COMPUTATION OF GRADUALLY VARIED FLOW PROFILES

The computation of the gradually varied flow basically involves the integration of the dynamic
equation of gradually varied flow, presented earlier. This equation is a non-linear ordinary
differential equation of the first order and its solution requires one boundary condition for depth, i. e.
the depth at the section where the computation begins must be given. This equation can be easily
integrated (i) for a wide channel, and (ii) for a horizontal channel. For other channels, the integration
of the gradually varied flow equation has to be performed either graphically or numerically.
The computation of gradually varied flow profile must begin with the known depth of flow at a
control and proceed in the direction in which the control operates. Thus, the computation of the
subcritical flow profiles must start from the downstream end of the channel reach and proceed
upstream, and the computation of supercritical flow profiles must start from the upstream end of the
channel reach and proceed downstream.
The profiles M1, M2, S2 and S3 approach the normal depth line asymptotically, i. e. theoretically
these profiles extent indefinitely before merging with the normal depth. Such a situation presents
difficulties from the computational point of view. As a result, the computation of these flow profiles
is usually terminated at a section where the depth of flow is about 5% greater or less than the
normal depth.