Fluid Mechanics Chapter 8 – Open Channel Flow

8 OPEN CHANNEL FLOW

8.1 Classification & Definition

‹ Open channel flows are flows in rivers, streams, artificial channels,

irrigation ditches, partially filled pipe etc.

‹ Basically, it is a flow with free surface.

(Free surface is a surface with atmospheric pressure)

Open Channel Flow

Steady flow Unsteady flow

Uniform Varied Varied Uniform

Gradually Rapidly Gradually Rapidly

varied varied varied varied
flow flow flow flow

Classifications of Open Channel Flow

8.1.1 Open Channel Geometry

1. Depth of flow, y: vertical distance from the bottom to surface.

Free surface
B

flow A y
Bottom
(cross-section)

2 Top width, B:
– the width of the channel at the free surface

3 Flow area, A:
– cross-sectional area of the flow

4 Wetted perimeter, P:
– the length of the channel cross-section in contact with the fluid

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Fluid Mechanics Chapter 8 – Open Channel Flow

5 Hydraulic radius (hydraulic mean depth), R:

Flow area A
R = =
Wetted perimeter P

6 Average depth (hydraulic average depth), yave:

Flow area A
yave = =
Top width B

8.1.2 Rectangular channel

– B =b
y
– A = b*y b

– P = b+2*y

b*y
– R =
b + 2* y

– yave =y

8.1.3 Trapezoidal channel

– B = b + 2*m*y
y 1
– A = y*(b+m*y) m
b

– P = b+2*y* 1 + m 2

y * ( b + m * y)
– R =
b + 2 * y * 1 + m2

y * ( b + m * y)
– yave =
b + 2*m* y

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Fluid Mechanics Chapter 8 – Open Channel Flow

8.1.4 Triangular channel

– B = 2*m*y
y
– 2 1
A = m*y m

– P = 2*y* 1+ m 2

m*y
– R =
2 * 1 + m2

y
– yave =
2

8.1.5 Circular channel

– B = 2 * y * ( D − y)
θ
D 2 * (θ − sin θ ) y D
– A =
8
(θ in radian)
θ*D
– P =
2

D ⎛ sin θ ⎞
– R = ⎜1 − ⎟
4⎝ θ ⎠

D * (θ − sin θ)
– yave =
8 * sin θ
2

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Fluid Mechanics Chapter 8 – Open Channel Flow

8.2 Steady Uniform Flow

‹ For a steady uniform flow

– depth is constant along the flow
– velocity is constant over the cross-section
– time independent

8.2.1 Manning Equations

‹ In 1890, Manning, an Irish engineer derived a better and more accurate

relationship, Manning equation, based on many field measurement.

1 2 1
V = * R 3 *S 2 (8.1)
n

• n - Manning’s coefficient, s/m1/3

(can be found in most of the hydraulic handbooks)

‹ To incorporate the continuity equation, Manning equation becomes

A 2
3
1
2
Q = * R *S (8.2)
n

‹ As the flow according to Manning equations is for normal steady

uniform flow,
– the flow is Normal Flow
– the depth is Normal Depth

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Fluid Mechanics Chapter 8 – Open Channel Flow

Worked examples:

1. Water flows in a rectangular, concrete, open channel that is 12 m wide

at a depth of 2.5m. The channel slope is 0.0028. Find the water
velocity and the flow rate. (n = 0.013)

Answer

By Manning equation,

1 2 1
V = * R 3 *S 2
n

with n = 0.013
S = 0.0028

A = 12* 2.5 m2 = 30 m2
P = 12 + 2*2.5 m = 17 m
∴ R = A/P
= 30 / 17 m = 1.765 m

1 2 1
hence V = * (1.765) 3 * (0.0028) 2
0.013
= 5.945 m/s

Discharge, Q = A*V
= 30*5.945 m3/s
= 178.3 m3/s

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Fluid Mechanics Chapter 8 – Open Channel Flow

2. Water flows in a rectangular, concrete, open channel that is 12 m wide.

The channel slope is 0.0028. If the velocity of the flow is 6 m/s, find
the depth of the flow. (n = 0.013)

12m

Answer

By Manning equation,

1 2 1
V = * R 3 *S 2
n

with V = 6 m/s
n = 0.013
S = 0.0028

A = 12* h m2
P = 12 + 2*h m
A 12 * h 6*h
∴ R = = =
P 12 + 2 * h 6 + h
6*h
= 1.790
6+h
h = 2.551 m

Depth of the flow = 2.551m

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Fluid Mechanics Chapter 8 – Open Channel Flow

3. A trapezoidal channel with side slopes of 2/3, a depth of 2 m, a bottom

width of 8 m and a channel slope of 0.0009 has a discharge of 56 m3/s.
Find the Manning’s n.

14m

2m 1
1.5
3m 8m 3m

Answer

A = (14+8)*2/2 m2
= 22 m2
P = 8 + 2* 2 2 + 32 m
= 15.211 m
A/P = 22 / 15.211 m
= 1.446 m

By Manning equation,

A 2 1
Q= * R 3 *S 2
n

Q = 56 m3/s, S = 0.0009

22 2 1
56 = * (1.446) 3 * (0.0009) 2
n
n = 0.01507

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Fluid Mechanics Chapter 8 – Open Channel Flow

4. Determine the depth in a trapezoidal channel with side slopes of 1 to

1.5, a bottom width of 8 m and a channel slope of 0.0009. The
discharge is 56 m3/s and n = 0.017.

(8+3*y) m

y 1
1.5
8m

Answer

A = (8+8+3*y)*y/2 m2
= (8+1.5*y)*y m2
P = 8 + 2*y* 12 + 1.5 2 m
= 8+3.6056*y m
R = A/P
= (8+1.5*y)*y / 8+3.6056*y

By Manning equation,
A 2 1
Q = * R 3 *S 2
n
Q = 56 m3/s, S = 0.0009
2
(8 + 1.5 * y) * y ⎡ (8 + 1.5 * y) * y ⎤ 3 1
∴ 56 = *⎢ ⎥ * (0.0009) 2
0.017 ⎣ 8 + 3.6056 * y ⎦

or
[(8 + 1.5 * y) * y]5 3 = 31.7333
[8 + 3.6056 * y]2 3
[(1 + 0.1875 * y) * y]5 3 − 3.9667 = 0
[1 + 0.4507 * y]2 3
By trial & error, y = 2.137 m.
The depth of the trapezoidal channel is 2.137m.

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Fluid Mechanics Chapter 8 – Open Channel Flow

5. Water flows in the triangular steel channel shown in the figure below.
Find the depth of flow if the channel slope is 0.0015 and the discharge
is 0.22 m3/s. (n=0.014)

y o
60

Answer

A = 2ytan30° * y/2 m2
= y2*tan30° m2
P = 2y/cos30° m
R = A/P = y2*tan30° / 2y/cos30° m
= ysin30°/2 m

By Manning equation,
A 2 1
Q = * R 3 *S 2
n

Q = 0.22 m3/s, S = 0.0015

2
y 2 tan 30° ⎛ y sin 30° ⎞ 3
0.22 = *⎜ ⎟ * 0.0015
0.014 ⎝ 2 ⎠
8/3
= y * 0.6338
3
⎛ 0.22 ⎞ 8
or y =⎜ ⎟ m
⎝ 0.6338 ⎠
= 0.672 m

Depth of the channel is 0.672 m.

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Fluid Mechanics Chapter 8 – Open Channel Flow

8.2.2 Optimum Hydraulic Cross-sections (REFERENCE ONLY)

‹ From Manning equation,

5
1 A 3* S
Q = * 2
n P 3
Hence, Q will be maximum when P is a minimum.

‹ For a given cross-sectional area, A of an open channel, the discharge, Q

is maximum when the wetted perimeter, P is minimum. Hence if the
wetted perimeter, P for a given flow area is minimised, the area, A will
give the least expensive channel to be construct.

‹ This corresponding cross-section is the optimum hydraulic section or

the best hydraulic section.

8.2.2.1 Rectangular section

width =b
y
depth =y b

area, A = by

P = b+2*y
A
= + 2y
y

dP A
Hence =− 2 +2=0
dy y
A
i.e. y= or b = 2y
2

Therefore, the optimum rectangular section is

2y

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