details around the break point,
e) Estimate the length of the established GVF.

s01=0.0032
n1= 0.018
s02=0.0013
n2= 0.021
Question 9.8:
Below given open channel is the cross-section of a simple but compound channel with
main and floodway parts. Its longitudinal bottom slope sb = 0.00065 and the
roughness coefficient for all over the channel is n = 0.017. The water depth at the floodway is
y = 2.855 m. Use vertical interface excluded (VIE) to calculate:
a) The discharge passing within this channel,
b) The regime of this flow,
c) The existing specific energy for this given flow,
d) The critical depth cr of this cross-section,
e) The minimum energy min of this flow,
f) The alternate depth alt of this flow.
g) Show all the above calculated values on specific energy depth - curve.

3.525 m
 A B
3.525 m

a) AA= 8.852 m2, PA= 6.38 m, AB= 25.095 m2, PB=11.645 m,

QA= 16.514 m3/s QB= 62.790 m3/s QTOTAL= 79.304 m3/s

a) Fr = 0.435 < 1.00 Sub-critical regime

b) E = 3.803 m

c) ycr = 2.276 m

d) Emin = 3.119 m

e) yalt = 1.643 m
Old Exam Question:
Below given is a composite and compound channel cross-section with main
and floodway parts. Its longitudinal bottom slope is sb = 0.0085. The normal water depth within
the main part is y = 2.135 m and within the floodway is y = 83 cm. Calculate:
a) the amount of discharge passing within this channel, (30)
b) the regime of this flow, (5)
c) the existing specific energy within this channel, (5)
d) the critical depth cr of this cross-section, (20)
e) the minimum energy min of this cross-section, (5)
f) the alternate depth alt of this cross-section, (15)
g) the critical slope cr of this reach, (5)
h) show all of these above relevant calculated information on a specific energy depth (E-y)
curve. (15)
nequi MAIN= 0.0233 nequi FLOOD= 0.0147

Q MAIN= 58.0235 m3/s Q FLOOD= 57.0089 m3/s Q TOTAL= 115.1224 m3/s

Fr2=2.335 super critical regime E = 3.417 m y cr= 2.505 m Emin= 3.213 m

y alternate= 3.06 m s cr= 0.00352