Hydraulics

Chapter 6
Energy and Momentum Principles
in open channel flow

Er. Binu Karki

Lecturer

1
 Specific Energy and Critical Depth Basic
Definitions
c Head
c Energy per unit weight
c Energy Line
c Line joining the total head at different positions
c Hydraulics Grade Line
c Line joining the pressure head at different
positions

2
Specific Energy and Critical Depth
Basic Definitions

c Open Channel Flow

V12 E
2g L
V22
HG
y1 L 2g Water
y2 Level

Z1 S
o
Z2
Datu
m
V 12 V 22
Z1  y1   Z 2  y2   hl
2g 2g

3
 Specific Energy

In a channel with constant discharge, Q

Q  A1V1  A2V2
V2 Q2
E  y  E  y  where
2g 2gA2
A=f(y)
Consider rectangular channel (A = By) and Q = qB
q2 q is the discharge per unit width of
E  y  channel
2gy 2 y
A

3 roots (one is negative) B

2
How many possible depths given a specific energy? _____
 4

y
yc
Critical Flow 1

0
0 1 2 3 4
E

Find critical depth, yc Arbitrary cross-section

dE
 0 T
dy dy
Q2 dA
E  y  A=f(y) y A
2gA2 P
dE Q 2 dA
= 1- 3
=0 dA = Tdy T=surface width
dy gA dy
More general definition of Fr
Q 2Tc Q 2T V 2T A
1   Fr 2
 Fr 2 =D Hydraulic Depth
gAc3 gA 3
gA T
 Critical Flow:
Rectangular channel
Q 2Tc T
1  T  Tc
gAc3
yc
Q  qT Ac  ycT Ac

q 2T 3 q2
1 
3 3
gy T
c gyc3
1/ 3
q 2 
yc    Only for rectangular channels!
g 
 

q  gyc3 Given the depth we can find

the flow!
 Critical Flow Relationships:
Rectangular Channels
q 2
1/ 3
  Vc2 yc2 
yc    yc3    because q  Vc yc
g   g 
   

Vc inertial force Kinetic energy

 1 Froude numbergravity force Potential energy
yc g

Vc2 yc Vc2
yc   velocity head 0.5
= (depth)
g 2 2g
V2 yc 2
E  y  E  yc  yc  E
2g 2 3
 Specific Energy and Critical Depth Basic
Definitions

c Slopes in Open Channel

Flow

c So= Slope of Channel Bed = (Z1-Z2)/(Δx)= -ΔZ/Δx

c Sw= Slope of Water Surface= [(Z1+y1)-(Z2+y2)]/Δx
c S= Slope of Energy Line= [(Z1+y1+V12/2g)-
(Z2+y2+V22/2g)]/Δx = hl/ΔL
8
 Specific Energy and Critical Depth Basic
Definitions

c Slopes in Open Channel

Flow
V12 E
2g S L V22
HG
S 2g
y1 L Wate
w
y2 r
Level
Z1 S
∆ o Z2
Datu
L
For Uniform Flow ∆ m
x y1=y2 and V12/2g=V22/2g
Hence the line indicating the bed of the channel, water surface profile and
energy line are parallel to each other.
For θ being very small (say less than 5 degree) i.e ∆x=∆L
6
So=Sw=S
 Specific Energy and Critical Depth
(Rectangular Channels)
c Specific Energy
c Specific Energy at a section in an open channel is the energy
with reference to the bed of the channel.
c Mathematically;
Specific Energy = E = y+V2/2g
For a rectangular Channel
Ey V2
2g y
Datu
Ey
q2
m
2 gy2 B
Q AV ByV
where q   Vy
B B B
q = Discharge per unit width m3/s
per m

10
Specific Energy and Critical Depth
c E~y Diagram or E-Diagram
Ey q2
2g y2
where q Q/B
cAs it is clear from E~y diagram
Static Head drawn for constant discharge
Line
for any given value of E,
there would be two possible
depths, say y1 and y2. These
two depths are called Alternate
c depths.
However point C
be only one possible
fo depth yc. The
depth
r yc is know as critical depth.
c corresponding to minimum
specific energy there
The criticalEdepth
min, woul as
may be defined
depth corresponding to minimum d
specific energy discharge remaining
Constant.

11
Specific Energy and Critical Depth
c y>yc ,V<Vc Deep Channel
Fo c Sub-Critical Flow,Tranquil Flow, Slow
r Flow.

Shallow
c For y<yc ,V>Vc Channel
c Super-Critical Flow, Shooting Flow, Rapid Flow, Fast
Flow.

12
Specific Energy and Critical Depth
Relationship Between Critical Depth and Specific Energy
for rectangular channels

E  y  V2g2  y  q2
2gy 2
(1)
dE
dy
1 2q 2
2gy3
Vc 2
2g  yc
2
(3)
Vc
dE
dy  1 q2
gy3 0 gy c
1 (4) Froude
no
yc  ( ) Q y  yc
3 q2
g =1 !!
From eq. (3)

yc  q2
g
1/3
(2)
Vc 2
2g 
yc
2

y  
1/3
Vc 2 y 2c
c g Qq  Vc yc From eq. (1)

y   Emin  Ec  yc 
2 2 yc
3 Vc y c
c 2
g

 
y
3
c Vc y2 2
c
Ec  32 yc (5)
2g
2

13
Relationship Between
Specific Critical
Energy and Depth
Criticaland Specific Energy
Depth

c Froude’s number may be Q2

numerically calculate as Eq.(1)  Ey
2gA2
dE Q 2 dA
Fr 
V  1
dy gA3 dy
gD
Since dA Tdy
Q2 A
Fr  2
2
D dE Q2
 1 3 T
A g TA T dy gA
Q 2T dE
for Critical flow 0
Fr gA3 dy
Therefore
 A3 Q 2 
 T  g 
  y yc

14
Critical depth computation
Depth Discharge diagram
Momentum equation and specific
force
1
2
 Flow Over Hump
c Hump:
is a streamline construction provided at the bed of the
channel.
It is locally raised bed.

Let’s examine the case of hump in a rectangular

channel. We will neglect the head loss.
 Flow Over Hump

c For frictionless two-dimensional

flow, sections 1 and 2 in Fig are
related by continuity and energy:
v1 y1  v2 y2 B1=
B2
v12 v22
 y1   y2  Z
2g 2g
E1 E2+Z

• A hump of any height “Z” would cause the lowering of the water surface
over the hump in case of subcritical flow in channel.
• It is also clear that a gradual increase in the height of hump “Z” would
cause a gradual reduction in y2 value.
• That height of hump which is just causing the flow depth over hump
equal to yc is know as critical height of hump Zc.
 Flow Over Hump

• Further increase in Z (>Zc) would cause the flow depth y2

remaining equal yc thus causing the water surface over the
hump to rise.
• This would further cause an increase in the depth of water
upstream of the hump which mean that water surface upstream
of the hump would rise beyond the previous value i.e y1>yo. This
phenomenon of rise in water surface upstream with Z>Zc is
called damming action and the resulting increase in depth
upstream of the hump i.e y1-yo is known as Afflux.
 Flow Through Contraction
c When the width of the channel is reduced while the bed
remains flat, the discharge per unit width increases. If
losses are negligible, the specific energy remains constant
and so for subcritical flow depth will decrease while for
supercritical flow depth will increase in as the channel
narrows.
Continuity Equation
B1 y1v1  B2 y2v22
v v
y1  1  y2  2 B B
2g 2g 1 2

y1 y
E1=E2 y 2
c
 Flow Through Contraction
c If the degree of contraction and the flow conditions are such
that upstream flow is subcritical and free surface passes
through the critical depth yc in the throat.

B1
Q  Bc ycvc  Bc yc 2g E  yc  B
c
2
sin ce yc  E
3
y1 y2
Q  B c E  2g E  yc
Therefore
2 1
3  3 
Q  1.705BE3/ 2 in SI Units
y
1 y y
c c
 Broad Crested Weir
• Weir: It is a channel
obstruction over which the
flow must deflect. eg:
ordinary dam.

• Thus a weir is a simple but

effective open-channel
flow-meter.
• Figure shows two common weirs,
sharp-crested and broad-
assumed.In
crested, both cases the flow
upstream is subcritical,
accelerates to critical near the
top of the weir, and spills over
into a supercritical nappe
Broad Crested Weir
Venturi Flume
Ordinary Flume

y y
1 y 2
c
H = y2-
y1