Gradually Varied

Flow in Open
Channels
Majid Mirzaei
majid@um.edu.my
 ü A steady non-uniform flow in a prismatic channel with gradual changes in its watersurface elevation is
named as gradually-varied flow (GVF).

ü The backwater produced by a dam or weir across a river and drawdown produced at a sudden drop in a
channel are few typical examples of GVF.

ü In a GVF, the velocity varies along the channel and consequently the bed slope, water surface slope, and
energy line slope will all differ from each other.

Majid Mirzaei, UM
 The two basic assumptions involved in the analysis of GVF are:

1. The pressure distribution at any section is assumed to be hydrostatic. This follows from the definition of the
flow to have a gradually varied water surface.

2. The resistance to flow at any depth is assumed to be given by the corresponding uniform flow equation, such as
the Manning equation, with the condition that the slope term to be used in the equation is the energy line slope, Se
and not the bed slope, S0. Thus, if in a GVF the depth of flow at any section is y, the energy line slope Se is given
by,

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 Basic Differential Equation for the Gradually-Varied Flow Water Surface Profile

y
x
v
x
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 Classification of Flow Surface Profiles

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 following Fig
GVF Equation

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 GVF Eq.

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Majid Mirzaei, UM
Example
A rectangular channel with a bottom width of 4 m and bottom slope of 0.0008 has a
discharge of 1.5 m3/s. In a gradually-varied flow in this channel, the depth at a certain
location is found to be 0.30 m. Assuming n = 0.016, determine the type of GVF profile.

Solution:
Find the normal depth yo and the critical depth yc

The normal depth yo The critical depth yc

2 1
1
Manning equation Q = AR So2
3
Q 1.5
n q= = = 0.375 m3 s m
2 b 4
1 æ by o ö 21 3
Q = by o çç ÷÷ So q2 0.375 2
n è b + 2 y o ø yc = 3 = 3 = 0.243 m
2
g 9.81
1 æ 4y o ö 3 1
1.5 = 4 y o çç ÷÷ 0.0008 2
0.016 è 4 + 2 y o ø
y c < y o ® The channel is a mild
2 slope channel
æ 4y o ö 3
y o çç ÷÷ = 0.212
è 4 + 2y o ø y c < y < y o ® The profile is of the M2
y o = 0.426 m type
 Example 2
A triangular channel has side slope 1 horizontal : 1 vertical and bed slope is 0.001.
Estimate and categorize this channel whether mild, steep or critical when the flow rate is
given as much as 0.2 m3/s through this channel. Assume that Manning’s roughness
coefficient n = 0.015. Give various of depths that categorize the flow profile in type 1, 2
and 3.

Solution:
y2 y
A=y 2
T = 2y P = 2 2y R= =
2 2y 2 2

The normal depth yo The critical depth yc

2 1
1 Q 2 Ac
3
yc
6
y c5
Manning equation Q = AR So2
3
= = =
n g Tc 2y c 2
2
1
1 2æ yo ö
3 2Q 2 2 ´ 0.22
0 .2 = yo ç ÷ 0.0012
y =
5
c = = 0.00816
0.015 è 2 2 ø g 9.81
y o = 0.536 m y c = 0.382 m

y c < y o ® The channel is a mild slope channel

Curve M1 y > 0.536 m

Curve M2 0.536 m > y > 0.382 m
Curve M3 y < 0.382 m
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 P5-1. Classify the trapezoidal channels listed below as mild, steep, horizontal, critical, or adverse.

3XY
3YX
2XY
3YX
3XY
2XY
3YX

X and Y are last two digit of Matric No.

Exp. For 17160314. X=1 and Y=4

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 P.2. Classify the trapezoidal channels listed below as mild, steep, horizontal, critical, or adverse.

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