Open Channel Flow

Prepared by : UTPAL GHOSH

Officer –in-Charge
Kalna Polytechnic

.
 Unit – 5 :Flow Through Open Channel

5.1
 Types of channels- artificial & natural,
purposes of artificial channel,
Different shapes of artificial channels,
 Geometrical properties of channel section –
wetted area, wetted perimeter, hydraulics
radius, Prismatic channel sections,
steady- uniform flow through prismatic
channel section
Unit – 5 :Flow Through Open Channel
5.2
Chezy’s equation and Manning’s equation for
calculation of discharge through an open
channel,
common range of values of Chezy’s constants
and Manning’s constant of different types of
channel surfaces,
Most economical channel section, conditions
for most economical channel sections – for
rectangular and trapezoidal section
Unit – 5 :Flow Through Open Channel
5.3
 Concept of specific energy.
Froud’s number and its significance.
Alternate depth.
 expression for critical depth.
critical velocity and minimum specific energy.
Critical, sub-critical and supercritical flow in channel
physical phenomenon, numerical problems.
 Hydraulic jump its occurrence in field, uses of
hydraulic jump, equation for sequent depth, simple
numerical problems.
OPEN CHANNEL
An open channel :
a) The stream not completely enclosed by solid
boundaries
b) It has free surface subjected only to
atmospheric pressure.
c) Referred as free-surface flow or gravity flow
TYPES OF OPEN CHANNEL
Open Channel

Natural Channel Artificial Channel

Irregular shape Regular shape

i.e : river, hillsides i.e : drains, culverts,

rivulets, tidal etuaries sewer, tunnels
 Natural Channel

Natural channels include all watercourses of varying

sizes from tiny hillside rivulets, streams, small and
large rivers to tidal estuaries that exist naturally on
the earth. Subsurface streams carrying water with a
free surface are also treated as natural open channels.
The cross sections of natural channel are irregular and
hence hydraulic properties may vary from section to
section, and reach to reach. A comprehensive study of
the behavior of flow in natural channels (the mobile
boundaries) requires knowledge of other fields, such
as hydrology, geomorphology and sediment
transportation. Generally, these aspects are dealt in
detail in river mechanics (fluvial hydraulics).
TYPES OF OPEN CHANNEL
TYPES OF OPEN CHANNEL
 Artificial Channel
Artificial channels are those constructed or developed by human
effort such as gutters, drainage, ditches, floodways, tunnels, log
chutes, navigation channels, power canals and trough, spillways
including model channels that are built in the laboratory for
experimental investigation studies. Long distance canals have
been constructed to achieve the inter basin transfer of water at
National and International levels. The artificial channel is known
by different names, such as " canal "," chute", "culvert", "drop",
"flumes" and "open - flow tunnel", Aqueduct However, these
names, are used rather loosely and can be defined only in very
general manner.
The canal is usually a long and mild-sloped channel built in the
ground, which may be lined or unlined with stone masonry,
concrete, cement, wood or bituminous materials etc.
Eg: Ganga Canal, Indira Gandhi Canal, Narmada Canal.
purposes of artificial channel
location of free surface
velocity distribution
discharge - stage (__Depth____) relationships
optimal channel design
Different shapes of artificial channels
Channel Geometry:
 A channel built with constant cross section and
constant bottom slope is called a PRISMATIC
CHANNEL.
 Otherwise, the channel is NONPRISMATIC
THE CHANNEL SECTION is the cross section of a
channel taken normal to the direction of the flow.
THE VERTICAL CHANNEL SECTION is the
vertical
section passing through the lowest or bottom point
of the channel section.
Channel Geometry
Geometric Elements of Channel Section

THE DEPTH OF FLOW, y, is the vertical distance of

the lowest point of a channel section from the free
surface.
Geometric Elements of Channel Section

θ is the channel bottom slope d =

ycos θ.

For mild-sloped
channels y = d.

THE DEPTH OF FLOW SECTION, d, is the depth of

flow normal to the direction of flow.
Channel Geometry : The wetted perimeter does not include the
free surface. Examples of R for common geometries shown in
Figure at the left.
Channel Geometry : The wetted perimeter does not include the
free surface. Examples of R for common geometries shown in
Figure at the left.
Geometric Elements of Channel Section
 Geometric Elements of Channel Section

THE TOP WIDTH(, T) :It is the width of the channel section at the free
surface.
THE WATER AREA, A,: It is the cross-sectional area of the flow normal to
the direction of flow.
THE WETTED PERIMETER, (P): It is the length of the line of
intersection of
the channel wetted surface with a cross-sectional plane normal to the
direction of
flow.
THE HYDRAULIC RADIUS, R = A/P: it is the ratio of the water area to
its wetted
perimeter.
THE HYDRAULIC DEPTH, D = A/T: It is the ratio of the water area to
the top
width.
Geometrical properties of channel section – wetted area,
wetted perimeter, hydraulics radius, Prismatic channel
sections.
Types of Flow : Criterion: Change in flow depth
with respect to time and space.
 Chezy Equation (1768)
Introduced by the French engineer Antoine
Chezy in 1768 while designing a canal for
the water-supply system of Paris

2g
V =C Rh S f compare V= S f Rh
l
where C = Chezy coefficient

m m 0.0054 > l > 0.00087 For a pipe

60 < C < 150 d 4 Rh
s s 0.022 > f > 0.0035
where 60 is for rough and 150 is for smooth
also a function of R (like f in Darcy-Weisbach)
 Manning Equation (1891)
Most popular in U.S. for open channels
1 2/3 1/2 (MKS units!)
V  R S
h o
n Dimensions of n?
T /L1/3

Is n only a function of roughness? NO!

1.49
V  R 2/3
h S1/2
o
(English system)
n
Bottom slope
Q  VA
1
Q  ARh2 / 3 S o1 / 2 very sensitive to n
n
Values of Manning nLined Canals n
Cement plaster 0.011
Untreated gunite 0.016
Wood, planed 0.012 n = f(surface
Wood, unplaned 0.013 roughness,
Concrete, trowled 0.012 channel
Concrete, wood forms, unfinished 0.015
irregularity,
Rubble in cement 0.020
Asphalt, smooth 0.013 stage...)
Asphalt, rough 0.016
Natural Channels
Gravel beds, straight 0.025
Gravel beds plus large boulders 0.040
Earth, straight, with some grass 0.026
Earth, winding, no vegetation 0.030
Earth , winding with vegetation 0.050

n  0.031d 1 / 6 d in ft d = median size of bed material

n  0.038d 1 / 6 d in m
 Steady-Uniform Flow: Force Balance
V2
toP D x
Shear force =________ 2g Energy grade line
P
Wetted perimeter = __ Hydraulic grade line
b
Dx sinq
gA________ c
Gravitational force = Dx
Ax sin    o Px 0
a
A
 o  sin d
P Shear force
W cos  

A
= Rh Hydraulic radius W
P sin 
S  sin 
t o =g Rh S W sin  cos 
Turbulence
Relationship between shear and velocity? ___________
Most economical channel section, conditions for most economical channel sections
– for rectangular and trapezoidal section
 Open Channel Flow: Energy Relations
velocity head V12 hL =S f Dx
1
2g energy
______
V22
2 grade
2g
line
hydraulic
_______
y1 grade
y2 line

S o x

x

Bottom slope (So) not necessarily equal to EGL slope (Sf)

Energy Relationships
p1 V12 p2 V22 Pipe flow
+z1 +a 1 = +z2 +a 2 +hL
g 2g g 2g z - measured
from horizontal
datum
From diagram on previous slide...

2 2
Turbulent flow (  1)
V V
y1 +So Dx + = y2 + +S f Dx
1 2
y - depth of flow
2g 2g
Energy Equation for Open Channel Flow

V12 V22
y1 + +So Dx = y2 + +S f Dx
2g 2g
Specific Energy
The sum of the depth of flow and the velocity
head is the specific energy:
+ pressure
2 y - Potential Energy
V
E y 
2g V2
- _______
Kineticenergy
2g
E1  S o x E2  S f x
If channel bottom is horizontal and no head loss
y
E1  E2
For a change in bottom elevation
E1 - Dy =E2
 Specific Energy
In a channel with constant discharge, Q

Q  A1V1  A2V2
V2 Q2
E y  E y  where A=f(y)
2g 2gA2
Consider rectangular channel (A = By) and Q = qB

q2 q is the discharge per unit width of

E y  channel
2gy 2 y
A
3 roots (one is negative)
B

2
ow many possible depths given a specific energy? _
 10
Specific Energy: Sluice Gate
sluice gate
9 q = 5.5 m2/s
y1 8 EGL y2 = 0.45 m
2
7 q V2 = 12.2 m/s
E y 
6
2gy 2 1
5
y

E2 = 8 m
4
3 vena contracta
2
2
y2 1
0
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
E1 E2
E
Given downstream depth and discharge, find upstream depth.
alternat
y1 and y2 are ___________ depths (same specific energy)
e
Why not use momentum conservation to find y ? 1
 Specific Energy: Raise the Sluice Gate
sluice gate
4

3
EGL
y1
2
y

1 2

y2 1
E1 E2
0
0 1 2 3 4 q2
E E y 
2gy 2
as sluice gate is raised y1 approaches y2 and E is minimized:
Maximum discharge for given energy.
 Step Up with Subcritical Flow
Short, smooth step with rise Dy in channel
Given upstream depth and discharge find y2
4
Energy conserved
4 3

3 2

y
2 1
y

1 0
0 1 Dy 2 3 4
0 E E1 =E2 +Dy
0 1 2 3 4
E
Is alternate depth possible? ________________________
NO! Calculate depth along ste
 Max Step Up
Short, smooth step with maximum rise Dy in channel

What happens if the step 4

y1 increases
is increased further? 3
___________
4

y
3

1
2
y

0
1
0 1 2 3 4
Dy
E
0 E1 =E2 +Dy
0 1 2 3 4
E
 Step Up with Supercritical flow
Short, smooth step with rise Dy in channel
Given upstream depth and discharge find y2
4

4 3

3 2

y
2 1
y

1 0
0 1 Dy 2 3 4
0 E E1 =E2 +Dy
0 1 2 3 4
E
What happened to the water depth?______________________________
Increased! Expansion! Energy Loss
 4

yc
2

y
1

Critical Flow
0
0 1 2 3 4
E

Find critical depth, yc Arbitrary cross-section

dE T
0
dy dy
Q2 dA
E y  A=f(y) y A
2gA2
P
dE Q 2 dA
=1 - 3
=0 dA =Tdy T=surface width
dy gA dy
More general definition of Fr
Q 2Tc 2
QT V 2T A
1  Fr 2
Fr 2
=D Hydraulic Depth
gAc3 gA 3
gA T
Critical Flow:
Rectangular channel
Q 2Tc T
1  T Tc
gAc3
Ac yc
Q  qT Ac  ycT

q 2T 3 q2
1 
3 3
gy T
c gyc3
1/ 3
q 2 
yc    Only for rectangular channels!
 g 
 

q  gyc3 Given the depth we can find the flow!

Critical Flow Relationships:
Rectangular Channels
1/ 3
q 2   Vc2 yc2 
yc    yc3    because q  Vc yc
 g   g 
   

Vc inertial force Kinetic energy

1 Froude number
yc g gravity force Potential energy

Vc2 yc Vc2
yc   velocity head = 0.5 (depth)
g 2 2g
V2 yc 2
E y  E  yc  yc  E
2g 2 3
Critical Depth
Minimum energy for a given q
dE
Occurs when = Vc2 yc
0___
dy
=
When kinetic = potential!
2g 2
________
Fr=1 4

V q T
Fr = c
= =Q 3
3

yc g 3
gyc gA
2

y
Super 1
Fr>1 ______critical

Sub 0
Fr<1 = ______critical 0 1 2 3 4
E
 Could a hydraulic jump be laminar?

Hydraulic Jump
Used for energy dissipation
Occurs when flow transitions from
supercritical to subcritical
base of spillway
Steep slope to mild slope
We would like to know depth of water
downstream from jump as well as the
location of the jump
Which equation, Energy or Momentum?
 Hydraulic Jump
M1  M 2 W  Fp  Fp  Fss 1 2
Conservation of Momentum
hL
EGL
M 1 x  M 2 x  Fp  Fp 1x 2x

y2
M 1x  V12 A1
y1
M 2 x  V22 A2
L
 QV1  QV2  p1 A1  p2 A2
2 2 r gy Q
Q Q gy1 A1 gy2 A2 p= V 
    2
A1 A2 2 2 A
Hydraulic Jump:
Energy Loss and Length
Energy LossE1  E2  hL
q2 y2  y1 3
E y  algebra hL 
2gy 2 4 y1 y2
significant energy loss (to turbulence) in jump

Length of jump
No general theoretical solution
Experiments show

L 6 y2 for 4.5 <Fr1 <13

 Specific Momentum
5
gy1 A1 Q 2 gy2 A2 Q 2 E
  
2 A1 2 A2 1:1slope
4
M
y1 A1 Q 2 y2 A2 Q 2
   3
2 A1 g 2 A2 g
y 2
y12 q 2 y22 q 2
  
2 y1 g 2 y2 g
1
When is M minimum? DE
0
2 1
dM q q 2 3
2 3 4 5 6 7
y  2 y   Critical depth!
dy y g  g  Eor M
Hydraulic Jump Location
Suppose a sluice gate is located in a long
channel with a mild slope. Where will the
hydraulic jump be located?
Outline your solution scheme

reservoir Sluice gate

2m

10 cm

S = 0.005
 Gradually Varied Flow:
Find Change in Depth wrt x
V12 V22 Energy equation for non-
y1   So x  y2   S f x uniform, steady flow
2g 2g

 V22 V12 
So dx  y2  y1       S f dx
Shrink control volume
 2g 2g  T
dy  y2  y1
dy
V 2
dy  d    S f dx So dx y A
 2g 
P
dy d  V 2  dx dx
 Sf S o

dy dy  2 g   dy dy