STUDY OF GRADUALLY VARIED FLOW

AIM: To study gradually varied flow (GVF) in an open channel.

APPARATUS: Open channel, pointer gauge, U-tube manometer, electric

motor etc.

THEORY: Open channel is characterized by existence of a free surface and

pressure is atmospheric and is constant throughout the flow takes place due to
gravity.

Gradually varied flow (GVF) is the one in which the depth changes
gradually over a long distance. In gradually varied flow, change in depth takes
place in a short distance. GVF may cause due to one of the following factors.

i) Differences in depth of channel and

ii) Differences in width of channel.
iii) Differences in the nature of bed
iv) Differences in slope of channel and

The study of non-uniform flow is primarily concerned with the analysis of

Surface profiles and Energy Gradients.

The GVF equation is given by

dy/dx = (Sb-Se)/ (1-Fr2)

where,

dy/dx = Slope of free water surface

Sb = Slope of the channel bed

Se = Slope of the energy line

Fr = Froude Number

(i)When dy/dx = 0, y= constant, it means the free water surface is parallel to

channel bed.
(ii)When dy/dx >0, it means the depth of water increases in the direction of
flow, the profile so obtained is called “Back Water Curve”.
(iii)When dy/dx <0, it means the depth of water decreases in the direction of
flow, the profile so obtained is called “drop down curve”
 PROCEDURE:

(1) Select any two points or sections at a certain distance in the open channel.
(2) Open the valve and allow the water to flow through open channel.
(3) Adjust the channel to suitable slope and note down the slope So.
(4) Allow the water flow of open channel to be non-uniform.
(5) With the help of pointer gauge, measure bed level readings ( & ) and
water surface level readings ( & ) at section or point one and two and
calculate depth of water & of both points.
(6) Note down the manometer readings ( & ) to get discharge (Q).
(7) Repeat the above procedure for different slopes and for different discharges.

OBSERVATIONS:

(1) Width of open channel at both sections (B) = 30.5cm. = 0.305 m.

(2) Diameter of inlet pipe ( ) = 50 mm = 0.05 m.
(3) Area of inlet pipe ( ) = = 1.9634× 10
(4) Diameter of orifice ( ) = 30 mm = 0.03 mtr.
(5) Area of orifice ( ) = = 7.0685 × 10

(6) Orifice constant (K) = = 3.36 × 10

( )
(7) Standard value of of an orifice i.e. = 0.611

OBSERVATION TABLE:
S Bed Manometer differentia Discharge (Q) = Depth of Depth of Avg.Depth Cross Cross
of water(Y) sectional sectional
Slope readings l pressure (K H )X water at water at
area of area of
N ( ) X head ( ) Or section section two =
flow at flow at
mm mm mtr = 12.6 x Q =0.611 2 one ( ) mtr section- section-two
mtr / ( )= = one ( ) = ( )=B
B
- mtr
mtr
1
2
3
4
5
6
 Wetted Wetted Hydraulic Hydraulic Mean Velocity Velocity Mean Chezy`s
perimeter at perimeter at depth at depth at hydraulic at at velocity(V) constant
section-1 section-2 section-1 section-2 depth( C ) section-1 section-2 =
× (C)
( )= ( )= ( )= ( )= = ( )= ( )= =
m/sec
B+2 B+2 mtr
mtr mtr m/sec m/sec
mtr mtr ( × )

Slope of energy line Froude Number − Type of flow

(Se)= =
(Fe)=
×
1−

∴ V= C

Froud number (Fe) =

Remember:
=
If = is +ve (Type of flow will be back water curve)
And = is -ve (Type of flow will be draw down water curve)
PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS :

(1) It provides insight for identifying where sediment erosion and deposition
may occur.
(2) It allows us to use known relations between depth and discharge at a
particular section to develop predictions of those relations at other locations
along the stream profile.
(3) It allows us to predict the effects of engineering structures (dams, bridges
etc.) on water surface elevations, velocity and depth over significant
distances.
(4) It provides physically correct initial conditions for modeling unsteady flows.
(5) Used in an inverse manner, it provides a tool for estimating the discharge of
a past flood from high water marks left by that flood.

RESULT: Profiles of gradually varied flow is studied.

 STUDY OF HYDRAULIC JUMP AND ITS CHARACTERISTICS

AIM: To study the flow characteristics of hydraulic jump in a horizontal

rectangular open channel.

APPARATUS: Rectangular open channel, pointer gauge, scale, U-tube

manometer, inlet and outlet gates, electric motor etc.

PRINCIPLE: Hydraulics jump is formed in long open channel flow due to

change in cross section either by change in width, depth, or slope of horizontal
rectangular channel bed. These changes are made by providing obstruction in
the form of sluice gate, dam, spillway and fall across direction of channel flow.
The channel flow approaching obstruction will change from super critical state
to sub critical state. The change in flow condition will result in the formation of
hydraulic jump. The intentional formation of hydraulic jump in hydraulic
structures is to dissipate excess potential energy in order to safe guard structure
against overturning and scouring action.

The formation of hydraulic jump is known as standing wave occurs

frequently in a canal below a regulating sluice, at the foot of a spill way or at the
place where the bottom slope of the channel changes from steep to mild .

PROCEDURE:

(1) Measure the bed level of the channel at suitable sections with help of
pointer gauges.
(2) Measure the width of the channel.
(3) Open the inlet and outlet gates of the open channel.
(4) Allow the water to flow under steady state condition and uniform in the
open channel from supply tank.
(5) Gradually lower the sluice gate and adjust outlet gate so that a suitable
hydraulic jump forms on the downstream of the sluice gate.
(6) Adjust the inlet gate to establish the super critical state of flow in the
channel in front of the sluice gate.
(7) Measure the water levels in channel with help of pointer gauges just in
front of the hydraulic jump and behind the hydraulic jump at a section
where flow is approximately uniform (y1& y2)
(8) Measure the discharge of flow in the channel (Q).
(9) Calculate velocity of flow before jump i.e. v1 =
(10) Calculate Froude number for velocity of flow i.e. fr1 =
√

(11) Calculate the velocity and Froude number of the flow i.e. v2 = and
fr2 =
√

(12) Calculate the specific energy at upstream E1 and specific energy at

downstream E2 of hydraulic jump.

(13) Calculate the loss of energy (EL)

(14) Calculate the height of jump.(Hj = y1-y2)

(15) Calculate the length of jump. Lj = 6(y1-y2)

(16) Repeat the above procedure by changing the discharge of flow.

OBSERVATIONS:

(1) Width of channel bed(B) = …………mtr.

(2) Diameter of pipe( ) = 50 mm = 0.05 mtr.
(3) Area of pipe ( ) = = 1.9635 x 10
(4) Diameter of orifice( ) = 30 mm =0.03mtr.
(5) Area of orifice ( ) = = 7.0685 x 10

(6) Orifice constant (K) = = 3.356 X 10

( )
(7) Standard value of of orifice i.e. = 0.611
 OBSERVATION TABLE :
S Manometer readings Discharge Parameters before jump
N X1 X2 Diff. press. (Q)=(K H )X Pointer gauge Pointer gauge Depth of Velocity
mm mm head Or reading at bed reading at free water before flow before
= Q=0.611 2 level( ) surface of hydraulic jump( )
( - )12.6 / mm water( ) jump y1= =
mtr mm −
m / sec
mtr
1
2
3
4
5

Parameters after jump Froude Froude

Pointer Pointer gauge Depth of water Velocity Number Number
gauge reading at free after hydraulic flow after Fr1(U/S) Fr2(D/S)
reading surface of jump y2= - jump( )= = =
at bed water( ) mm mtr
√ √

level
( ) m / sec
mm

Specific Specific Loss of %of energy dissipated Height of Length of jump(Lj)

energy energy energy ∆E=100 ×
( ) jump =6(y2-y1)
E1(U/S) E2(D/S) EL=E1-E2 Hj=y2-y1 mtr
= + = + mtr

SAMPLE CALCULATION:

Actual discharge (Q) = ( K H ) × C

= (K 12.6(x − x )) × C

OR
 Actual discharge (Q) = ( × 2gH ) Cm3/sec

Average observed depth of water before jump =

= y = y -y
Velocity of flow before jump :

v =

Froude number of the flow before hydraulic jump =

Fr1 =

Average observed depth of water after jump =

= y =y −y

Velocity of flow after jump :

v =

Froude number of the flow after hydraulic jump =

Fr2 =

Specific Energy before hydraulic jump :

( )
E1 = y1 +

Specific Energy after hydraulic jump :

( )
E2 = y2 +

Loss of Energy = EL = E1- E2

Percentage (%) of energy dissipated :

( )
∆ = × 100 %
PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS:

(1) It is useful to prevent the scouring action in hydraulic structures like

spillways, canal drops, outlet works, sluice, gates etc.
(2) It is used to:
(a) Increase the head in downstream side of canal.
(b) Reduction of lift pressure.
(c) Extraction of air from closed conduits.
(d) Due to turbulence, it can also used as mixing device to mix chemicals
in chemical industries, water treatment and waste water treatment
plants and colors in textile industries.
(e) It serves as aerator in water and waste water treatment plants.
(f) It maintains the head required on the downstream side of a measuring
flume.
(g) The site of a jump in a canal is an ideal location for purpose of flow
measurement.

RESULTS:
(1) Loss of Energy, (EL) = …………
(2) Height of hydraulic jump (Hj) = − = ……………..

Length of hydraulic jump (Lj) =6( − ) =……………