Chapter 6

Open Channel Hydraulics

Objectives
Upon completing this chapter, you should
be able to:
Compute the slope of a channel
Compute the cross-sectional area, wetted
perimeter, and hydraulic radius of a channel
Identify normal depth in a channel
Identify and compute critical depth in a
channel

Fundamental Concepts
Prismatic channel
Maintains constant slope and shape
Essential elements: channel bottom, water surface
and energy grade line (EGL) above water surface
HGL coincides with water surface

Hydraulic grade line (HGL), P/g + z The line that represents the sum of the static pressure and the
elevation heads.
Energy grade line (EGL), P/g + V2/2g + z The line that represents the total head of the fluid.
Dynamic head, V2/2g The difference between the heights of EGL and HGL.

The hydraulic
grade line
(HGL) and the
energy grade
line (EGL) for
free discharge
from a reservoir
through a
horizontal pipe
with a diffuser.

Figure Concrete channel with trapezoidal cross section.

Delmar, Cengage Learning 2014.

Fundamental Concepts
Slope
Vertical fall divided by horizontal run

Or expressed by % i.e. 0.050= 5%

 Depth of flow D or d or y
Distance from channel bottom to water surface
Cross-sectional area of flow
Area of a cross-section of flowing water (a) see

figure above

Fundamental Concepts (contd.)

Wetted perimeter (p)
Distance along the channel cross section that is in
contact with the flowing water i.e the sum of the
distance AB+BC+CD
Hydraulic radius
Channel cross-sectional area divided by wetted
perimeter

Fundamental Concepts (contd.)

Hydraulic radius (contd.)
a
R
p
a = cross-sectional area
p = wetted perimeter

Types of Channels
Many different shapes and sizes
Slope, shape or alignment changes:
Nonprismatic
Flow characteristics are affected: chnages
from uniform to varied flow

Typical channel crosssection shapes.

Delmar, Cengage Learning
2014.

Maximum velocity just below free surface in center of

channel

Velocity distributions in rectangular and trapezoidal channels. Values are multiples of

average velocity. Delmar, Cengage Learning 2014.

Normal Depth
Water flow in a uniform channel maintains
constant velocity and constant depth called
Normal depth
So velocity head constant then: EGL parallel
water surface
Flow rate is constant Q
Depends on the slope of the channel i.e. for
greater slopes:
is small

Critical Depth
Specific energy (E=D+v2/2g)
Critical depth
Minimum value of E
Theoretical concept
Depends on channel slope and flow Q

Critical Depth (contd.)

a 3 Q2

T
g
a = cross-sectional area
T = top width of channel
Q = flow rate
g = acceleration due to gravity

Figure 6-6: Specific energy diagram. Delmar, Cengage Learning 2014.

Critical Depth (contd.)

Subcritical flow
Depths greater than critical depth
Tranquil flow

Supercritical flow
Depths less than critical depth
More rapid flow

Critical Depth (contd.)

Critical velocity
Velocity of water at critical depth

Critical slope
Channel slope that causes normal depth to
coincide with critical depth

Critical Depth (contd.)

Froude number
Used to distinguish between supercritical
and subcritical flow

v
F
gD

F = Froude number
v = average velocity
D = flow depth
g = acceleration due to gravity

Figure 6-7: Channel transition. Subcritical flow transitions to

supercritical flow by passing through critical depth.
Delmar, Cengage Learning 2014.