GRADUALLY VARIED

FLOW

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 Gradually Varied Flow
• Steady flow – no change with time
• Flow varies slowly along a channel
• Used to describe flow profiles upstream or
downstream of structures, obstructions etc.
• Bed slope and friction are important

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 Derivation of Equations

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 Assumptions
1. Streamlines have negligible curvature, i.e. no noticeable
convergence or divergence, and so the pressure distribution
remains hydrostatic;
2. Velocity is uniformly distributed over the channel cross
section;
3. The slope of the energy line may be found from uniform flow
formulae such as Manning, using the velocity and the
hydraulic mean depth which exist at the section under
consideration ( or the slope of the energy line at a particular
depth at a particular section, is the same as the slope of the
bed which would sustain uniform flow at that depth);
4. The slope of the channel is so small that any difference
between depths measured vertically and perpendicular to
the channel bed may be neglected.

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GRADUALLY VARIED FLOW
• A steady non uniform flow in a prismatic channel with
gradual changes in its water surface elevation is termed as
gradually varied flow(GVF).i.e. depth , velocity and
discharge at any instant change along length of the
channel.eg. Backwater produced by dam or weir, drawdown
created by sudden drop.

• In GVF velocity varies along the channel and consequently

bed slope, water surface slope and energy slope differ from
each other.

• If the change occur rapidly in a very short distance of

channel , then the flow is called rapidly varied floe(RVF).eg.
Hydraulic
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jump Mrs. Pradnya Dixit 5
Basic assumptions of GVF:
1.Resistance to flow at any section is given by corresponding
uniform flow equation such as Mannings formula with energy
slope used instead of bed slope.
1
V  R 2/3S1/2
n
V 2n 2
Sf 
R 4/3
2.Channel bed slope is small. Therefore y=d and pressure
distribution over the section is hydrostatic.

3.The channel is prismatic.

4.Velocity distribution is fixed.(     1 )

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Basic assumptions of GVF:
5. Conveyance K (Q  KS 1/ 2 ) & ( K  AR 2 / 3
f )
n

Section factor Z Q A3
(   Z)
g T

K 2  C2 y N
Z  C1 y
2 M

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Basic assumptions of GVF:
6. The pressure distribution is assumed to be hydrostatic .Gradual
changes in the surface curvature give rise to negligible normal
accelerations, therefore departure from the hydrostatic pressure
distribution is negligible.

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Gradually Varied Flow
• In GVF, y and V vary slowly,
and the free surface is stable
• In contrast to uniform flow, Sf 
S0. Now, flow depth reflects the
dynamic balance between
gravity, shear force, and inertial
effects
• To derive how the depth varies
with x, consider the total head

v2
H  zy  z  E (  1)
2g
 v2
H  zy  z  E (  1)
2g
• Take the derivative of H
dH dz dy d v 2 dz dy 1 d Q 2
      ( 2)
dx dx dx dx 2 g dx dx 2 g dx A
dz dy d Q 2 2 dz dy Q 2 dA dz dy Q 2 dA dy
   (A )    3    3
dx dx dx 2 g dx dx A g dx dx dx A g dy dx
dH dz dy Q 2T dy
   3
dx dx dx A g dx
dH
 energy slope.Tota l eneregy of the flow
dx
decreases in the direction of motion  - Sf

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dz
 bottom slope  -SO
dx
dy
 water surface slpoe relative to the bottom of the channel
dx
dy Q 2T dy
- Sf   S O  
dx gA3 dx
dy Q 2T
 S O - Sf  (1  3
)
dx gA
dy S O - Sf
 
dx Q 2T
(1  3
)
gA
Q 2T V2
   Fr 2

gA3 gD
dy S O - Sf
 07/13/21 
dx (1  Fr 2 ) Mrs. Pradnya Dixit 11
Classification of channel bed slopes
• In a channel if Q,n,So are fixed y n and y c are fixed. Relative
values ofy n and y c are used to classify the bed slopes.
• Three possibilities exist between y n and y c .

1) y n  y c
2) y n  y c
3) y n  y c
• Two cases where y n does not exist
• 1) hori.bed 2)adverse slope

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Surface Profiles
• Mild slope (yn>yc)
– in a long channel subcritical flow will occur

• Steep slope (yn<yc)

– in a long channel supercritical flow will occur

• Critical slope (yn=yc)

– in a long channel unstable flow will occur

• Horizontal slope (So=0)

– yn undefined

• Adverse slope (So<0)

– yn undefined
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Gradually Varied Flow
• This result is important.
It permits classification of
liquid surface profiles as
a function of Fr, S0, Sf,
and initial conditions.
• Bed slope S0 is classified
as
– Steep : yn < yc
– Critical : yn = yc
– Mild : yn > yc
– Horizontal : S0 = 0
– Adverse : S0 < 0
• Initial depth is given a
number
– 1 : y > yn
– 2 : y n < y < yc
– 3 : y < yc
Sr.no. Channel geometry symblo cha,. condition remark

1 Mild slope M y n  y c , s o  s c Subcritical flow

at normal
Fr  1 depth.
M1 M2M3
2 Steep slope S y c  y n , s o  s c Subcritical flow
at normal
Fr  1 depth.
S1 S2 S3
3 Critical slope C y c  y n , s o  s c Critical flow at
normal depth.
Fr  1 C1 C2

4 Horizontal bed H y n   , s o  0 Can not sustain

uniform flow.
H2 H3

5 Advrse slope A imaginary y n , Can not sustain

s o  0 or - ve uniform flow.
A2 A3
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 Surface Profiles
Normal depth Obstruction

Sluice gate Steep slope (S2)

Steep slope
Hydraulic Jump

dy So  S f
 S 0 - Sf 1 - Fr2 dy/dx
dx 1  Fr 2
4

+ + + yn 3

- + - yc 2

y
1

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-
Mrs. Pradnya Dixit
- + 0
0 1 2
21 3 4
E
 More Surface Profiles
dy So  S f
S0 - Sf 1 - Fr2 dy/dx 
4
dx 1  Fr 2
1 + + + 3

yc2

y
2 + - -
yn1
3 - - + 0
0 1 2 3 4
E

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Control sections
• Control section can be defined as a section where there is a
definite relationship between the discharge and the depth of flow.
• This section has large impact on the profiles in case of GVF.
• Any GVF profile will have at least one control section.
• Eg.---Sluice gate , drops in channel , the section where the sudden
changes in slope takes place, weirs either sharp crested or broad
crested, etc.
• Critical depth can also work as a control section especially when
the flow passes from subcritical to supercritical.
• In the reverse case, normally a jump is formed.
• Control sections are useful in computing flow in open channels.

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Control sections
• If the Fr< 1 , i.e. flow is subcritical –any disturbance can travel in
the upstream direction: while if Fr> 1 , i.e. flow is supercritical
then the disturbance travels in the downstream direction
• OR
• Subcritical flow is affected by a condition on downstream side
while supercritical flow is affected by upstream conditions.
• Thus – the subcritical flow is controlled by ‘ downstream control
section’: while supercritical flow is controlled by ‘ upstream
control section’.

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Types of control sections
• Natural: when a flow profile passes through a section
where depth automatically becomes critical i.e. yc, or yn
then it is Natural control section.

• Drops in channel bed.

• Artificial control sections: Artificial structure where

control depth is either known or can be determined.

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GVF profiles for composite channels:
• For any combination of slope , roughness and channel geometry…
1. Draw the bed profile of the channel system.
2. Compute yn for each reach & draw NDL throughout the entire
channel.
3. Compute yc for each reach & draw CDL throughout the entire
channel.
4. Locate all possible natural and artificial control sections. The flow
must pass through control depth at control section.
5. Starting from each control section with the control depth of flow
there, trace a continuous profile in each reach. The position of a
profile in each reach can be correctly located with CDL,NDL and
known ‘y’.
6. The ‘yc’ does not depend upon slope. i.e CDL is at constant height
above bed. Normal depth changes for each reach .As slope
increase
07/13/21 yn decreases. Mrs. Pradnya Dixit 38
Gradually varied flow computations:
• In many engg. Problems , however, it is necessary to know the
length up to which the effects of a particular profile are likely to
change the conditions of flow in the channel.
• Eg.. In case of M1 profile , when a dam is constructed across a
river , so as to know---
How far, u/s of a dam , the water levels are affected and to what
extent?
How much area is going to submerged , how many villages are
likely to be submerged and to what extent, how much crop, forests
etc. are likely to be lost due to construction of dam?
What is the effect of floods in thee river ? Etc.

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Gradually varied flow computations:
• Eg.. In the length of say H3 curve at the toe of the dam.
• length of H3 curve can give the idea at what section the jump is
likely to take the place, hoe much is the total length of apron
required to contain the jump on the apron.
• The flow profile after the jump may be useful in the
determination of height and length of the training walls or guide
walls.
• Thus in many practical Engg. Problems , it is very necessary to
compute the length of the profile.

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PROBLEMS:
• Water flows in a triangular channel of side slope 1H:1v and
longitudinal slope of 0.001. Determine whether the channel is mild
, steep or critical when a discharge of 0.2 m 3 / s flows through it.
Assume Manning’s n =0.015. For what range of depths will the
flow be on a type1,2or 3 curve?
• A wide rectangular channel has Manning’s n= 0.018.For a
3
discharge intensity of 1.5 m / s / m , identify the possible types of
GVF profiles produced in the following break in the grade of the
channel: (1)
S01  0.0004 and S02  0.016
•
• (2) S  0.015 and S  0.0003
01 02

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PROBLEMS:
• In a gradually varied flow in a rectangular channel of bottom
width 3.0m the discharge is 8 m 3 / s and the depth of the flow
changes from 1.4 m at section ‘M’ to 1.05 m at section ‘N’.
Calculate the average energy slope between these two sections.
n=0.018.
• A rectangular channel has a bed width =4.0m , bottom slope
=0.0004 and n=0.02.The normal depth of he flow in this channel is
2.0m. If the channel empties into a pool at the d/s end and the
pool elevation is 0.60 m higher than the canal bed elevation at the
d/s end , calculate the co-ordinates of the resulting GVF profile.

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GVF computation purpose:
1. Determination of slope of profile.
2. Determination of length of profile in order to find the distance
upto which GVF extends in a channel.
3. Determination of effect of hydraulic structure on the channels.
4. Induation of lands due to a dam or weir construction
5. Estimation of flood zone
6. To calculate the hydraulic jump and to estimate length of apron
required to contain the jump.

Dupit (1948), Bakhmeteff (1932),Chow V.T (1955), solved a few

dynamic equations.

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Gradually varied flow computations:
• To compute the length and other requirements,
• The GVF equation has to be integrated. Various methods of
integration fall under following categories.( differential equations
of GVF can not expressed explicitly in terms of ‘y’ for all types of
channels sections. Hence a direct integration is very difficult and
is possible only at certain restricted conditions. The equation is
dynamic equation of first order which is basically non linear
differential equation. )

1. Step by step method or Direct step method.

2. Graphical integration.
3. Direct integration.
4. Standard step method.
5. Numerical
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methods. Mrs. Pradnya Dixit 44
Direct Step:
• Limitation: channel must be _________
prismatic (so that velocity
is a function of depth only and not a function of x)
• Method
– identify type of profile (determines whether dy is + or -)
– choose dy and thus yn+1
– calculate hydraulic radius and velocity at yn and yn+1
– calculate friction slope yn and yn+1
– calculate average friction slope
– calculate dx.

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PROCEDURE
• Data Q,cnannel shape, So,n or C an depth at one end of the reach
(control section)
• To find x
1. from y compute A,P,R. 2 2
nv
2. Compute velocity head and E also S f 1 
4/3
R
3. Assume new depth at another section .repeat steps 1 and 2.

S f1  S f 2
4.
Sf  , S0  Sf
2
ΔE  E 2  E1 ,

5. Compute x and repeat the procedure from 1 to 4 till the

required
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Direct Step Method:

1  2
Fr mean

•
x  y
Start at known level
S o 1    Ko
K
2

mean

• Accuracy depends on size of step Δy

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Direct Step Method:

=y*b+y^2*z
V12 V22
=2*y*(1+z^2)^0.5 +b y1  y2  
2g 2g
=A/P x 
S f  So
=Q/A
=(n*V)^2/Rh^(4/3)
=y+(V^2)/(2*g)
=(G16-G15)/((F15+F16)/2-So)
A B C D E F G H I J K L M
y A P Rh V Sf E Dx x T Fr bottom surface
0.900 1.799 4.223 0.426 0.139 0.00004 0.901 0 3.799 0.065 0.000 0.900
0.870 1.687 4.089 0.412 0.148 0.00005 0.871 0.498 0.5 3.679 0.070 0.030 0.900
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Direct Step Method:

V12 V22
y1   S o x  y2   S f x energy equation
2g 2g

V12 V22
y1  y2  
2g 2g
x  solve for x
S f  So
rectangular channel prismatic channel
q q Q Q
V1  V2  V2  V1 
y1 y2 A2 A1
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 Direct Step Example
• A trapezoidal channel has a bed width of 7m, bed
slope = 0.0247, side slopes 1:2 (vert.:horiz.),
Manning's n=0.03 and carries a flow of 12
cumecs. The water depth behind an underflow
sluice placed across the channel is 1.2m. Find the
maximum distance upstream from the sluice
where irrigation water can be drawn off if this
requires at least 0.8m water depth in the channel.

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 Direct Step Example
• A trapezoidal channel has a bed width B= 5.0 m, SO= 0.0004 ,
side slope 2 H : 1V and n= 0.02. The normal depth of flow yo=
3.0 m If the channel empties in a pool at the downstream end
and the pool elevation is 1.25 m higer than the canal bed
elevation at the downstream end , calculate and plot the
resulting GVF profile. Assume α=1.0.
• (a)calculate the GVF profile from the section having critical
depth up to a section having a depth of 2.96 m by direct step
method.
• (b) Further calculate the distance between two sections having
depths of 2.30 m and 2.80m respectively.

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 Standard Step
• Given a depth at one location, determine the depth at a
second location
• Step size (x) must be small enough so that changes in
water depth aren’t very large. Otherwise estimates of the
friction slope and the velocity head are inaccurate
• Can solve in upstream or downstream direction
– upstream for subcritical
– downstream for supercritical
• Find a depth that satisfies the energy equation
V12 V22
y1   S o x  y2   S f x
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2g 2g
 Standard Step Method
  K0 2 
E  x S 0 1      x  S 0  S f  mean
  K  
  mean
• Again, start from known depth
• Compute y at defined intervals x
• Iterative solution, as both E and Sf are
unknown at x + x

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 Standard Step Example
• Repeat previous example

• Use a spreadsheet solution

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 Standard Step Complexities
• Can deal with natural channels – A, P etc can
vary between each station

• Can deal with flood plains – though have to

check with each iteration if you are in the
flood plain or the main channel only

• Often implemented in commercial software

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