Proceedings of ICTACEM 2010

International Conference on Theoretical, Applied, Computational and Experimental Mechanics

December 27-29, 2010, IIT Kharagpur, India

ICTACEM-2010/ 0045

Experimental Study of Hydraulic Jump Characteristics in

Sloping Prismatic Channels
Sanjeev Kumar Guptaa and R. C. Mehtab
b

a
M. Tech (Fluids Engineering), MNNIT, Allahabad, India
Professor, Department of Applied Mechanics, MNNIT, Allahabad, India

ABSTRACT
Hydraulic jump is a phenomenon caused by change in stream regime from supercritical to sub critical flow
with considerable energy dissipation and rise in depth of flow. Hydraulic jump primarily serves as an energy
dissipater to dissipate excess energy of flowing water downstream of hydraulic structures, such as spillway,
sluice gates etc. This excess energy, if left unchecked, will have adverse effect on the banks and the bed. A
review of literature has shown that earlier researcher concentrated more on horizontal channel while very little
information is available on sloping channels. Further, they have studied the hydraulic jump characteristics in
terms of approach Froude number only. In the present study hydraulic jump in sloping prismatic channel has
been studied and analyzed. The results obtained were compared with the result of horizontal channel to
determine the effect of slope on hydraulic jump characteristics. The empirical computational model for different
hydraulic jump characteristics such as sequent depth ratio, relative height of the jump, relative length of the
jump and relative energy loss are developed considering the effect of approach Froude number, incoming
Reynolds number and slope of the channel.
Keywords: Open Channel, Hydraulic Jump, Energy Dissipation, Sloping Channel, Spillway, Sluice Gate, etc.

1. INTRODUCTION
Downstream of many types of hydraulic structures such as dams and barrages, spillways,
sluice gates and draft tubes of hydraulic turbines, a considerable portion of the kinetic energy
in supercritical flow must be dissipated to prevent scour and erosion. Various methods of
energy dissipation have been used to achieve tranquil (sub critical) flow condition as the flow
enters the downstream channel. The primary purpose of all such methods is to convert as
much as possible the kinetic energy of flow into turbulent energy and ultimately into the heat
energy which is dissipated into atmosphere. This objective is most effectively accomplished
by means of a local phenomenon known as hydraulic jump which may assume several
distinct forms depending on the geometry of the channel and tail water conditions. Thus
hydraulic jump is a phenomenon well known to hydraulic engineers as a useful means of
dissipating excess energy and thereby prevent scour and erosion downstream of spillways,
chutes, power houses and other appurtenances. It has also been used to raise the water level
on the downstream to provide the requisite head for diversion into canals and rivers etc for
irrigation purpose. Hydraulic jump is a one of the most frequently encountered cases of
rapidly varied flow which occur when a supercritical flow changes to sub critical flow.

2. EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURE
In the present study experiments were performed on a horizontal prismatic channel of
dimension 2.1m x 0.21m x 0.30 m in Hydraulic Laboratory of Applied Mechanics
Department of Motilal Nehru National Institute of Technology Allahabad. A series of runs at
different values of discharge were experimented and hydraulic jump was formed by operating
the tail gate and sluice gate. For each run initial depth, sequent depth and length of hydraulic
jump were measured. The above steps were performed sequentially at different valve
opening. The discharge in the channel is measured with the help of sharp crested rectangular
weir. The initial depth, sequent depth and height of water flowing over the crest of weir are
measured with the help of point gauge.

Figure 1. Schematic Layout of Experimental Setup

3. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

The variation of different hydraulic jump characteristics such as sequent depth ratio, relative
height of the jump, and relative length of the jump, relative energy loss with approach Froude
number and slope of the channel is given below.

3.1 Variation of Sequent Depth Ratio with approach Froude number and Slope of the
Channel

14
R2 = 0.9739

Sequent depth ratio d2/d1

12

R2 = 0.966
R2 = 0.9779

10

R2 = 0.9496
8
6
4
0 Degree

2 Degree

4 Degree

6 Degree

0
0

10

Approch Froude number Fr1

Figure 2. Variation of Sequent Depth Ratio with approach Froude number and Channel Slope

3.2 Variation of Relative Height of the Jump with approach Froude number and
Slope of the Channel

Figure 3. Variation of Relative Height of the Jump with approach Froude number and Channel Slope

3.3 Variation of Relative Length of the Jump with Approach Froude number
and Slope of the Channel

Figure 4. Variation of Relative Length of the Jump with approach Froude number and Channel Slope

3.4 Variation of Relative Energy loss with Approach Froude number and Slope
of the Channel

Figure 5. Variation of Relative Energy Loss with approach Froude number and Channel Slope

From the figure 2, it is observed that sequent depth ratio increases with increase in approach
Froude number and slope of the channel bed. It is evident from the figure that approximately
97%, 100%, 98% and100% of experimental data are lying within 10% of best fit curve.
From the figure 3, it is observed that relative height of the jump increases with increase in
approach Froude number and slope of the channel bed. It is evident from the figure that
approximately 86%, 100%, 98% and 100% of experimental data are lying within 10% of
best fit curve.
From the figure 4, it is observed that relative length of the jump increases with increase in
approach Froude number and decreases with increase in slope of the channel bed. It is evident
from the figure that approximately 93%, 96%, 95% and 98% of experimental data are lying
within 10% of best fit curve.
From the figure 5, it is observed that relative energy loss increases with increase in approach
Froude number and decreases with increase slope of the channel bed. It is evident from the
figure that approximately 80%, 91%, 81% and 84% of experimental data are lying within
10% of best fit curve.
Few data points are deviated from best fit curve which may be due to inaccuracy in
measurement of depth of flow, discharge and length of the jump.
4. EMPIRICAL COMPUTATIONAL MODEL
The empirical models are developed using Buckinghams -theorem and regression analysis
of experimental data. On the basis of linear fitting between different hydraulic jump
characteristics and dimensionless group developed, the following empirical models were
developed.
1.

2.

Fr 2
d2
= 912 1
d1
Re1

+ 25 tan + 3.456

Fr 2
= 912 1
d1
Re1

+ 25 tan + 2.456

Hj

3.

Fr1 2.1
60 tan + 25.064
= 4769.1

d1 cos
Re
1

4.

Fr 0.05 3
EL
= 10.086 10.001 tan 10.327
E1
4
Re1

Lj

5. COMPARISION OF EMPIRICAL COMPUTATIONAL MODELS

5.1 Sequent Depth Ratio

Figure 6. Comparison of model Equation 1 with other Developed Models

5.2 Relative Height of the Jump

Figure 7. Comparison of model Equation 2 with other Developed Models

5.3 Relative Length of the Jump

Figure 8. Comparison of model Equation 3 with other Developed Model

5.4 Relative Energy Loss

Figure 9. Comparison of model Equation 4 with other Developed Models

Figure 6 shows the comparison of sequent depth ratio of present model equation 1 with the
model equations developed by Subramanya (1968) and Herbrand (1973). It is observed that
most of the experimental data of Bhutto (1987) are lying between the present model and

Subramanya model. It proves that the present model and Subramanya model are equally
better than the model of Herbrand.
Figure 7 shows the comparison of relative height of the jump of present model equation 2
with the model equations developed by Rajaratnam and Subramanya (1968) and Herbrand
(1973). It is observed that most of the experimental data of Bhutto (1987) are lying between
the present model and Herbrand model. It proves that the present model and Herbrand model
are equally better than the model of Subramanya.
Figure 8 shows the comparison of relative length of the jump of present model equation 3
with the model equations developed by Noor and Bhusra (2002). It is observed that most of
the experimental data of Bhutto (1987) are close to the present model. It proves that the
present model is better than model developed by Noor and Busra.
Figure 9 shows the comparison of relative energy loss of present model equation 4 with the
model equations developed by Chow (1959) and Silvester (1964). Further it is observed that
the most of the experimental data of Bhutto (1987) are close to the present model and model
equation developed by Silvester (1964). It proves that the present model and Silvester (1964)
model are equally better than the model equation developed by Chow (1959).
6. CONCLUSIONS

Sequent depth ratio, relative height of the jump, relative length of the jump and relative
energy loss increases with increase in approach Froude number.
Sequent depth ratio and relative height of the jump increase with increase in slope of the
channel but relative length of the jump and relative energy loss decreases with increase in
slope of the channel.
The developed empirical computational models are applicable between Froude number 2 to 8
and Reynolds number 8000 to 26000.
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