Hydraulics

Prof. B.S. Thandaveswara

16.2 Derivation of Uniform Flow Equations

The mean velocity of a turbulent uniform open channel flow is obtained using the
following concept.
Gravitational force = Shear force
The uniform flow equations are in the following format V = CR x Sy in which
x and y are components, and vary depending on uniform formula.
yb

1
V = v dx dy
A00
Momentum Equation:

(1)

(2)

v1

y1

W sin

v2

y2

0
l

Indian Institute of Technology Madras

P
Datum

Hydraulics

Prof. B.S. Thandaveswara

Q
2 V2 1 V1 = P1 -P2 + W sin - Pf
g

If V2 = V1 , 1 = 2 , P1 =P2 then
W sin = Pf

(1)

Pf = shear force acting on boundary = Shear stress * Area

= o * Area
= o PL
P is the wetted perimeter, Sin = So
Weight W = g AL
W Sin = g AL Sin
Substituting in equation (1)

g AL So = o PL
g AL So

o =

= RSo

PL

Note * =

(2)

= gRSo Critical shear velocity

V
But o = cf
2

(3)

V
RSo = cf
2

1/ 2

RSo
or V =
cf

2g
RSo
cf

V=
If

2g
= C then
cf

V = C RSo .
This is known as Chezy equation. The coefficient C is either estimated or
determined experimentally. C has dimension of L1 / 2T 1 / 2

Indian Institute of Technology Madras

Hydraulics

Prof. B.S. Thandaveswara

2. Consider Darcy Weisbach equation for loss in pipe due to friction

L V2
d o 2g

hf = f
2

V =

V =

1 hf
2g d o ,
f L

hf

L = So = Sf

1
4R*2g *Sf ,
f

d 02
R
d
= 4 = 0
D
4
P

8gRSf
f
Comparing with Chezy equation:
V=

C=

8g
f

C
1
=
8g
f
Manning formula is an emprical relation based on field observations and is given by
V=

1 2/3 1/2
R So
n

-1
in which V in m/s, R in m. Thus 'n' has dimensions of L 3 T

=
If
R=15
cm,
n
=
0.015,
S
0
.
0004
,
then
V
=
0.376
m/s
[
]
o
The hydraulic engineers use the n or C without bothering about dimension even though
it is very important. The treatment here is only for channels with plane bed.

Indian Institute of Technology Madras