Hydraulic Engineering

HYDRAULICS -
CHAPTER 1 (INTRODUCTION)
TYPES AND CLASSIFICATION OF FLOW
Two types of flow of water in a conduit
• Closed conduit flow (Pipe flow) – It
does not have any free surface. If
there is free surface in water flow in
pipes, therefore it is classified as
open channel flow.
• Open channel flow – It has a free
surface.
Open channel flow

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Closed conduit flow (Pipe flow)

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 Classification of open channel flows
Classification based on time criteria

(a) Steady flow – is for flows with constant depth during

the time interval under considerate. The flow is continuous i.e.
discharge is continuous throughout the reach of the channel
under consideration. Therefore, the discharge at a channel
section, Q
Q1 = Q2 = Q3 (where the subscripts denotes different
Channel sections).
Note: Q = AV
Where : A = flow cross sectional area (m2)
V = mean velocity m/s
(b) Unsteady flow – is for flows with depth that changes with
time.
Examples are surges and flood flows.
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Q1 = Q2

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 Uniform flow are based on space
criteria
Uniform flow is flows with the same depth at
every section of the channel. Uniform flow can
be further classified into:
i) Steady uniform flow where the depth also
does not change (constants) during the time
interval.
ii) Unsteady uniform flow where the depth
changes during the time interval but at the same
time the water surface remains parallel to the
channel bottom.
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 VARIED FLOWS
Varied flow is for flows with the depth of flow that
changes along the length of the channel.
Varied flow can be further classified into :
i) Gradually varied flow (GVF) – where the depth
changes gradually over a comparatively long
distance.
ii) Rapidly varied flow (RVF) where the depth
changes abruptly over a comparatively short
distance.
iii) Spatially varied flow or discontinuous flow where
some flow is added to or abstracted from the flow
system. Example would be like flows at roadside
gutters and feeding channels in irrigation systems.
CLASSIFICATION OF OPEN CHANNEL FLOWS

Classification of Open Channel Flows

Steady flow Unsteady flow

Uniform flow Varied flow

Gradually varied
Rapid varied flow Flow
CLASSIFICATION OF OPEN CHANNEL
FLOWS

Steady flow/ Uniform flow/

unsteady flow varied flow
Steady Uniform flow
Steady Gradually varied flow
Steady Rapidly varied flow
Steady Spatially varied flow
Unsteady Gradually varied flow
Unsteady Rapidly varied flow
Unsteady Spatially varied flow
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classification

Classification

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 State of flow
The state is governed by:
a) The effect of viscosity
b) The effects of gravity
The effect of viscosity relative to inertia would cause
the flow to be in either one of the following states :
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 State of flow
i) Laminar flow :
Viscous forces are so strong relative to the inertial forces.
Water particles appear to move in streamlines
Reynolds number Re < 500
ii) Turbulent flow :
• Viscous forces are weak relative to the vL
Re =
inertial forces
• Water particles move in irregular paths but 
still represent the forward motion of the v = velocity
entire stream L = length
• Reynolds number , Re > 1000 v = kinematic
iii) Transitional flow viscosity
• The flow state between laminar and
turbulent flows 500 < Re < 1000
 State of flow
b) The effects of gravity
i) Subcritical flow :
• Gravity force is more pronounced
• The flow has a low velocity and often tranquil and streaming
• Froude Number , F <1
ii) Supercritical flow : 
• Inertial force is dominant
F=
gy
• The flow has high a velocity and often rapid, shooting
• and torrential
V = water Velocity
• Froude number , F >1 y = Hydraulic depth
iii) Critical flow : g = Gravity
• A state of flow between subcritical and supercritical flow
• Froude number, F = 1
Froude Number
 Regimes of Flow
The combined effects of viscosity and gravity would
result in either one of the following regimes of flow is
governed by:
1. Subcritical-laminar flow, F < 1 and Re < 500
2. Supercritical –laminar flow, F > 1 and Re < 500
3. Supercritical Turbulent flow, F > 1 and Re >1000
4. Subcritical –Turbulent flow, F <1 and Re >1000
Froude Number for Open Channel Flow
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picture

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figure 1

Hydraulic jump

Note that there is head loss in an hydraulic jump

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Hydraulic Jump

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jump
Hydraulic jump on Rattan Creek, TX. July 2, 2002

strong jump: Fr > 9.0, rough

wavy surface downstream
steady jump: 4.5<Fr < 9.0,
stable and well-balanced

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 TEXTBOOKS REFERENCES

• Lariyah, M.S. & Norazli, O., Hydraulic Notes,

UNITEN, 2006
• Roberson, J. A., Cassidy, J. J. & Chaudry, H.,
Hydraulic Engineering, 1st S.I. Ed., John
Wiley, 1998
• Chin, D., Water Resources Engineering,
Prentice Hall, 2006
Thank You
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