St Venant Equations

Reading: Sections 9.1 – 9.2

 Types of flow routing
• Lumped/hydrologic
– Flow is calculated as a function of time alone at a
particular location
– Governed by continuity equation and
flow/storage relationship
• Distributed/hydraulic
– Flow is calculated as a function of space and time
throughout the system
– Governed by continuity and momentum
equations

2
 Distributed Flow routing in channels
• Distributed Routing
• St. Venant equations
– Continuity equation
Q A
 0
x t
– Momentum Equation
1 Q 1   Q 2  y
    g  g ( So  S f )  0
A t A x  A  x

What are all these terms, and where are they coming from?
 Assumptions for St. Venant Equations

• Flow is one-dimensional
• Hydrostatic pressure prevails and vertical
accelerations are negligible
• Streamline curvature is small.
• Bottom slope of the channel is small.
• Manning’s equation is used to describe
resistance effects
• The fluid is incompressible
 Continuity Equation
Q = inflow to the control volume
q = lateral inflow

Q Rate of change of flow

x with distance
Q
Q dx Outflow from the C.V.
x

 ( Adx) Change in mass

t

Elevation View
Reynolds transport theorem

d
0 
dt c.v.
d   V .dA
c. s .

Plan View
 Continuity Equation (2)
Q A
 0 Conservation form
x t

 (Vy) y
 0
x t
Non-conservation form (velocity is dependent
variable)
y V y
V y  0
x x t
 Momentum Equation
• From Newton’s 2nd Law:
• Net force = time rate of change of momentum
d
 F  dt  Vd   VV .dA
c .v . c. s .

Sum of forces on
the C.V.

Momentum stored Momentum flow

within the C.V across the C. S.
 Forces acting on the C.V.
• Fg = Gravity force due to
weight of water in the C.V.
• Ff = friction force due to shear
stress along the bottom and
sides of the C.V.
• Fe = contraction/expansion
force due to abrupt changes
in the channel cross-section
• Fw = wind shear force due to
Elevation View frictional resistance of wind at
the water surface
• Fp = unbalanced pressure
forces due to hydrostatic
forces on the left and right
hand side of the C.V. and
pressure force exerted by
banks

Plan View
 Momentum Equation
d
 F  dt  Vd   VV .dA
c .v . c. s .

Sum of forces on
the C.V.

Momentum stored Momentum flow

within the C.V across the C. S.

1 Q 1   Q 2  y
 
 
  g  g ( So  S f )  0
A t A x  A  x
 Momentum Equation(2)
1 Q 1  Q 
 2
y
    g  g ( So  S f )  0
A t A x  A  x
Local Convective Pressure Gravity Friction
acceleration acceleration force force force
term term term term term

V V y
V  g  g (So  S f )  0
t x x
Kinematic Wave

Diffusion Wave

Dynamic Wave
 Momentum Equation (3)
1 V V V y
    So  S f
g t g x x
Steady, uniform flow

Steady, non-uniform flow

Unsteady, non-uniform flow