FIU, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
CWR 3201 Fluid Mechanics, Fall 2018
Open-Channel Flows
Arturo S. Leon, Ph.D., P.E., D.WRE
Learning Objectives
1. Describe various types of open-channel
flows
2. Use energy and momentum principles
for rapidly varied flow configurations
3. Sketch water surface profiles
Animations of Unsteady Open
Channel Flows
Emergency water releases at 25 dams
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o3E4s59OSLQ
Road Collapse- Maine 2008
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NTbhyHNA1Vc
What is Open-channel Flow?
Types of Open-channel
Canal: A canal is usually a long and mild-sloped
channel built in the ground
Types of Open-channel (Cont.)
Chute: A chute is a channel with a steep slope
Types of Open-channel (Cont.)
Drop: A drop is a channel with a sudden change in
elevation
Types of Open-channel (Cont.)
Culvert: A culvert is a covered channel flowing usually
partly full.
Types of Open-channel (Cont.)
Natural channel: A natural channel has irregular
geometry. Examples include, rivers and creeks.
Classification of open-
FLOW IN OPEN CHANNEL
channel flows
TEMPORAL (Time)
STEADY FLOW UNSTEADY FLOW
UNIFORM FLOW NON-UNIFORM FLOW
RAPIDLY VARIED FLOW
SPATIAL (Space)
GRADUALLY VARIED FLOW
Classification of open-channel flows
Wave speed in open channel flows
Propagation of a disturbance in subcritical,
critical and supercritical flows
Froude Number:
When Fr > 1, the flow possesses a relatively high velocity and
shallow depth; on the other hand, when Fr < 1, the velocity is
relatively low and the depth is relatively deep.
Uniform Flow
Arturo S. Leon, Ph.D., P.E., D.WRE
Cross-section Representation
A composite section
Regular cross sections
Equation for Uniform Flow
Uniform flow occurs in a channel when the depth and velocity do
not vary along its length
The Chezy-
Manning
Equation
Where:
c1 = 1 for SI units and c1 = 1.49 for English units.
n = Manning roughness coefficient
A = Hydraulic area
R = Hydraulic radius
S0 = slope of the channel bottom
The depth associated with uniform flow is designated y0; it is
called either uniform depth or normal depth.
Average values of the Manning Coefficient, n
The Most Efficient Section (or best hydraulic
cross section)
The Most Efficient cross-section is defined as the section of maximum
flow rate (Q) for a constant hydraulic area (A), slope (So), and roughness
coefficient (n). Alternatively, the Most Efficient cross-section can be
defined as the section of minimum hydraulic area (A) for a constant flow
rate (Q).
The best hydraulic cross-section for
various shapes
Example:
The following data are obtained for a particular reach of the Provo
River in Utah: A = 183 ft2, free-surface width = 55 ft, average
depth = 3.3 ft, Rh = 3.32 ft, V = 6.56 ft/s, length of reach = 116 ft,
and elevation drop of reach = 1.04 ft. Determine (a) the Manning
coefficient, n, and (b) the Froude number of the flow.
Example:
At a given location, under normal conditions a river flows with a
Manning coefficient of 0.030, and a cross section as indicated in
part (a) of the figure below. During flood conditions at this location,
the river has a Manning coefficient of 0.040 (because of tress and
brush in the floodplain) and a cross section as shown in part (b) of
the figure below. Determine the ratio of the flowrate during flood
conditions to that during normal conditions.
Energy concepts
Arturo S. Leon, Ph.D., P.E., D.WRE
10.4 Energy Concepts
Total energy: The sum of the vertical distance to the channel
bottom measured from a horizontal datum, the depth of flow, and
the kinetic energy head.
Energy is actually an
energy head.
hL is the head loss.
10.4 Energy Concepts
Specific energy: Measurement
of energy relative to the bottom
of the channel.
Specific discharge: The total
discharge divided by the channel
width (valid only for a
rectangular channel).
Specific energy diagram
Critical depth
For any cross-section: For a rectangular channel
(q = Q/b)
Energy Equation in Transitions
The condition of choked flow or a choking condition implies that
minimum specific energy exists within the transition.
Flow Choking
Ec E1
hc
For a rectangular channel:
For a non-rectangular channel:
Example:
Consider a channel where the upstream velocity is 5.0 m/s
and the upstream flow depth is 0.6 m. The flow then passes
over a bump 15 cm in height.
(a) Compute the flow depth and velocity on the crest of the
bump.
(b) Compute the maximum allowable bump height that keeps
water from backing up upstream.
Example:
Compute the critical depth in a trapezoidal channel for a flow of 30
m3/s. The channel bottom width is 10 m, side slopes are 2H:1V.
Momentum Concepts
Arturo S. Leon, Ph.D., P.E., D.WRE
Hydraulic Jump
Hydraulic jump:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cRnIsqSTX7Q
Low head dams:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XsYgODmmiAM
10.5 Momentum Concepts
Linear momentum equation is:
Let’s define M (momentum
function) as:
Fig. 10.13 Channel flow over an obstacle:
(a) idealized flow; (b) control volume
For a rectangular section:
Momentum function M for various channels
10.5 Momentum Concepts
Also called
sequent depths
Hydraulic Jump in a rectangular channel (Cont.)
Classification
of Hydraulic
Jumps
Example:
Under appropriate conditions, water flowing from a faucet, onto a
flat plate, and over the edge of the plate can produce a circular
hydraulic jump as shown in the figure below. Consider a situation
where a jump forms 3.0 in from the center of the plate with depths
upstream and downstream of the jump of 0.05 in and 0.20 in,
respectively. Determine the flow rate from the faucet.
Gradually varied flow
Arturo S. Leon, Ph.D., P.E., D.WRE
Gradually varied Flows
Differential Equation for Gradually Varied Flow
Where:
S = total energy slope
So = bed slope
Fr = Froude Number
Does water depth increase or
decrease in x direction?
dy
Is positive or negative?
dx
Assuming a wide rectangular channel:
Classification of Surface Profiles
Examples of Gradually Varied Flows
Typical surface configurations for nonuniform depth flow with a mild
slope
Example:
Sketch the water surface profile for the two-reach open-channel
system below. A gate is located between the two reaches and the
second reach ends with a sudden fall.
Example:
Sketch the water surface profile for the open-channel system
below.
Example:
Sketch the water surface profile for the open-channel system below.
Example:
Sketch the water surface profile for the open-channel system below.
Example:
Sketch the water surface profile for the open-channel system below.
Numerical Analysis of Water Surface Profiles
Regardless of the type of method follows these steps:
1. The channel geometry, channel slope S0, roughness coefficient
n, and discharge Q are given or assumed.
2. Determine normal depth y0 and critical depth yc.
3. Establish the controls (i.e., the depth of flow) at the upstream
and downstream ends of the channel reach.
The computation procedure is to determine the depth at a section a
To find y0DL away from a section with a known depth.
distance
To find yc
Energy
slope s
“Standard Step” Method
This method solves sequentially for y1, y2, y3, … starting at the
control section (upstream or downstream end) with known
water depth. The computation procedure is to determine the
depth at a section a distance ∆x away from a section with a
known depth.
Step size (∆x) must be small enough so that changes in water
depth aren’t very large. Otherwise estimates of the friction slope
and the velocity head are inaccurate
Q
“Standard Step” Method (cont.)
“Standard Step” Method (cont.)
In general:
For Subcritical flow:
For Supercritical flow:
Solve sequentially for unknown water depth (y) starting at the
control section. The computation procedure is to determine the
depth at a section a distance ∆x away from a section with a
known depth.
Example:
A rectangular concrete-lined channel (n = 0.015) has a constant
bed slope of 0.0001 and a bottom width of 40 m. A control gate at
the dam increased the depth at the dam to 12 m when the
discharge is 300 m3/s. Compute the water surface profile from the
dam up to 200 km upstream of the dam. (See Excel spreadsheet
for rectangular channels).
Solution
The first step is to calculate the critical and normal depths.
yo is computed using the Chezy-Manning formula
yo = 4.65 m
yc is computed using the critical flow condition:
yc = 1.79 m
Because y > yo > yc, the profile is M1
Show exercises using Excel for rectangular channels
Show examples using Annel2
