Water Flow in Open

Channels

CVEN 212
Spring 2024
Riyadh Al-Raoush, PhD, PE

1
Water Flow in Pipes

 Pipe flow

2
Water Flow in Open Channels

Open channel flow

Free surface

3
 Water Flow in Open Channels

The basic geometric and hydraulic definitions

used to describe open-channel flow through
a channel section are:
1. Discharge (Q)
2. Flow area (A)
3. Average velocity (V)
4. Flow depth (y)
5. Top width (T)
4
Water Flow in Open Channels

6. Wetted perimeter (P)

7. Hydraulic depth (D)
8. Hydraulic radius (Rh)
9. Bottom slope (S0)
10. Side slope (m)
11. Bottom width (b)

5
Cross-Sectional Relationships for Open-
Channel Flow

6
Classification of Open Channel Flow

  Based on time (x):

Based on time (t):

Steady flow Uniform flow

Unsteady flow Non-uniform flow

7
Classification of Open Channel Flow

8
Uniform Flow in Open Channels

9
Uniform Flow in Open Channels

 Chezy’s formula:
C : Constant
A : Area
𝑉 =𝐶 √ 𝑅 h 𝑆𝑒
1 /6
P : Wetted perimeter
1 Rh : Hydraulic radius
𝐶= 𝑅
𝑛 h
S0 : Bottom slope
𝐴
𝑅 h= S0=Se for uniform flow
𝑃
n : Manning’s coefficient
of roughness
10
 Manning’s Formula for Uniform Flow

1 2 /3 1/ 2
𝑄= 𝐴𝑉 = 𝐴𝑅 h 𝑆 𝑒 (meter units)
𝑛
1.49 2/ 3 1 /2
𝑄= 𝐴𝑉 = 𝐴𝑅h 𝑆𝑒 (ft units)
𝑛
(n) the roughness coefficient (Manning's Coefficient)
(S0) the channel slope (because S0 = Se in uniform flow)
(A) water area
(Rh) the hydraulic radius
(yn) the normal depth
(Q) Normal discharge
(V) Mean velocity 11
Manning’s Formula for uniform flow:
Typical Values of Manning’s n

12
Normal Depth Solution Procedure:

Trapezoidal Channels

kM= 1.00 m1/3/s

kM= 1.49 ft1/3/s
a unit conversion
factor
m side slope

13
Normal Depth Solution Procedure:

Circular Channels

kM= 1.00 m1/3/s

kM= 1.49 ft1/3/s
a unit conversion
factor
d0 diameter

14
 Hydraulic Efficiency of Open
Channel Section
 The best hydraulic section is the section with
the least wetted perimeter.

 Best hydraulic section does not necessarily

have the lowest excavation cost.
15
 Best Hydraulic Section: Example
Example:

16
Best Hydraulic Section: Example Continued

17
Best Hydraulic Section: Example Continued

18
 Hydraulic Efficiency of Open
Channel Section
 Freeboard: The vertical distance from the designed
water surface to the top of the channel banks. To
prevent fluctuations of water surface from overflowing
the sides.

19
Energy Principle in Open Channel Flow

 Three basic forms:

2
 Kinetic energy: 𝑉

2𝑔
 Pressure energy: 𝑃

𝛾
 Elevation energy: z
 Total energy head at any section:
2
𝑉
𝐻 = + 𝑦 +𝑧
2𝑔 20
 Specific Energy Curves of Different
Discharges at a Given Channel Section

Specific energy, E
2
𝑉
𝐸= +𝑦
2𝑔
𝑄=𝑉𝐴
2
𝑄
𝐸= 2
+𝑦
2𝑔 𝐴

21
 Specific Energy Curves of Different
Discharges at a Given Channel Section

The vertex C on a specific energy curve represents the depth yc

yc is the Critical Depth at minimum energy (Ec). Where Q is Critical Flow
22
 Specific Energy Curves of Different
Discharges at a Given Channel Section

For a given value of specific energy, E1, the discharge may pass through
the channel section at either depth y1 (supercritical flow) or y2 (subcritical
flow). These two depths, y1 and y2 , are known as alternate depths. 23
 Specific Energy

𝑉 𝐴 NF = Froude Number
𝑁 𝐹= 𝐷=
𝑇
√ 𝑔𝐷 D = Hydraulic depth
𝑉
=1 Critical State
√ 𝑔𝐷
𝑉
<1 Sub-Critical State
√ 𝑔𝐷
𝑉
>1 Super-Critical State
√ 𝑔𝐷 24
 Critical Flow

𝑑𝐸
( )
2 2
𝑑𝐸 𝑑 𝑄 𝑄 𝑑𝐴
=0 = +𝑦 =− +1=0
𝑑𝑦 𝑑 𝑦 𝑑𝑦 2 𝑔 𝐴 2
𝑔 𝐴 𝑑𝑦
3

𝑑𝐴 𝐴 T = Top width of the channel

=𝑇 𝐷=
𝑑𝑦 𝑇 D = Hydraulic depth
2
𝑄 𝑇
− 3
+1=0
𝑔𝐴
2 2
𝑑𝐸 𝑄 𝑉
=1 − =1− =0
𝑑𝑑 𝑔𝐷 𝐴
2
𝑔𝐷
25
 Critical Depth

√ √
2 2
3 𝑄 3𝑞
For critical flow: 𝑑𝑐 = =
𝑔𝑏
2
𝑔

In a rectangular channel
2
𝐴 𝑄 3 2
𝐷= =𝑦 𝑏
𝑇 𝑔

26
Critical Depth: Trapezoidal Channels

m side slope

27
Critical Depth: Circular Channels

do diameter

28
 Hydraulic Jump

Hydraulic jumps convert a high-velocity supercritical flow

(upstream) into a low-velocity subcritical flow (downstream).

Supercritical depth (y1) is changed to a high-stage subcritical

depth (y2); these are known, respectively, as the initial depth
29
and the sequent depth of a hydraulic jump
 Hydraulic Jump

𝑦2 1 𝑉
= ( √ 1+8 𝑁 𝐹 − 1) 𝑁 𝐹=
2
𝑦1 2 1
√ 𝑔𝐷
y1: initial depth ( super critical)
y2: sequent depth (subcritical)
30
 Hydraulic Jump: Energy Head Loss

The energy head loss through the hydraulic jump, ΔE

3
( 𝑦2− 𝑦1)
∆ 𝐸=
4 𝑦1 𝑦2
y1: initial depth ( super critical)
y2: sequent depth (subcritical) 31
Gradually Varied Flow

32
 Gradually Varied Flow

 Uniform flow: water depth is constant

 (dn or yn = normal depth)

 Rapidly varied flow: e.g., hydraulic jump rapid

changes of water depth in a short distance.

 Gradually varied flow: velocity changes take place

very gradually with distance.

33
 Gradually Varied Flow
 The general differential equation from
gradually varied flow is:
𝑑𝐻 𝑑𝑧 2
− 𝑉
𝑑 𝑦 𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥
=
𝐻 = + 𝑦 +𝑧
𝑑𝑥 2
𝑄 𝑇
2𝑔
1− S0 : Bottom slope
𝑔 𝐴23 2 2 2
𝑑𝐻 𝑛 𝑄 𝑛𝑄 Se : EGL slope
𝑆 𝑒= = 4 /3 = 2 10/ 3 S0=Se for uniform flow
𝑑𝑥 𝑅 h 𝑏 𝑦 n : Manning’s coefficient

( )
2 2
𝑑𝑧 𝑛𝑄 of roughness
𝑆 ∘=− = 2 10 / 3
𝑑𝑥 𝑏 𝑦 𝒂𝒕 𝒏𝒐𝒓𝒎𝒂𝒍 𝒅𝒆𝒑𝒕𝒉 34
 Gradually Varied Flow

 The general differential equation from

gradually varied flow is:

[ ( ) ]
10/ 3
𝑦𝑛
𝑆∘ 1 −
𝑑𝑦 𝑦
=

[ ( )]
𝑑𝑥 𝑦𝑐
3

1−
𝑦

35
 Gradually Varied Flow

𝑑𝑦
<0 water depth decreases in the direction of flow
𝑑𝑥
𝑑𝑦
>0 water depth increases in the direction of flow
𝑑𝑥

√ √
2 2
𝑄 3𝑞
3
𝑞=
𝑄
𝑑𝑐 = = 𝑏
𝑔𝑏
2
𝑔
3
2 3 𝑔𝐴 2 𝑐
𝑄 =𝑔 𝑦 𝑏 =
𝑐
𝑏 36
Classification of Gradually Varied Flow

37
Classification of Gradually Varied Flow

38
Classification of Gradually Varied Flow

39
Classification of Gradually Varied Flow

40
Computation of Water Surface Profiles

 Standard step methods:

2 2
𝑉2 𝑉 1
+𝑦 2+∆ 𝑧= + 𝑦 1 +h 𝐿
2𝑔 2𝑔 41
 Computation of Water Surface Profiles

2 2
𝑉 2 𝑉 1
𝑧 2+ 𝑦 2 + =𝑧 1 + 𝑦 1 + + 𝑆𝑒 ∆ 𝐿
2𝑔 2𝑔
′ ′
𝐸 =𝐸 +𝑙𝑜𝑠𝑠𝑒𝑠
2 1
2 2 𝑆 𝑒 + 𝑆𝑒
𝑛 𝑉 𝑆 𝑒= 1 2

𝑆 𝑒= 4 / 3 ( 𝑆𝐼 ) 2
𝑅h
2 2 2 Q.  n
𝑛 𝑉 ARh  byn ( yn )
3 2/3
 12
𝑆 𝑒= 4 /3
( 𝐵𝐺 ) S0
2 .22 𝑅 h
42
 Example

 A wide rectangular channel carries a

discharge per unit width of 2.5 3/sec/m
on a 0.001 slope and n = 0.025.
Compute the backwater curve
(upstream water surface profile) created
by a low dam that backs water up to a
depth of 2 m immediately behind the
dam. Computations can be suspended
when the upstream depth of flow is
within 1% of normal depth.
43
 Solution of Example
 Find yn and yc
 D = Rh = y (wide rectangular channel)
2 Q.  n
 dn =
2/3 Q*n = qn = 2.5 * 0.025
ARh  byn ( yn )
3 2/3
 12
bSo1/3 So1/2 (0.001)V2 S0

= 1.98

 yn = 1.5 m

44
 Solution of Example

 Q2 = Q2 = q 2
V =
c
2

Ac2 b2dc2 dc2

 Vc = 1.0 ; V 2 = gdc
NF = c
√gdc

 q2 1/3 2.52 1/3 0.86 m

dc = = =
g 9.81

45
46