UNIFORM FLOW EXAMPLES

Q1) Water flows along the drainage canal having the properties shown in Figure. The bottom
slope is So=0.002. Estimate the flowrate when the depth is y=1+0.5=1.5 m

SOLUTION:
Summation of flow for each section (1), (2) and (3)
Q=Q1+Q2+Q3 calculated by Manning Equation
1 2/3 1/2
𝑄𝑖 = 𝐴 𝑅 𝑆𝑜
𝑛𝑖 𝑖 𝑖
A,P,R and n for each section are listed in Table. Note that vertical dashed lines are not
included in the P.
i y(m) b (m) A(m2) P(m) R(m) n Q (m3/s)
1 0.6 3 1.8 3.6 0.50 0.013 3.9
2 1.4 2 2.8 3.6 0.78 0.01 10.6
3 0.6 3 1.8 3.6 0.50 0.03 1.7

Therefore total flow Q=3.9+10.6+1.7=16.2 m3/s

Q2) Water flows in a round pipe of diameter D at a depth of 0<y<D, as is shown in Figure.
The pipe is laid on a constant slope of So and the Manning coefficient is n. Find,
(a) At what depth does the maximum flowrate occur?
(b) Show that for certain flowrates there are two depths possible with the same flowrate.
Explain this behavior.
SOLUTION:
a)According to the Manning equation the flowrate is
1 2/3 1/2
𝑄 = 𝐴𝑅 𝑆𝑜
𝑛

Where So, n are constants for this problem. From geometry it can be shown that
A=D2(-sin )/8
P=D/2
R=A/P= D(-sin )/(4)
So insert them into Manning Equation;

1 𝐷8/3 ( − 𝑠𝑖𝑛)5/3 1/2

𝑄= [ ] 𝑆𝑜
𝑛 8(4)2/3 2/3
This can be written in terms of the flow depth by using
y=(D/2)[1-cos(/2)].
A graph of flowrate versus flow depth, Q=Q(y) has the characteristic indicated in Figure. In
particular, the maximum flowrate, Qmax, does not occur when the pipe is full;
Qfull=0.929Qmax. It occurs when y=0.938D or =5.28 rad=303 degree. Thus
Q=Qmax when y=0.938D
b)

For any 0.929<Q/Qmax<1 there are two possible depths that give the same Q. The reason for
this behavior can be seen by
considering the gain in flow area, A, compared to the increase in wetted perimeter, P, for y
D.The flow area increase for an
increase in y is very slight in this region, whereas the increase in wetted perimeter, and hence
the increase in shear force holding back the fluid, is relatively large. The net result is a
decrease in flowrate as the depth increases.
Q3) Water flows in the canal of trapezoidal cross section shown in Figure. The bottom drops
1.4 m per 1000 m of length. The canal is lined with new finished concrete, n=0.03. Determine
(a) the flowrate and
(b) the Froude number for this flow.
(c) State of fluid flow according to Fr

SOLUTION
a)Trapezoidal Cross Section;
A=by+my2=4*1.5+ 1.52 /tan(40)=8.68 m2
P=b+2y/sin(40)=4+2*1.5/sin(40)=8.67 m
R=1 m
Note that even channel is wide, hdraulic radius is less than depth of flow.
Bottom slope So=1.4/1000=0.0014, So Manning formula;
1
𝑄 = 0.03 (8.68)(1)2/3 0.00140.5 =10.8 m3/s

b) V=Q/A=10.8/8.68=1.25 m/s
T=b+2*y/tan(40)=4+2*1.5/tan40=7.58 m
D=A/T=8.68/7.58=1.15 m
Hydraulic depth D=A/T=8.68/(4+2*y/tan(40))=
Fr=V/(gD)0.5=1.25/(9.81*1.15)0.5=0.4 < Fr=1 subcritical state
Q4) In question 3, if flow rate increases to Q= 20 m3/s , compute the uniform flow rate in the
channel.
SOLUTION
Since A, P, R are dependent on flow depth y, they are all unknown, so Manning Equation;
A=by+my2=4*y+ y2 /tan(40)
P=b+2y/sin(40)=4+2*y/sin(40)
R=A/P

2/3
y2
1 y 2 4y +
tan(40)
𝑄 = 20 = (4y + )[ ] 0.00140.5
0.03 tan(40) 4 + 2y
sin(40)
Equation can be rearranged in the form;
(4y+1.19y2)5-4123.5(4+3.11y)2=0
Construct a simple point iteration formula based on highest power y, then apply trial and error
find y;
[4123.5(4 + 3.11𝑦𝑖 )2 ]1/5 − 4𝑦𝑖
𝑦𝑖+1 = √
1.19
By trial and error
 Yi (m) yi+1 (m) % error
1.5 2.343599 35.99587
2.343599 1.957671 19.71363
1.957671 2.148217 8.869975
2.148217 2.057401 4.414144
2.057401 2.101437 2.095542
2.101437 2.080259 1.018031
2.080259 2.090485 0.489136
2.090485 2.085557 0.236275
2.085557 2.087934 0.113839
So y=2.09 m
Note that as the discharge rate is nearly doubled, flow depth increased from 1.5 m to 2 m.