ip Designation: D 5130 - 95 Standard Test Method for "pa saver canta cen warps bare eon Open-Channel Flow Measurement of Water Indirectly by Slope-Area Method’ “Thistndard i nued under he fae! Jaignation D130: the ner enmasiate fbi he designation incest the ea of gem alton one can errs ral as eon. A number artes nae the Ya fs poe Speer epion its 49 aril care ace he as evince enprva 1, Scope LL This test method covers the computation of discharge (the volume rate of flow) of water in open channels or sireams using representative cross-sectional characteristics, the water-surface slope, and coefficient of channel roughness as input to gradually-varied flow computations? 1.2 This test method produces an indirect measurement of the maximum cischarge for one flow event, usually a specific flood. The computed discharge may be used to help define the high-water segment of a stage-discharge relation, 1.3 The values stated in inch-pound units are to be regarded as the standard. The SI units given in parentheses are for information only. 14 Gis standard does not purpor: to aaldress all of the salety concerns, sf any, associated with is use Tt 8 the responsibility ofthe user of this standard to establish appr priate safety andl health practices and determine the applica- Dility of reguatory imitations prior to use. 2, Referenced Documents 2. ASTM Standards: D.1129 Terminology Relating to Water? D.2777 Practice for Determination of Precision and Bias ‘Of Applicable Methods of Committee D-19 on Water? D 3R38 Practice for Open-Channel Flow Measurement of ‘Water by Velocity-Area Method 2.2 ISO Standards 180 748 Liquid Flow Measurements in Open Channels— ‘Velocity-Area Method* 180 1070 Liquid Flow Measurements in Open Channels— ‘Slope-Area Method* Terminology 3.1. Definitions—For definitions of terms used in this test method, refer to Terminology D 1129. 3.2 Descriptions of Terms Specific 10 This Standard— Several ofthe following terms are illustrated in Fig. 1: 3.2.1 alpha (a)—a velocity-head coefficient that repre sents the ratio of the true velocity head to the velocity head The sted uncer te jeu of ASTM. Committe Do ar an. ret reponaity of Sukomentee DIST 9n Seen cCinenebtion speed ep I, 1995. fuided November 1655 ‘ngatypuiates 320 5190-90 Lat prevoue eben SIN "he ct metbod ser to methods erst by the US. Galop Sereyand deed Gecamers fee! omit 56a. “ont waka Sundae Vt computed on the basis of the mean velocity. It is assumed equal to 1.0 if the cross section is not subdivided. For subdivided sections, a is computed as follows: where: Kand 4 = the conveyance and area of the subsection indicated by the subscript i, and Kyand Ay = the conveyance and area of the entire cross section. 3.2.2 conveyance (K)—a measure of the carrying capacity ofa channel and has dimensions of cubic feet per second of cubic metres per second. Conveyance is computed as fol- lows: 1486 eae where ‘n= the Manning roughness coefficient, 4 = the cross-section area, 2 (m?), and R = the hydraulic radius, t(m), 85 = 1.06 St oni 3.23 cross sections (numbered consecutively in dovn- stream order)~representaive ofa reach of channel and are positioned as nearly as posible at right angles to the irection of flow. They must be defined by coordinates of horizontal distance and ground elevation. Sufficient ground points must be obtained so that staightdline connection of the coordinates will adequately describe the cros-setion geometry. IF major breaks in the high-water profile are evident, ross sections should be located at the breaks. 3.24 cross-section area (A)—the area of the water below the bighewater surface elevations that are computed by assuming a straight-line interpolation between elevations on each bank. The area is computed as the summation of the Products of mean depth multiplied by the width between Stations ofthe oss section. 3.25 friction (oss (the los due to boundary friction tn the reach and is equivalent to the following: ah ah, = Kah) where: Sh = the fallin the reach, 3h, = the upstream velocity head minus the downstream velocity head,FIG. 1. Definition Sketch of a Siope-Area Resch, larvae —leeeln 10. 2 Sample Slope-Aren Computation, Listing of High WaterGh D5130 (ah) = the energy loss due to acceleration or deceleration and to eddies in a contracting or expanding reach, where.k is coefficient for energy losses. Al of the equations presented inthis standard are based on the assumption that bis zero for contracting reaches and 0.5 for expanding reaches. 3.26 fall @#)—the drop in the water-surface computed as the difference inthe average watersurface elevation at adjacent cross sections. 3.2.7 fiction slope (S))—the enerpy loss divided by the Aength ofthe reach or: by that beoomes: ant S= ‘when a, is negative (for a contracting reach), when Al, is positive (for an expanding reach) 3.2.8 Froude number (#}—an index to the state of ow in the channel, In a prismatic channel, the flow is tranquil or subcritical if the Froude number is less than 1.0 and is rapid ‘or supercritical iit is greater than 1.0. The Froude number is ‘computed as follows: ree where: = the mean velocity in 8/s (m/s) dq, = the average depth jo the ross section in fet, and 8" = the acceleration of gravity in 175s (m/f) 3.2.9 high-water marks—the evidence ofthe highest sage reached by a flood. Debris, stains, four lines, and scour ‘marks are common types of high-water marks, Water-surface slopes are determined by the elevations ofthese marks. 32.10 hydraulic radius (R)-—defined asthe area ofa cross section or subsection divided by the corresponding. wetted perimeter ‘S211 roughness coeffeiont(n)—or Manning's n i used the Manning equation, Roughness coeficient or Man- ning’ is a measute ofthe resistance to low in a chanel ‘The factor that influence the magnitude ofthe resistance to flow include the character of the bed material, cross section iergularites depth of flow, vegetation, and alignment ofthe ‘channel. A reasonable evaluation ofthe resistance to flow in a channel depends on the experience ofthe person selecting the coefficient and reference to texts and reports that con values for similar stream and flow conditions.** (See 9.3. Benson, M.A. and Dalyple T “Genel Fé and Ofc Produc or Inge Dochrge Mewsreneat,"Testeigues of Water Rewouces Freon. Book 3, Chair A U3. Greg Sue. 1967 eas, Howard F Measremenof Peak Dicare mi With Conrctions ty Inde Methods Tecnues of Water Resouces Iveiatins, Book Chamer ¢, U8 Geog Sune. 1888. 3.2.12 velocity head (h,}—computed as follows: Pd oe 2% where: a = the velocity-head coefficient, V = the mean velocity in the cross section in f/s (m/s), and 1 = the acceleration of gravity in fi/s/s (ays/s). 3.2.13 welled perimeter (WP)—the total length of the boundary between the channel bed and the water for a cross section. It is computed as the sum of the hypotenuse of the right triangle defined by the distance between adjacent stations of the eross section and the difference in bed elevations, 4, Summary of Test Method 4.1. The slope-area method is used to indirectly determine the discharge through a reach of channel, usually after 2 flood, using evidence left by the event snd the physical ‘characteristics of the channel reach, A field survey is made 10 determine distances between and elevations of high-water ‘marks and to define crass sections of the stream, These data are used to compute the fall in the water surface between sections and selected properties of the sections. This informa tion is used along with Manning's nin the Manning equation fo compute the discharge, Q. The Manning equation in terms of discharge, Q, is as follows 86 = ES apm sor = KS The symbols on the right sides ofthe equations are defined in Section 3. 5. Significance and Use 5.1 This test method is particulary useful for determining the discharge when it cannot be measured directly by some type of current meter to obtain velocities and with sounding ‘weights to determine the cross section. 5.2 Even under optimum conditions, the personnel avail- able cannot cover all points of interest during a major flood, Field personnel cannot always obtain reliable results by direct methods ifthe stage is rising or falling very rapidly, if lowing ice or debris interferes with depth or velocity measurements, 5.3 Under the worst conditions, access roads are blacked, cableways and bridges may be washed out, and knowledge of the flood frequently comes too late to obtain direct measure- ments of flow. Therefore, some type of indirect measurement is necessary. The slope-area method is a commonly used method. 6. Apparatus 6.1 The equipment generally used for a “transit stadia” survey is recommended. An engineer's transit, a selleveling level with azimuth circle, newer equipment using electronic circuitry, or other advanced surveying instruments may be ‘used, Standard level rods, a telescoping, 25-f (7.6 m) level rod, rod leveis, hand levels, stel and metallic tapes, tag lines (small wires with markers fixed at known spacings), vividly colored flagging, survey stakes, a camera (preferably stereo) with color film, light meter, and ample note paper are necessary items.