Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering

Undergraduate Program

CIVL400
Water Resources

Open Channel Hydraulics I

 Notes

1st lecture in the last topic of this course.

Content of the lecture is included in chapter 4 of
the course’s textbook* and is linked to CLO6 of
the course.

*Chin, D.A. (2013) Water-Resources Engineering. 3rd Edition, Pearson Prentice Hall, Upper Saddle River.

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Recap

What have learned from the hydrology chapter?

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Importance: Failing is not an option

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Wtdhfzb-Yg
Importance: Failing is not an option

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GShEKaUBBpc
Importance: Failing is not an option

https://images.app.goo.gl/2mkjvXP1GxVv6JyK9 https://images.app.goo.gl/J2djDeEVJW9eYXTM8
 Learning Objectives and Outcomes

Objective: Explain how flow in open channels differs from flow in

closed pipes, describe the different flow regimes, and calculate flow
parameters in an open channel.
LO1: Determine the flow classification in an open channel
LO2: Calculate the geometric properties of an open channel section
LO3: Apply Manning’s equation to calculate the flow, depth, and
slope in an open channel
LO4: Identify the best hydraulic section

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Introductory discussion

Many examples of open

channels occur in nature and in
systems designed to …

What kind of section is this 

Characterized by the presence
of a liquid-gas interface called
the free surface.

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Introductory discussion

What kind of section is this 

Which is higher v1 or v2? Why?
Why is the velocity zero at the
bottom of the channel? Is it
zero only at the bottom?

Velocity is dependent on the depth of flow

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 LO1: Classification of Open Channel Flow
Steady and Unsteady (Temporal)
Steady: velocity at a given point does not change with time
Unsteady: …
𝑆𝑡𝑒𝑎𝑑𝑦 𝑓𝑙𝑜𝑤 𝑣 𝑣 𝑣

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LO1: Classification of Open Channel Flow

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VMdksooB0-M

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 LO1: Classification of Open Channel Flow
Uniform, Gradually Varied, and Rapidly Varied (Spatial)
Uniform: velocity at a given time does not change within a given
length of a channel.

Depth in UF is called normal depth yn

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 LO1: Classification of Open Channel Flow
Uniform, Gradually Varied, and Rapidly Varied
Gradually varied: gradual changes in velocity with distance
Rapidly varied: …

What causes flow depth (and velocity) to vary?

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 LO1: Classification of Open Channel Flow
Peer learning Exercise: discuss with your colleague and classify
the flow in the channel

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 LO2: Geometric properties of Open Channels
T
Geometric parameters
Ac = cross-section area
p = wetted perimeter (free surface isn’t included) Ac
Rh = Ac/p = hydraulic radius p?
T = Top width
L = Channel Length
L
yh = Ac/T = hydraulic mean depth
for non rectangular channels
S0 = Channel bed slope

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 LO2: Geometric properties of Open Channels
Example 1
Determine the geometric properties of the trapezoidal section shown
if W=1.22 m, X=0.305 m, and D=0.61 m.

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 LO2: Geometric properties of Open Channels
Hydraulic performance curves 
Curve A: Ratio of ;𝐴 𝜋

Curve p: Ratio of ;𝑝 𝜋𝐷

Curve R: Ratio of ;𝑅

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 LO2: Geometric properties of Open Channels
Example 2: For a circular section, D = 0.6 m ; y = 0.4 m; get Rh
y/D 0.67
𝐴 𝜋 0.283 𝑚 ; 0.7; 𝐴 0.198 𝑚

𝑝 𝜋𝐷 1.885 𝑚; 0.6; 𝑝 1.13 𝑚

𝑅 0.15 𝑚; 1.16; 𝑅 0.174 𝑚

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 Critical Thinking Questions
What is the pressure at the Free Surface?
What is the pressure at the Channel Bottom?

Can you deduce a relationship between the pressure head and

the depth of flow?

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 LO3: Manning’s Equation for Open Channels
Deriving Manning’s equation

General Energy Equation: 𝑧 ℎ 𝑧

Since the pressure is hydrostatically distributed
𝑃/𝛾 𝑦 (depth of flow)

𝑦 𝑧 ℎ 𝑦 𝑧

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 LO3: Manning’s Equation for Open Channels
Deriving Manning’s equation
For uniform flow: v1 = v2 = v and y1 = y2 = y
𝑦 𝑧 ℎ 𝑦 𝑧 Sf

ℎ 𝑧 𝑧 Sw

Divide both sides by L (length of channel) S0

L ᶿ
𝑆 𝑆 𝑡𝑎𝑛𝜃 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃
In uniform flow the friction slope Sf is the same as the surface
water slope Sw the channel bottom slope S0

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 LO3: Manning’s Equation for Open Channels
Deriving Manning’s equation
Momentum equation: ∑ 𝐹 𝜌𝑄 𝑣 𝑣
∑𝐹 𝐹 𝐹 𝐹 𝐹
∑𝐹 𝛾 𝐴 𝐿 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃 𝜏 𝑝𝐿 𝛾𝐴

ᶿ
p

τ0 τ0 τ0

Momentum Eqn. 𝛾 𝐴 𝐿 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃 𝜏 𝑝𝐿 𝛾𝐴 𝜌𝑄 𝑣 𝑣

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 LO3: Manning’s Equation for Open Channels
Deriving Manning’s equation
For Uniform Flow: v1 = v2 = v and y1 = y2 = y
𝛾𝐴 𝐿 𝑆 𝜏 𝑝𝐿 𝛾𝐴 𝜌𝑄 𝑣 𝑣
𝛾𝐴 𝐿 𝑆 𝜏 𝑝𝐿
∴𝜏 𝛾𝑅 𝑆
But 𝜏 𝐶𝛾

where 𝐶 is the channel resistance 𝐶 𝛾 𝛾𝑅 𝑆

𝟐𝒈
∴ 𝑽𝟐 𝑹 𝑺 (Mr. Darcy again!) Cf is difficult to determine
𝑪𝒇 𝒉 𝟎

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 LO3: Manning’s Equation for Open Channels
Manning’s Equation: an empirical equation to determine flow in OC
/ / / /
𝑣 𝑅 𝑆 or 𝑄 𝐴 𝑅 𝑆
For SI : K=1.0, v in m/s, Ac in m2, and Rh in m
For ES: K=1.49, v in fps, Ac in ft2, and Rh in ft
Sf is the energy slope
n is manning resistance coefficient that depends on surface type

/ / / /
For uniform flow: 𝑣 𝑅 𝑆 𝑄 𝐴 𝑅 𝑆
Solve for the normal flow Qn, or the normal depth yn!

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LO3: Manning’s Equation for Open Channels

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LO3: Manning’s Equation for Open Channels

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 LO3: Manning’s Equation for Open Channels
Example 3
Determine the normal discharge for a 200-mm-inside-diameter brick
glazed tile running half full if it is laid on a slope that drops 1 m over a run
of 1000 m.
/ /
𝑄 𝐴 𝑅 𝑆

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 LO3: Manning’s Equation for Open Channels
Group Solving Exercise:
A cross section of a river in flood stage is approximated by three rectangles
as shown. Estimate the discharge, if the main channel has an earth bed
(straight and uniform) and the two overbank floodplains are densely covered
with brush. The friction slope is 0.0005

1 m
2 m
160 m
100 m
5 m
4 m
30 m

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 LO3: Manning’s Equation for Open Channels
Example 4
Calculate the minimum slope on which the channel shown must be laid if
it is to carry a normal discharge of 1.416 m3/s with a depth of 0.61 m. The
sides and bottom of the channel are made of formed, float finish concrete.

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 LO3: Manning’s Equation for Open Channels
Example 5
Determine the normal depth in a trapezoidal channel with side slopes of
1.5 (z) on 1, a bottom width of 25 ft, and a channel slope of 0.00088, if the
discharge is 1510 cfs and the Manning’s n is 0.015.
/
/ / /
𝑄 𝐴 𝑅 𝑆 / 𝑆
yn 1
z
b

Solve using your calculator, Or from an online hydraulics calculator

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 LO4: Best Hydraulic Section
Best hydraulic section: They are sections that deliver
greatest discharge for a given area (i.e. greatest A and
minimum p)
Semicircular sections are the most efficient sections.
The trapezoid sections are popular.
Best section: a half-hexagon with 60o side slope
3
𝑦 𝑏
2
For rectangular section, the best hydraulic section: b=2y

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Recall

LO1: Determine the flow classification in an open

channel
LO2: Calculate the geometric properties of an open
channel section
LO3: Apply Manning’s equation to calculate the flow,
velocity, depth, and slope in an open channel
LO4: Identify the best hydraulic section

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Additional Resources
Mott, R.L. (2006) Applied Fluid Mechanics, Sixth
Edition. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall, 2006.
Chapter 14. UAEU Main library TA357.M67 2006

Cruise, J.F., Sherif, M.M., and Singh V.P. (2006)

Elementary Hydraulics, Cengage Learning. This is your
CIVL 345 textbook. Chapters 10-16.

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Next Lecture

Define the specific energy of the flow in open

channels.
Define Froude’s number.
Describe critical flow, subcritical flow, and supercritical
flow.
Apply specific energy for flow through transitions.

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