Hydraulics Engineering
Lec #1 : Specific Energy and Critical Depth
Prof. Dr. Abdul Sattar Shakir
Department of Civil Engineering
Books
Fluid Mechanics with Engineering applications
By:Roberts L. Duagherty, Joseph B. Franzini, E.
John Finnemore
Open Channel Flow
By: Ven te Chow
Civil Engineering Hydraulics
By: R.E. Featherstone & C. Nalluri
Steady Flow in Open Channels
Specific Energy and Critical Depth
Surface Profiles and Backwater Curves in
Channels of Uniform sections
Hydraulics jump and its practical applications.
Flow over Humps and through Constrictions
Broad Crested Weirs and Venturi Flumes
Specific Energy and Critical Depth
Basic Definitions
Head
Energy per unit weight
Energy Line
Line joining the total head at different positions.
Hydraulics Grade Line
Line joining the pressure head at different
positions.
Specific Energy and Critical Depth
Basic Definitions
Open Channel Flow
V12 EL
2g
HGL V22
2g
y1 Water Level
y2
Z1 So
Z2
Datum
V12 V22
Z1 y1 Z 2 y2 hl
2g 2g
Specific Energy and Critical Depth
Basic Definitions
Slopes in Open Channel Flow
V12 EL
2g S
HGL V22
Sw 2g
y1 Water
y2 Level
Z1 So
ΔL Z2 Datum
Δx
So= Slope of Channel Bed = (Z1-Z2)/(Δx)= -ΔZ/Δx
Sw= Slope of Water Surface= [(Z1+y1)-(Z2+y2)]/Δx
S= Slope of Energy Line= [(Z1+y1+V12/2g)-(Z2+y2+V22/2g)]/Δx
= hl/ΔL
Specific Energy and Critical Depth
Basic Definitions
Slopes in Open Channel Flow
V12 EL
2g S
V22
HGL
y1 Sw 2g
Water
y2 Level
Z1 So
ΔL Z2
Datum
For Uniform Flow Δx
y1=y2 and V12/2g=V22/2g
Hence the line indicating the bed of the channel, water surface profile and
energy line are parallel to each other.
For θ being very small (say less than 5 degree) i.e Δx=ΔL
So=Sw=S
Specific Energy and Critical Depth
Basic Definitions
Froude’s Number (FN)
It is the ratio of inertial forces William Froude (1810-79)
to gravitational forces. Born in England and engaged
For a rectangular channel it in shipbuilding. In his sixties
may be written as started the study of ship
resistance, building a boat
FN V
gy
testing pool (approximately
75 m long) near his home.
After his death, this study
was continued by his son,
FN= 1 Critical Flow Robert Edmund Froude
> 1 Super-Critical Flow (1846-1924). For similarity
< 1 Sub-Critical Flow under conditions of inertial
and gravitational forces, the
non-dimensional number
used carries his name.
Specific Energy and Critical Depth
(Rectangular Channels)
Specific Energy
Specific Energy at a section in an open channel is the
energy with reference to the bed of the channel.
Mathematically;
Specific Energy = E = y+V2/2g
y
For a rectangular Channel B
E y V2 g2
E y q2
2 g y2
where q Q / B, q yb
q= Discharge per unit width m3/sec per m
Specific Energy and Critical Depth
As it is clear from E~y diagram
E~y Diagram or E-Diagram drawn for constant discharge
for any given value of E, there
Static Head would be two possible depths,
Line
say y1 and y2. These two
depths are called Alternate
depths.
However for point C
corresponding to minimum
specific energy Emin, there
would be only one possible
depth yc. The depth yc is know
as critical depth.
The critical Depth may be
defined as depth
corresponding to minimum
specific energy discharge
remaining Constant.
Specific Energy and Critical Depth
For y>yc , V<Vc Deep Channel
Sub-Critical Flow, Tranquil Flow, Slow Flow.
For y<yc , V>Vc Shallow Channel
Super-Critical Flow, Shooting Flow, Rapid Flow and
Fast Flow.
Specific Energy and Critical Depth
Relationship Between Critical Depth and Specific Energy
E y q2
2 gy2
(1)
Substituting Vc yc
dE
dy 1 2q 2
2 gy3 in eq. (1)
2g 2
dE
dy 1 q2
gy3 0
Emin Ec yc yc
y 3 ( qg2 ) 2
Ec 32 yc (5)
yc
q2
g
1/ 3
( 2)
yc
Vc yc 1 / 3
g q Vc yc
Vc 2
2g yc
2 (3)
Vc
gy c
1 ( 4)
Specific Energy and Critical Depth
Since the equation (1) Discharge~Depth Diagram
can be written as
q y 2 g ( E y) y
Sub-critical flow
y2
yc
Therefore, Critical Depth
may also be defined as y1
the depth corresponding Super-critical flow
to maximum discharge
specific energy remaining
constant. q1 qmax
Specific Energy and Critical Depth
Relationship Between Critical Depth and Specific Energy
dq
dy
y
2 g 2 ( E y ) ( E y)
dq
0 for qmax
dy
y
2 (E y)
( E y) 0
3 2
E yc or yc E
2 3
Problem 11.38
Water is released from a sluice gate in a rectangular channel 1.5m
wide such that depth is 0.6 m and velocity is 4.5 m/sec. Find
(a). Critical Depth for this specific energy
(b). Critical Depth for this rate of Discharge
(c). The type of flow and alternate depth by either direct solution or
the discharge Curve.
Solution
B=1.5 m
y=0.6 m
V= 4.5 m/sec
(a)
V2
Specific Energy y 1.632m
2g
2
yc E 1.088m
3
Problem 11.38
(b) Q AV ByV 4.05m 3 / sec
V
FN 1.855 1
q vy 2.7m / sec per m gy
1/ 3
q
2
Flow is Super Critical
yc 0.906m y
g
Therefore Flow is Super Critical
(c)
Q AV ByV 4.05m 3 / sec
q2 y 3 1.632 y 2 0.37156 0
E y
2 gy 2 y 0.6m
2.7 2 y 1.46m
1.632 y
2(9.81) y 2
Specific Energy and Critical Depth
(Non Rectangular Channels)
Hydraulic Depth
T
T
dy
dy
A y
A yh
The hydraulic depth, yh for non rectangular channel is the depth of a
rectangular channel having flow area and base width the same as
the flow area and top width respectively as for non rectangular
channel.
Specific Energy and Critical Depth
Relationship Between Critical Depth and Specific Energy
Froude’s number may be
numerically calculate as
V
FN Since dA Tdy
gyh
dE Q2
Q 2
A 1 3 T
FN2 2 A yh dy gA
A gT T
dE
for Critical flow 0
Q 2T dy
FN
gA3 Therefore
Q2 A3 Q 2
Eq.(1) E y
2 gA2 T g y yc
dE Q 2 dA
1 3
dy gA dy
Problems11.45
A Trapezoidal canal with side slopes 1:2 has a bottom
width of 3 m and carries a flow of 20 m3/sec.
a). Find the Critical Depth and Critical velocity.
b). If the canal is lined with Brick (n=0.015), find the critical slope
for the same rate of discharge.
Solution
Q=20 m3/sec T
x= 2
1
A= (B+xy)y B=3m x
P= B+2y(1+x2)1/2
T= B+2xy
Problem 11.45
Solution (a)
Q2/g = A3/T
Q2/g y A T A3/T
40.775 1 5 7 17.85
2 14 11 249.45
1.2 6.48 7.8 34.88
1.25 6.883 8.004 40.74
1.2512 6.885 8.0048 40.77
(b)
3/ 2
A A
Q S 1/ 2
n P
S c 0.224433
Assignment
Problems: 11.37, 11.39, 11.40, 11.43,
Problems: 11.44, 11.46, 11.47
Submission Date:
