Hydraulics Prof. B.S.

Thandaveswara

11.2 Hydraulic exponent for critical flow: M

The section factor Z for critical flow in general can be expressed as

Z2 = Co ycM

in which M is an exponent to be determined and C0 is a constant proportionality.

Taking logarithm on both sides

2 ln Z = ln Co + M ln yc
Differentiating with respect to y
d d d
2 ( ln Z ) = ( ln Co ) + M ( ln yc )
dy dy dy
d M
( ln Z ) = (1)
dy 2 yc

A A
But from definition Z =
T

Taking logarithm it may be expressed as

( ) (
ln Z = ln A3/ 2 + ln T −1/ 2 )
d 3 d 1 d
( ln Z ) = ( ln A ) − ( ln T )
dy 2 dy 2 dy
d 3 1 dA 1 dT
( ln Z ) = − ( 2)
dy 2 A dy 2 T dy

Comparing equations (1) and (2) it may be written as

⎡ 3 1 dA 1 dT ⎤
M = 2 yc ⎢ − ⎥
⎣ 2 A dy 2 T dy ⎦
dA
But = T, then
dy
⎡ T 1 dT ⎤
M = y c ⎢3 - ⎥
⎣ A T dy ⎦
y ⎡ A dT ⎤
M = c ⎢3T-
A⎣ T dy ⎥⎦

M is known as Hydraulically exponent for critical flow.

It may be noted that no particular channel shape has been assumed.

Indian Institute of Technology Madras

Hydraulics Prof. B.S. Thandaveswara

(a) If channels of rectangular cross section,

dT
=0
dy
3y T
∴M = c
byc
M = 3.0 (∵ T = b )

( b) For trapezoidal channel obtain the following expression

M=3
(1 + 2y'c )
−
2y'c
(1 + y'c ) (1 + 2y'c )
yc
i n which y'c = m .
b
Solution :
For trapezoidal channel ( for critical flow )
dT
A = ( b+ my ) yc , T = b+ 2 myc , = 2 m.
dy
yc ⎡ A dT ⎤
Substituting the above in the standard expression for M =
A⎣ ⎢ 3T-
T dy ⎥⎦
yc ⎡ ( b+m yc ) yc 2m ⎤
M= ⎢3 ( b+ 2 myc ) − ⎥
( b+m yc ) yc ⎣⎢ ( b+2m yc ) ⎥⎦
⎡ ⎛ myc ⎞ ⎤
⎢ b ⎜1+ ⎟ 2 myc ⎥
1 ⎛ 2 myc ⎞ ⎝ b ⎠
M= ⎢3b ⎜ 1+ ⎟ - ⎥
⎛ myc ⎞ ⎢ ⎝ b ⎠ ⎛ 2 myc ⎞ ⎥
b ⎜ 1+
b ⎟⎠ ⎢⎣ ⎜ b ⎟⎠ ⎥⎦
b 1+
⎝ ⎝
⎡ ⎛ myc ⎞ 2 myc ⎤
b ⎜1+
1 ⎢ ⎛ 2 myc ⎞ ⎝ b ⎠⎟ b ⎥
M= ⎢3b ⎜ 1+ ⎟ - ⎥
⎛ myc ⎞ ⎢ ⎝ b ⎠ ⎛ 2 myc ⎞ ⎥
b ⎜ 1+
⎝ b ⎟⎠ ⎢⎣ ⎜1+ b ⎟ ⎥
⎝ ⎠ ⎦
⎡ ⎛ 2 myc ⎞⎛ 2 myc ⎞ ⎛ myc ⎞ 2 myc ⎤
⎢ 3 ⎜ 1+ b ⎟⎜ 1+ b ⎟ - ⎜ 1+ b ⎟ b ⎥
⎢ ⎝ ⎠⎝ ⎠ ⎝ ⎠
1
M= ⎥
⎛ myc ⎞ ⎢ ⎛ 2 myc ⎞ ⎥
⎜1+ b ⎟ ⎢ ⎜ 1+ b ⎟ ⎥⎦
⎝ ⎠⎣ ⎝ ⎠
myc
If y'c =
b

1 ⎢ ( )( c )( )
⎡ 3 1+ 2 y' 1+ 2 y' - 1+ y' 2 y' ⎤
c c c
⎥
(1+ ) ( )
M=
y'c ⎢ 1+ 2 yc' ⎥
⎣ ⎦

M=⎢
⎡
⎢ 3 (1 + 2y c ) − 2 (1 + yc ) y c ⎥
' 2 ' ' ⎤

⎢
⎣
(1 + y'c )(1 + 2y'c )
⎥
⎥
⎦

M=3
(1 + 2y'c ) − 2y'c
(1 + y'c ) (1 + 2y'c )

Indian Institute of Technology Madras

Hydraulics Prof. B.S. Thandaveswara

Show for Triangular channel M = 5.0

Solution :
⎛ y⎞
Section factor Z = A D = my 2 ⎜⎜ ⎟⎟
⎝ 2⎠
2
⎡ ⎛ y ⎞⎤ 2 4⎛y⎞ m
2
Z = ⎢ my 2 ⎜⎜
2
⎟⎟ ⎥ = m y ⎜ ⎟ = y5
⎢⎣ ⎝ 2 ⎠ ⎥⎦ ⎝2⎠ 2
Z2 = Cy M
Comparing these two equations M = 5
Critical flow exponent for non prismatic channel ( Nature channel ) :
log Z2 - log Z1
tan θ =
log y 2 - log y1
⎛Z ⎞
log ⎜ 2 ⎟
tan θ = ⎝ Z1 ⎠
⎛y ⎞
log ⎜ 2 ⎟
⎝ y1 ⎠
Z2 = CycM
2 lnZ = ln C+ M lnyc
ln Z
∴M = 2 = 2 tan θ
ln yc
M = 2 tan θ
2 lnZ1 = lnC+ M lnyc1
2 lnZ2 = lnC+ M lnyc2
Subtracting
2 lnZ1 - 2 lnZ2 = M ⎡⎣lnyc1 - lnyc2 ⎤⎦

⎛Z ⎞ ⎡ yc ⎤
2 ln ⎜ 1 ⎟ = M ln ⎢ 1 ⎥
⎝ Z2 ⎠ ⎣⎢ yc2 ⎥⎦
⎛Z ⎞
2 ln ⎜ 1 ⎟
M= ⎝ Z2 ⎠ = 2 tan θ
⎡ yc ⎤
ln ⎢ 1 ⎥
⎣⎢ yc2 ⎦⎥
my
(C) It may be noted that by using Vs M, a single curve can be constructed. Then this curve could be
b
identical to the curve with m = 1.0
yc Q
Similarly the graph for Vs 2 can be constructed.
d0 D gD

Indian Institute of Technology Madras