Chapter 7

DESIGN OF CHANNELS FOR UNIFORM FLOW

NONERODIBLE CHANNEL
 The Nonerodible Channel
Most of lined channel and build up channels can withstand
erosion satisfactorily
In design of nonerodible channel the maximum permissible
velocity and tractive force are not the criteria to be considered
The designer compute dimension based on hydraulic efficiency
Factor to be considered is minimum permissible velocity,
roughness coefficient, channel bottom slope and side slope,
free board and most hydraulic efficient section
 The Nonerodible material and lining
The Nonerodible material used for lining include concrete,
stone masonry , steel, cast iron, timber, glass, plastic and etc.
The selection of material mainly on the availability and cost of
material method of construction and purpose of construction
 The Minimum Permissible Velocity
The Minimum Permissible Velocity or nonsilting velocity is
the lowest velocity which will not start sedimentation and
induce the growth of aquatic plant and moss
Generally a mean velocity of 2 to 3 fps may used safely
when the percent of silt in channel is small.
A mean velocity of not less than 2.5 fps will prevent a
growth of vegetation
 The Channel Slope
The longitudinal bottom slope governed by the topography
and energy required for flow.
In many cases the slope may depend also on purpose of the
channel.
For example the irrigation channel require a high level at the
point of delivery therefore a small slope is desirable in order
to keep the loss in elevation to a minimum
 The Side Slope
The side slope of channel mainly depend on material
 The Freeboard
The freeboard of a channel is the vertical distance from top
of the channel to the water surface at the design condition
Freeboard varying from less than 5% to greater than 30% of
the depth of flow are commonly used in design.
According to USBR a freeboard from 1 ft for small lateral
with shallow depth to 4 ft in canal of 3000 cfs or more

F = Cy
 The Best Hydraulic Section
From a hydraulics viewpoint, therefore the channel section
having the least wetted perimeter for a given area has the
maximum conveyance, such as section is known as best
hydraulic section.
The semicircle is most hydraulically efficient of all section.
In general a channel designed for the best hydraulic efficiency
but should be modified for practicability.
 The Best Hydraulic Section
Rectangular Section
Bottom width = B and depth of flow = y
Area of flow A = By = constant
Wetted perimeter P = B + 2y = A/y + 2y
If P is to be minimum with A = constant,
dP/dy=-A/y2+2= 0 Which gives A = 2 y2
y= B/2, B = 2y and R =y/2
 Worked Example 7.1
Show that the best hydraulic trapezoidal section is half of a
hexahon
 Worked Example 7.1
Show that the best hydraulic trapezoidal section is half of a
hexahon
 Determination of Section Dimensions
1. Collect all necessary information estimate n and select S
2. Compute the section factor AR2/3 by equation
nQ
AR 2 / 3 =
1.49 S

3. Substitute A and R form channel geometry and solve for y

if there are other unknown then assumed based on
hydraulic efficiency
 Determination of Section Dimensions
4. If the best hydraulic section is required directly substitute in
equation AR 2 / 3 =
nQ
1.49 S
5. For irrigation channel sometimes the full supply depth my
obtained form empirical rules
y = 0 .5 A (Us Unit only) y = 0.577 A (Indian)
b/y = 4 − z b/y = 3 − z
6. Check the minimum velocity and 7. Add free board
 Worked Example 7.2
A trapezoidal channel carrying 400 cfs is built with
Nonerodible bed having a slope of 0.0016 and n=0.025
proportion the section dimensions ( best hydraulic section)
nQ 0.025 × 400
AR 2/3
= = = 167 .7
1.49 S 1.49 0.0016

A = 3y2 R = 0 .5 y AR 2 / 3 = 3 y (0.5 y ) 2/3 = 167 .7

y = 6.6 ft add 3ft freeboard b = 7.6 ft A = 75 .2 ft 2 V = 5.32 fps

 Worked Example
A concrete-lined trapezoidal channel (n = 0.015) is to have aside
slope of 1 horizontal: 1 vertical. The bottom slope is to be 0.0004.
Find the bottom width of the channel necessary to carry 100 m 3/s of
discharge at a normal depth of 2.50 m.
 Worked Example
When the normal depth of flow in most efficient circular concrete
(n = 0.014) section laid on a bed slope of 0.005 is 0.50 m, estimate
the discharge.

1  π 2  0.5 
23
1
Q = AR 2 3 S 1 2 =  1   0.005 = 0.787 m /s
12 3

n 0.014  8  2 
 Worked Example
Water flows in the triangular steel channel shown in the figure
below. Find the depth of flow if the channel slope is 0.0015 and the
discharge is 0.22 m3/s. (n=0.014)
Worked Example
 Worked Example
A rectangular open channel has a bottom width of 6.0 m, n = 0.02.
a) For yn = 1.0 m, Q = 11 m3/s, find normal slope.
b) Find the limiting critical slope and normal depth of flow for Q = 11 m 3/s.
c) Find the critical normal slope given yn = 1.0 m and determine the
discharge for this depth and slope.
a) A = b × y = 6 × 1 = 6 m 2 , P = b + 2 y = 6 + 2 = 8m R = A = 6 = 0.75 m
P 8
(nQ )
2
Sn = 2 4/3 = 
 0.02 × 11 
2

= 0.001972 r
F =
V
=
11
= 0.5853
2/3 
A R  6 × 0.75  gy n 6 9.81 × 1
 Worked Example
b)  11 
2

 
V 2 D  6 yc  y yc = 0.70 m
= = = c
2 g 2 2 × 9.81 2
4 .2
A = 6 × 0 .7 = 4 .2 m 2 , P = 6 + 1 .4 = 7 .4 m R= = 0.57 m
7 .4

Sc =
(nQ ) 2
 0.02 × 11 
=
2

= 0.0058 > S n
2/3 
A2 R 4 / 3  4.2 × 0.57 
 Worked Example
c)
Vc = gy = 9.81 × 1 = 3.1m/s A = 6m 2 , P = 8m R = 0.75 m

1 2 / 3 1/2 1
Vc = R S cn = 3.1 = (0.75) 2 / 3 S cn
1/ 2

n 0.02

S cn =
(nV ) 2
 0.02 × 3.1 
=
2

= 0.00564
2/3 
R4/3  0.75 
Q = AV = 3.1 × 6 = 18 .6 m 3 /s
 Worked Example
Calculate the uniform depth of flow in a rectangular channel
of 3m width designed to carry 10 cumecs of water. Given
Chezy’s C=65 and channel bed slope= 0.025 %.
Ans. B=3m, y=?,Q=10 cumecs , C=65, S0=0.025%
Chezy’s eq is Q=AC(RS0)0.5
A=By=3y m2 P = B + 2 y = (3 + 2 y) m
Substituting all values in chezy’s eqn
 Worked Example
A  3y 
R= =  
P  3 + 2y 
1
 3y  0.025  y  2
10 = 3y x 65 x    1.8726= y x  
 3 + 2 y  100   3+ 2y 
3
1.8726(3 + 2 y) = y 3.5065(3 + 2 y) = y3
1
2 2

∴ y3 − 7.013y −10.519 = 0
Solving by trial and error y=3.21m
 Worked Example
A trapezoidal channel with side slope 2H:1V is designed to carry a
normal flow of 200 cfs. The channel is grass-lined with a Manning’s n
of 0.025 and has bottom slope of 0.0006 ft/ft. Determine the
normal depth, bottom width and top width, (assume the bottom
width as 1.5 time normal depth)
1.49 1.49
Q= AR 2 / 3 S 1/2 A 200 = (3.5 y 2 )(0.586 y ) 2 / 3 (0.0006 )1 / 2
n 0.025

y = 4.5 ft b = 6.8 ft T = 24.8 ft