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ADVANCED OPEN CHANNEL

HYDRAULICS (CHAPTER NO 1)
REFERENCE BOOK:

Presented By: Hadiqa Qadir

2k22-MS-HIE-02

Civil Engineering Department (CED), UCE&T, BZU, Multan 2

CHAPTER 1: OPEN CHANNEL FLOW & ITS CLASSIFICATIONS

Content:
1. Description/Introduction
2. Types Of Flow
3. State Of Flow
4. Regimes Of Flow

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1. NTRODUCTION

Hydraulics: The word originates from the Greek word (hydraulikos) which in turn originates
from (hydro, Greek for water) and (aulos, meaning pipe). So hydraulics means flow of water.
Therefore,
The branch of science that deals with the flow/velocity and the flow mechanism of fluids/water is called
hydraulics.
It is widely applied in many civil and environmental engineering system such as
water resources, water management, flood defense, harbors and port, bridge, building,
hydropower, irrigation, ecosystem, pumps, turbines, etc.

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INTRODUCTION (CONT.)

Flow of a liquid may take place either as open channel flow or pressure flow. Pressure
flow takes place in a closed conduit such as a pipe, and pressure is the primary driving
force for the flow.
For open channel flow, on the other hand the flowing liquid has a free surface at
atmospheric pressure and the driving force is gravity. Open channel flow takes place
in natural channels like rivers and streams.

Figure1.0: Open Channel Flow Examples: A River and an Irrigation Canal

(Artificial Channel)
FLOW OF WATER
The movement of water through conduit
either by the action of gravitational
force or atmospheric pressure or
artificial force or conjugation of all is
called flow of water. Types of flow
two types

(1) Open channel flow (2) Pipe flow

(1) Open channel Flow : Open (2) Pipe flow : it is also a conduit
channel flow is a conduit flow flow having no free surface
having open surface

Flow
Flow
Figr.- Open Channel Flow Figr. Pipe Flow
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DIFFERENCE BETWEEN OPEN CHANNEL FLOW(OCF) AND PIPE
FLOW

Open Channel Flow Pipe Flow

1. .Defines as a passage in which liquid flows 1.A pipe is a closed conduit . Pipe has no such
with its upper surface exposed to atmosphere. free surface since water must fill the whole
conduit

[Link] channel flow caused by gravitational and 2. No direct atmospheric pressure

atmospheric pressure but hydraulic pressure only.

[Link] grade line coincides [Link] grade line does not

with the water surface coincides with the water surface.

[Link] maximum velocity occurs [Link] maximum velocity

at a little distance below the water surface. occurring at the pipe centre. 7
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN OPEN CHANNEL FLOW(OCF) AND PIPE
FLOW
Figure : 1 Comparison between pipe flow and open channel flow
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1 2 Parallel to Datum
hf
hf v32/2g
V1 2 /2g
v42/2g
v22/2g
y1
y v3
v1 y2
C/L v2 3 v4
y4
z1 z3 Channel bed
z2 z4
Datum line
Datum line
Figure : 1-1(b) Open channel flow
Figure :1-1(a) Pipe Flow 8
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN OPEN CHANNEL FLOW(OCF) AND PIPE
FLOW

[Link] shape of the velocity profile is dependent [Link] Distribution is symmetrical about
on the channel roughness the pipe axis

[Link] are variable cross sections and shape- [Link] pipe flow the cross section of flow is fixed,
from circular to the irregular forms of natural since it is completely defined by the geometry of
streams. the conduit.
Generally the cross section is round.

[Link] roughness in an open channel varies [Link] roughness in pipes depends on the interior
with the position of the free surface. surface ranges from that of new smooth brass or
wooden-stave pipes, corroded iron or old steel
pipes.
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2. TYPES OF OPEN CHANNEL FLOW

Open channel flow conditions can be characterised with respect to space (uniform or non-uniform flows) and time
(steady or unsteady flows).

Space - how do the flow conditions change along the reach of an open channel system.

a. Uniform flow - depth of flow is the same at every section of

the flow dy/dx = 0
b. Non-uniform flow - depth of flow varies along the flow dy/dx 0

Time - how do the flow conditions change over time at a specific section in an open channel system.
c. Steady flow - depth of flow does not change/ constant during the
time interval under consideration dy/dt = 0
d. Unsteady flow - depth of flow changes with time dy/dt 0 10
Types of Open Channel Flows
a. Uniform flow
y
y

b. Non-uniform flow
y1
y2

c. Steady flow
y y y1 y1

Time = t1 Time = t2 Time = t1 Time = t2

d. Unsteady flow
t3 t3
t1 t1
y t2 y t2 11
 Classification of open channel flow in a flow diagram

Time as the criteria

(1)Steady Flow (2) Unsteady Flow

Space as the criteria

(1) Uniform flow (2) Non-uniform (2) Unsteady Non-uniform

flow (1) Unsteady uniform flow flow

(2) Gradually
(1) Gradually (2) Rapidly (1) Rapidly varied unsteady
varied flow varied flow varied unsteady flow
flow

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TYPE OF OPEN CHANNEL FLOW (CONT.)

The flow is rapidly varied if the depth changes abruptly over a comparatively short distance. Examples
of rapidly varied flow (RVF) are hydraulic jump, hydraulic drop, flow over weir and flow under a sluice
gate.

The flow is gradually varied if the depth changes slowly over a comparatively long distance. Examples
of gradually varied flow (GVF) are flow over a mild slope and the backing up of flow (backwater).

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 Depth change rapidly

RVF GVF RVF GVF RVF GVF RVF

Bed profile
Sluice gate
Fig 1-3(d) : Rapidly
Hydraulic varied flow (RVF)
jump Flow over Weir

Weir
Hydraulic Drop
Contraction
below the gate
Bed profile

Varied flow Showing Hydraulic jump and Hydraulic drop

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3. STATE OF FLOW

The state or behaviour of open-channel flow is governed basically by the viscosity and
gravity effects relative to the inertial forces of the flow.

Effect of viscosity - depending on the effect of viscosity relative to inertial forces, the
flow may be in laminar, turbulent, or transitional state.
- Reynolds number represents the effect of viscosity relative to inertia,

where V is the velocity, R is the hydraulic radius of a conduit and is the kinematic viscosity (for water
at 20 C, = 1.004 10 6 m2/s, dynamic viscosity = 1.002 10 3 Ns/m2 and density = 998.2 kg/m3).
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 Re < 500 , the flow is laminar
500 < Re < 12500, the flow is transitional
Re > 12500 , the flow is turbulent

The flow is laminar if the viscous forces are dominant relative to inertia.
Viscosity will determine the flow behaviour. In laminar flow, water particles
move in definite smooth paths.

The flow is turbulent if the inertial forces are dominant than the viscous
force. In turbulent flow, water particles move in irregular paths which are
not smooth.
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STATE OF FLOW (CONT.)

Effect of gravity - depending on the effect of gravity forces relative to inertial forces, the
flow may be subcritical, critical and supercritical.
- Froude number represents the ratio of inertial forces to gravity forces,

where V is the velocity, D is the hydraulic depth of a conduit and g is the gravity
acceleration (g = 9.81 m/s2).

Fr < 1 , the flow is in subcritical state

Fr = 1 , the flow is in critical state
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Fr > 1 , the flow is in supercritical state
4. REGIMES OF FLOW

A combined effect of viscosity and gravity may produce any one of the following four regimes of
flow in an open channel:
a. subcritical - laminar , when Fr < 1 and Re < 500
b. supercritical - laminar , when Fr > 1 and Re < 500
c. supercritical turbulent , when Fr > 1 and Re > 12500
d. subcritical - turbulent , when Fr < 1 and Re > 12500

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