HYDRAULICS

Uniform Flow

Depertment of Civil Engineering

Faculty of Engineering
Tadulako University
 Flow Formulas in Open Channels
Many empirical formulas are used to describe the flow in open
channels
1.The Chezy Formula(1769)
The Chezy formula is probably the first formula derived for
uniform flow. It may be expressed in the following form

V C Rh S
C is the Chezy coefficient (Chezy’s resistance factor), m1/2/s, a dimensional
factor which characterizes the resistance to flow .

wetted A
Rh  hydraulic Radius 
wetted P
S  bed slope
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 Flow Formulas in Open Channels

2. The Manning Formula: (1895)

where n = Manning’s coefficient for the channel roughness,

m-1/3/s.
Substituting manning Eq. into Chezy Eq, we obtain the
Manning’s formula for uniform flow:
wetted A
Rh  hydraulic Radius 
1 2 / 3 1/ 2 wetted P
V  Rh S S  bed slope
n
n  Manning Coefficient
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Flow Formulas in Open Channels

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 Flow Formulas in Open Channels

3. The Strickler Formula:

where kstr = Strickler coefficient, m1/3/s Comparing

Manning formula and Strickler formulas, we can see that

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 Flow Formulas in Open Channels
Example 1
open channel of width = 3m as shown, bed slope = 1:5000,
d=1.5m find the flow rate using Manning equation, n=0.025.
1 2
V  Rh 3 S
n

1.5m
A  0.5   3  9 1.5  9 m 2 1
2
P  2  3  1.5   3  9.708
2 2
3.0m
A 9
Rh    0.927
P 9.708
2
1
V  0.927 3 1  0.538 m/s
0.025 5000
Q  VA  0.538  9  4.84 m 3 / s

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 Flow Formulas in Open Channels
Example 2
open channel as shown, bed slope = 69:1584, find the flow rate
using Chezy equation, C=35.

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 Flow Formulas in Open Channels
Example 2 cont.

V  C Rh S
2.52  5.04 0.72  2.52
A  2.52  16.8   3.6  0.72  150  162.52 m 2
2 2
P  0.72  150  1.8 2
 3.6 2   16.8   2.52 2
 5.04 2   177.18 m
A 162.52
Rh    0.917
P 177.18
0.69
V  35 0.917   0.7 m/s
1584
Q  VA  0.7  162.52  113 .84 m 3 / s
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 Most Economical Section of Channels
During the design stages of an open channel, the
channel cross-section, roughness and bottom slope
are given.

The objective is to determine the flow velocity, depth

and flow rate, given any one of them. The design of
channels involves selecting the channel shape and
bed slope to convey a given flow rate with a given
flow depth. For a given discharge, slope and
roughness, the designer aims to minimize the
cross-sectional area A in order to reduce
construction costs

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 Most Economical Section of Channels
A section of a channel is said to be most economical
when the cost of construction of the channel is
minimum.
But the cost of construction of a channel depends on
excavation and the lining. To keep the cost down or
minimum, the wetted perimeter, for a given discharge,
should be minimum.
This condition is utilized for determining the
dimensions of economical sections of different forms of
channels. 10
 Most Economical Section of Channels

Most economical section is also called the best

section or most efficient section as the discharge,
passing through a most economical section of channel
for a given cross sectional area A, slope of the bed S0
and a resistance coefficient, is maximum.

Hence the discharge Q will be maximum when the wetted

perimeter P is minimum.
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 Most Economical Section of Channels

The most ‘efficient’ cross-sectional shape is determined

for uniform flow conditions. Considering a given
discharge Q, the velocity V is maximum for the
minimum cross-section A. According to the Manning
equation the hydraulic diameter is then maximum.

It can be shown that:

1. the wetted perimeter is also minimum,
2. the semi-circle section (semi-circle having its
centre in the surface) is the best hydraulic section

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 Most Economical Section of Channels

Most Economical Rectangular Channel

Because the hydraulic radius is equal to the water cross
section area divided by the wetted parameter, Channel
section with the least wetted parameter is the best
hydraulic section
Rectangular section

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 Most Economical Section of Channels
Most Economical Rectangular Channel
A  BD P  2D  B
A
P2D 
D
dP
0
dD
dP  A  A BD B
2 2 0 2 2  2 2 
dD D  D D D

B
D
2
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 Most Economical Section of Channels
Most Economical Trapezoidal Channel
A
A(BnD )D or B  nD
D
P  B 2 D 1n 2
A
P (  nD )  2 D 1n 2
D
dP
0 dP A
dD   2  n 2 1n 2  0 2 1n 2  A n
dD D D2
(B nD)D B2nD
2 1n 2
2
n
D D
B2nD
D 1n 2

2
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 Most Economical Section of Channels
Other criteria for economic Trapezoidal section

OFD k

The best side slope for Trapezoidal section

dP
0
dk

1
k    60
3 16
 Most Economical Section of Channels
Most Economical Circular Channel
Circular section d 2 d 2
A  sin 2
4 8
P  2 r   d

Maximum Flow using Manning Maximum Velocity using Manning or Chezy

 154   D  0.95 d  128 .75  D  0.81d
Maximum Flow using Chezy

 151  D  0.94 d
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Most Economical Section of Channels

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 Most Economical Section of Channels
Example 4
Circular open channel as shown d=1.68m, bed slope = 1:5000, find the
Max. flow rate & the Max. velocity using Chezy equation, C=70.
Max. flow rate  154 
V  C Rh S
d2 d2 1.68 2  1.68 2
A  sin 2   154   sin  2  154  2.17 m 2
4 8 4 180 8

P   d  154   1.68  4.5 m
180
A 2.17
Rh    0.485m
P 4.5
1
V  70 0.485   0.69 m/s
5000
Q  VA  0.69  2.17  1.496 m 3 / s

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 Most Economical Section of Channels
Example 4 cont.
Max. Velocity  128 .75

V  C Rh S
d2 d2 1.68 2  1.68 2
A  sin 2   128.75   sin  2  128.75  1.93 m 2
4 8 4 180 8

P   d  128.75   1.68  3.378 m
180
A 1.93
Rh    0.57m
P 3.3775
1
V  70 0.57   0.748 m/s
5000

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 Most Economical Section of Channels
Example 5
Trapezoidal open channel as shown Q=10m3/s, velocity =1.5m/s,
for most economic section. find wetted parameter, and the bed
slope n=0.014.
B  2kD
D 1 k 2 
2
2B  2 3 D
D 1 3  2
2 2
0.6055D  B
Q 10
A   6.667m 2
V 1.5
A   B  kD  D
3
A  (0.6055D  D)  D  6.667
2
D  1.78m 21
 Most Economical Section of Channels
Example 5 P  B  2D 1  k 2

cont. P  0.6055D  2 D 1  k 2
2
3
P  0.6055(1.78)  2 1.78  1     7.49m
To calculate bed Slope 2
1 2
V  Rh 3 S
n
A  6.667 m 2
P  7.49 m
A 6.667
Rh    0.89
P 7.49
2
1
V  0.89 3 S  1.5
0.014
S  1 : 1941.6
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 Most Economical Section of Channels
Example 6:
Use the proper numerical method to calculate uniform water
depth flowing in a Trapezoidal open channel with B = 10 m, as
shown Q=10m3/s if the bed slope 0.0016, n=0.014. k = 3/2. to a
precision 0.01 m, and with iterations not more than 15.
Note: you may find out two roots to the equation.
1 2 / 3 1/ 2
V  Rh S
n
B   B  2 nD 
AD
2
P B2  nD  2  D 2
A
Rh 
P
From Manning
2/3
Q 1  A
 S 1/ 2
A n  P  23
 Most Economical Section of Channels
Example 6 cont.
D  2.28m

3
A  10 2.28  (2.28) 2  30.7 m 2
2

Q 10
V   0.326m / s
A 30.7

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Variation of flow and velocity with depth in circular pipes

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