BIRLA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY AND SCIENCE, PILANI

FIRST SEMESTER 2018-2019

PROBLEM SHEET I: OPEN CHANNEL FLOW-UNIFORM FLOW (WITH ANSWERS)

COURSE NO.: CE F312
HYDRAULICS ENGINEERING
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Q.1 A rectangular channel 8.0 m wide and 1.5 m deep, has a slope of 0.001 and is lined with smooth
concrete plaster. It is desired to enhance the discharge to a maximum by changing the dimensions
of the channel but keeping the same amount of lining. Workout the new dimensions and the
percentage increase in discharge. For the smooth concrete plaster, take Manning’s rugosity
coefficient equal to 0.015. (Ans. B = 5.5, y = 2.75 and percent increase in Q = 47.1%)

Q.2 It is proposed to construct an earthen trapezoidal channel for irrigation. The soil of the region is
clean silt with Mannings roughness coefficient (N) as 0.022 and an average slope of 1 in 2000.
Design the channel cross section so that the seepage losses are minimum. The channel is supposed
to convey a design discharge of 5 cumecs. (Ans. B = 2.03, y = 1.758,  = 600 or z = 1/3)

Q.3 Water flowing in a wide-open rectangular channel encounters with a velocity of 8 m/sec and flow
depth of 0.8m. Now cannel encounters a hump of 30-cm at the bottom of the channel and water
flows over this hump. Determine whether the water surface level over the hump will increase or
decrease. Also determine if the flow over the hump is subcritical or super-critical. Perform all
calculation and draw the water surface profile. (Ans. The water surface level over the hump will
increase because upstream flow is supercritical and at the hump also it is in the state of
supercritical, Rise over the hump = y2 – y1 +𝒚𝟐 − 𝒚𝟏 + ∆𝒛𝒉𝒖𝒎𝒑 = 𝟎. 𝟑𝟒𝟔𝒎)

Q.4 A rectangular channel 2.50 m wide carries a uniform flow of 6.5 m3/sec at a depth of 1.50 m. If there
is a local rise of 0.15 m in the bed level somewhere at downstream side, calculate the water surface
elevation over the raised bed. What can be the maximum rise in the bed elevation such that the
upstream depth is not affected?
(Ans. Flow in the reduced section is sub-critical and therefore the upstream water level will
not be affected and depth y2 will be 1.30m; Maximum rise in the bed elevation ∆𝐳𝐦𝐚𝐱 =
𝟎. 𝟔𝟗𝐦)

Q.5 Water is flowing in a rectangular channel at a velocity of 3 m/s and a depth of 2.5 m. Determine the
changes in water surface elevation for the following alterations in the channel bottom at the
downstream: (i). An increase (upward step) of 20 cm, neglecting losses. (ii) The maximum increase
allowable for the specified upstream flow conditions to remain unchanged, neglecting losses. (iii)
A “well-designed” decrease (downward step) of 20 cm.
(Ans. (i) The depth at the downstream side at alteration is y2 = 2.123 m which imply that there
will be a decrease in water table profile; (ii) Maximum increase allowable in the bed elevation
∆𝒛𝒎𝒂𝒙 = 𝟎. 𝟐𝟕𝟒𝒎;)

Q.6 A venture flume, 3 m wide at the entrance and 1.5 wide at the throat has a horizontal datum. If the
depth of water at the entrance and at the throat is 0.75 m and 0.65 m respectively, calculate the
discharge through the flume. If a 0.2 m high stream lined hump is provided at the base so that a
sanding wave is formed downstream the throat, workout the specific energy and the upstream depth
for the same discharge.
(Ans. (i) Discharge Q = 1.516 m3/sec; (ii) The upstream elevation of water surface when
measured from the channel bed is y1 = 0.69+0.2=0.89m)

Q.7 Water flows in a 4.0 m wide rectangular channel at a depth of 1.8m and a velocity of 1.0 m/sec. If
the width of the channel is reduced to 3.50 m and bed of channel is raised by 0.35 m at a section
downstream side, will the water surface in the channel upstream be disturbed? Why? Also determine
the depth of flow over the raised bed if it is disturbed and show how will the level of water surface
in the channel be affected? Neglect energy losses.
(Ans. There will be a decrease in water surface profile with depth at the downstream side at
alteration is y2 = 1.389 m)

By Dr. Ajit Pratap Singh, Civil Engineering Group, BITS Pilani 8/22/2019
Q.9 A triangular duct flows partly full as shown in Figure in which AB=BC=AC. If the critical flow rate
is 1.0 m3/sec, what would be the critical depth and critical slope for this channel? Show all
calculations clearly by assume the Manning coefficient for this channel as n = 0.016.
A

B C

𝜃 = 320 1.0 m

(Ans. yc = 0.493 m, Sc = 0.0228)

Q.8 A sewer consists of a semicircular top and a semicircular bottom of radius r jointed by parallel
vertical sides of length r so that the overall height is 3 r. (a) Calculate the angle subtended by the
water surface at the center of the upper/lower semicircle for maximum discharge. Take Chezy’s
constant C = K R1/6, where R is hydraulic mean depth and K is another constant.
(Ans. If the angle subtended by the water surface at the center of the upper circle 𝟐𝜽, the
condition of maximum discharge would be when 𝟐𝜽 = 𝟑𝟐𝟎)

Q.9 Prove that for a channel of triangular section with side slope ‘z’ horizontal to 1 vertical, the critical
depth yc for a given discharge Q and specific energy E, is given by the following expressions:
1/5
 2 Q2  4
y c   
2 
and y c  E
 g z  5

Q.10 A circular culvert has a capacity of 0.5 m3/sec when flowing full. Velocity should not be less than
0.7 m/sec if the depth is one-fourth of the diameter. Assuming uniform flow, determine the diameter
and slope, taking Manning’s roughness coefficient n = 0.012. (Ans. D = 0.797m, S = 0.00123)
Q.11 Water flows over a 0.25m bump in a constant width, horizontal rectangular channel as shown in the
figure below. The upstream depth and velocity are 0.5m and 0.2 m/sec, respectively. Draw the
specific energy diagram for this flow and find the depth and velocity over the bump at point B. Then
find the depth and velocity downstream of the bump at point 2. Neglect the effect of friction.

(Ans.

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By Dr. Ajit Pratap Singh, Civil Engineering Group, BITS Pilani 8/22/2019