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Standard Step Method for Flow Depth

The standard step method is used to determine the flow depth (yd) at a specified location given the flow depth (yu) at another location. The method uses the continuity equation and friction slope equations along with information about discharge (Q), channel slope (S0), roughness coefficient (n), and channel cross-sectional properties to set up a nonlinear equation with yd as the only unknown. This equation can be solved using numerical techniques like bisection or Newton-Raphson to find the value of yd. As an example, the equation is written for a rectangular channel, where yd is the only unknown and can similarly be determined by solving the nonlinear equation.

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120 views2 pages

Standard Step Method for Flow Depth

The standard step method is used to determine the flow depth (yd) at a specified location given the flow depth (yu) at another location. The method uses the continuity equation and friction slope equations along with information about discharge (Q), channel slope (S0), roughness coefficient (n), and channel cross-sectional properties to set up a nonlinear equation with yd as the only unknown. This equation can be solved using numerical techniques like bisection or Newton-Raphson to find the value of yd. As an example, the equation is written for a rectangular channel, where yd is the only unknown and can similarly be determined by solving the nonlinear equation.

Uploaded by

JorgeZafra
Copyright
© All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

Hydraulics

Prof. B.S. Murty

26.1 Standard Step Method


In the standard step method, flow depth at a specified location, yd is determined, given
the flow depth, Yu at another specified location. Consider the channel shown in Figure
26.1. In this channel, say Yu occurs at a distance Xu from the reference point.
Discharge, Q, Channel bottom slope, S0, the roughness coefficient, n and crosssectional shape parameters (which relate A, P and R to y) are also known. The problem
now is to determine the flow depth, Yd at the specified location Xd (figure 26.1).

u
d
Water surface

yu (known)

Flow

yd (unknown)
Channel Bed
Zu

Zd
Datum

Xd (known)

Fig. 26.1: Definition sketch for standard step method

Vd2
Vu2
Equation (25.3) yd + d
+ yu + u
= Sf ( x d x u ) S0 ( x d x u )

2g
2g

( 25.3)

can be rewritten as
yd +

dQ2
2gA d2

Sf d ( x d x u )
2.0

= yu +

u Q2
2gA u2

Sf u
2

( x d x u ) + S0 ( x d x u )

( 26.1)

In Equation 26.1, the flow rate (Q), the roughness coefficient (n), distances Xd and Xu,
the channel slope (S0), the flow conditions at section u ( y u , u and A u ) are known.
Therefore the right hand side of Eq. (26.1) can be determined. On the left hand side, the
area, Ad and the friction slope, Sf d

are functions of the flow depth Yd. Thus we have

one equation (Eq. 26.1) in one unknown Yd. Therefore, Yd can be determined by solving
Indian Institute of Technology Madras

Hydraulics

Prof. B.S. Murty

Equation (26.1). Equation (26.1) is a non-linear equation. Either trial and error or
numerical techniques such as bisection, Newton -Raphson techniques etc. can be used
for solving Eq. (26.1).
For example, for a wide rectangular channel (assuming u = d = 1.0 ), Eq. (26.1)
becomes

n 2q 2 ( x d x u )
q2
q2
n 2q 2
yd +
+
= yu +

x x u ) + S0 ( x d x u )
/3
/3 ( d
2gyd2
2y10
2gy 2u 2y10
d
u

26.2

In Eq. (26.2), q, n, y u , x d , x u , S0 and g are known, and so Yd can be determined by


solving this equation. Note that Eq. (26.2) is non-linear.

Indian Institute of Technology Madras

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