OPEN CHANNEL HYDRAULICS

Uniform Flow
Majid Mirzaei
Introduction
• “Occur when free water surface in the channel is at
atmosphere pressure”
• Example of open channel:
• Rivers and streams
• Drainage
• Ditches
• Irrigation canal
Application

• Interest to hydraulic engineers

• location of free surface
• velocity distribution
• discharge - stage (depth) relationships
• optimal channel design
Types of channels
1. Man made
• Channel designed and made by human
• Examples: earth or concrete lined drainage and irrigation
• Prismatic channel
(If the cross-section of a channel is uniform throughout its
length and the bottom slope is constant, it is called Prismatic
Channels, no change in geometry with distance)
2. Natural
• Examples: River and streams
• Changes with spatial and temporal (non prismatic
channel)
 FLOW IN
OPEN
CHANNEL
TEMPORAL (Time)
STEADY UNSTEADY
FLOW FLOW

NON-
UNIFORM
UNIFORM
FLOW
FLOW

RAPIDLY
VARIED FLOW
SPATIAL (Space)

GRADUALLY
VARIED FLOW
Types of flow
• Based on temporal (Time, t) and Spatial (Space,x)
• Time Criteria
• Steady flow (dy/dt = 0). Water depth at one point same all
the time. (Flow constant with time)
• Unsteady flow (dy/dt ≠ 0). Water depth changes all the
time. (Flow variation with time)
• Space criteria
• Uniform flow (dy/dx = 0). Water depth same along the
whole length of flow.
• Non-uniform flow (dy/dx ≠ 0). Water depth changes either
rapidly or gradually flow
 Flow Rate

Steady

Unsteady

Time

Steady and Non-Steady Flow

Uniform and Non-Uniform Flow

V1 = V2
A1 = A2

V1 V2
V1
A1 A2 A1 V2
A2

Uniform Flow Non-Uniform Flow

States of flow

• Flow vary with following forces:

• Viscous
• Inertia
• Gravity
• Defines by Reynolds number (Re) and Froude numbers (Fr)
 Types of Flow in Open Channels
Laminar and turbulent flow:
 The flow in open channel can be either laminar or
turbulent. In practice, however, the laminar flow occurs
very rarely. The engineer is concerned mainly with
turbulent flow. In the case of open channel Reynold’s
number is defined as:
 Types of Flow in Open Channels

Reynold’s number is the measure of relative effects of the

inertia forces to viscous forces.
 Types of Flow in Open Channels
D). Sub-critical, critical, and supercritical flow:
 The criterion used in this classification is what is known by
Froude number, Fr, which is the measure of the relative
effects of inertia forces to gravity force:
Froude Number

• The Froude Number, Fr describes the following states

of flow:
• Fr < 1 : flow is subcritical( inertia < gravity)
• Fr = 1 : flow is critical ( inertia = gravity)
• Fr > 1 : flow is supercritical ( inertia > gravity)
Froude Number
• A flow is called critical if the flow velocity is equal to the velocity of a
gravity wave having small amplitude.
• The flow is called subcritical flow, if the flow velocity is less than the
critical velocity
• The flow is called supercritical flow if the flow velocity is greater than
the critical velocity.
 Parameters of Open Channels

• Wetted Perimeter (P) :The Length of contact

between Liquid and sides and base of Channel

• Hydraulic Mean Depth or Hydraulic Radius (R): If

cross sectional area is A, then R = A/P.

• Depth of flow section (d) : depth of flow normal to

the direction of flow.
Parameters of Open Channels
• Top width (T) : the width of channel section at the free surface.

• Hydraulic depth (D) : D = A/T

• Base slope (So) : So = tan θ

 Parameters of Open Channels
• Freeboard: Vertical distance between the highest
water level anticipated in the design and the top of the
retaining banks. It is a safety factor to prevent the
overtopping of structures.

• Side Slope (Z): The ratio of the horizontal to vertical

distance of the sides of the channel.
 Table 1: Maximum Canal Side Slopes (Z)

Sand, Soft Clay 3: 1 (Horizontal: Vertical)

Sandy Clay, Silt Loam, Sandy 2:1

Loam
Fine Clay, Clay Loam 1.5:1

Heavy Clay 1:1

Stiff Clay with Concrete Lining 0.5 to 1:1

Lined Canals 1.5:1

M.Hanif Chaudry, Open Channel Flow 2nd Edition, Springer, 2008
 Continuity Equation

3a
Inflow 3 A
Change in Storage
3b

Outflow
1 A 2
Section AA

Inflow – Outflow = Change in Storage

 General Flow Equation

Q = vA Equation 1

Area of the
cross-section
Avg. velocity
Flow rate of flow at a (m2)
(m3/s) cross-section
(m/s)
Uniform flow in Open Channel
Uniform flow in Open Channel

Energy lines
i

Water Surface
Sw

Flow
yo

So

For uniform flow (in prismatic channel), i = Sw = So

yo= normal depth for uniform flow only
Uniform and Varied Flows
Uniform flow: If the flow depth (and thus the average velocity) remains constant.
Nonuniform or Varied flow: The flow depth varies with distance in the flow direction.
Uniform flow conditions are commonly encountered in practice in long straight sections of
channels with constant slope, constant roughness, and constant cross section.
The flow depth in uniform flow is called the normal depth yn, which is an important
characteristic parameter for open-channel flows.

For uniform flow in an open channel, the flow

depth y and the average flow velocity V remain
constant. 26
Resistance Equation

1. Chezy Equation
 By Antoine Chezy (France), 1768
2. Manning Equation
 By Robert Manning (Irish), 1889
Chezy Equation
• Introduced by the French engineer Antoine Chezy in
1768 while designing a canal for the water-supply
system of Paris

v  C Ri
• Because i = So, so

v  C RS o

Q  AC RS o
Chezy Equation

• where C = Chezy coefficient

= L1/2/T (Unit m1/2/s)

m m
60 < C < 150
s s

where 60 is for rough and 150 is for smooth

Manning Equation
• Most popular in for open channels around the world

1 C = R1/6 / n
V  R 2/3 S1/2 SI Unit
h o n = Manning
n Dimensions of n? T /L1/3 roughness coefficient
= T/L1/3 (Unit s/m1/3)

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
 Manning roughness coefficient, n
Lined Canals n
Cement plaster 0.011
Untreated gunite 0.016 n = f (surface
Wood, planed 0.012 roughness, channel
Wood, unplaned 0.013 irregularity, stage...)
Concrete, trowled 0.012
Concrete, wood forms, unfinished 0.015
Rubble in cement 0.020
Asphalt, smooth 0.013
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
Example 1:

• Trapezoidal channel:
• Bottom width = 3.0 m
• Side slope = 1: 1.5
• Base slope = 0.0016
• Manning coefficient = 0.013
• Determine Q if yo = 2.6m.
M.Hanif Chaudry, Open Channel Flow 2nd Edition, Springer, 2008
Determination of yo

• If Q, So and n given or known and you need to estimate yo, direct

calculation cannot give you answer. So there are another method
can be use:
1. Try and error
2. Graphical
3. Curves chart
Example 2:

• A rectangular channel with n = 0.017 with width 6 meter, base

slope 0.0016 and to carry 10 m3/s flowrate.
Determine yo with:
1. Try and error
 Flow Formulas in Open Channels
Example 3
open channel of width = 3m as shown, bed slope = 1:5000,
d=1.5m find the flow rate using Manning equation, n=0.025.

1 2
V  Rh 3 S
n

1.5m
A  0.5  3  9 1.5  9 m 2 1

 
2
P  2 3  1.5  3  9.708
2 2
3.0m
A 9
Rh    0.927
P 9.708
2
1
V  0.927 3 1  0.538 m/s
0.025 5000
Q  VA  0.538  9  4.84 m 3 / s

36
 Flow Formulas in Open Channels
Example 4
open channel as shown, bed slope = 69:1584, find the flow rate
using Chezy equation, C=35.

37
 Flow Formulas in Open Channels
Example 4 cont.

V  C Rh S
2.52  5.04 0.72  2.52
A  2.52  16.8   3.6  0.72  150  162.52 m 2
2 2
P  0.72  150  1.8 2

 3.6 2  16.8  2.52 2

 5.04 2  177.18 m
A 162.52
Rh    0.917
P 177.18
0.69
V  35 0.917   0.7 m/s
1584
Q  VA  0.7  162.52  113.84 m 3 / s
38
 Most Economical Section of Channels
During the design stages of an open channel, the
channel cross-section, roughness and bottom slope
are given.

The objective is to determine the flow velocity, depth

and flow rate, given any one of them. The design of
channels involves selecting the channel shape and
bed slope to convey a given flow rate with a given
flow depth. For a given discharge, slope and
roughness, the designer aims to minimize the
cross-sectional area A in order to reduce
construction costs

39
 Most Economical Section of Channels
A section of a channel is said to be most economical
when the cost of construction of the channel is
minimum.
But the cost of construction of a channel depends on
excavation and the lining. To keep the cost down or
minimum, the wetted perimeter, for a given discharge,
should be minimum.
This condition is utilized for determining the
dimensions of economical sections of different forms of
channels. 40
 Most Economical Section of Channels

Most economical section is also called the best

section or most efficient section as the discharge,
passing through a most economical section of channel
for a given cross sectional area A, slope of the bed S0
and a resistance coefficient, is maximum.

Hence the discharge Q will be maximum when the wetted

perimeter P is minimum.
41
 Most Economical Section of Channels

The most ‘efficient’ cross-sectional shape is determined

for uniform flow conditions. Considering a given
discharge Q, the velocity V is maximum for the
minimum cross-section A. According to the Manning
equation the hydraulic diameter is then maximum.

It can be shown that:

1. the wetted perimeter is also minimum,
2. the semi-circle section (semi-circle having its
centre in the surface) is the best hydraulic section

42
 Most Economical Section of Channels
Most Economical Rectangular Channel
Because the hydraulic radius is equal to the water cross
section area divided by the wetted parameter, Channel
section with the least wetted parameter is the best
hydraulic section
Rectangular section

43
 Most Economical Section of Channels
Most Economical Rectangular Channel
A  B D P  2D  B
A
P2D 
D
dP
0
dD
dP  A  A BD B
2 2 0 2 2  2 2 
dD D  D D D

B
D
2
44
 Most Economical Section of Channels
Most Economical Trapezoidal Channel
A
A(BnD )D or B  nD
D
PB2 D 1n 2
A
P (  nD )  2 D 1n 2
D
dP
0 dP A
dD   2  n 2 1n 2  0 2 1n 2  A n
dD D D2
(B nD)D B2nD
2 1n 2
2
n
D D
B2nD
D 1n 
2

2
45
 Most Economical Section of Channels
Example 5
Trapezoidal open channel as shown Q=10m3/s, velocity =1.5m/s,
for most economic section. find wetted parameter, and the bed
slope n=0.014.
B  2kD
D 1 k 2 
2
2 B  2 3 D
D 1 3  2
2 2
0.6055 D  B
Q 10
A   6.667 m 2
V 1.5
A  B  kDD
3
A  (0.6055 D  D)  D  6.667
2
D  1.78m 46
 Most Economical Section of Channels
Example 5 P  B  2D 1  k 2
cont. P  0.6055D  2 D 1  k 2
2
3
P  0.6055(1.78)  2 1.78  1     7.49m
To calculate bed Slope 2
1 2
V  Rh 3 S
n
A  6.667 m 2
P  7.49 m
A 6.667
Rh    0.89
P 7.49
2
1
V  0.89 3 S  1.5
0.014
S  1 : 1941.6
47
 Most Economical Section of Channels
Example 6:
Use the proper numerical method to calculate uniform water
depth flowing in a Trapezoidal open channel with B = 10 m, as
shown Q=10m3/s if the bed slope 0.0016, nm=0.014. k = 3/2. to a
precision 0.01 m, and with iterations not more than 15.
Note: you may find out two roots to the equation.
1 2 / 3 1/ 2
V  Rh S
n
B  B  2nD 
A D
2
P  B2 nD 2  D 2
A
Rh 
P
From Manning
2/3
Q 1  A
 S 1/ 2
A nm  P  48
 Most Economical Section of Channels
Example 6 cont.
D  2.28m

A  102.28  (2.28) 2  30.7m 2

3
2

Q 10
V   0.326m / s
A 30.7

49