Open channel flow

What is open channel flow?

The passage in which the liquid is not completely enclosed by solid boundary but has a free
surface exposed to atmosphere is called open channel flow. The flow of liquid in this open
channel is called open channel flow. It flows under atmospheric pressure due to component
of gravity with a free surface. This flow is also known as free-surface flow.
Example of open channel flow
1) Flow in natural rivers, streams and drains
2) Flow in irrigation canal
3) Flow in sewers
4) Flow in culvert with a free surface
5) Flow in pipe not running full
6) Flow over a streets after heavy rainfall.

Difference between open channel flow and pipe flow

Pipe flow Open channel flow

The height of total energy line form datum
is z+p/w+v2/2g
Liquid runs full, no free surface
Flow takes place under pressure
Hydraulic gradient line is at a height of
p/w+z
Surface tension force is dominant if
diameter is small
The height of TEL from datum is z+y+v2/2g
Open channel flow has free surface
Flow takes place due to component of
gravity force in the flow direction
HGL coincides with free surface and is at a
height of z+y
Surface tension is negligible, only
considered at very low depth
classification of flow:
Based on variation with time
Steady and unsteady flow: A steady flow occurs when the flow properties, such as the
depth or discharge at a section do not change with time. As a corollary, if the depth or
discharge changes with time the flow is termed unsteady

Based on variation with space

Uniform and Non-uniform flow: when flow parameters do not changes with space then it is
called uniform flow. If flow parameters changes with space then it is called non- uniform
flow.

A prismatic channel carrying a certain discharge with a constant velocity is an example of

uniform flow.

Gradually Varied flow and rapidly varied flow: If the change of depth in a varied flow is
gradual so that the curvature of streamlines is not excessive, such a flow is said to be a
gradually varied flow (GVF). Frictional resistance plays an important role in these flows.

If the curvature in a varied flow is large and the depth changes appreciably over short lengths,
such a phenomenon is termed as rapidly varied flow (RVF). The frictional resistance is
relatively insignificant in such cases and it is usual to regard RVF as a local phenomenon. A
hydraulic jump occurring below a spillway or a sluice gate is an example of steady RVF.
Based on force of gravity:
a) Subcritical flow, when Froude number <1
b) Critical flow, when Froude number=1
c) Supercritical flow when Froude number >1

Velocity distribution in a channel section:

Due to the presence of free surface and friction along the channel of wall and bed, the
distribution of velocity in the channel cross-section is not uniform. Also the presence of corner
boundaries and beds in the channel cause the velocity vector of the flow to have component
not only in the longitudinal direction but also in the lateral as well as normal direction of low.
As the outer two component vy and vz in y and z direction are relatively small, they may
ignored and vx is dependent on the geometry of the cross-section. According to Chow, the
measured maximum velocity in ordinary channel’s usually appears to occur below free surface
at a distance of 0.05 to 0.25 of depth. Field measurement of velocity in river shows that the
average velocity occurs at 0.6 yo from the free surface, where yo is the total depth. However,
the field engineers normally measure the average velocity as
𝑣0.2 + 𝑣0.8
𝑣𝑎𝑣 =
2
Surface velocity 𝑣𝑠 is related to 𝑣𝑎𝑣 as 𝑣𝑎𝑣 = 𝑘𝑣𝑠 , where k is the coefficient which varies
from 0.8 to 0.95
a

b
 c
Fig: Velocity distribution in open channels: (a) Natural channel (b) Rectangular channel
and (c) Typical velocity profile
𝐴
Hydraulic Radius (R): It is the ratio of water area to wetted perimeter. R= 𝑃
𝐴
Hydraulic Depth (D): It is the ratio of water area to top width. D=𝑇