Chapter-One
Introduction to
Open Channel Flow
CHAPTER 1
OPEN CHANNEL FLOW AND ITS CLASSIFICATION
Introduction
Open channel: is a conduit for flow, which has a free surface, i.e. a boundary,
exposed to the atmosphere.
A free surface is subjected to atmospheric pressure.
Whereas pipe flow has none, since the water must fill the whole conduit.
Pipe flow, being confined in a closed conduit exerts no direct
atmospheric pressure but hydraulic pressure only.
Itis much more difficult to solve problems of flow in open channels than
in pressure pipes.
Reasons:
In open channels the position of the free surface is likely to change with respect to time
and space,
Depth of flow (y), discharge (Q), and bottom slope (S) and slope of the free surface are
interdependent.
Physical condition of open channels vary more widely than that of pipes.
Cross section of open channel is widely variable and even might not be ridged,
Selection of friction coefficient is difficult and it varied with the position of the free
surface,
EXAMPLES
Some examples of open channel flow include
storm sewer (partially field sewers),
flow in rivers,
flow in irrigation cannels,
gutters along residential streets
1.2 CLASSIFICATION OF PEN CHANNEL FLOWS
Open channels flow can be classified into many types and
described in various ways.
The following classification is made according to the change
in flow depth with respect to time and space.
1. Steady flow and unsteady flow: Time as the criterion
Flow in an open channel is said to be steady if the depth of flow does not
change or if it can be assumed to be constant during the time interval under
consideration at a fixed point.
The flow is unsteady if the depth changes with time.
2. Uniform flow and varied flow: space as the criterion
Open channel flow is said to be uniform if the depth of flow is the same at every
section of the channel.
A uniform flow may be steady or unsteady, depending on whether or not the
depth changes with time.
Flow is varied if the depth of flow changes along the length of the channel.
3. Varied flow may be further classified as either rapidly or gradually varied.
The flow is rapidly varied if the depth changes abruptly over a comparatively short distance;
otherwise, it is gradually varied.
FOR CLARITY, THE CLASSIFICATION OF OPEN-CHANNEL FLOW IS
SUMMARIZED AS:
Uniform flow
Steady Flow
Gradually Varied (non-
uniform) Flow
Varied Flow
Gradually Varied (non-
Flow
uniform) Flow
Unsteady uniform flow
(Quasi uniform flow)
Gradually varied
Unsteady Flow unsteady Flow
Unsteady Flow (i.e.
unsteady varied flow)
Rapidly varied unsteady
flow
Eg.
TYPES OF OPEN CHANNELS
Depending on the channel is manmade:-
1. Natural channel
2. Artificial channel
Based on boundary characteristics
1. Rigid boundary:- lined channel no problem of sediment
2. Mobile boundary:-unlined channels where sediment problem exists
Based on cross section and slope
1. Prismatic: - Cross section and slope remain constant in the reach.
2. Non-Prismatic: - cross section and slope vary with space and time.
DIMENSIONLESS NUMBERS AND STATE OF FLOW
Effect of viscosity: Depending on the effect of viscosity relative to inertia, the flow may
be laminar, turbulent, or transitional.
The basis for this classification is a dimensionless parameter known as the Reynold
number (Re), which is given by the ratio of these two forces:
VL
Re
State Of Flow
Flow R taken as D taken as characteristic
characteristic length length
Laminar R 500 500 R 12
Transitional 500 R 12, 500 2000 R 50,000
Turbulent 12,500 R 50,000 R
Effect of gravity: the effect of gravity upon the state of flow
is represented by a ratio of inertial forces to gravity forces.
2 2 2
P L V V
Fr 2 I 3
PV gL gL
V
Fr
gL
Fr Type of flow
Less than 1 Subcritical
Equal to 1 Critical
Greater than one supercritical
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.
These elements are very important and are used extensively in flow
computations. These elements are:-
1. Depth of Flow(y):- is the vertical distance of the lowest point of a channel
section from the free surface.
2. Stage (Z):- 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.
3. Top Width (T):- is the width of channel section at the free surface.
CONTI…
4. Water Area (A):- is the cross-sectional area of the flow normal to the
direction of flow.
5. Wetted Perimeter (P):- is the length of the line of intersection of the
channel wetted surface with a cross-sectional plane normal to the direction of
flow.
6. Hydraulic Radius(R):- is the ratio of the water area to its wetted perimeter.