Fluid Mechanics

Dynamics of Fluid Flow in Open Channel

Flow: Concept of open channel, Chezy’s and
Manning’s equations for open channel and their
application.

Dr. Mohsin Siddique

Assistant Professor

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Outcome of Today’s Lecture

After completing this lecture…

The students should be able to:

Understand the concepts and basic equations used in open

channel flow

Determine the velocity and discharge using Chezy’s and
Manning’s equation

Understand the concept of most economical sections

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Open Channel Flow

An open channel is the one in which stream is not
complete enclosed by solid boundaries and therefore has a
free surface subjected only to atmosphere pressure.

The flow in such channels is not caused by some external

head, but rather only by gravitational component along the
slope of channel. Thus open channel flow is also referred to as
free surface flow or gravity flow.

Examples of open channel are

Rivers, canals, streams, & sewerage system etc

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Open Channel Flow

Thal Canal Indus river

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Comparison between open channel flow and
pipe flow
Aspect Open Channel Pipe flow
Cause of flow Gravity force (provided by Pipes run full and flow takes place
sloping bottom) under hydraulic pressure.
Cross-sectional Open channels may have any Pipes are generally round in
shape shape, e.g., triangular, cross-section which is uniform
rectangular, trapezoidal, along length
parabolic or circular etc
Surface Varies with depth of flow Varies with type of pipe material
roughness

Piezometric (z+h), where h is depth of (z+P/γ) where P is the pressure in

head channel pipe

Velocity Maximum velocity occurs at a The velocity distribution is

distribution little distance below the water
surface. The shape of the
velocity profile is dependent on
the channel roughness.
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symmetrical about the pipe axis.
Maximum velocity occurs at the
pipe center and velocity at pipe
walls reduced to zero.
Types of Channels

Natural Channels: It is one with irregular sections of varying shapes,
developing in natural way. .e.g., rivers, streams etc

Artificial Channels: It is the one built artificially for carrying water for
various purposes. e.g., canals,

Open Channel: A channel without any cover at the top. e.g., canals, rivers
streams etc

Covered Channels: A channel having cover at the top. e.g., partially filled
conduits carrying water

Prismatic Channels: A channel with constant bed slope and cross-section

along its length.

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Types of flow in open channels

Steady and unsteady flow Same definition

Uniform and non-uniform flow with pipe flows

Laminar and Turbulent flow

Subcritical, critical and supercritical flow

Laminar and Turbulent flow: For open channels, it is defined with
Reynolds No. as;
VRh Remember in pipe flows
Re =
ν VD 4VRh
Re = =
ν ν
Therefore,
For laminar flow: Re <= 500 For laminar flow: Re <= 2000
For transitional flow: 500 <Re< 1000
For Turbulent flow: Re >= 1000
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Types of flow in open channels

Subcritical, Critical and Supercritical Flow. These are classified with
Froude number.

Froude No. (Fr). It is ratio of inertial force to gravitational force of
flowing fluid. Mathematically, Froude no. is
V
Fr =
gh
Where, V is average velocity of flow, h is depth of flow and g is gravitational
acceleration

If
Fr. < 1, Flow is subcritical flow
Fr. = 1, Flow is critical flow
Fr. > 1, Flow is supercritical flow

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Definitions

Depth of Flow: It is the vertical distance of the lowest point of a
channel section(bed of the channel) from the free surface.

Depth of Flow Section: It is depth of flow normal to bed of the
channel.

Top Width: It is the width of channel section at the free surface.

Wetted Area: It is the cross-sectional area of the flow section of
channel.

Wetted Perimeter: It is the length of channel boundary in
contact with the flowing water at any section.

Hydraulic Radius: It is ratio of cross-sectional area of flow to
wetted perimeter.

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Open channel formulae for uniform flow

For uniform flow in open channels, following formulae are widely used

1. Chezy’s Formula: Antoine de Chezy (1718-1798), a

French bridge and hydraulic expert, proposed his
formula in 1775.
Here,
V = C RS o V=Average flow velocity
C= Chezy’s constant R=Hydraulic radius
So=Channel bed slope
2. Manning’s Formula: Rober Manning (An Irish
engineer) proposed the following relation for
Chezy’s coefficient C
C = (1 / n )R1/ 6
According to which Chezy’s equation can be written as
1 2 / 3 1/ 2
V= R So
n

10 n= Manning’s Roughness coefficient

Empirical Relations for Chezy’s Constant, C

Although Chezy’s equation is quite simple, the selection of a correct value
of C is rather difficult. Some of the important formulae developed for
Chezy’s Constant C are;

1. Bazin Formula: A French hydraulic engineer H. Bazin (1897) proposed

the following empirical formula for C
157.6 R= Hydraulic Radius
C=
181 + K / R K=Bazin Constant

The value of K depends upon the type of channel surface

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Empirical Relations for Chezy’s Constant, C

2. Kutter’s Formula: Two Swiss engineers Ganguillet and Kutter
proposed following formula for determination of C
BG units SI units
R= Hydraulic Radius
n=Manning’s roughness
coefficient

3. Manning’s Formula: Rober Manning (An Irish engineer) proposed the

following relation for Chezy’s coefficient C

C = (1 / n )R1/ 6

1 2 / 3 1/ 2
V= R So
n
n= Manning’s Roughness coefficient
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The values of n depends upon nature of channel surface
Empirical Relations for Chezy’s Constant, C

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Relation b/w f and n

Since C=
2g
=
8g
QC f = f / 4
Cf f

Also C = (1 / n )R1/ 6

It mean n and f can also be related with each other.

Hence
1/ 6 f SI
n=R
8g
1/ 6 f
n = 1.486 R BG
8g

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Chezy’s and Manning’s Equations in SI and BG System

Chezy’s Equation
Manning’s Equation

1 2 / 3 1/ 2
V = C RS o V = R So
n SI
Q = CA RSo 1
( )
Q m / s = AR 2 / 3 S o
3

n
1/ 2

Value of C is determine from

respective BG or SI Kutter’s 1.486 1/ 2 BG
Q(cfs ) = AR 2 / 3 S o
formula. n

C= Chezy’s Constant
A= Cross-sectional area of flow A= Cross-sectional area of flow

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Problem-1

Water is flowing in a 2-m-wide rectangular, brick channel (n=0.016) at a
depth of 120 cm. The bed slope is 0.0012. Estimate the flow rate using the
Manning’s equation.

Solution: First, calculate the hydraulic radius

Manning’s equation (for SI units) provides

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 Problem-2

Compute the flow rate for a depth of 2, 4, 6 and 8ft.

For BG units
1.486 1/ 2
Q(cfs ) = AR 2 / 3 S o
n

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 Trapezoidal section

Let’s consider a b+2Sh
trapezoidal channel having
bottom width, b, depth of Sh Sh
flow, d, and side slope, S.
1 h
s θ
2
h S +1
b

Cross- sec tional area of flow = A = bh + Sh 2 A = bh + Sh 2

Wetted Perimeter = P = b + 2 Sh 2 + h 2 = ( A/h − Sh ) + 2 Sh 2 + h 2 A
b = − Sh
h

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Problem-3

Solution
y

For SI units 4
1
( )
Q m / s = AR 2 / 3 S o
3

n
1/ 2

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Problem-4

For BG units
1.486 2 / 3 1/ 2
V= R So 3
n
6

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Problem-5

For SI units
1
( )
Q m / s = AR 2 / 3 S o
3

n
1/ 2

Q = Q1 + Q2 + Q3

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Problem-7

Solution: (a)

For SI units
1
( )
Q m3 / s =
n
AR 2 / 3 S o
1/ 2

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Problem-7
1

(b) For SI units ( 3

n
)
Q m / s = AR 2 / 3 S o
1/ 2

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Most Economical Section

From Manning’s formula, we can write that
1
Q ∝ ARh S o
n

For a given channel of slope, So, area of cross-section, A, and roughness, n,
we can simplify above equation as
A 1
Q ∝ Rh ⇒ Q ∝ ⇒ Q ∝
P P

It emphasis that discharge will be maximum, when Rh is maximum and for a
given cross-section, Rh will be maximum if perimeter is minimum.

Therefore, the most economical section (also called best section or most
efficient section) is the one which gives maximum discharge for a given area
of cross-section (say excavation for channel shape).

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Most economical rectangular section

Let’s consider a rectangular
channel as shown in figure in
which width of channel is b and
depth of flow is h.
h

Cross - sectional area of flow = A = bh

b
Wetted Perimeter = P = b + 2h = A / h + 2h

For most economical section, perimeter should be minimum. i.e.,

A
dP/dh = 0 − + 2 = 0 ⇒ A = 2 h 2

h2
d
dP/dh = (b + 2h ) = d (A / h + 2h ) = 0 bh = 2h 2
dh dh
b = 2h or h =b/2

Hence for most economical rectangular section,
width is twice the depth of channel
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Problem

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 Most economical trapezoidal section

Let’s consider a trapezoidal b+2Sh
channel having bottom
width, b, depth of flow is d, Sh Sh
and side slope, S, as shown
1 h
in figure s θ
2
h S +1
b

Cross - sectional area of flow = A = bh + Sh 2 A = bh + Sh 2

Wetted Perimeter = P = b + 2 Sh 2 + h 2 = (A / h − Sh ) + 2 Sh 2 + h 2 A
b = − Sh
h

For most economical section, perimeter should be minimum. i.e.,
dP
dh
=0⇒
d
dh
(
A / h − Sh + 2 Sh 2 + h 2 = 0 )
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Most economical trapezoidal section
d
dh
(
A / h − Sh + 2h S2 + 1 = 0) ⇒ −
A
h 2
− S + 2 S 2
+1 = 0
2
A bh + Sh
2
+ S = 2 S 2
+ 1 ⇒ 2
+ S = 2 S 2
+1
h h
b + Sh b + Sh Sh
+ S = 2 S +1 ⇒
2
+ = 2 S2 + 1
h h h
b + 2Sh
= 2 S2 + 1
h
b + 2Sh
= h S2 + 1 ⇒ b + 2Sh = 2h S2 + 1
2

Hence for most economical trapezoidal section, top
width is twice the length of one sloping side or half of
top width is equal to length of one sloping side
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Most economical trapezoidal section

For given width, b, and depth, h, perimeter becomes only the
function of side slope, S,. So if we estimate value of S that provide
minimum P then we have;
dP
dS
=0⇒
d
dS
(
A / h − Sh + 2 S2 h 2 + h 2 = 0 ) ⇒
d
dS
( )
A / h − Sh + 2h S2 + 1 = 0

 1 2 
(
 − h + 2h S + 1 )
1 / 2 −1
× 2S  = 0 (
⇒ − h + 2Sh S2 + 1 )
−1 / 2
=0
 2 
( )
− h S2 + 1 = 2Sh ⇒ − ( S + 1 ) = 2S
2

Squaring both sides of equation, we get

1 1
− S2 + 1 = 4 S 2 ⇒ S2 = ⇒S=
3 3
If sloping sides make an angle θ with the horizontal than S=tanθ
1
S = tan θ = ⇒ θ = 60o
3

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 Thank you

Questions….

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