Section 5

Open Channel Flow

Open Channel Topics

Mannings Equation & Normal

Flow

River Backwater Analysis

Scour

River Stabilization

Section 5 2
Mannings Equation

Section 5 3
Cross Sectional Flow
Area

Section 5 4
Hydraulic Radius

Section 5 5
Section 5 6
River Backwater Analysis
Computation of a change in
the water surface profile
Suitable for channels irregular
in shape
Required Information
Contour map with 1 ft or 2 ft.
intervals extending a minimum
of 500 ft upstream and
downstream of the bridge.
Photographs or descriptions of
the channel and ground cover.

Section 5 7
 Scour Categories

Bridge placement within the

waterway must consider
potential scour
Four types of scour
~General Scour
~Lateral Channel Migration
~Contraction Scour
~Local Scour
Required Information
~Same for river backwater
analysis

Section 5 8
 River Stabilization

Barbs

Riprap Bank Protection

Section 5 9
Stream Characteristics

Channel width, configuration,

material

Sediment Transport

Flow velocity, depth

Floodplains

Ice&Debris

Section 5 10
Barbs

Section 5 11
Section 5 12
 Barbs
Advantages Disadvantages
Shift thalweg Rivers with
away from large sediment
eroding movement
embankment
Rivers with
Encourages high degree of
sediment
deposition sinuosity
Provide channel Rivers with
roughness & very sharp
energy bends
dissipation Vertical height
Provides fish of the barb
habitat
Cost effective
less rock

Section 5 13
Section 5 14
Thalweg Shift

Section 5 15
Riprap Bank Protection

Advantages Disadvantages
Cost Conveyance
Availability Volume
Emergency Solve
Repairs Problem?
Safer Downstream
Roadsides Impact
Self-Healing Aesthetics
Infil./Exfil.

Section 5 16
Section 5 17
Section 5 18
Typical Riprap Detail

Section 5 19