CHAPTER I

OPEN CHANNEL FLOW

AND ITS CLASSIFICATIONS
 Open channel flow and its classifications
Open channel flow
An open channel is a passage or conduit, through which the water flows under
the forces of gravity i.e., under atmospheric pressure.
It has a free surface and atmospheric pressure exists at the free surface.
The free surface of water is in contact with the atmosphere as in case of a
canal, a sewer, an aqueduct or a river.
A channel may be covered or open at the top.
Pipe flow
Pipe flow, being confined in a closed conduit, exerts no direct atmospheric
pressure but hydraulic pressure only.
When the pipe is running full, the flow is under pressure.
But, if the pipe is not running full, the flow is not under pressure and
atmospheric pressure exists inside the pipe, which is called open channel flow.
DIFFERENCES BETWEEN PIPE FLOW
AND OPEN CHANNEL FLOW
 Open channel flow and pipe flow
Fig 1.1 shows schematically a pipe flow and an open channel flow to highlight
the basic differences.
 Open channel flow and pipe flow
Fig 1.1 shows schematically a pipe flow and an open channel flow to highlight
the basic differences.
Prismatic and non-prismatic channels
A channel in which the cross-sectional shape, size and also the
bottom slope are constant, is termed as prismatic channel.
Most of the man made (artificial) channels are prismatic channels.
All natural channels generally have varying cross-sections and
consequently are non-prismatic.
Rigid and mobile boundary channels
Rigid channels are those in which the boundary is not deformable in the
sense that the shape, planiform and roughness magnitudes are not functions
of flow parameters.
Examples include lined canals, sewers and non-erodible unlined canals.
The flow velocity and shear-stress distribution will be such that no major
scour, erosion or deposition takes place in the channel and the channel
geometry and roughness are constant with respect to time.

Mobile boundary channels are those in which the boundaries undergo

deformation due to the erosion and deposition like many unlined channels in
alluvium (both man made channels and natural rivers) due to flow.
 Types of flows
Steady flow and unsteady flow
Flow in an open channel is said to be steady, if the depth of flow at a section
does not change during the time interval under consideration.
The flow is unsteady if the depth changes with time.
In most open channel problems it is necessary to study flow behaviour only
under steady conditions.
Uniform and non-uniform flow
Open channel flow is said to be uniform if the depth of flow is the same at
every section of the channel.
The flow is said to be uniform in an open channel, if the depth of flow remain
constant along the length of the channel.
If the flow changes along the channel, it is termed as non-uniform flow or
varied flow.
Gradually varied flow and rapidly varied flow
In gradually varied flow, the depth of flow changes gradually along the length
of the channel.
The flow is rapidly varied if the depth changes abruptly over a comparatively
short distance; otherwise it is gradually varied.
A rapidly varied flow is also known as local phenomenon; examples are the
hydraulic jump and hydraulic drop.
Spatially varied flow
In steady varied flow, the discharge is constant at all sections.
If some flow/discharge is added to or obstructed from the system, the
resulting varied flow is known as spatially varied flow.
 Classification
A. Steady flow
1. Uniform flow
2. Varied flow
a. Gradually varied flow
b. Rapidly varied flow
B. Unsteady flow
1. Unsteady uniform flow (rare)
2. Unsteady varied flow (unsteady flow)
a. Gradually varied unsteady flow
b. Rapidly varied unsteady flow
Effect of viscosity
Depending upon the effect of viscosity relative to inertia, the flow may be
laminar, turbulent or transitional.
The flow is laminar, if the viscous forces are strong relative to the inertial
forces that viscosity plays a significant part in determining flow behaviour.
In laminar flow, the water particles appear to move in definite smooth paths
or streamlines and infinitesimally thin layers of fluid seen to slide over
adjacent layers.
The flow is turbulent, if the viscous forces are weak relative to the inertial
forces.
In this flow, the water particles move in irregular paths which are neither
smooth nor fixed but which in aggregate still represent the forward motion of
the entire stream.
Between the laminar and turbulent states there is a mixed or transitional
state.
The effect of viscosity relative to the inertia can be represented by the
Reynold’s number, defined as
Re = V= velocity of flow, L = length = hydraulic radius of conduit
µ = Kinematic viscosity of water

Type of flow Reynold’s number value

Laminar flow Transitional Turbulent flow

Open channel flow < 500 500 - 2000 > 2000

Pipe flow < 2000 2000 - 2800 > 2800
Effect of gravity
The effect of gravity upon the state of flow is represented by a ratio of inertial
forces to gravity forces. The ratio is given by
Froude’s number =
F=
F = 1, = , flow is critical state
F > 1, > , the flow is sub-critical, gravity force is more pronounced
F < 1, < , the flow is super-critical, inertial forces are dominant

= critical velocity is known as celerity

 ASSIGNMENT - 2
1. With reference to the figure, show that the theoretical discharge of the open
channel flow may be expressed by
Q= A2

2. Verify the equation, F=

 SHORT TYPE QUESTIONS
1 Steady flow in an open channel exists when the
a) channel is prismatic b) depth does not change with time
c) channel is frictionless d) channel bed is not covered

2 In a steady spatially varied flow in a prismatic open channel, the

a) depth does not change along the b) discharge is constant along its length
channel length
c) discharge varies along the length of d) discharge varies with respect to time
channel
3 In the uniform flow in a channel of small bed slope, the hydraulic grade line
a) coincides with the bed b) is considerably below the free surface
c) is considerably above the free surface d) essentially coincides with the free
surface
4 A uniform flow takes place in a steep channel of large slope. The hydraulic grade line
a) coincides with the bed b) essentially coincides with the free
surface
c) is above the free surface d) is below the free surface
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