BFC21103 HYDRAULICS

ASSIGNMENT #3

Q1. A rectangular channel 3.05 m wide carries 3.4 m3/s uniform flow of water at a depth of
0.6 m. Suppose that an obstruction such as a weir is placed across the channel with the
height of 0.2 m above the bottom.

(a) Does this weir cause a hydraulic jump upstream of the weir? Why or why not?
(4 marks)

(b) Calculate the flow depth above the weir, and just upstream of the weir. Classify
the surface profile occur upstream of the weir. Sketch the resulting water-surface
profile and energy line, showing the critical depth yc and normal depth yo.
(12 marks)

Q2. (a) An engineer is desired to analyze flow in an open channel in which the channel is
designed to be constricted caused by placing bridge embankment at both sides of
the channel. Explain the consequences due to the constriction.
(4 marks)

(b) Water is flowing uniformly with flow rate 18.6 m3/s and water depth 1.2 m in a
rectangular open channel of width 8 m. A temporary short span bridge is
proposed to be constructed across the channel in which bridge embankment is
needed at both sides of the channel causing the channel to be constricted under
the proposed bridge.

(i) Calculate the maximum channel width under the proposed bridge that
will not cause backwater upstream.
(5 marks)

(ii) If the channel width under the proposed bridge is 4 m due to the
unavoidable problem condition, calculate the expected flow depth under
the bridge, at just upstream and at just downstream of the bridge.
(6 marks)

(iii) If the water depth just upstream of the proposed bridge is limited to be
0.2 m higher than the normal depth, calculate the channel width under
the bridge.
(5 marks)

1
Solutions:

Q1. (a) Given B = 3.05 m, Q = 3.4 m3/s, yo = 0.6 m, H = 0.2 m

3.4
q= = 1.115 m3/s/m
3.05
1 1
 q 2  3  1.115 2  3
For a rectangular section, y c =   =


 9.81  = 0.5023 m (2)
 g   
Since yo = 0.6 m > yc = 0.5023 m → subcritical flow upstream.
Since initial upstream flow is in subcritical state, hydraulic jump will not occur
upstream of weir. (2)

3 3
(b) E min = y c = × 0.5023 = 0.7535 m (1)
2 2
2
q 1.115 2
E 1 = y1 + = 0.6 + = 0.7760 m (1)
2 gy12 2 × 9.81 × 0.6 2
H min = E 1 − E min = 0.7760 − 0.7535 = 0.0225 m (1)

For weir with H = 0.2 m > Hmin = 0.0225 m --> Case 3.

The flow above the weir will be critical y2 = yc = 0.5023 m (1)
y

y1′

y1 subcritical
y > yc

yc
Supercritical y < yc
E
Emin E1 E1′
Hmin
E 1′ = E min + 0.2
H = 0.2 m
The increased specific energy
E 1′ = E min + 0.2
E 1′ = 0.7535 + 0.2
E 1′ = 0.9535 m (2)
2
q
Thus, E 1′ = y1′ +
2 gy1′ 2
1.115 2
0.9535 = y1′ +
2 × 9.81 × y1′ 2
0.06337
0.9535 = y1′ +
y1′ 2
y1′ = 0.8697 m and y3' = 0.3150 m (2)

2
 E 1′ = 0.9535 m
E 1 = 0.7760 m
E min = 0.7535 m

y1′ = 0.8697 m
yo = 0.6 m y c = 0.5023 m

y c = 0.5023 m H = 0.2 m

(4)

Q
Q2. (a) At the constriction, the flow depth and the flow width will change. Since q = , at
B
the constricted location, B2 < B1, q2 > q1. Since q2 ≠ q1, there will be 2 energy curve
E-y which represent each q1 and q2.

Bmax is the maximum constricted width to start causing critical flow yc. If the
width is being further constricted B < Bmax, the flow at the constriction is not
constant as in the hump case but increases as y1′ and hence E 1′ rises.

If the upstream flow is in subcritical state, i.e. yo > yc, the flow depth y2 at the
constriction will drop, i.e. y2 < yo.

(2)

If the upstream flow is in super-critical state, i.e. yo < yc, the flow depth y2 at the
constriction will increase y2 > yo.

3
 (2)

18.6
(b) (i) qo = = 2.325 m3/s/m
8
1 1
 q o2  3  2.325  3
y co =   =
  9.81  = 0.8198 m
 g   
yo = 1.2 m > y co = 0.8198 m → subcritical upstream flow (1)
q2 2.325 2
Specific energy E o = y o + = 1.2 + = 1.391 m (1)
2 gy o2 2 × 9.81 × 1.2 2
y

y1

yc2
Emin 2 qmax at Bmax
yco
qo at Bo = 8 m
E
Emin o E1

At Bmax or qmax, Emin = Eo

2 2 2
Thus, y c 2 = E min = E o = × 1.391 = 0.9273 m (1)
3 3 3
Also, q max = gy c32 = 9.81 × 0.9273 3 = 2.797 m3/s/m (1)

4
 Q 18.6
B max = = = 6.650 m (1)
q max 2.797

(ii) If B = 4 m < Bmax = 6.6477 m, q2 will be larger than qmax. Flow will not be
possible. The upstream depth will have to increase to y1′ so that E 1′ is
sufficient to cause critical flow at section 2.
18.6
If B = 4 m, q2 = = 4.65 m3/s/m
4
1 1
 q 2  3  4.65 2  3
y c 2 =  2  =   = 1.301 m
 (1)
 g   9.81 
3 3
and E min 2 = y c 2 = × 1.301 = 1.952 m (1)
2 2
y

y′1

y1 q2 at B2 = 4 m

yc2
Emin 2 qmax at Bmax
yco
y′3 qo at Bo = 8 m
E
Emin o E1 E′1,3 =Emin 2

Since B2 < Bmax, E 1′,3 = Emin 2

q o2
′ = y1′,3 +
E 1,3 (2)
2 gy1′,23
2.325 2
1.952 = y1′,3 +
2 × 9.81 × y1′,23
0.2755
1.952 = y1′,3 +
y1′,23
y1′,3 = 1.874 m or 0.4247 m
Therefore, y1′ = 1.8736 m and y 3′ = 0.4247 m (2)

(iii) If y1′ = 1.2 + 0.2 = 1.4 m

q o2 2.325 2
Then, E 1′ = y1′ + = 1.4 + = 1.541 m (1)
2 gy1′ 2 2 × 9.81 × 1.4 2

2 2
With Emin 2 = E 1′ , y c2 = E min 2 = × 1.541 = 1.027 m (2)
3 3
Thus, q 2 = gy c32 = 9.81 × 1.027 3 = 3.260 m3/s/m
Q 18.6
Giving B2 = = = 5.706 m (2)
q 2 3.26