Scribd
Upload
35 views31 pages

Open Channel - 1

1) Open channel flow refers to flow in a conduit with a free surface exposed to the atmosphere, such as rivers and canals. 2) Open channel flows can be classified based on factors like their Reynolds number, Froude number, variation of flow properties over time and space, and the direction of flow velocity. 3) In open channel flows, velocities are not uniformly distributed due to friction along boundaries and the free surface. The maximum velocity typically occurs below the free surface and correction coefficients are used in computations to account for non-uniform velocities.

Uploaded by

sintayehu sirahbizu
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
35 views31 pages

Open Channel - 1

1) Open channel flow refers to flow in a conduit with a free surface exposed to the atmosphere, such as rivers and canals. 2) Open channel flows can be classified based on factors like their Reynolds number, Froude number, variation of flow properties over time and space, and the direction of flow velocity. 3) In open channel flows, velocities are not uniformly distributed due to friction along boundaries and the free surface. The maximum velocity typically occurs below the free surface and correction coefficients are used in computations to account for non-uniform velocities.

Uploaded by

sintayehu sirahbizu
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 31

Open channel

Hydraulics
Introduction
Open channel - is a conduit for flow, which has a free
surface, i.e. a boundary exposed to the atmosphere
There are two kinds of flows, i.e.
Open channel and
Pipe flow
Both are similar in many ways but differ in the following
important aspects
Open channel flow must have a free surface, whereas pipe flow
has none, since the water must fill the whole conduit
A free surface is subject to atmospheric pressure. Pipe flow
being confined in closed conduit, exerts no direct atmospheric
pressure but hydraulic pressure
In the case of the flowing fluid in open channel, the motion is
usually caused by gravity effects and the pressure distribution
within the fluid is generally hydrostatic pressure.
Question ?????????
• Where is the HGL in case of the open channel flow?
• What is the influence of the change in cross–section of the
pipe?
• Is a half–full pipe flow open channel flow or pipe flow?
• Mention the type of open channel flow that you learn from your
surroundings?

Look at the following pictures; all are open channel flow


Flow in small rivers
Flow in big rivers
Amazon River
Meandering of River flow – Amazon River
Flow over a weir
Flood flowing over a spillway
Flow in artificial canal
Flow in flumes in laboratory
Partial flow in tunnels/sewer pipes
Partial flow in culverts

All of the above are open


channel flow
1.2 Classification of open channels
Artificial or natural channels
Man made – irrigation canal, sewers flowing partly, power
tunnel
Natural – rivers and estuaries(section of a river meeting
the sea)
Prismatic and non-prismatic channels
Prismatic – constant cross section & slope
Non-prismatic – either slope or cross section vary
Rigid boundary and mobile boundary channels
Rigid – immovable bed & side
Mobile – composed of sedimentary particles moving under
the action of flowing of water (alluvial channel)
Canal – Artificial, Rigid, prismatic
River – Natural
course, mobile
boundary, non-
prismatic
Classification of open channels flows
Based on Reynolds number (Re)
Laminar flow – (Re ≤ 500) (Re = VR /)
Turbulent flow – (Re ≥ 2000)
Based on Froude number (F)
Subcritical flow – (F <1) 
v
Fr 
Supercritical flow – (F >1) gD

Based on variation of depth, discharge & mean velocity with


time
Steady flow – h, Q, U at any section do not change with time

h
Unsteady U thesequantities
Q
 0 , flow –
0 ,  0 change with time
t t t
Classification of open channel flows (cont’d)
Based on change of depth, discharge & mean velocity with
space
Uniform flow – h, Q, U along the length of channel don not change at any given
instant
h U Q
0 , 0 , 0
x change
Non uniform flow – these quantities x along thexlength
 Gradually varied flow
 Rapidly varied flow

Based on the direction of flow velocity


One dimensional flow
Two dimensional flow
Three dimensional flow
Examples
Flow through a flume in laboratory Steady uniform flow
When water is let through prismatic
channel from a large reservoir Steady uniform flow
Flow entering into reservoir Steady gradually varied
Constant flow over spillway forming a flow
hydraulic jump Steady rapidly varied
Flow of water in a perforated bottom flow
channel Steady spatially varied
flow
A flow which does not exist
Unsteady uniform flow
practically
Movement of flood down a river Unsteady gradually
varied flow
Movement of surge wave in a channel
Unsteady rapidly varied
Overland flow due to surface runoff flow
Rapidly varied –
spatially unsteady flow
Various types of open channel flow
1.4 Velocity and Pressure Distribution
Owing to the presence of free surface and to the friction
along the channel wall, the velocities in open channel are
not uniformly distributed
The measured maximum velocity in ordinary channels
usually appear to occur below the free surface at a
distance of 0.05 to 0.25 of the depth, the closer the banks
the deeper the maximum
As a result of non-uniform distribution of velocities over
the channel section, the velocity head of an open channel
flow is generally greater than the value computed
according to the expression V2/2g, where V is the mean
velocity
Velocity and Pressure Distribution…
In practice usually average velocity across the flow is
taken and correction coefficients are applied
A correction coefficient called Coriolis coefficient
(energy coefficient)  is used in computations when
energy principle is used, i.e. the velocity head will be
expressed as V2/2g
Experimental data indicate that the value of  varies from
1.03 to 1.36 for fairly straight prismatic channels
Non-uniform distribution of velocity also affects
computation of momentum (mv = QgV), where  is
momentum coefficient or Boussinesq coefficient
generally 1.01 <  < 1.12 for straight prismatic channels
Velocity Distribution
Velocity variation along the depth
Pressure Distribution

Parallel flow - hydrostatic


pressure distribution

Convex flow- centrifugal force


acts against gravity (upward)

Concave flow - centrifugal


force pointing downward to
reinforce gravity

You might also like