CC501- HYDRAULICS 2

CHAPTER 4
NON-UNIFORM FLOW
IN OPEN CHANNEL

LEARNING OUTCOME
CLO1:
Explain clearly the principles and concept of
hydraulics forces.
CLO2:
Determine hydraulics forces and flow in open
channel as well as pump operation by using
appropriate solutions.

INTRODUCTION
Understand the concept of
non-uniform flow in open
channel
-Define non-uniform flow.
-Define specific energy.

*DEFINITION
1. UNIFORM FLOW
Where the flow rate of the flow, velocity,
depth, flow cross sectional area and the slope
of the base channel is the same between a
section with other sections
2. OPEN CHANNEL
A channel that is exposed to the atmosphere
and not fully met by the solid boundary
(ex: drainage, river, trench, canal, forming)

*Open-channel

flow occurs when a

liquid flows due to gravity. Usually the
flowing liquid has a free surface, as in
a channel, flume or partially full pipe.
The liquid is not under pressure, other
than atmospheric pressure. Many
formulae have been developed to
estimate the flow rate in openchannels, the Manning formula has
become widely accepted as the usual
method of estimating flow rate.

*SPECIFIC ENERGY (E)

*The definition of specific energy at any cross-section in an

open channel is the sum of the kinetic energy per unit

weight of the flowing liquid and the potential energy
relative to the bottom of the channel.
*Thus an expression for specific energy is as follow:
- (1)
*E = y + V2/2g
*Where: E is the specific energy in unit m (meter)
- y is the depth of flow above the bottom of the channel in
unit m (meter)
- V is the average liquid velocity (= Q/A) in m/sec
- g is the acceleration due to gravity = 9.81m/s2

*Others expression for specific energy is as follow:

2
E
=
y
+
V
/2g
*

- (1)

- y
- is the STATIC ENERGY
- V2/2g - is the KINETIC ENERGY
Another form of the equation with Q/A in place of V is:

E = y + Q2/2A2g

-(2)
The way that specific energy varies with depth of flow in
an open channel can be illustrated by considering a
rectangular open channel with bottom width b.
For such a channel, A = yb, where b is the channel width.
Substituting for A in equation (2), gives:

E = y + Q2/(2 y2b2g)

-(3)

*The parameter q, the flow rate per unit width of

channel, is often used for a

*rectangular channel. The relationship between q

and Q is thus: q = Q/b

*or Q = qb. Substituting for Q in equation (3) gives:

E = y + q2/(2 y2g)

- (4)

Example 1:
A rectangular open channel with bottom width = 2m, is
carrying a flow rate of 5m3/s, with depth of flow = 1.5m.
A cross-section of the channel is shown in the figure below.
Calculate the Specific Energy for this open channel.
Solution:

E = y + V2/2g
Where, V = Q/A
= 5/(2x1.5)
= 1.67m/s
=> E = 1.5 + 1.672/2(9.81)
.: E = 1.642m

*Example 2:
A trapezoidal channel has a width of 6m
and 1:1 side slopes drain water at 8 m3/s.
Determine the energy of water, if the
water depth is 2m.
1:1
2m
6m

* Answer :

E = 2.013m

*Example 3:
Water flows in a rectangular channel
with a width of 5m flow rate 8 m3/s at
a depth of 1.0m. Calculate the value of
the specific energy.
1.0m

*Answer : E = 1.13m
5m

*SPECIFIC ENERGY GRAPH

2) y Vs Ek

1) y Vs Es

3) y Vs E

Es, Ek & E

*TYPES OF NON-UNIFORM FLOW

Three Types of Flow
1. Subcritical Flow
2. Supercritical Flow
3. Critical Flow

SUPERCRITICAL FLOW
*Any open channel flow having
depth of flow less than critical
depth ( y < yc ) will be
represented by a point on the
lower leg of the graph above.

*SUBCRITICAL FLOW
*Any open channel flow having depth of

flow greater than critical depth ( y > yc )

will be represented by a point on the
upper leg of the graph above

*CRITICAL FLOW
*The flow condition with y = yc

*CRITICAL DEPTH FLOW (yc)

The parameter, specific energy, can be
used to help clarify the meaning of
supercritical, subcritical, and critical flow
in an open channel.
The symbol yc is commonly used for critical
depth and will be so used in this course.
Through a little application of calculus, an
equation for the critical depth, yc, can be
derived.

The derivative of E with respect to y, dE/dy, must be

determined from equation (1), set equal to zero and
solved for y. This will give an expression for y that
gives either a minimum or maximum value for E. From
inspection of the graph of E vs y in Figure 1, we can
see that it must be a minimum value for E and that
the value of y at that minimum is the critical depth,
yc. This procedure
yields the following equation for yc:

yc = (q /g)
2

1/3

*Critical Velocity, Vc
Vc = (yc x g)1/2

*Minima Specific Energy, Emin

Emin = 1.5 yc

*Critical Slope, Sc
Sc = (qn / yc5/3)2

Example 4 :
A 6m wide channel drain water 20 m3/s,
determine the depth of the water when the
specific energy would be minimal.

Answer : yc = 1.042m

Example 5:
Water flows to the flow rate 5.42 m3/s
in the rectangular channel width is
4.0m and Manning, n = 0.012.
Calculate;
i.

Critical depth. (yc = 0.572m)

ii. The critical velocity.(vc = 2.369m/s)
iii. Critical slope.(Sc = 0.0017) @ 1:588
iv. Minimum specific energy. (Emin=0.858m)

*FROUDE NUMBER (Fr)

*Fr

= V/(y x g)1/2

*Fr > 1
*Fr < 1
*Fr = 1

=> Supercritical Flow

=> Subcritical Flow
=> Critical Flow

THAT ALL