Chapter 5 :

Open Channel Flow

 5.1

Open Channel as mode of

water transportation
Open channel flow is flow of liquid in a conduit with a
free surface subjected to atmospheric pressure.
Eg. : flow of water in rivers, canals, partially full sewers and drains
Practical applications are the determination of :
a. Flow depth in rivers, canals and other conveyance conduits.
b. Changes in flow depth due to channel controls eg. Weirs,
spillways and gates.
c. Changes of river stage during floods.
d. Surface runoff from rainfall over land.
e. Optimal channel design
 5.2

Difference between Pipe flow and

Open channel flow
Aspect Open Channel Pipe Flow
Condition Uncovered Covered
Have free surface No free surface
Atmospheric pressure Pressure
Cross-Section Irregular Circular
Cause of flow Gravity Pressure
Surface Roughness Varies largely Depends upon material
Velocity Distribution Maximum velocity below the surface Maximum velocity at the center
Shape of velocity profile depends
upon the channel roughness Shape is symmetrical about pipe axis
Peizometric head Z+y Z+P/ȣ
Where y = depth of flow Where p = pressure in pipe
HGL coincides with the water surface HGL doesn’t coincides with the water surface
Surface tension Negligible Dominant for small diameter
 5.3

Classifications and shape of

open channel
 Classification

Based on origin
Natural and Artificial Channel

• Natural Channel includes all channel that exist on earth.

• They are irregular in shape.

• Artificial channels are created by human.

• They are usually designed with regular geometrical shapes.
Based on slope
Small slope and Large Slope Channel

• Bottom slope less than 1 in 10.

• Slopes of ordinary channels and natural channels.

• Bottom slope greater than 1 in 10.

• Slopes of drop and chutes.
Based on cross - section
Prismatic and Non – Prismatic Channel

• Constant cross-sectional shape, size and bottom slope.

• All artificial channels are prismatic.

• Varying cross-sectional shape, size and bottom slope.

• All natural channels are non-prismatic.
Based on boundary condition
Rigid Boundary and Mobile Boundary Channel

• Non-deformable boundary.
• Shape and roughness magnitude are not function of flow parameters.
• Eg. : Lined canals and non-erodible unlined canals.

• Mobile channel boundary.

• Depth of flow, bed width, longitudinal slope changes with space and
time with respect to flow.
Canals – is usually long and mild sloped channel built in ground, which
may be unlined and lined with stone masonry, concrete, cement etc

Lined Canal

Sikta Irrigation Canal Stone Masonry Canal

Flumes – is channel of metal, concrete or masonry usually supported on
or above the surface of the ground to carry water over a depression.
Flume in Sidrapong Hydropower, Darjeeling

Flume in White River, Washington for Hydroelectricity

 Chute – is a channel having
steep slopes.

Natural chute (fall) in Jhor, Tokha

Drop – is similar to chute but

change in elevation is within short
distance
Flume in Sidrapong Hydropower, Darjeeling
Stormwater sewer – is a drain designed to drain out excess rain from
streets, parking lots, sidewalks and roofs.

Absence of proper drainage system

Side drain
 5.4

Geometric properties of channel :

Area of Flow, Wetted Perimter and
Hydraulic Radius
 5.5

Classification of open channel by

time, space and hydraulic regime
 Classification based on space and time

Open channel flow conditions can be characterized with respect to space

(uniform and non-uniform flows) and time (steady and unsteady flow)

Space : how do the flow condition change along the reach of an open channel
system

a. Uniform flow : depth of flow is same in every section of the flow

i.e. dy/dx = 0
b. Non-uniform flow : depth of flow varies along section of the flow
i.e. dy/dx ≠ 0
Time : how do the flow condition change over the time at a specific
section in an open channel system

a. Steady flow : depth of flow does not changes/constant during the

time under consideration i.e. dy/dt = 0
b. Non-steady flow : depth of flow changes with time i.e. dy/dt ≠ 0
The flow is rapidly varied if the depth changes abruptly over a
comparatively short distance. Eg. : hydraulic jump, drop, weir.

The flow is gradually varied if the depth changes gradually over a

comparatively short distance. Eg. : hydraulic jump, drop, weir.
Thank you for your
attention