Lecture 5
Uniform Open Channel Flows
Uniform Open Channel Flows (Steady)
2
Uniform Open Channel Flows
Uniform open channel flow is an open channel flow whose
conditions (such as depth, velocity, and cross section)
remain constant over a given length of a channel.
V
=0 (1)
x
y
=0 (2)
x
A
=0 (3)
x
or
y1 = y 2 = y (4)
V1 = V2 = V (5)
A1 = A2 = A (6)
3
Uniform Open Channel Flows
The energy equation for the open channel flow
shown in Figure 1 can be expressed as follows:
2 2
V1 V2
Z1 + y1 + 1 = Z 2 + y2 + 2 + hL (7)
2g 2g
4
Uniform Open Channel Flows
For a uniform flow, the bed slope, water surface slope,
and energy slope are all equal. That is
So = Sw = Se (8)
Substituting the variables in Eqs.4-5 into Eq.7 yields:
Z1 – Z2 = hL (9)
This means that for a uniform flow the potential energy
gained from the drop of the channel bed between
sections 1 and 2 is used to compensate the head loss
caused by the friction on the channel boundary between
the two sections.
Uniform flows are commonly solved using Chezy and
Manning equations.
5
Chezy Equation
Chezy equation is an equation for uniform flow developed by
Chezy in 1769:
V = C RS (10)
V = average velocity
C = Chezy’s constant
R = hydraulic radius
S = channel slope
The equation can be derived based on the assumption that
longitudinal component of gravitational force (Wx) and
frictional forces on the channel boundary (Ff) are equal (See
Figure 2).
6
Chezy Equation
The gravitational force in the longitudinal direction can be
expressed as follows:
Wx = W sin = AL sin (11)
γ = Specific weight of water
A = Cross sectional area
L = Distance between sections 1 and 2
7
Chezy Equation
The friction force on the channel boundary can be expressed as
follows:
F f = . p.L (12)
τ = Boundary shear stress
p = Wetted perimeter of the channel
L = Distance between sections 1 and 2
Let Wx is equal to Ff , it becomes:
AL sin = . p.L (13)
The above equation can be rearranged as follows:
A
= sin = RS (14)
p
where S = sinθ, representing the bed slope (for a uniform
flow).
8
Chezy Equation
For turbulent flow, the boundary shear stress can be
expressed as follows:
= KV 2 (15)
where K is a constant. Substituting Eq.15 into Eq.14
yields:
V = RS
K (16)
Let C=
K
, Eq.16 becomes Eq.10
9
Manning Equation
Manning Equation is an empirical equation developed for
uniform flow by Manning in 1889. The equation is expressed
as follows:
1.486 2 / 3 1 / 2
V= R S (English units) (17)
n
V = average velocity in ft/sec.
n = Manning’s roughness coefficient (See Table 10.1
for typical values)
R = hydraulic radius in ft.
S = channel slope So, which equals Se and Sw.
10
Manning Equation
Manning equation can be also expressed for SI (metric)
units as follows:
1 2 / 3 1/ 2
V= R S (18)
n
Eq.17 can be used with cross section area A to compute the
discharge passing through the section:
1.486
Q = AV = AR 2 / 3 S 1 / 2 (19)
n
Eq.19 can be further expressed as follows:
1.486 1 / 2 (20)
Q = Zn ( S )
n
where
Z n = AR 2 / 3 (21)
In the above equation, Zn is called the section factor for uniform
flow. 11
Rectangular Channel
For a rectangular channel, cross sectional area A and wetted
perimeter p are expressed as follows:
A = by (22)
p = b + 2y (23)
where b is channel width and y is flow depth. The hydraulic
radius can be expressed as follows:
A by
R= = (24)
p b + 2y
Substituting A in Eq.22 and R in Eq.24 into Eq.21 yields:
by 2 / 3
Z n = AR 2 / 3 = (by )( ) (25)
b + 2y
12
Rectangular Channel
It can be seen from Eq.25 that, for given a channel geometry
(namely, width b in the case of a rectangular channel), Zn is
only a function of flow depth y. In other words, for a given
flow depth, there is a corresponding Zn, which in terms has a
corresponding Q (assuming S and n are given).
Substituting Eq.25 into Eq.20 yields:
1.486 by 2 / 3 1 / 2
Q= (by )( ) S (26)
n b + 2y
Eq.26 can be used to compute the discharge of a rectangular
channel for any flow depth y with given b, n, and S.
13
Rectangular Channel
In summary, with known b and n for a rectangular channel,
Manning equation can be used for the following applications:
Compute Q for given y and S (for example, in field
measurement of discharge).
Compute y for given Q and S (for example, in channel
design).
Compute S for given Q and y (for example, in channel
design).
14
General Cross Section Geometries
15
Circular Channel
The discharge and velocity for a circular
channel under the full flow condition may be
expressed as follows:
1.486 2 / 3 1 / 2 1.486 d o 2 / 3 1 / 2 0.59 2 / 3 1 / 2
V full = Ro S = ( ) S = do S (27)
no no 4 no
1.486 d o d o 2 / 3 1 / 2 0.463 8 / 3 1 / 2
2
1.486
Q full = Ao Ro S 1 / 2 =
2/3
( ) S = do S (28)
no no 4 4 no
where Qfull, Vfull, no, Ao, and Ro are discharge,
velocity, Manning’s roughness coefficient,
flow area, and hydraulic radius under the full
flow condition.
16
Circular Channel
The discharge and velocity under the partially full flow
condition may be expressed as follows:
1.486 2 / 3 1 / 2 1.486 1 sin
V= R S = {( )(1 − )d o }2 / 3 S 1 / 2 (29)
n n 4
1.486 ( − sin )d o 1 sin
2
1.486
Q= AR S =
2 / 3 1/ 2
{( )(1 − )d o }2 / 3 S 1 / 2 (30)
n n 8 4
where Q, V, n, A, and R are discharge, velocity,
Manning’s roughness coefficient, flow area, and
hydraulic radius under the partially full flow condition.
17
Circular Channel
ϴ can be expressed as a function of
depth y as follows:
2y
= 2 cos (1 − )
−1
(31)
do
Based on the above relationships, V/Vfull
and Q/Qfull can be express as a function
of y/d as follows:
V no R 2 / 3 y
= ( 2 / 3 ) = Funct ( ) (32)
V full n Ro do
Q no AR 2 / 3 y
= ( 2/3
) = Funct ( ) (33)
Q full n Ao Ro do
18
Circular Channel
The parameters Q/Qfull (or AR2/3/ARo2/3) and V/Vfull (or AR2/3/ARo2/3) may
be graphically shown as functions of y/do in figure below.
The relationships are shown in solid lines when n is assumed to remain
constant over the entire flow depth.
19
Circular Channel
When Manning roughness n is
taken as a constant:
The maximum discharge
occurs at y = 0.938do.
The maximum velocity
occurs at y = 0.81do.
For a depth greater than
about 0.82do, there are two
possible depths for the same
discharge; one above 0.938do
and one below 0.938do.
For a depth greater than
0.5do, there are two possible
depths for the same velocity
one above 0.81do and one
below 0.81do.
20
Relationship between n and C
The relationship between n and C can be derived by combining
Eq.10 and 17 as follows:
1.486 2 / 3 1/ 2
V= R S = C RS (English units) (34)
n
Eq.34 can be rewritten to express C as a function of n and R:
1.486 1/ 6
C= R (English units) (35)
n
Similarly, the relationship can be written for metric units as
follows:
1 1/ 6
C= R (SI units) (36)
n
21
Manning’s Roughness Coefficient n
22
Manning’s Roughness Coefficient n
23
Manning’s Roughness Coefficient n
24
Manning’s Roughness Coefficient n
25
Example
A trapezoidal channel with a bottom width of 4 m and side
slopes of 4:1 carries a discharge of 30 m3/sec. The channel has
a bottom slope of 0.1% and n = 0.025. Determine the normal
depth.
26
Example
27
