Objectives: To develop understanding of flow through a venturi flume

To develop understanding of flow through a sluice gate

Effect of lateral contraction of a channel
When the width of a channel is reduced while the bed remains flat (Fig. 1), the
discharge per unit width increases. If losses are neglected, the specific energy remains
constant and so, for tranquil flow the depth will decrease while for shooting flow the
depth will increase as the channel narrows.
Fig. 1
A lateral contraction followed by an epansion can be used for flow measurement
as an alternati!e to the broad"crested weir. If the conditions are such that the free surface
does not pass through the critical depth, the arrangement forms a !enturi flume analogous
to the !enturi meter used for flow in pipes. #eferring to Fig. $(a), for continuity of flow,
%
1
&
1
!
1
' %
$
&
$
!
$
. (1)
Applying %ernoulli(s equation to the upstream and throat sections and ignoring losses,
&
1
) !
1
$
*$g ' &
$
) !
$
$
*$g
+ubstituting for !
1
from equation (1),
, ) 1 (
$
$ 1
$
1
$
1
$
$
$
$
$
$
h D D
D B
D B
g
v
= =
)
) ( 1 (
$
(
$
1 1 $ $
$
D B D B
gh
v

=
,olume flow rate, - ' %
$
&
$
!
$

)
) ( 1 (
$
(
$
1 1 $ $
$ $
D B D B
gh
D B

=
.wing to the energy losses, the actual discharge in practice will be slightly less than this
!alue and is gi!en by
)
) ( 1 (
$
(
$
1 1 $ $
$ $
D B D B
gh
D B C Q
d

=
,
where /
d
is a coefficient of discharge of the order of 0.12 to 0.11.
Fig.$
If the degree of contraction and the flow conditions are such that the upstream
flow is tranquil, the free surface passes through the critical depth in the throat as shown in
Fig. $(b),
- ' %
$
&
c
!
c
' %
$
&
c
3$g(4"&
c
)5,
where 4 is the specific energy measured abo!e the bed le!el at the throat and, since the
critical depth &
c
' $*64,
- ' %
$
$*64($g1*64) ' 1.702%4
6*$
in +I units.
Assuming, as for the broad"crested weir, that the upstream !elocity head is negligible,
- ' 1.702%8
6*$
in +I units,
where 8 is the height of the upstream face abo!e the bed le!el at the throat. In some
cases, in addition to the lateral contraction, a hump is formed in the bed (as shown in Fig.
6), in which case 8 ' &
1
"9.

Fig. 6
If the upstream conditions are tranquil and the bed slope is the same downstream
as upstream, it will not be possible for shooting flow to be maintained for any great
distance from the throat. It will re!ert to tranquil flow downstream by means of an
hydraulic :ump or standing wa!e. A !enturi flume operating in this mode is ;nown as a
standing wave flume.
+luice gates
+luice gates are used to control the flow in ri!ers and man"made open channels.
<hey are sometimes referred to as underflow gates, since the flow passes under the
bottom edge of the gate, as shown diagrammatically in Fig. =. .nce calibrated, either by
measurements in the field or model tests, they can also be used to measure the discharge.
!
1
$
*$g
8
1
8ydraulic :ump
> 8
$
&
c
&
?
Fig. = 8
$
' /
c
>
<he analysis of flow under a sluice gate was based on the energy equation applied
to cross"section 1 upstream of the gate and section $ at the !ena contracta, as in Fig. 6.
<a;ing the head at section 1 to be 8
1
, as for an orifice, and the downstream depth as 8
$
,
then with no loss of energy head@
8
1
) !
1
$
*$g ' 8
$
) !
$
$
*$g
+o !
$
$
*$g ' 8
1
) !
1
$
*$g A 8
$
!
$
' 3$g(8
1
) !
1
$
*$g A 8
$
5
1*$
<he theoretical discharge under the sluice gate is -
<
' a
o
!
$
where a
o
is the area of the
openingB a
o
' b> where b is the width of the gate across the channel and > the height of
the opening. <he actual discharge can be obtained by introducing the coefficient of
discharge /
&
' /
c
/
!
. <he !alue of the coefficient of contraction (/
c
) depends upon the
shape of the gate and its relati!e height from the bed, but often has a !alue of 0.C. <he
coefficient of !elocity (/!) has a !alue :ust less than unity. <hus the actual discharge -
A
' /
&
a
o
!
$
is gi!en by@
-
A
' /
&
a
o
3$g(8
1
) !
1
$
*$g A 8
$
)5
1*$
(1)
In free flow it is often assumed that 8
$
' /
/
>. If an o!erall sluice gate coefficient D is
introduced that incorporates /
&
, the !elocity of approach and the depth 8
$
then equation
(1) can be con!eniently simplified to@
-
A
' /a
o
($g8
1
)
1*$
where the depth 8
$
the critical depth (&
c
) the flow is free (i.e. :et can discharge freely
into the downstream channel) and the !alue of / for a sharp edged sluice gate is between
0.2 and 0.C. Ender these conditions the !alue of / depends largely upon the relati!e
height of the opening 8
1
*>. For eample, if 8
1
*> ' = then the free flow line gi!es / '
0.2=.