Hydraulics Prof. B.S.

Thandaveswara

18.1 The Hydraulic Exponent for Uniform – Flow

Computation.*
Assuming the conveyance K as a function of the depth of flow y*, it may be expressed

as

K 2 = C0 y N (1)

in Which C0 is a coefficient and N is known as the “hydraulic exponent for uniform –

flow".

*This is strictly applicable to sections which are wide and are described by the

exponential equation

Taking logarithms on both sides of above equation and then differentiating with respect

to y, it may be written as

d N
( ln K ) = (2)
dy 2y

Now, taking logarithms on both sides of Eq. (2) and then differentiating this equation

with respect to y under the assumption that Resistance factor is independent of y, the

expression for N may be obtained. [See Box]

Indian Institute of Technology Madras

Hydraulics Prof. B.S. Thandaveswara

K 2 =C0 y N K 2 =C0 y N
Taking logarithm on both sides
2 ln K = ln C0 + N ln y 2 ln K = ln Cο + N ln y
Differentiating with respect to y Differentiating with respect to y
d N d N
(ln K) = (ln K) =
dy 2y dy 2y
Consider Manning formula Consider Chezy formula

⎛ 2 ⎞2 ⎛ 1 ⎞2
1
K 2 = ⎜ AR 3 ⎟ K 2 = ⎜ C AR 2 ⎟
⎜⎜ n ⎟⎟ ⎜⎜ ⎟⎟
⎝ ⎠ ⎝ ⎠
⎡ ⎡1⎤ 2 ⎤ ⎡ 1 ⎤
2 ln K = 2 ⎢ln ⎢ ⎥ + ln A + ln R ⎥ 2 ln K = 2 ⎢ln C + ln A + ln R ⎥
⎣ ⎣n⎦ 3 ⎦ ⎣ 2 ⎦
Differentiating with respect to y Differentiating with respect to y
d d 1 4 d 2 dA 1 dR
2 ( ln K ) = ⎡⎢ 2 ln + 2 ln A + ln R ⎤⎥ 2
dy
( ln K ) = +
A dy R dy
dy dy ⎣ n 3 ⎦
d ⎡ 1 dA 2 1 dR ⎤ d ⎡ 1 dA 1 1 dR ⎤
( ln K ) = ⎢ + ⎥ ( ln K ) = ⎢ + ⎥
dy dy ⎣ A dy 2 R dy ⎦
⎣ A dy 3 R dy ⎦
equating the right hand side T 1 p dA A dP
= + -
N T 2 T 2 A dP A 2 R dy 2RP 2 dy
= + - T T 1 dP
2y A 3 A 3 p dy = + -
T 2 T 2 dP A 2A 2P dy
= + - R equating the R.H.S
A 3 A 3 dy
2y ⎡ N 3 T 1 dP
dP ⎤ = -
N= ⎢ 5T - 2R ⎥ 2y 2 A 2P dy
3A ⎣ dy ⎦
y⎡ A dP ⎤
N= ⎢3T - ⎥
A⎣ P dy ⎦
y⎡ dP ⎤
N= ⎢3T - R ⎥
A⎣ dy ⎦
* dA
≈T
dy
* These are the general equation for the hydraulic exponent N.
* This is strictly applicable only to section which are wide and are described by
the exponential equation

For a trapezoidal channel section having a bottom width b and side slopes 1 on m, the

expression for A, T, P and R may be obtained from Table. Substituting them in equation

in the Box and simplifying, it results in

Indian Institute of Technology Madras

Hydraulics Prof. B.S. Thandaveswara

⎡ ⎛y ⎞ ⎤
⎡ ′ ⎤ ⎢ ⎜ b ⎟ 1+ m2 ⎥
10 1+ 2y 8
N= ⎢ ⎥ - ⎢ ⎝ ⎠
⎥
3 ⎣ 1+ y′ ⎦ 3 ⎢ 1+ 2 ⎛ y ⎞ 1+ m2 ⎥
⎜ b⎟
⎢⎣ ⎝ ⎠ ⎥⎦
my n
in which y′ =
b

This equation indicates that the value of N for the trapezoidal section is a function of m

and y / b. For values of m = 0, 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0, 2.5, 3.0, and 4.0, a family of curves for

N versus y /b may be constructed (Fig). These curves indicate that the value of N varies

within a range of 2.0 to 5.0.

Indian Institute of Technology Madras

Hydraulics Prof. B.S. Thandaveswara

Logarithmic plot of "K" as ordinate against the depth as abscissa will appear as straight-

line then

log ( K1/K 2 )
N=2
log ( y1/y 2 )
The hydraulic exponent is equal to twice the slope of the tangent to the curve at the

given depth. When the cross section of a channel changes abruptly with respect to

depth, the hydraulic exponent will change accordingly.

Indian Institute of Technology Madras