Lecture 3

Open Channel Flows Governing Equations

Velocity Distribution
Velocity in a channel section is not uniform.
Velocity distribution is affected by the shape

of channel section, presence of the free

surface and the channel boundary.
Maximum velocity for the central region of
channel section occurs 0.05 0.25 depth
below the free surface.

Velocity Distribution
Figure 1 shows velocity distributions for various

sectional shapes:
Trapezoidal section
Triangular section
Circular section
Natural channel
For wide open channel (width > 5-10 depth):
Frictional effect from the channel banks can
be ignored.

Figure 1 Velocity Distributions of Various Channel Sections

Calculation of Average Velocity over a Vertical

The average velocity can be determined from the

following point velocities:

One-point method V V0.6
Two-point method V 0.5(V0.2 V0.8 )
Three-point method V 0.25(V0.2 2V0.6 V0.8 )
Five-point method V 0.1(Vsurface 3V0.2 3V0.6 2V0.8 Vbed )
V 0.1(V
2V 2V 2V 2V V
Six-point method
surface

One-point method

0.2

0.4

0.6

Two-point method

0.8

bed

Velocity and Discharge Measurements

over a Cross Section

Midsection Method:
Divide a channel cross section into subsections as shown in

Figure 2.
Calculate the mean velocity for the vertical using the 1-, 2-,
3, 5, or 6-point methods.
Discharge for each strip (Qi) is the average of the mean
velocities (Vi) of the boarder verticals multiplied by area (Ai)
of the subsection.
Total discharge (Q) is the sum of discharges for all
subsections.
Area of the channel section (A) is the sum of areas for all
subsections.
Mean velocity of the channel section (V) is Q/A.
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Figure 2 Midsection Method

Energy Coefficient
Kinetic energy for a channel section = V2/(2g)

Due to non-uniform velocity distribution, is greater than 1.

Formula for calculating (see Figure 3):
sum of kinetic energy for all subsections

kinetic energy for the section based on mean velocity

2

Vi
Vi

Qi
(Vi Ai )
3
Vi Ai
2g
2g

2
2
V Q
V (VA)
V 3A
2g
2g
8

Figure 3 Energy Coefficient

Energy Coefficient for Various Channel Conditions

Value of
Channels
Minimum

Average

Maximum

Regular channels, flumes,

spillways

1.10

1.15

1.20

Natural stream and torrents

1.15

1.30

1.50

Rivers under ice cover

1.20

1.50

2.0

River valleys, over-flooded

1.50

1.75

2.00

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Momentum Coefficient
Momentum passing a channel cross section per unit time

= V2A
Due to non-uniform velocity distribution, is greater than 1.
Formula for calculating (see Figure 4):

sum of momentum for all subsections

momentum for the section based on mean velocity

Vi Qi Vi (Vi Ai ) Vi Ai

VQ
V (VA)
V 2A
2

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Figure 4 Momentum Coefficient

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Momentum Coefficient for Various Channel Conditions

Value of
Channels

Minimum

Average

Maximum

Regular channels, flumes,

spillways

1.03

1.05

1.07

Natural stream and torrents

1.05

1.10

1.17

Rivers under ice cover

1.07

1.17

1.33

River valleys, over-flooded

1.17

1.25

1.33

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Governing Equations
Conservation of Mass Continuity Equation
Basic assumptions:
Incompressible fluid
Steady flow (discharge remains

unchanged)
No lateral inflow
Continuity Equation can be expressed as
follows (see Figure 1):
Q = A1V1 = A2V2
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Figure 6 Continuity Equation

Figure 4 Continuity Equation

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Governing Equations
Conservation of Energy Energy Equation
Energy may be expressed in terms of head (in unit of

length).
Total head for a point on a streamline = elevation +
pressure head + velocity head.
Assuming every streamline passing through a channel
section has the same velocity, the energy equation (for
small channel slope) can be expressed as follows (see
Figure 2) :
2

V1
V2
z1 y1 1
z 2 y2 2
hf
2g
2g

where hf = head loss

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Figure 2 Energy Equation

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Governing Equations
Conservation of Momentum
Principle: The resultant external force acting
on a body of fluid equals to the rate of
change of momentum of the body.
External forces include pressure,
gravitational force (weight), and frictional
force on the channel boundary.
Momentum Equation for a prismatic open
channel (see Figure 3):
2 QV2 1QV1 P1 P2 W sin F f
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Figure 3 Momentum Equation

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Example 1

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Example 1 (continued)

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Example 1 (continued)

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Example 2

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Example 2 (continued)

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Example 3

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Example 3 (continued)

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Example 3 (continued)

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Example 3 (continued)

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