OPEN CHANNEL HYDRAULICS

Open channel Hydraulics is the generic name for the

study of flows in open channels like rivers, canals, and
sewers, where the distinguishing characteristic is that the
surface is unconfined.
 Types of flows
Open channels flow can be classified into
many types and described in various ways.
The following classification is made according
to:
1. The change in flow depth with respect to
time dy/dt steady/unsteady
2. The change in flow depth with respect to
space dy/dx Uniform/Non uniform
 Types of flows
1.The change in flow depth with respect to time dy/dt
Steady
There is no flow depth change with time ( dy/dt=0)
Non steady
There is flow depth change with time (dy/dt≠ 0).
the change in flow depth may be gradual or rapid.
2. The change in flow depth with respect to space dy/dx
Uniform
There is no flow depth change with distance from control
structures ( dy/dx=0)
Non uniform
There is flow depth change with space (dy/dx≠ 0)
the change in flow depth may be gradual or rapid.
 Types of flows
There may be a combination of both condition
Steady uniform flow: - occurs where
There is no flow depth change with time ( dy/dt=0)
There is no flow depth change with distance from control structures
( dy/dx=0)
Gravity and friction are in balance
If the cross-section is constant
Steady gradually-varied flow: - It occurs where
There is gradual flow depth change with time (dy/dt≠ 0)
There is no flow depth change with distant from control structures
(dy/dx≠ 0),
Gravity and friction are in balance similar to steady - uniform
flow
 Types of flows
Steady rapidly-varied flow: -
When the depth of flow changes within short reach of the
channel rapidly.
Examples of Steady rapidly-varied flow:
 flow under a sluice gate
 hydraulic jump
Types of flows
. Energy-Depth
relations
2.1 Specific Energy
 The amount of energy expressed in terms of head and is the energy per unit
weight of liquid at any section of the channel measured with respect to the
channel bottom.
 Specific energy is the energy at a cross-section of an open channel flow with
respect to the channel bed.
 Bakhmeteft (1932)- introduce concept of specific energy and it was very useful in
analysis of open channel flow
 Total energy(datum), H= Z+ Ycosθ + αV2/2g
 Specific energy (E) : if datum coincides with channel bed
 E= Ycosθ + αV2/2g
 When cosθ =1 and α =1, the equation of specific energy is further simplified as ,
E= Y + V2/2g.
 It indicates that the specific energy is equal to the sum of the depth of water and
the velocity head. 
2.1 Specific Energy
 Therefore, we defined:  
 Specific energy is the energy at a cross-section of an open channel flow with respect
to the channel bed.  
 Specific energy is the height of the energy grade line above the channel bottom.
 In other respect, since V=Q/A, the equation of specific energy may be
written as:  
 Substitute v=Q/A, E= Y + Q2/2gA2
Here, cross-sectional area A depends on water depth y and can be defined as, A
= f(y) and also there is a functional relation between the three variables as, f (
E , y , Q ) relates E, Y and Q.
In the most general case, of course, all three quantities vary, but particular
interest attaches to those instances in which Q is constant while Y and E vary,
and those in which E is constant while Y and Q vary.
 In order to examine the functional relationship on the plane, two cases are
introduced:
2.1 Specific Energy

1. Constant discharge:
Q = Q1 ⇒ E = f (y, Q).
Variation of the specific energy with the water depth at a cross-section for a
given discharge Q1.
2. Constant Specific Energy
E = E1 ⇒ E = f (y, Q).
Variation of the discharge with the water depth at across-section for a given
specific energy, E .
Generally, most of time in open channel flow (Canal), we have regulated
flow. Which implies Discharge, Q is constant.

E = y + Q2/2gA2
1. Constant discharge situation

Fig. Specific Energy Diagram/ Curve

 Specific energy
 For a channel of known geometry E=f(Q, Y), Keeping Q = constant, the
variation of E with y is represented by a cubic parabola. (Figure 2.1) is
called specific energy diagram.
 It is seen that there are two positive roots for the equation E1 indicating that
any particular discharge Q1can be passed in a given channel at two depths
and still maintain the same specific energy E1
 PR = y1 or PR` = y1`, two possible depths having the same specific energy
are known as alternate depths

Fr = 1; Critical, Fr < 1; Subcritical and Fr > 1; Supercritical. Physically, subcritical flow is deep
and the velocities are slow. This means subcritical flow has high potential energy and low
kinetic energy. Supercritical flow on the other hand tends to be shallow and the velocities are
fast. Supercritical flow has low potential energy and high kinetic energy.
2.2 Critical Depth
 For a given Q, as the specific energy is increased the difference between the
two alternate depths increases. On the other hand, if E is decreased, the
difference (y1` – y1) will decrease and a certain value E = Ec, the two
depths will merge with each other (at point C in Fig. 2.1). No value for y can
be obtained when E < Ec denoting that the flow under the given conditions
is not possible in this region. Thus this condition of minimum specific
energy is known as the critical flow condition.
 At critical depth, the specific energy is minimum, if differentiating the
equation of specific energy with respect to y (keeping Q constant) and
equating to zero,

It is the basic equation governing the critical flow conditions in open

channel . channel
2.2 Critical Depth
It may be noted that the critical flow condition is governed solely by the channel
geometry and discharge. Other channel characteristics such as the bed slope and
roughness do not influence the critical flow condition for any given Q.

The critical flow

corresponds to the
minimum specific energy
and at this condition the
Froude number of the flow
is unity.
2.2 Critical Depth

 This is the criterion for critical flow, which states that at the critical state of
flow the velocity head is equal to half of hydraulic depth.
2.2 Critical Depth
Computation of Critical Depth
A) Rectangular Channel
2.2 Critical Depth
B. Triangular channel

For triangular channel having side slope of m or (H: V= m: 1)

The Froude number for a triangular

channel be
2.2 Critical Depth
Example 2_3
Calculate the critical depth and corresponding specific energy for a discharge
of 5.0m3/sec in Rectangular channel having B=2.0m
2.3 Discharge-Depth Curve
 Alternative way of viewing change in flow is discharge function. The
discharge function, given constant specific energy(E1) is defined by

 The plotting of the variation of discharge with water depth is called

Discharge-Depth curve
2.3 Discharge-Depth Curve
 Hence the critical flow condition also corresponds to the maximum discharge in a
channel for a fixed specific energy.
 Consider Rectangular channel section for a given Specific Energy E =E1,

Maximum discharge for the critical water depth for rectangular cross-section
2.3 Discharge-Depth Curve

 Figure 2-4 (E-Y) and (Q-Y) diagram for the rectangular channel
2.3 Discharge-Depth Curve

Therefore Critical Depth

A depth of water flow at minimum specific energy
A depth of flow water at maximum discharge
It is a position sate of flow changes
 Channel Transitions
ischange of channel shape: provision of a hump or a depression,
contraction or expansion of channel width, in any combination
concepts of specific energy and critical depth are useful in the
analysis of transition problems.
Transitions in rectangular channels are presented here.
The principles are equally applicable to channels of any shape
and other types of transitions.
Channel with a Hump
A. Subcritical flow
Consider horizontal, frictionless, rectangular channel with B,Q,
y1.
Let the flow be subcritical.
 At a section 2 (fig. 3.1) a smooth hump of heights ΔZ is built on
the floor. Since there are no energy losses between sections 1
and 2, construction of a hump causes the specific energy at
section to decrease by ∆Z.
 Thus the specific energies at sections 1 and 2 are,
Channel Transition with Change in Width
Sub-Critical flow in a Width Constriction
 Consider a frictionless horizontal channel of width B1 carrying a discharge Q
at a depth y (at section1)
 At section 2 the channel width has been constricted to B by a smooth
transition. Since there are no losses involved and the bed elevations at section
1 and 2 are the same E1=E2.
Channel Transition with Change in Width
 Examples
Water flows at a steady and uniform depth of 2m in an open channel of
rectangular cross-section having base width equal to 5 m and laid at a slope of
1 in 1000. It is desired to obtain critical flow in the channel by providing a
hump in the bed. Calculate the height of the hump and sketch the flow profile.
Consider the value of Manning’s rugosity co-efficient N =0.02 for the channel
surface.
Solution. Depth of flow, y = 2 m Base width of channel, b = 5 m
Bed slope, S = 1 in 1000 Manning’s co-efficient, N = 0.02

1
E2
Examples
 Examples
A 5.00m wide rectangular channel carries 20m3/s of discharge at a depth of
2.00m. The width beyond a certain section is to be changed to 3.50m. If it is
desired to keep the water surface elevation unaffected by this change, what
modifications are needed to the bottom elevation?
Sol.
Examples
 Examples
Figure below shows a submerged flow over a sharp-crested weir in a
rectangular channel. If the discharge per unit width is 1.8m3/s/m, estimate the
energy loss due to the weir.