Gambella University
College of Engineering and Technology
Department of Water Resources and Irrigation Engineering
3rd Year WRIE
Course Title: Open Channel Hydraulics
By:
Tarekegn Zeleke ([Link]. in Hydraulic Engineering)
1
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION TO OPEN-CHANNEL FLOW
An open channel is a conduit in which water flows with a
free surface.
The flow of water in a conduit may be either open channel
flow or pipe flow
Open-channel flow must have a free surface, whereas pipe
flow has none, since the water must fill the whole conduit.
The flow in a closed conduit is not necessarily pipe flow
2
3
EGL and HGL in open channel flow
Sf :the slope of energy grade line
Sw :the slope of the water surface
So :the slope of the bottom
Hy
Sw the slope of water surface
x
Types of channels
Depending on origin:-
1. Natural channel
2. Artificial channel
Based on boundary characteristics
1. Rigid boundary:- lined channel no problem
of sediment
[Link] boundary:-unlined channels
where sediment problem exists
Based on cross section and slope
[Link]: - Cross section and slope
remain constant in the reach.
[Link]-Prismatic: - cross section and
slope vary with space and time
9
[Link] on the channel is Origin:-
Natural Artificial
10
2. Based on boundary characteristics
Rigid boundary Mobile boundary
11
3. Based on cross section and slope
Prismatic Non-Prismatic
12
Types of channels
1. Prismatic channels: -
the cross-sectional shape and size also the
bottom slopes are constant.
E.g. most of the man made (artificial) channels.
navigation channels, power canals, irrigation
canals flumes, drainage ditches, trough
spillways, floodways, log chutes, roadside
gutters, etc.
2. Non prismatic channels:-
all channels have a varying cross sections.
E.g. natural channels like river
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hydraulics II 14
21
types of flow in open channel
[Link] Flow and Unsteady flow: - Time as the Criterion
if the depth of flow does not change during the time
interval under consideration it is Steady Flow .
The flow is unsteady if the depth changes with time
22
CONT…
2. Uniform flow and non uniform flow:- space as the
Criterion,
flow is said to be uniform if the depth of flow
is the same at every section of the channel.
Flow is varied (non uniform) if the depth of
flow changes along the length of the channel.
23
CONT…
3. Steady –uniform flow: - is the flow in which the
depth is constant, both with time & distance.
AND
24
Cont…
4. Steady-non-uniform flow: - is the flow in
which the depth varies with distance, but not
with time.
AND
25
CONT…
5. Unsteady-uniform flow: - is the flow in which
the depth is varying with both time & distance.
&
26
CONT…
6. Unsteady-non-uniform flow: - is the flow in
which the depth varies both with time & distance.
&
27
CONT…
7. Gradually Varied Flow (GVF) and
Rapidly Varied Flow (RVF):-
The flow is rapidly varied if the depth
changes abruptly over a comparatively
short distance.
8. Spatially varied flow (SVF):- if some flow
is added or subtracted from the system the
resulting varied flow is known as spatially
varied flow (SVF)
28
Geometric Elements of Channel Section
Geometric elements: - are properties of a channel
section that can be defined entirely by the
geometry of the section and the depth of flow.
1. Depth of Flow(y):-
is the vertical distance of the lowest point of a
channel section from the free surface
[Link] of flow section (d);-
is measured perpendicular to the channel
bottom.
The relationship between d and y is d=y cosθ.
For most manmade and natural channels
cosθ=1.0, and therefore y=d.
29
Cont…
3. Stage (h):-
is the elevation or vertical distance of the free surface
above a datum.
If the lowest point of the channel section is chosen as the
datum, the stage is identical with the depth of flow.
hydraulics II 30
Cont…
4. Top width (T):
it is the width of channel section at free surface
5. Wetted perimeter (p):
it is the length of the channel boundary which is in
contact with water.
6. Wetted area (A): is the cross-sectional area of the flow
normal to the direction of flow.
31
G.E Cont…
7. Hydraulic radius(hydraulic mean depth)(R) :
it is the ratio of wetted area to its wetted perimeter
8. Hydraulic Mean Depth (Dm):-
is the ratio of water area to the top width.
32
G.E Cont…
9. Section Factor (Z):-
is the product of the water area and the square
root of the Hydraulic mean depth.
10. Bottom slope (S0):-
Longitudinal slope of the channel bottom.
most of the time the bottom slope is less than
(10%) and θ becomes small and cos θ ≈ 1.0
There for: - So=tan θ ≈sin θ
33
hydraulics II 34
Velocity Distribution in a Channel Section
the flow may have velocity components in all
three directions.
however, open-channel flow is assumed to be
one-dimensional,
Therefore, we usually refer to the velocity
component in the main flow direction.
The velocity varies in a channel section due to
the friction forces on the boundaries and
the presence of the free-surface.
35
Cont…
The velocity V is zero at the solid boundaries and
gradually increases with distance from the
boundary.
The maximum velocity of the X-section occurs at
a certain distance below the free surface.
usually at a distance of 0.05 to 0.25 of the depth.
The average velocity at any vertical Vav occurs at a
level of 0.6y0 from the free surface.
but a more reliable method is to take the average
of the velocities at 0.2 and 0.8 of the depth.
36
Cont…
It is found that:-
Where: - y0 = depth of flow,
V0.2= velocity at a depth of 0.2 y0 from the free surface
V0.8 = velocity at a depth of 0.8 y0 from the free
surface
The surface velocity Vs is related to the average
velocity Vav as:-
Vav = kVs
k = a constant with value between 0.8 and 0.95
37
Cont…
The volume of water passing through a channel
section per unit time is called the flow rate or
discharge.
Referring to Figure below the incremental
discharge, dQ, through an incremental area,
dA, is dQ = udA
Where: - u = point velocity.
Then by definition
38
Continuity Equations
The continuity equation is a mathematical
statement of the principle of conservation of
mass.
Since fluid is neither created nor destroyed
within the region.
the rate at which fluid mass enters the region is
equal to the rate at which the fluid mass leaves
the region.
39
Cont…
Mass of fluid per unit time flowing past
section-1 = 1* dA1* V1 [ kg/s ]
Mass of fluid flowing per unit of time past
section 2 = 2 *dA2 *V2 [ kg/s ]
For steady flow, by the principle of conservation of
mass
1 dA1 V1 = 2 d A2 V2
For the entire area of the stream tube:-
dA V dA V = constant
1 1 1 2 2 2
A1 A2
If 1 and 2 are average densities at section (1) and
(2), then …………………….
40
Energy and Momentum Coefficients (α and β)
Energy coefficient (α):-
As a result of non uniform distribution of
velocities over a channel section
the velocity head of an open channel flow is
generally greater than the value computed
according to the expression V2/2g,
When the, energy Principle is used in
computation, the true velocity head may be
expressed as αV2/2g,
where a is known as the energy coefficient or
Coriolis coefficient. 41
Cont…
An expression for α can be obtained as flows:-
For an elementary area dA, the flux of kinetic
energy through it is equal to :-
For the total area, the kinetic energy flux
From which
For discrete value of u:-
42
Momentum Coefficient (β)
The non uniform distribution of velocities also
affects the computation of momentum in open-
channel flow.
the momentum of the fluid passing through a
channel section per unit time is expressed by
β is known as the momentum coefficient or
Boussinesq coefficient.
The flux of momentum also expressed in terms
of V and correction factor β.
43
Cont…
For an elementary area dA the flux of momentum in
the longitudinal direction is:-
For the total area the momentums flux:-
Values of α and β:-
α = β =1 for uniform velocity distribution.
For any other variation α > β >1.0.
The higher the non uniformity of the velocity
distribution, the greater will be the values of α and
β. 44