Experiment # 2

To investigate the relationship between specific energy and depth of

flow in a laboratory flume:
Objectives:
 To study the variations of specific energy as a function of depth of flow for a given
discharge in a laboratory flume.
 To study the variation of specific energy as a function of depth when the discharge per
unit width changes

Apparatus:

 S6 glass sided tilting flume.

 Hook gauge


(Bed slope wheel)

(Pumping system)
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Related Theory:

Specific Energy:
Specific energy is the total energy per unit weight measured relative to the channels bed and
mathematically:

𝑉2
𝐸𝑠 = 𝑦 +
2𝑔
Where

E = specific energy per unit weight

Y= depth of flow

𝑉2
=kinetic energy or velocity head
2𝑔

From the ralation of specific energy, it is quite obvious that for a given discharge the specific
energy is a function of depth of flow only.

When slopes are involved then

𝑉2
𝐸 = 𝑦 cos 𝜃 + 𝛼
2𝑔
For mild slope 𝑦 cos 𝜃 ≈ y

Specific Energy Diagram:

It is the plot which shows the variations in specific energy as a function of depth of flow.

Or

It is the graphical relationship between specific energy and depth of flow

Specific energy curve consist of following regions:

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  Sub-Critical flow
 Critical flow
 Super Critical flow

Sub-Critical Flow:
It is the flow in which the depth of flow is greater than critical depth. It is the flow with larger
depth and less flow velocity or flow at which the Froud’s number is less than 1

𝑦 > 𝑦𝑐 , 𝑉 < 𝑉𝑐 , 𝐹𝑟 < 1.0

Fig: specific Energy Diagram

Critical Flow:
It is the flow in which the depth of flow is equal to the critical depth and velocity is equal to
critical velocity

Or

It is the flow corresponding to critical depth

𝑦 = 𝑦𝑐 , 𝑉 = 𝑉𝑐 , 𝐹𝑟 = 1.0

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For critical flow Fround’s number is equal to 1.0. At critical flow, velocity head in one half of the
critical depth

𝑉 2 𝑦𝑐
=
2𝑔 2

Super Critical Flow:

It is the flow in which the depth of flow is smaller than the critical depth for a specific discharge.
In super critical flow velocity head increases with decrease in depth of flow. Froud’s number is
greater than 1 for such type of flows.

𝑦 < 𝑦𝑐 , 𝑉 > 𝑉𝑐 , 𝐹𝑟 > 1.0

Critical Depth:
It is the depth of flow in channel at which the specific energy is minimum.

𝑞 2 3 𝑄2
3
𝑦 = 𝑦𝑐 = √ =√ 2
𝑔 𝑏 𝑔

3
𝐸𝑚𝑖𝑛 = 𝑦
2 𝑐

At this depth, Froud’s Number = 1.0

Critical Velocity:
It is the velocity when Vc =SQRT(gYc)

Froud’s Number:
It is the ratio of inertial forces to gravitational forces.

𝑉
𝐹𝑁 =
√𝑔𝑦

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 Characteristics Subcritical flow Critical flow Supercritical flow

Depth of flow y > yc y = yc y < yc

Velocity of flow V < Vc V = Vc V > Vc

Slope for Uniform Flow Mid Slope (So < Sc) Critical Slope (So = Sc) Steep Slope (So > Sc)

Froude number FN < 1.0 FN = 1.0 FN > 1.0

𝑽𝟐 𝟏 𝑽𝟐 𝟏 𝑽𝟐 𝟏
Other features < 𝒚 = 𝒚 > 𝒚
𝟐𝒈 𝟐 𝟐𝒈 𝟐 𝟐𝒈 𝟐

Alternative Depths:
For a value of specific energy other than at critical point for a constant discharge, there are two
water depths

I. One of the depth is greater than the critical depth

II. Other depth is less than the critical depth

These two depths for a given specific energy are termed as alternative depths.

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Fig: specific energy diagram showing sub-critical flow, critical fow, super critical flow and alternative
depths

Procedure:
i. Fix one value of the slope of flume or channel
ii. Switch on the pumps and remove the air bubbles in order to obtain the steady flow
conditions
iii. Set a particular (constant) discharge in the flume
iv. Measure the depth of flow at three different locations along the channel with hook
gauge and average it
v. Change the slope of channel by keeping the same discharge and again measure the
depth of flow at three different locations and average it.
vi. Repeat this procedure by changing the slope
vii. Plot E-y diagram by using observed data and calculations
viii. Find out the critical depth and Emin.

Precautions:
 The height measuring needle must be adjusted precisely
 The depth should not be measured near joints or at points where there is turbulence in
flume
 The tip of needle must be just touching the water surface while taking observations.

Observations & Calculations:

Calculations for different discharges with varying slope is at
following ,we make four graphs on paper with theoretical values calculated on them,

(super critical flow) (sub-critical flow)

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 DEPTH OF FLOW
Sr No DISCHARGE SLOPE Y1 Y2 Y3 Y(AVG) AREA OF FLOW VELOCITY E=Y+v2/2g
(m3/sec) (mm) (mm) (mm) (mm) A=B*Y(m2) V=Q/A(m/sec) m
1 Q1 = 0.009795 1:500 51.5 54 50 51.83333 0.01555 0.629903537 0.072056497
1:400 48 50 51 49.66667 0.0149 0.65738255 0.071692753
1:200 32 36 35 34.33333 0.0103 0.950970874 0.080426381
1:70 24 26 21 23.66667 0.0071 1.379577465 0.120671457
1:60 22.5 23 21 22.16667 0.00665 1.472932331 0.132744121
2 Q2 = 0.0.011997 1:500 60 58 61 59.66667 0.0179 0.670223464 0.082561646
1:400 57 52.5 60 56.5 0.01695 0.707787611 0.082033298
1:200 42 41.5 42 41.83333 0.01255 0.955936255 0.088408977
1:70 30.1 31 26 29.03333 0.00871 1.377382319 0.125729666
1:60 31.7 26.5 25 27.73333 0.00832 1.441947115 0.133707415
3 Q3 = 0.013263 1:500 60 65.5 64 63.16667 0.01895 0.699894459 0.088133652
1:400 65 62.3 58.3 61.86667 0.01856 0.714601293 0.087893935
1:200 45.8 46 43.5 45.1 0.01353 0.980266075 0.094076635
1:70 29 29.61 30.9 29.83667 0.008951 1.481733884 0.141739587
1:60 33.1 33.5 27.8 31.46667 0.00944 1.404978814 0.132076527

Comments:

 We got difference in the values that we find experimentally and

theoretically the difference would be due to the oversight in taking values
of depth of flow at particular discharge values.
 Specific energy will change with the change in the depth of flow in the
channel.
 There are many values of specific energy for the given flow depending upon
the depth of flow and velocity
 In the sub-critical flows the velocity of the flow is relatively low its mean
that the energy stored in the fluid due to its movement in the gravitational
field is high as compared to its kinetic energy, on the other side when we
talk about super critical flows which have shallow depths and high
velocities (e.g River Kunhar) has high K.E and low potential energy.
 We use Bernaullis equation to illustrate specific energy relations .

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 In the open channel specific energy is the energy head relative to the
channel bottom.