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 Types of
Channel Bed
Slopes
 Lecture No:

Normal slope:
◉ In the chapter of uniform flow ( studied in the subject of Fluid
Mechanics) the depth of flow remains constant with the length of the
channel. Such flows occur only in the long and prismatic channels
(i.e. channels cross section and bottom slope do not change with the
distance or length of channel).
◉ However, in real-life projects, channel cross-sections and bottom
slopes are not constant with the length of channel or distance in a real
channels.
 Lecture No:

Normal slope:
◉ These cross-section and slopes of channels are varied in construction
in the real conditions to suit the existing topographical conditions for
economic reasons.
◉ These changes in the geometric of channels produce the different
types of flow always changing from one type of flow to the other i.e.
Uniform flow, non-uniform flow, subcritical flow and super-critical
flow etc.
 Lecture No:

Normal slope:

◉ For given discharge Q and manning’s roughness coefficient n, the slope which would
support the steady and uniform flow if occurs such a slope is termed as Normal slope
denoted as “Sn”.
◉ And the corresponding depth is named as normal depth Yn.

◉ one can determine the slope of a prismatic channel for uniform flow with specified normal
depth yn.
 Lecture No:

Critical slope:

◉ Critical slope is defined as the slope at which the critical flow in the
channel occurs which sustains the given discharge and uniform flow.
◉ The corresponding depth at which critical slope occurs is knows as a
critical depth.
◉ For a given discharge, the depth of critical flow in a channel depends
on the geometric elements A and T of the channel section.
 Lecture No:

Normal and critical slopes.

◉ By varying the slope of a given prismatic channel to a certain value,
it is possible to change the normal depth such that uniform flow
occurs in a critical state for given discharge and the Manning’s N.

◉ The slope so obtained is critical slope Sc and the corresponding

normal depth yn is equal to the critical depth yc.
 Lecture No:

Types of Water depths in channel:

◉ Normal depth (Yn): It is the depth of uniform flow of water, when the
discharge flows at a normal slope of channel.
◉ Critical depth (Yc): It is the depth of flow of water, when the
discharge Q flows as a critical flow.
◉ Actual depth (Y): It is the actual depth of flow of water, when the
discharge Q flows as a gradually varied flow.
 Lecture No:

Normal and critical slopes.

◉ The channel is classified as the mild channel if slope of the channel
(Sc or Sb) is less than Sc and, hence, yn > yc and flow in a mild
channel is subcritical.
◉ If the channel slope exceeds Sc, than channel is termed as steep
channel and hence , yn< yc.

◉ Thus in a steep channel, flow is supercritical. When the slope of the

channel equals Sc, yn=yc flow is in critical state.
Lecture No:
 Lecture No:

Flow classification by critical depth

◉ Subcritical flow: water depth is above the critical depth (velocity is

less than the critical velocity).

◉ Super critical flow: water depth is below the critical depth ( velocity
is greater than the critical velocity).

◉ Critical flow: When water depth is equal to the critical depth.

 Lecture No:

Types of slopes
◉ There are five slope classifications
◉ Critical (C) if So=Sc and Yo = Yc
◉ Mild (M) if So < Sc and Yn > Yc
◉ Steep (S) if So > Sc and Yn < Yc
◉ Adverse (A) if So < 0  
◉ Horizontal (H) if So = 0 and Yo=∞
◉ Thus we have C, M, S, H, and A types of slopes and in each type we
can introduce zone of flow such as zone one, two and three as shown
in figure.