Expt. No.

3
DETERMINATION OF SPECIFIC ENERGY

Aim
Determination of Specific Energy, Critical depth and plot the Specific energy curve.

Apparatus
Open channel of size 5m x 150mm x 75mm, Scale, Stop-watch and Weights.

Theory:
The specific energy of flow at any channel section is defined as the energy per unit weight
of water measured with respect to the channel bottom as the datum. Thus, specific energy E
at any section is the sum of the depth of flow at that section and the velocity head, that is
V2 Q2 Q
E= y+ or E=y+ since V= (1)
2g 2 gA2 A
It can be seen from Eq. (1), that for a given channel section and discharge Q, the specific
energy is a function of the depth of flow only. Thus for a given channel section, the
discharge equation represented by Eq. (1) can be represented graphically, in which specific
energy is plotted against the depth of flow. The curve so obtained is known as specific
energy curve.

Critical depth ( yc )

The depth of flow at which the specific energy is minimum is called critical depth ‘ yc ’.

The velocity of flow at the critical depth is known as critical velocity vc . The critical state
of flow may be defined as that state of flow at which the specific energy is a minimum for

the given discharge. For a rectangular channel section, the critical depth yc can be
computed by the following equation, if the discharge per unit width is known.
1
 q2 3
yc    (2)
 g 

1
 Q
Where q=
B
For the critical state of flow, specific energy is minimum and therefore,

vc2 yc
 (3)
2g 2

Procedure
1. Adjust the flume to the desired slope or measure the slope, note down the bed slope of
the channel.
2. Allow water to flow through the rectangular channel and make the flow steady.
3. Determine where you are going to measure water depths.
4. Measure the discharge by measuring the time taken to fill up 15 litres of water in the
collection tank.
5. Now take depth measurement at various sections throughout the channel and compute
the specific energy from the equations.
6. Then vary the discharge and repeat the above steps.
7. Prepare a graph that relates specific energy to depth (E vs. y).

Results

Discussions

Applications

2
Observation Table

Channel bed slope:

Sl. Discharge Depth y Area A Velocity Specific Energy

No. Q (m) ( m2 ) Q V2
((m3/s)) V= E= y+
A 2g
(m/s) (m)
1 Q1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
1 Q2
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
1 Q3
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10