CHAPTER THREE: RAPIDLY VARIED FLOW

Tesfaye B.
 Characteristics Features of RVF
o Rapid variation of flow depth and velocity occurs in short reach
of channel
o R.V.F occurs in small reach so friction force is quite small
compared to other forces and may be neglected.
o Velocity coefficient, alpha (𝛼) and momentum coefficients, beta
(𝛽) are greater than unity and difficult to ascertain accurately.
o In R.V.F, the flow pattern and velocity distribution is complicated.
o The curvature of the flow is so pronounced that the pressure
distribution cannot be assumed to be hydrostatic.
 Hydraulic Jump
o Hydraulics jump is local nonuniform flow phenomenon resulting
from the change in flow from super critical to sub critical.
o There is discontinuity in the surface characterized by a steep
upward slope of the profile accompanied by lot of turbulence and
eddies. The eddies cause energy loss.
o The depth before and after the hydraulic jump are known as
conjugate depths or sequent depths.

Thus a hydraulic jump may be

used:
o To dissipate energy,
o To mix chemicals, or
o To act as an aeration
device.
Classification of Hydraulic Jump
 Classification of Hydraulic Jump

Type of hydraulic jump

Undular Weak Oscillating Steady Strong
Energy lost (%) < 5 5 – 15 15 – 45 45 - 70 70 -85
Classification of Hydraulic Jump
 Practical location of Hydraulic Jump

The most typical case for the location of hydraulic jump are:
➢ Jump below a sluice gate
➢ Jump at the toe of a spillway
➢ Jump at a glacis (i.e., the sloping floors provided in
Hydraulic structures.
The Momentum Equation for Hydraulic Jump
Assumptions:
o The 𝐿𝑗 is small, consequently, ℎ𝑓 = 0 𝑛𝑒𝑔𝑙𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑒𝑑
o The channel is has a very small longitudinal slope. The weight
component in the direction of flow is negligible. 𝑊𝑠𝑖𝑛 𝜃 = 0
o It is assumed just before & after the HJ, the flow is uniform &
pressure distribution is hydrostatic.
 The Momentum Equation for Hydraulic Jump
o The momentum of water passing through section per unit time is
given as:
𝑀𝑜𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑢𝑚 = 𝛾𝑄𝑣𝑔 = 𝜌𝑄𝑣 𝐹1 = 𝛾𝐴1 𝑦1
o The rate of change of 𝑀 in the direction 𝐹2 = 𝛾𝐴2 𝑦2
of flow between section 1 and 2:
Δ𝑀 = 𝜌𝑄(𝑣2 − 𝑣1 )
𝐹𝑅 = 𝛾𝐴1 𝑦1 - 𝛾𝐴2 𝑦2
o The net force in the direction of flow,
neglecting friction (𝑭𝒇 = 𝟎) and the
components of the weight of water in
the direction of flow
(𝑾 sin 𝜽 ≅ 0).
𝐹𝑅 = 𝐹1 − 𝐹2
The Momentum Equation for Hydraulic Jump
o Therefore, the impulse-momentum
𝑟
Δ𝑀 = 𝐹𝑅 ⟹ 𝛾𝐴1 𝑦1 − 𝛾𝐴2 𝑦2 = 𝜌𝑄 𝑣2 − 𝑣1 = 𝑄(𝑣2 − 𝑣1 )
𝑔
𝑄 Q
𝑣1 = and v2 = 𝑄1 = 𝑄2 = 𝑄 ⟹ 𝐶𝑜𝑛𝑡𝑖𝑛𝑢𝑖𝑡𝑦 𝑒𝑞𝑢𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛
𝐴1 A2
𝑟 𝑄 𝑄 Q2 Q2
𝛾𝐴1 𝑦1 − 𝛾𝐴2 𝑦2 = 𝑄 − ⟹ 𝐴1 𝑦1 − 𝐴2 𝑦2 = −
𝑔 𝐴2 𝐴1 gA2 gA1

Q2 Q2 This is the general equation

⟹ + 𝐴1 𝑦1 = + 𝐴2 𝑦2
gA1 gA2 governing the hydraulic jump

o This equation shows that the specific force (Specific Momentum)

before the jump is equal to Specific momentum after the jump.
 Hydraulic Jump Equation in Rectangular
𝐴1 = 𝑏𝑦1 𝐴2 = 𝑏𝑦2

y1 y2
𝑦1 = 𝑦2 =
2 2

1 Q2 𝑏𝑦1 𝑦1 Q2 𝑏𝑦2 𝑦2
+ = +
𝑏 𝑔𝑏𝑦1 2 𝑔𝑏𝑦2 2
Q q2 𝑦2 𝑦1 (𝑦2 + 𝑦1 )
q= =
b 𝑔 2
q2 𝑦12 q2 𝑏𝑦22
+ = + 2q 2
𝑔𝑦1 2 𝑔𝑦2 2 𝑦2 𝑦12 + 𝑦22 𝑦1 − =0
𝑔
q2 (𝑦2 −𝑦1 ) (𝑦2 − 𝑦1 )(𝑦2 + 𝑦1 )
=
𝑔 𝑦2 𝑦1 2
 The Momentum Equation for Hydraulic Jump
o This equation is a quadratic equation, the solution of which may be
written as:

𝑦1 𝑦1 2 2𝑞 2 𝑦2 𝑦2 2 2𝑞 2
𝑦2 = − + + 𝑦1 = − + +
2 2 𝑔𝑦1 2 2 𝑔𝑦2

𝑦2 1 8𝑞 2 𝑦1 1 8𝑞 2
=− 1+ 1+ 3 =− 1+ 1+ 3
𝑦1 2 𝑔𝑦1 𝑦2 2 𝑔𝑦2

o For rectangular channel, critical depth only depends on discharge

intensity:
3
𝑞2 𝑦2 1 𝑦𝑐
𝑦𝑐3 = =− 1+ 1+8
𝑔 𝑦1 2 𝑦1
The Momentum Equation for Hydraulic Jump
3
𝑦1 1 𝑦𝑐
=− 1+ 1+8
𝑦2 2 𝑦2

o These equations can also be written in terms of Froude’s number

as:
𝑦2 1 𝑦1 1
= − 1 + 1 + 8𝐹1 = − 1 + 1 + 8𝐹2
𝑦1 2 𝑦2 2
o Head Loss in a Hydraulic Jump of horizontal rectangular channel
𝐻𝐿 = Δ𝐸 = 𝐸1 − 𝐸2

𝑦2 − 𝑦1 3
𝐻𝐿 = 𝑃𝑜𝑤𝑒𝑟 = 𝛾𝑄𝐻𝐿
4𝑦1 𝑦2
Basic Characteristics of HJ in Rectangular Channel
3
o Energy loss (Head loss) 𝑦2 − 𝑦1
𝐻𝐿 = 𝐸1 − 𝐸2 =
4𝑦1 𝑦2
3
o Efficiency E2 8F12+ 1 − 4F1 + 1
2
=
E1 8F12 (2 + F12 )

o Relative loss ∆𝐸 𝐸2
=1−
𝐸1 𝐸1

o Height of the jump ℎ𝑗 = 𝑦2 − 𝑦1

o Length of the jump 𝐿𝑗 = 6.1ℎ𝑗

Basic Characteristics Curves of HJ in Rectangular Channel
Length of Jump in Rectangular Channel
Surface Profiles of Jump in Rectangular Channel
 Hydraulic Jumps as Energy Dissipator
o It is a useful means of dissipating excess energy in supercritical
flow.
o Its advantage is to prevent erosion.
o The HJ used for energy dissipation is usually confined partly or
entirely to a channel reach known as the stilling basin.
o In designing a stilling basin using hydraulic jump as energy
dissipator, the practical features to be considered are the
following:
1. Location of HJ
 Hydraulic Jumps as Energy Dissipator
2. Tail water condition