Hydraulic Engineering

Fourth Semester
BCEF184T20

R.Sumathi,
Assistant Professor(S-II)
Civil &SE Department
UNIT-I- Open Channel Flow
Introduction to Open Channel Flow-Comparison
between open channel flow and pipe flow,
geometrical parameters of a channel, classification of
open channels, classification of open channel flow,
Velocity Distribution of channel section. Specific
energy, Specific energy curve, critical flow, discharge
curve, Specific force. Specific depth, and Critical
depth.
R.Sumathi,AP(S-II)/Civil & SE/ SCSVMV
University
Open Channel Flow

R.Sumathi,AP(S-II)/Civil & SE/ SCSVMV

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Introduction to Open Channel
• An open channel means a passage through which water flows
with its surface freely exposed to the atmosphere.
• The water at its surface is at atmospheric pressure throughout.
• The channel may be open or may be provided with a cover or
top.
• In case the channel is provided with a cover or top, it must not
be running full and the air above the water surface is at
atmospheric pressure.
• A pipe in which the water is not running full also acts as a
channel.
• The section of a channel may be uniform or non-uniform.
• For example, a canal, a sewer, an aqueduct, etc. are channels of
uniform section,
R.Sumathi,AP(S-II)/Civil & SE/ SCSVMV
• while rivers and streams are channels of non-uniform section.
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Comparison between open channel flow and pipe flow
Parameters Open Channel flow Pipe flow
Condition It is usually uncovered, have a free surface at It is covered and as no free surface.
the top and atmospheric pressure at free
surface.
Cross section It may have any shape. Generally pipe flow as a circular cross
Ex. Rectangular, trapezoidal, circular, section
parabolic.
Cause of flow Flow is due to gravity Flow is due to pressure
Surface roughness Its roughness varies between wide limits Its roughness depends upon the
and also varies from place to place material of the pipe

Velocity Velocity is maximum at little distance below Velocity is maximum at the centre of
distribution the water surface in open channel flow. The flow and reduces to zero at the pipe
shape of the velocity profile of the open wall. Velocity distribution is
channel depends upon the channel surface. symmetrical about the pipe axis in
pipe flow
Surface head negligible Dominant for small diameter pipes
Piezo metric head Z+y, where y= depth of flow. HGL coincides 𝑍 + 𝑝 𝑦 , where p= pressure in the
with the water surface in open channel pipe. HGL does&not
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flow.
Classification of Open Channel
Artificial Channel Prismatic Channel
Such channels are regular in A channel is said to be
shape and alignment. Surface prismatic when the cross
roughness is also uniform. section is uniform and the
Ex: irrigation, water supply, bed slope is constant.
water power development Ex: Rectangular, trapezoidal,
etc circular, parabolic.
Open
Channels
Natural channels
Non-Prismatic Channel
The irregular sections of
A channel is said to be non-
varying shapes are the
prismatic when its cross
natural channels.
section and for slope change.
Ex: Rivers streams and
Ex: River, Streams & Estuary.
drains etc. R.Sumathi,AP(S-II)/Civil & SE/ SCSVMV
University
 Steady & Uniform and
unsteady Non uniform
flow flow

Laminar flow Sub critical,

and Critical and
turbulent supercritical
flow Classification flow
of Flows

R.Sumathi,AP(S-II)/Civil & SE/ SCSVMV

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 Steady Flow and Unsteady Flow Uniform Flow and Non-uniform flow

Steady flow Uniform Flow

is that type of flow in which fluid If for a given length of channel, the
parameters (velocity, pressure, velocity of flow, depth of flow, slope
density etc.) at any point in the of the channel and cross section
flow field do not change with remain constant, the flow is said to
be uniform.
time. 𝜕y 𝜕v
𝜕v 𝜕Q 𝜕y =0 =0
=0 , =0 =0 𝜕s 𝜕t
𝜕t 𝜕t 𝜕t Non-uniform flow
If for a given length of channel, the
Unsteady Flow velocity of flow, depth of flow, slope
The flow is unsteady if the depth of the channel and cross section is
is changes with time. not constant, the flow is said to be
𝜕v 𝜕Q 𝜕y non-uniform.
≠0 ≠0 ≠0 𝜕v 𝜕y
𝜕t 𝜕t 𝜕t ≠0 ≠0
𝜕s 𝜕s

Classification of Flows R.Sumathi,AP(S-II)/Civil & SE/ SCSVMV

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 Types of Non-Uniform
Flow
Gradually Varied Rapidly Varied
Flow (GVF) Flow (RVF)
If the depth of the If the depth of the
flow in a channel flow in a channel
changes gradually changes abruptly
over a length of the over a small length of
channel is said to be channel is said to be
Gradually Varied Flow. Rapidly Varied Flow.
R.Sumathi,AP(S-II)/Civil & SE/ SCSVMV
University
Laminar and Turbulent Flow (Based on Re)
Both laminar and turbulent flow can occur in open channels
depending on the Reynolds number (Re)
Re = ρvd/µ
Where,
ρ = density of water = 1000 kg/m3
µ = dynamic viscosity
d = Hydraulic Mean Depth = Area / Wetted Perimeter
If the Reynolds number Re is less than 500 or 600, then
the flow is called laminar flow.
If the Reynolds number is more than 2000, then the flow is
said to be turbulent.
A flow that has Reynolds number between 500 and 2000 is
said to be in the transition state.
R.Sumathi,AP(S-II)/Civil & SE/ SCSVMV
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Based on Froude Number

• Critical flow has a Froude number equal

to one Fe=1.0
Critical Flow

• Froude number less than one (Fe< 𝟏. 𝟎)

• Subcritical occurs when the actual water
Sub-Critical
Flow depth is greater than critical depth

• Froude number greater than one𝐅 > 𝟏. 𝟎

• The actual depth is less than critical depth
𝐞
Super
Critical Flow

R.Sumathi,AP(S-II)/Civil & SE/ SCSVMV

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Geometric properties of open channels
 y : depth of flow  Re : Reynolds number
 m : side slope  L : length of channel
 T : top width  A : area of the flow
 So: channel bottom  P : wetted perimeter
slope  D : hydraulics water
 b: bottom channel width depth
 v: average flow density  V : volume
 Fe: Froude number  E : specific energy
 Q: flow rates, Q = AV  ∆z : weir height
 R: hydraulic radius at  q = discharge per unit
cross section width (m2/s)
 θ : flow temperature R.Sumathi,AP(S-II)/Civil & SE/ SCSVMV
University
Type of channel Top width,T Area, A Wetted Perimeter, P

Rectangular B By B+2y

Trapezoidal B+2my By + my2 B + 2y 1 + m2

R.Sumathi,AP(S-II)/Civil & SE/ SCSVMV

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Velocity Distribution of channel section
 In an open channel flow, velocity distribution is non-uniform
which means velocity is different at different depths.

 Various Factors such as channel slope, alignment, shape,

roughness etc., plays key role in velocity distribution.

 The measured velocity in an open channel will always vary

across the channel section because of friction along the
boundary.

 Neither is this velocity distribution usually axisymmetric (as

it is in pipe flow) due to the existence of the free surface.

R.Sumathi,AP(S-II)/Civil & SE/ SCSVMV

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Cont.,

 It might be expected to find the maximum velocity at the

free surface where the shear force is zero but this is not
the case.

 The maximum velocity is usually found just below the

surface.

R.Sumathi,AP(S-II)/Civil & SE/ SCSVMV

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Questions
PART-A
1. Define open channel flow with examples.
2. What are the various types of flow in open channels?
3. Explain Laminar and Turbulent flow.
4. Define the term Uniform and non-uniform flow.
5. Distinguish between steady and unsteady flow.
6. Define hydraulic mean depth.
7. Define specific energy.
8. Define critical depth.
9. Distinguish between Subcritical, critical and supercritical flow
10. Define alternate depths.
11. What is the relationship between minimum specific energy and critical depth?
12. Explain specific force (Fc)
13. Differentiate closed conduit flow and open channel flow.
14. What is specific energy and what is the condition for obtaining only one
depth for a given specific energy?
15. Explain the terms (i) Gradually varied flow and (ii) rapidly varied flow.
16. Differentiate prismatic and non-prismatic channels.
17. Sketch the velocity distribution of a trapezoidal channel section.
18. Draw the hydraulic gradient line and total energy line.
19. What is flow regime? Name the types. R.Sumathi,AP(S-II)/Civil & SE/ SCSVMV
University
Questions
PART-B
1. (a) Define specific energy. Write an expression for the specific energy in case of a wide
rectangular channel with depth of flow y and velocity of flow v. Also express the specific
energy in terms of the discharge per unit width of the rectangular channel. Represent the
later expression for specific energy on a discharge per unit width versus depth of flow for
constant specific energy. Mention any two applications of such a discharge curve.
(b)A rectangular channel 2.5m wide has a specific energy of 1.5m when carrying a discharge
of 6.48 m3/s. Calculate the alternate depths and corresponding Froude numbers.

2. (a) Find the critical depth for a specific energy head of 1.5m in the following channels:
i)Rectangular channel of width B = 2.0m
ii)Triangular channel having side slope 1.5 horizontal to 1 vertical
iii)Trapezoidal channel having bottom width 2m and side slope 1 horizontal to 1 vertical.
For purpose of identification and analysis, how open channels are classified? Give one
example for each.

3. (a) The discharge of water through a rectangular channel of width 8m , is 1.5m 3/s when
the depth of flow of water is 1.2m.Calculate
i)Specific energy
ii)Critical depth and critical velocity
iii)Minimum specific energy. R.Sumathi,AP(S-II)/Civil & SE/ SCSVMV
University
Cont.,
4. (a) Define Specific energy. Draw a neat sketch of specific energy curve and explain the salient
points.
(b)Find the slope of the bed of a rectangular channel of width 5m when the depth of flow of water
is 2m and the rate of flow is given as 20 m3/s. Assume C=50.

5. (a) Derive the equations for

(i) Critical depth
(ii) Critical velocity
(iii) Minimum specific energy in terms of critical depth.
(b) Find the critical depth and critical velocity of water flowing through a rectangular channel of
width 5m, when discharging 15 m3/s.

6. Calculate the Critical depth, critical velocity and critical specific energy for a flow of 12 m3/s in a
rectangular channel of width 3.5m and energy co-efficient 1.1. What is the state of flow when the
depth is 0.9m? Find the Froude’s number at this depth.

7. (a) Describe the various types of flow in an open channel.

(b) Find the discharge through a rectangular channel of width 2m, having a bed slope of 4in 8000.
The depth of flow is 1.5m. Use Chezy’s formula. Take C= 76.

8. A rectangular channel which is laid on a bottom slope of 0.0064 is to carry 20 m3/s of water.
Determine the width of the channel when the flow is in critical condition.Take Manning’s n=
0.015.
9. For a constant specific energy of 1.8N.m/N, Calculate the maximum discharge that may occur in
a rectangular channel 5.0m wide. R.Sumathi,AP(S-II)/Civil & SE/ SCSVMV
University
Thank You

R.Sumathi,AP(S-II)/Civil & SE/ SCSVMV

University