NPTEL Course Developer for Fluid Mechanics Dr.

Niranjan Sahoo
Module 04; Lecture 33 IIT-Guwahati

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GRADUALLY AND RAPIDLY VARIED OPEN CHANNEL FLOW

The depth of the open channel flow varies (either increases or decreases) in the flow
direction depending upon the bottom slope and energy line slope. Physically, the
difference between component of weight and shear forces in the direction of flow
produces a change in fluid momentum. Thus, there is a change in velocity and

consequently a change in depth. The shape of the surface y y x can be calculated by

solving the governing equation obtained form combination of Manning equation and
energy equation. The result will be a nonlinear differential equation, which is beyond the
scope of this syllabus. However, some physical interpretation of gradually varied flows
can be made from the following equation;
dy S f S0
(8)
dx 1 Fr2

dy S f S0
For 0 , the factor 2 becomes a non-zero quantity, which is essentially the
dx 1 Fr

dy
gradually or, the sign of i.e. whether the flow depth increases or decreases with
dx
distance along the channel depends on both numerator and denominator of Eq. (8). The
sign of denominator depends on whether the flow is sub-critical or super-critical. In fact,

for a given channel, there exists a critical slope S0 S0c and a corresponding critical

depth y yc that leads to Fr 1 under conditions of uniform flow.

The character of a gradually varied flow is classified in terms of actual channel slope

S0 compared to that of slope required for producing uniform flow S0c . They may be,

Mild slope with S0 S0c (i.e. the flow would be sub-critical Fr 1 , if it were of
uniform depth)
Steep slope with S0 S0c (the flow would be super-critical Fr 1 , if it were of
uniform depth)

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NPTEL Course Developer for Fluid Mechanics Dr. Niranjan Sahoo
Module 04; Lecture 33 IIT-Guwahati

Horizontal slope with S0 0

Adverse slope, S0 0 (i.e. flow uphill)

Thus, it may be inferred from the above that the determination of whether the flow is

sub-critical or super-critical depends solely on whether S0 S0c or S0 S0c respectively.

For gradually varying flows, the conditions for sub-critical and super-critical flows are

met by S0 and depth of flow. For example, with S0 S0c , it is possible to have either

Fr 1 or Fr 1 depending upon the depth of flow i.e. y yc or y yc respectively.

dy
A rapidly varied flow in an open channel is characterized by : 1 i.e. the flow
dx
depth changes occur over a relatively short distance. One such example of a rapidly
varied flow is hydraulic jump in which flow changes from a relatively shallow, high-
speed condition into a relatively deep, low-speed condition within a horizontal distance
of just a few channel depths. The mathematical analysis of hydraulic jump will be
discussed in the subsequent lectures. Many open channel flow-measuring devices are
based on the principle associated with rapidly varied flows. These devices include broad-
crested weirs, sharp-crested weirs and sluice gate.

Example 1
Water flows in an open channel of trapezoidal cross section with a velocity of 0.9m/s at a
rate 14m3/s. The bed slope and side slopes are 1:2500 and 1:1 respectively. Find the depth
and bottom width of the channel. Take Chezys constant as 40.4.
Solution
Given that,
1
Discharge, Q 14m3 /s ; Velocity, V 0.9m/s ; Bed slope, S0 ; Side slope, N 1
2500
Q
Area of the flow, A 15.57m 2
V
2 2
V 1
0.9
By Chezys formula, V C Rh S0 Rh 2500 1.24m
C S0 40.4
The area of the flow and wetted perimeter for a trapezoidal section is given by,

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NPTEL Course Developer for Fluid Mechanics Dr. Niranjan Sahoo
Module 04; Lecture 33 IIT-Guwahati

A b Ny y 15.57m 2
P b 2 y N 2 1 b 2.83 y
By definition of hydraulic radius,
A 15.57
Rh 1.24 b 2.83 y 12.55
P b 2.83 y
Thus,
A b Ny y b y y 15.57 12.55 2.83 y y y 15.57
12.55 y 1.83 y 2 15.57
y 2 6.86 y 8.5 0

Solving the above quadratic equation, we get, y 1.63m ; Thus, b 7.92 m .

Hence, the required depth and bottom width of the channel are 1.63m and 7.92m
respectively.

Example 2
A trapezoidal channel with base width 2m and side slope of 1:2 carries water with a depth
of 1m. The bed slope is 1 in 625. Calculate the discharge and average shear stress at the
channel boundary. Take Manning coefficient as n 0.03 .
Solution
Given that,
1
b 2m; y 1m; N 1/ 2 ; S0 ; Side slope, N 1
625
The area of the flow and wetted perimeter for a trapezoidal section is given by,
A b Ny y 2.5m 2
P b 2 y N 2 1 4.24m
By definition of hydraulic radius,
A 2.5
Rh 0.59
P 4.24
Using Mannings formula,
2
R 2 3 S 1 2 0.59 3 1 625
0.5

V h 0 0.95m/s
n 0.03

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NPTEL Course Developer for Fluid Mechanics Dr. Niranjan Sahoo
Module 04; Lecture 33 IIT-Guwahati

Discharge, Q A V 2.375m 3 /s
Average shear stress at the channel boundary,
gRh S0 1000 9.81 0.59 1/ 625 9.26 N m 2

Example 3
Water flows in channel (cross-section of the shape of isosceles triangle) of bed width a
and sides making an angle 450 with the bed. Determine the relation between depth of flow
d and the bed width a for the condition of: (i) maximum velocity; (ii) maximum
discharge. Use Mannings formula.
Solution
Water flow in a channel of isosceles triangular cross-section is shown in the following
figure for which depth of flow and bed width are d and a , respectively.

H J (a/2)

45 deg. 45 deg.

E F
d a d

Rh2 3 S01 2
(i) By Manning equation, V
n
The area of the flow and wetted perimeter for the above cross-section is given by,

EF JH a 2d a d A
A d d a d d ; a 2d
2 2 d d
d P
P EF FJ EH a 2 2d ; 2 2
d d
For a given bed slope, the velocity will be maximum when,

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NPTEL Course Developer for Fluid Mechanics Dr. Niranjan Sahoo
Module 04; Lecture 33 IIT-Guwahati

d Rh d A P d A d P
0; 0; P A 0
d d dd d d d d
Thus by substitution, 2.83d 2 2ad a 2 0
Solving the above quadratic equation, d 0.34a

1
ARh2 3 S01 2 1 A5 3 2
1

(ii) Discharge, Q AV
. 2 S0
n n P

For a given bed slope, the discharge will be maximum when,

d A5 P 2 0; 5P d A d A
2 A 0
dd d d d d
d P d A
Substituting and , we get,
d d d d

22.63d 2 1.5ad 5a 2 0
Solving the above quadratic equation, d 0.44 a

Example 4
A rectangular channel of 5m width and 1.2m deep has a slope of 1 in 1000 and is lined
with rubber for which the Mannings coefficient is 0.017. It is desired to increase the
discharge to a maximum by changing the section so that the channel has same amount of
lining. Find the new dimensions and probable increase in discharge.
Solution
Using Mannings formula, the discharge through the channel is given by,
ARh2 3 S01 2
Q1 AV
.
n
1 A
Here, S0 ; A 5 1.2 6m 2 ; P 5 2 1.2 7.4m; Rh 0.81
1000 P
Substituting the values, Q1 9.7 m s
3

Let b and y be the width and depth of the flow for the new section of the channel. In
order to have the same amount of lining,
P b 2 y 7.4

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NPTEL Course Developer for Fluid Mechanics Dr. Niranjan Sahoo
Module 04; Lecture 33 IIT-Guwahati

For the discharge to be maximum in a rectangular channel, it can be proved that

b 2y

Solving above two equation, y 1.85m; b 3.7m

So, the area of cross-section and hydraulic radius for new channel cross-section becomes,
A
A 6.845m 2 ; Rh 0.925m
P

ARh2 3 S01 2
By Mannings formula, new discharge, Q2 AV
. 12.1m3 s
n
Q2 Q 1
Percentage increase in discharge 100 24.45%
Q1

EXERCISES
1. Design a concrete lined channel (trapezoidal cross section) to carry a discharge of
480m3/s at a velocity of 2.3m/s. The bed slope and the side slope of the channel are
1:4000 and 1:1 respectively. Take Mannings roughness coefficient for lining as 0.015.
2. A canal of trapezoidal cross-section has a bed width of 8m and bed slope of 1:4000. If
the depth of flow is 2.4m and side slopes are 1:3, then determine the average flow
velocity and discharge in the channel. Also, compute the average shear stress at the
channel boundary.
3. A trapezoidal canal is to carry 50m3/s of water with a mean velocity of 0.6m/s. One
side of the canal is vertical where as the other side has a slope of 1:3. Find the minimum
hydraulic slope if the Mannings coefficient is 0.015.
4. Water flows in a channel as shown in the following figure. Find the discharge if
Chezys constant is 60 and bed slope is 1 in 1000.

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NPTEL Course Developer for Fluid Mechanics Dr. Niranjan Sahoo
Module 04; Lecture 33 IIT-Guwahati

1.4m

0.7m

0.7m

5. Water flows in canal with bed slope of 1:2300. The cross-section of the canal is shown
in the following figure. Estimate the discharge when the depth of water is 2.5m. Assume
Chezys constant as 40.

0.6m
2.5m

140m
15m
Side slope = 1 vertical to 2 horizontal

6. A concrete lined circular channel of 0.6m diameter has a bed slope of 1: 500. Find the
depth of flow when the discharge is 0.3m 3/s. Also, determine the velocity and flow rate
for conditions of: (i) maximum velocity; (ii) maximum discharge. Assume Chezys
constant as 40.