HYDROLOGY - TUTORIAL 2

TRAPEZOIDAL CHANNELS

In this tutorial you will


Derive equations associated with flow in a trapezoidal channel.

Derive equations for optimal dimensions.

Solve slope of bed using Chezy and manning formulae.

Solve questions from past papers.



This tutorial is a continuation of tutorial 1 which should be studied first.
D.J.DUNN www.freestudy.co.uk 1
TRAPEZOIDAL SECTION

This topic occurs regularly in the Engineering Council
Exam. The trapezoidal section is widely used in canals to
accommodate the shape of boats and reduce the erosion of
the sides.

BEST DIMENSION Figure 1

The channel dimensions that give the maximum flow rate for a fixed cross sectional area is the one with
the least amount of friction. This means that it must have the minimum wetted surface area and hence the
minimum wetted perimeter P. If this value is then used in any formulae for the flow rate, we will have the
maximum discharge possible. Using the notation shown on the diagram we proceed as follows.

Area A = (B + b) h
b
from which B = (A/ h
b
) b = (A/ h
b
) h
b
/tan
Wetted Perimeter P = B + 2h
b
/sin
Substitute for B

+ = + =
tan
1
sin
2
h
h
A
sin
2h
tan
h
h
A
P
b
b
b b
b

For a given cross sectional area the minimum value of P occurs when dp/dh
b
= 0

+ =
tan
1
sin
2
h
A
dh
dP
2
b
b
Equate to zero and

=
tan
1
sin
2
h A
2
b
and substitute for A

+
tan
1
sin
2
h h
tan
h
B
2
b b
b

+
tan
1
sin
2
h
tan
h
B
b
b

=
tan
1
sin
1
h 2 B
b
or where K h 2 B
b
=

=
tan
1
sin
1
K
It can be shown that when this is the case, the bottom and sides are both tangents to a circle of radius h
b
.

When = 90
o
K = 1 and when = 45
o
K = 2 -1 = 0.414 and in fact K is almost a linear function such
that K /90


WORKED EXAMPLE No.1

Calculate the dimensions of a trapezoidal channel with sides at 45
o
if it must carry 2.5 m
3
/s of water
with minimum friction given that C = 50 in the Chezy formula and the bed has a gradient of 1 in 1000

SOLUTION

The Chezy formula is u
o
= C (R
h
S)

or Q = A C (R
h
S)



b b
0.828h
tan45
1
sin45
1
h 2 B =

= b = h
b
/tan 45
o
= h
b

A = (B + b) h
b
= (0.828 h
b
+ h
b
) h
b
= 1.828 h
b
2


b b b b
3.656h 2.828h 0.828h
sin45
1
h 2 B P = + =

+ =
R
h
= A/P = 0.5 h
b


Q = 2.5 = 1.828 h
b
2
x 50(0.5 h
b
/1000)
1/2

0.000748 = h
b
4
(0.5 h
b
/1000)
0.748 = 0.5 h
b
5


h
b
= 1.084 m B = 0.828 h
b
= 0.897 m

D.J.DUNN www.freestudy.co.uk 2


SELF ASSESSMENT EXERCISE No.1

1. Calculate the dimensions of a trapezoidal channel with sides at 60
o
to the horizontal if it must carry
4 m
3
/s of water with minimum friction given that C = 55 in the Chezy formula and the bed has a
gradient of 1 in 1200.
(h
b
= 1.334 m B = 1.541 m)

2. Calculate the dimensions of a trapezoidal channel with sides at 30
o
to the horizontal if it must carry
2 m
3
/s of water with minimum friction given that C = 49 in the Chezy formula and the bed has a
gradient of 1 in 2000.
(h
b
= 1.053 m B = 0.564 m)



CRITICAL DEPTH

It requires a lot of Algebra to get to the critical values. Start as before h
s
= h
b
+ u
o
2
/2g
Rearrange to make u the subject ( ) { }
b s
2
o
h h 2g u =
Q = Au
o
Q
2
= A
2
u
o
2


A = (B + b)h
b
Q
2
= (B + b)
2
h
b
2
u
o
2


Substitute for u
o
( )( )
2
b
2
b s
2
h b B h h
2
Q
+ =
g

We cannot differentiate this expression because b is a function of h so we make a substitution first.

b = h
b
/tan
( )
2
b
2
b
b s
2
h
tan
h
B h h
2
Q

+ =
g
( )
2
2
b
b b s
tan
h
Bh h h

+ = Now we need to multiply out.

( )

+ +

+ + =

+ + =
tan
2Bh
tan
h
h B
tan
h 2Bh
tan
h h
h h B
tan
2Bh
tan
h
h B h h
2
Q
4
b
2
5
b 3
b
2 s
3
b
2
s
4
b
s
2
b
2
3
b
2
4
b 2
b
2
b s
2
g


Now differentiate with respect to h
b
to find the maximum flow rate for a given specific energy head.
tan
8Bh
tan
5h
h 3B
tan
h 6Bh
tan
h 4h
h h 2B
2gdh
2QdQ
3
b
2
4
b 2
b
2 s
2
b
2
s
3
b
s b
2
b
+ + =
For maximum Flow rate equate dQ/dh
b
to zero.
tan
8Bh
tan
5h
h 3B
tan
h 6Bh
tan
h 4h
h h 2B 0
3
b
2
4
b 2
b
2 s
2
b
2
s
3
b
s b
2
+ + =
We can simplify by substituting back h
b
/tan = b
2
b
2
b
2 2
b
2
s b s b
2
s b
2
8Bbh h 5b h 3B h 6Bbh h h 4b h h 2B 0 + + =
( ) ( ) 8Bb 5b 3B h 6Bbh hh 4b h 2B h 0
2 2 2
b s s
2
s
2
b
+ + + + =
( ) ( ) 8Bb 5b 3B h 6Bbh hh 4b h 2B 0
2 2
b s s
2
s
2
+ + + + =
Rearrange to get the critical depth
( )
( )
s s
2 2
2 2
c b
Ch h
8Bb 5b 3B
6Bb 4b 2B
h h =
+ +
+ +
= =
( )
( )
( )( )
( )
( )
( ) 5b 3B
4b 2B
b) (B 5b 3B
b B 4b 2B
8Bb 5b 3B
6Bb 4b 2B
C
2 2
2 2
+
+
=
+ +
+ +
=
+ +
+ +
=
D.J.DUNN www.freestudy.co.uk 3
( )
( )
s c
h
5b 3B
4b 2B
h
+
+
= or
( )
( )
c s
h
4b 2B
5b 3B
h
+
+
=
If B = 0 we have a Vee section
5
4h
h h
s
c b
= = as before.
If b = 0 we have a rectangular section
3
2h
h h
s
c b
= = as before.
There are computer programs for making the calculations such as the one at
http://www.lmnoeng.com/Channels/trapezoid.htm

To find the critical velocity flow rate substitute
( )
( )
c s
h
4b 2B
5b 3B
h
+
+
= into ( ) { }
c s
2
c
2
o
h h 2g u u = =
( )
( )
( )
( )

+
+
=

+
+
= = 1
4b 2B
5b 3B
2gh h h
4b 2B
5b 3B
2g u u
c c c
2
c
2
o

( )
( )
( ) ( )
( )

+
+ +
=

+
+
=
4b 2B
4b 2B 5b 3B
2gh 1
4b 2B
5b 3B
2gh u
c c c

( )

+
+
=
4b 2B
b B
2gh u
c c

If B = 0 we have a Vee section

=
2
gh
u
c
c
as before.
If b = 0 we have a rectangular section we have { }
c c
gh u = as before.

To find the critical flow rate substitute use Q
c
= A u
c
A = (B + b)h
c

( )

+
+
+ =
4b 2B
b B
2gh b)h (B Q
c c c

( )

+
+
+ =
4b 2B
b B
2g b)h (B Q
3/2
c c

If B = 0 we have a Vee section

=
2
g
bh Q
3/2
c c
as before in a slightly different form
If b = 0 we have a rectangular section we have g Bh Q
3/2
c c
= as before.

Summary for trapezoidal section
The critical depth is
( )
( )
s c
h
5b 3B
4b 2B
h
+
+
=

The critical velocity is
( )

+
+
=
4b 2B
b B
2gh u
c c


The critical flow is
( )

+
+
+ =
4b 2B
b B
2g b)h (B Q
3/2
c c


The major problem exists that solving with these formulae requires a value for b and this depends
on the answer itself.
D.J.DUNN www.freestudy.co.uk 4


WORKED EXAMPLE No. 2

A canal has a trapezoidal section with a base 5 m wide and sides inclined at 50
o
to the horizontal. It is
required to have a depth of 2 m, what would the flow rate be if the specific energy head is a
minimum? Calculate the depth, flow rate and mean velocity for this condition. What is the Froude
Number?

SOLUTION

For minimum specific energy, the flow and depth must be critical so h
c
= 2 m.
b = 2/tan50
o
= 1.678 B = 5

( )

+
+
+ =
4b 2B
b B
2g b)h (B Q
3/2
c c
= /s m 52.89
713 . 16
678 . 6
2g .678)2 6 (
3 3/2
=

A = (B + b)h
c
= 6.678 x 2 = 13.356 m
2
u
c
= Q
c
/A = 3.96 m Fr = u
c
/(gh
c
) = 0.89



WORKED EXAMPLE No. 3

A channel has a trapezoidal section with a base 0.5 m wide and sides inclined at 45
o
to the horizontal.
It must carry 0.3 m
3
/s of water at the critical depth. Calculate the depth and mean velocity.

SOLUTION

There is no simple way to solve this problem because of the complexity of the formula.

( )

+
+
+ =
4b 2B
b B
2g b)h (B Q
3/2
c c
where b = h
c
/tan
D.J.DUNN www.freestudy.co.uk 5
Evaluate and plot Q
c
for various values of h
c

and we get the following graphs.

From the graph we see that when Q
c
= 0.3 m
3
/s, h
c
= 0.275 m
A = (0.5 + 0.275)(0.275) = 0.213 m
2
u
c
= Q
c
/A = 1.41 m/s

Figure 2



SELF ASSESSMENT EXERCISE No.2

1. A channel has a trapezoidal section with a base 2 m wide and sides inclined at 60
o
to the horizontal. It
must carry 0.4 m
3
/s of water with the minimum specific energy head. Calculate the depth and mean
velocity for this condition.
(0.157 m and 1.22 m/s)


2. A canal has a trapezoidal section with a base 4 m wide and sides inclined at 40
o
to the horizontal. It is
required to have a depth of 1.5 m, what would the flow rate be if the specific energy head is a
minimum? Calculate the flow rate and mean velocity for this condition.
(29.1 m
3
/s and 3.353 m/s)



WORKED EXAMPLE No. 4

An open channel has a trapezoidal cross section with sides inclined at 45
o
to the vertical. The
channel must carry 21 m
3
/s with a velocity of 3 m/s with minimum friction. Determine the
smallest slope of the bed for these conditions and the corresponding depth and dimensions of
the channel. The constant n in the Manning formula is 0.012. Show that this is a sub critical
flow.

Figure 3
SOLUTION

Q = 21 m
3
/s u
o
= 3 m/s A = Q/u = 7 m
2


For minimum friction the optimal value of B is

=
tan
1
sin
1
h 2 B
b


b b
h 8284 . 0
tan45
1
sin45
1
h 2 B =

= b = h
b


A = (B + b)h
b
7 = (0.8284h
b
+ h
b
)h
b
= 1. 8284h
b
2

h
b
= (7/1. 8284) = 1.957 m
B = 1.621 m b = 1.957 m

P = B + 2b/sin 45 = 1.621 + 2 x 1.957/sin 45 = 7.155
A = 7
R
h
= 7/7.155 = 0.978 m (Note that for 45
o
R
h
= 0.5 h
b
)
Manning formula
n
S R
u
1/2 2/3
=
0.012
S 978 . 0
3
1/2 2/3
=
S = 0.001333
The specific energy head is h
s
= 1.957 + 3
2
/2g = 2.416 m
The critical depth is
( )
( )
m 0.756
14.648
11.07
1.957 x 5 1.621 x 3
1.957 x 4 1.621 x 2
h
5b 3B
4b 2B
h
s c
= =
+
+
=
+
+
=
Since the actual depth is larger the flow is sub critical.

D.J.DUNN www.freestudy.co.uk 6

SELF ASSESSMENT EXERCISE No. 3

These are exam standard questions.

1. An open channel has a trapezoidal section with sides inclined at 45
o
to the vertical. The channel must
carry 20 m
3
/s of water with a mean velocity of 2.5 m/s. Determine the smallest slope of the bed
possible and the corresponding depth and dimensions of the channel. The constant n in the Manning
formula is 0.012. Show that this is a sub critical flow.

u = (R
2/3
S
1/2
)/n

(Answer S = 0.000845, h = 2.1, B = 2.1 m and b = 2.1 m.)


2. A channel has a trapezoidal section 5 m wide at the bottom. The sides slope at 1 metre up for each 2
horizontal. The bed has a slope of 1/3600 and n in the manning formula is 0.024.

Calculate the flow rates corresponding to mean velocities of 0.3 and 0.6 m/s.

(Ans. 0.549 m
3
/s and 4.81 m
3
/s)





D.J.DUNN www.freestudy.co.uk 7