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– Second level
• Third level
Lecture
– Fourth level 10: Open Channel
» Fifth Flow
level Critical Flow

UPNEC Copyright © 2011 1

CE 16 Fluid Mechanics II - Villalba
 Learning Outcomes
At the end of the lecture, the student should be able to:
– Define and characterize specific energy, critical depth,
subcritical flow and supercritical flow

– Identify the type of flow based on Froude number

– Draw the specific energy curve for a given channel cross –

section and discharge

– Analyze and solve problems involving critical flow in open

channels
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 Outline
I. Critical flow
A. Specific Energy
B. Specific Energy Diagram
C. Critical Depth
D. Froude Number
E. Common Occurrences

II. Examples

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 Specific Energy
- total head using the channel bed as the datum
𝑽𝟐 In terms of Q,
𝑬=𝒚+
𝟐𝒈 𝑸𝟐
𝑬=𝒚+
where: 𝟐𝒈𝑨𝟐
E = specific energy
y = flow depth where:
V = velocity Q = flow rate
g = acceleration due to gravity A = flow area

For a rectangular channel,

𝒒𝟐 where:
𝑬=𝒚+ q = specific discharge
𝟐𝒈𝒚𝟐 = Q/B
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 Specific Energy
For a rectangular channel with constant discharge,
𝒒𝟐 NOTE:
𝑬=𝒚+
𝟐𝒈𝒚𝟐 E will become a function
of the flow depth alone
𝑬 = 𝑬𝒔 + 𝑬𝒌
𝒒𝟐
Es = static component = y Ek = kinetic component =
𝟐𝒈𝒚𝟐
y Es y

Ek

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 Specific Energy Diagram
Given: q = 10 cms/m 𝒒𝟐
𝑬 = 𝒚 + 𝟐𝒈𝒚𝟐
y (m) E (m) y (m) E (m)
0.5 20.89 2.75 3.42
0.6 14.76 3 3.57
0.7 11.10 3.5 3.92
0.8 8.76 4 4.32
0.9 7.19 4.5 4.75
1 6.10 5 5.20
1.25 4.51 5.5 5.67
1.5 3.77 6 6.14
1.75 3.41 7 7.10
2 3.27 8 8.08
2.25 3.26 9 9.06
2.5 3.32 10 10.05
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 Specific Energy Diagram
NOTES: 𝒒𝟐
𝑬=𝒚+
The diagram applies for a 𝟐𝒈𝒚𝟐
given cross – section and
discharge
↑y = ↑Es and ↓Ek
↓y = ↓Es and ↑Ek
The diagram is
asymptotic both to the
line E = y and the E - axis
The diagram shifts to the
upper right for increasing
q and lower left for
decreasing q 7
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 Specific Energy Diagram
For any given E, y
there exists a depth that
corresponds to the minimum
specific energy the channel
can have for a given discharge subcritical
yc
CRITICAL DEPTH (yc) supercritical
NOTE: E
Emin
y = yc Critical flow Critical flow:
y > yc Subcritical / Tranquil flow V = Vc (critical velocity)
y < yc Supercritical / Rapid flow Bed slope that will make the
flow critical = Sc (critical slope)8
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 Specific Energy Diagram
For any given E, y
𝑉22 / 2𝑔
there exist two flow depths that y2
have the same specific energy
(e.g. y1 and y2) y2
subcritical
ALTERNATE DEPTHS yc
y1 supercritical
NOTE:
y1 corresponds to the E1 E
supercritical depth, ↓y and ↑V
y1 𝑉12 / 2𝑔
y2 corresponds to the
subcritical depth, ↑y and ↓V
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 Specific Energy Diagram
Subcritical and Supercritical flows
subcritical

supercritical
If losses are neglected, the depths before and after
the sluice gate are alternate depths, so as the depths
before and after the spillway.
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 Critical Depth
- depth corresponding to the minimum specific energy
𝑸𝟐
𝑬=𝒚+ NOTE: 𝑨 = 𝒇(𝒚)
𝟐𝒈𝑨 𝟐

𝒅𝑬 = 𝟏 − 𝑸𝟐 𝒅𝑨 = 𝟎
𝒅𝒚 𝒈𝑨𝟑 𝒅𝒚
𝒅𝑨 = 𝑩
𝒅𝒚 General equation in solving
for the critical depth:
𝑸𝟐𝑩
𝟏= 𝑸𝟐 [𝑨(𝒚𝒄)]𝟑
𝒈𝑨𝟑 =
𝒈 [𝑩(𝒚𝒄)] 11
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 Critical Depth
For a rectangular channel of width, B:
𝑸𝟐 𝑨(𝒚𝒄)𝟑 y
= 𝑨 = 𝑩𝒚
𝒈 𝑩(𝒚𝒄)
B
𝑸𝟐 (𝑩𝒚𝒄)𝟑
=
𝒈 𝑩 Critical depth for
rectangular channels:
Solving for yc, 𝟏/𝟑
𝒒𝟐
𝟏/𝟑
𝑸𝟐 𝒚𝒄 =
= 𝒚𝒄 𝒈
𝑩𝟐𝒈
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 Froude Number
- ratio of inertial forces to
gravitational forces
𝑽
𝑭𝒓 =
𝒈𝒚𝒉
where:
Fr = Froude number
V = velocity of the fluid
yh = hydraulic depth
g = acceleration due to gravity William Froude
Source:
httpwww.devonlife.co.ukpolopoly_fs1.3195692!image642100

NOTE: 885.jpg_genderivativeslandscape_490642100885.jpg

Wave celerity: 𝒄 = 𝒈𝒚𝒉 Subcritical flow: Fr < 1

- velocity of a propagating Critical flow: Fr = 1
wave in the water Supercritical flow: Fr > 1 13
 Critical Flow
For a rectangular channel of width, B:
𝟐 𝟏/𝟑
𝒒
𝒚𝒄 = y
𝒈
𝟏/𝟑 B
𝑽𝒄𝟐𝒚𝒄𝟐
𝒚𝒄 = 𝑨 = 𝑩𝒚
𝒈
𝑸 = 𝑽𝑩𝒚
𝑽𝒄𝟐 𝑽𝒄𝟐 𝒒 = 𝑽𝒚
𝒚𝒄 = 𝟏=
𝒈 𝒈𝒚𝒄 𝒚𝒉 = 𝒚
𝑽𝒄
= 𝑭𝒓 = 𝟏
𝒈𝒚𝒄 14
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 Critical Flow
For a rectangular channel of width, B:
𝟐 𝟐 𝑨 = 𝑩𝒚 y
𝑽𝒄 𝟏 𝑽𝒄
𝒚𝒄 = 𝒚𝒄 = 𝒒 = 𝑽𝒚
𝒈 𝟐 𝟐𝒈 B

𝟐 Summary:
𝑽𝒄
𝑬𝒎𝒊𝒏 = 𝒚𝒄 +
𝟐𝒈
𝟑
𝑬𝒎𝒊𝒏 = 𝒚𝒄
𝟐

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 Critical Flow
Common occurrences of critical flow
*Often used as a control section (known depth)

Broad – crested weir

Venturi flume

Break in grade
Free overfall 16
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 Examples
Problem 1
Determine the two depths having a specific energy of 2 meters
in a 3 – meter wide rectangular channel having a discharge 5
cms. Determine the critical depth of flow, the critical velocity,
and the minimum specific energy. Sketch the specific energy
curve of this channel at the given flow rate.

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 Examples
Problem 2
Compute the critical depth and the minimum specific energy in
a trapezoidal channel having a bottom width of 10 meters, side
slopes of 3H to 2V and carrying a flow of 30 cms.

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 Examples
Problem 3
Water flows at a rate of 12 cms in a triangular channel that has
a vertex angle of 70o. If the flow depth in the channel is 1.0 m, is
the flow subcritical or supercritical? Determine the Froude
number, the specific energy, and the alternate depth
corresponding to the actual flow depth.

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 Examples
Problem 4
A triangular channel with side slopes of 3V:2H and bed slope of
0.002 is designed to carry a discharge of 8 cms. The channel is
made of clean, excavated earth materials with n = 0.022. If the
flow in the channel is uniform, calculate the specific energy of
water. Determine whether the flow is subcritical or supercritical.

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 References
• Streeter, V.L., et al., Fluid Mechanics, 9th ed., McGraw-Hill
International, 1998
• Crowe, C.T., et al., Engineering Fluid Mechanics, 9th ed.,
John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 2009
• Alejandrino, A.A., Lecture Notes in Fluid Mechanics, National
Hydraulic Research Center, 1989
• White, Fluid Mechanics, 4th ed., McGraw-Hill
International,1998
• Chaudhry, M.H., Open-Channel Flow, 2nd ed., Springer
Science+Business Media, LLC, 2008.

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