Lecture 5

Computation of Critical Flow.

Computation of critical flow:

 Rectangle Channel

q represents the discharge per unit width of the channel section. The total discharge Q
passing through a rectangular channel section of bottom width b may be expressed as,
= ∗
=

We know that,

That is,

( ∗ )
= =

Or,
/
=

Discharge in the channel is given by,

Here, vc= critical velocity

We know that,

= =

Therefore,

=
 =

Minimum specific energy is given by,

= +
2

= +
2

= +
2
Upon simplification, we get,

3
=
2

 Triangular Channel

Area of triangular channel section is given by,

1
= ∗2 ∗
2
Here, k= side slope of the triangular section.

We know that, for critical flow condition,

=
2
/
2
=

But, at critical velocity,

=
 = =
2

Minimum specific energy for triangular channel is

= +
2

= +

5
=
4
4
=
5

Example: - For a constant specific energy of 2.0 N-m/N, calculate the maximum discharge that
may occur in a rectangular channel, 2.0m wide.

Solution: Data given: Rectangular channel; specific energy= 2.0 N-m/N; width of the channel,
b=2m For a given specific energy the discharge is maximum when the flow is in the critical state.
Using the relation, = = ∗ 2.0 = 1.33

/
For a rectangular channel, =

Or, = ∗ = 1.33 ∗ 9.81

= 4.80

Therefore, = ∗ = 4.12 ∗ 2.0 = 9.60 .