Exercise

Principles in Hydraulics
 The Geometry

Rectangular channel (for simplicity)

0.5 m to 3.0 m

10 metres

© HR Wallingford
2007
Introduction to River Hydrology and Hydraulics Page 2
 The Numbers

Water flows in an open rectangular

channel 10 m wide
Consider depths between 0.5 m and 3
m in 0.5 m steps
Manning’s n = 0.04, 0.03, 0.02
Slope 1 in 500, 200 and 100
Calculate discharge, velocity and
Froude number
© HR Wallingford
2007
Introduction to River Hydrology and Hydraulics Page 3
 Work in Groups of 4

Choose some cases and share the

results in your group
• How sensitive is discharge to depth?
• How sensitive is velocity to depth?
• How sensitive is Froude number to
depth?

What happens for different slopes and

roughnesses?
What is the critical slope for n = 0.02?
© HR Wallingford
2007
Introduction to River Hydrology and Hydraulics Page 4
 The Worksheet
Manning’s n
Slope, s
Ratio s1/2/n

Width Depth Area Wetted Hydraulic Shape Discharge Velocity Froude

(m) (m) (m2) Perimeter Radius (m) Factor (m3/s) (m/s) Number
B y A (m) R = A/P AR2/3 Q= V = Q/A Fr =
P = B + 2y AR2/3s1/2/n V/(gy)1/2
10 0.5 5 11

10 1 10 12

10 1.5 15 13

10 2 20 14

10 2.5 25 15

10 3.0 30 16

© HR Wallingford
2007
Introduction to River Hydrology and Hydraulics Page 5