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 Gradually Varied Flow
(GVF) in Open Channels
Recall Types of Flow in Open Channel

◉ Steady Flow:
When the flow characteristics (such as depth of flow, flow velocity
and the discharge at any cross-section) do not change with respect to
time, the flow in a channel is said to be steady.
Briefly, it is discharge.
Mathematically, dY/dt = 0, or dV/dt = 0, or dQ/dt = 0

◉ Unsteady Flow:
The flow is said to be unsteady when those parameters vary with
time.
 Continued…

◉ Uniform Flow:
Flow in a channel is said to be Uniform if the depth, slope, cross-
section and velocity remain constant over a given length of the
channel.
Briefly, depth
Mathematically, dY/dl = 0, or dV/dl = 0

◉ Non-Uniform (Varied) Flow:

A flow in a channel is said to be non-uniform or varied when the
channel depth varies continuously from one section to another.
Types of Non-Uniform (Varied) Flow

◉ Gradually Varied Flow (GVF):

In this type of flow depth of flow changes gradually
over long length of the channel.

◉ Rapidly Varied Flow (RVF):

In this type of flow depth of flow changes abruptly
over a comparatively small length of the channel.
 Types of flow
◉ Uniform flow: when depth of flow does not change over a length of
channel, flow is uniform flow. In this type of flow bed line, water
surface line and total energy line all three are parallel. When flow is
uniform, depth of flow y is known as normal depth. In case of
uniform flow only yn=y= actual depth of flow.
 Types of flow

◉ Non uniform flow: when depth of flow changes over given length of
channel. Here total energy line , water surface line and bed line are
not parallel to each other.
 Types of channels

◉ Natural Channels (Having irregular sections of varying depths)

◉ Artificial Channels (Uniform Cross-sections with regular geometric shape
◉ Open Channels (Without cover at the top)
◉ Covered or Closed Channels (Partly filled conduit carrying public water
supply, sewerage lines, under ground drains.)
◉ Prismatic Channels (Having constant bed slope and the same cross-
sections along its length)
◉ Non-Prismatic Channels (Having varying bed slope along the length)
 GVF
◉ A control structure in a channel transforms uniform flow into a non-
uniform flow in which the depth of flow varies along the length of
the channel. If the variation of the depth is gradual, the flow is
termed as gradually varied flow. A hydraulic engineer is , many a
times , required to estimate with acceptable accuracy the gradual
variation of depth of flow along a channel when flow in the channel
is non-uniform.
 GVF continued…
◉ When some obstruction in the path of flow in rivers or channels is
introduced, such as dam or weir constructed across a river, then just
up stream of this obstruction we find that flow undergoes gradual
variation in depth and this type of flow is known as GVF in channels.
 Causes of Gradually varied flow

◉ The change in the shape and size of the channel cross-section

◉ The change in slope of the channel.
◉ The presence of obstruction (e.g weir)
◉ The change in frictional forces at boundaries.
 Lecture No:

Equation
◉ Dynamic Equation for gradually varied flow
Assumptions
◉ The bed slope is small
◉ The flow is steady and hence discharge is constant.
◉ The pressure distribution over the channel section is hydrostatic.
◉ Chezy’s and mannig correlations are equally applicable to gradually
varied flow for determining the slope of energy line.
 Lecture No:

Equation
 Lecture No:

Sf
Equation

Sw

Sb
So

∆x
Derivation of Dynamics Equation for GVF
 Lecture No:

Equation
◉ This sudden increase is called RVF.
◉ The RVF may be proceeded by RVF region where the flow depth
rises but stays below the critical depth.
◉ V=C
◉ When is wide rectangular
◉ ∵R=y
◉ V=C
◉ For uniform flow:
 Lecture No:

Equation
◉ q== =
◉ q= Equation 1
◉ Non-uniform flow:
◉ q== =
◉ q= Equation 2
◉ Comparing 1 and 2
 Lecture No:

Equation
◉ =
◉ y3/2n=
◉ (=(
◉ (= Equation 3
◉ From previous derivation
◉ = ∵q= ⇒ =
 Lecture No:

Equation
◉ == x ,, = (
◉(
◉ We know,
 Lecture No:

Equation

𝑑𝑦 ¿
=𝑆𝑜 ¿3¿ ¿
𝑑𝑥 ¿3  ¿
 Lecture No:

Problem no: 1
◉ In rectangular channel 12m wide and 3.6m deep water is flowing
with a velocity of 1.2 m/s. the bed slope of the channel is 1 in 4000.
if flow of water through the channel is regulated in such a way that
energy line is having a slope of 0.00004 find the rate of change of
depth of water in the channel.
 Lecture No:

Problem no: 1
◉ Data
◉ b=12m
◉ Y=3.6m
◉ V=1.2m/s
◉ So= 1in 4000
◉ Sf= 0.00004
◉ dy/dx= ?
 Lecture No:

Problem no: 1
◉ Solution
◉ Formula
 Lecture No:

Problem no: 1
◉ Solution
◉ Formula

◉ 0.00021
 Lecture No:

Problem no: 2

◉ In a rectangular channel of width 24m and depth of flow 6m, the rate
flow of water is 86.4m3/s. if the bed slope of the channel is 1 in 4000
find the slope of the free water surface. Take chezy’s constant C=60.
 Lecture No:

Problem no: 2

◉ Data
◉ B=24m
◉ Y=6m
◉ Q=86.4m3/s
◉ So=1 in 4000
◉ C= 60
◉ =?
 Lecture No:

Problem no: 2

◉ First of all we find the velocity of flow.

◉ Q=AV ⇒ V= ⇒ =
◉ V=0.6m/s
◉ Now by using formula
◉ V=C ∵R== = 4m
◉ 0.6=60
 Lecture No:

Problem no: 2

◉ Sf= 2.5x10-6

◉
◉ = 2.26X 10-4
 Lecture No:

Problem no: 3
◉ A wide channel laid to a slope of 1 in 1000 carries a discharge of 3.5
m3/s per meter Width at a depth of 1.6m. Find 0ut values of chezy’s
constant C. consider the flow to be uniform.
◉ If the actual depth varies from 1.5m at an upstream location to 1.7m
at a location 300m down stream or in other words the flow is
gradually varied, what will be the value of chezy’s co-efficient C.
 Lecture No:

Problem no: 3
◉ Data
◉ So = 1in 1000
◉ q = 3.5m3/s/m
◉ Y=1.6m
◉ Solution
◉ Q=AV=(b x y)x V ⇒ = vy
◉ V= ⇒ = 2.1875 m/s
 Lecture No:

Problem no: 3

◉ As we know that
◉ V=C ∵ for wide channel R=Y

◉ C== = 54.68
 Lecture No:

Problem no: 3
◉ Y1= 1.5m
◉ Y2= 1.7m
◉ dx= 300m
◉ V= 2.1875m/s
◉ Y= 1.6m
◉ So= 0.001
◉ C = ??
 Lecture No:

Problem no: 3

◉ Sf= 5.366x10-4
 Lecture No:

Problem no: 3
◉ Therefore V=Cf ∵for wide channel R=Y

◉ C== = 75.43
 Lecture No:

Problem no: 4
◉ The normal depth of flow of water, in a rectangular channel 1.5m
wide, is one meter. The bed slope of the channel is 0.0006 and
manning’s coefficient N=0.012. find the critical depth.
At a certain section of the same channel the depth is 0.92 m while at a
second section the depth is 0.86m. Find the distance between the two
sections. Also find whether the section is located downstream or
upstream with respect to the first section.
 Lecture No:

Problem no: 4
◉ Data
◉ Yn= 1m
◉ b= 1.5m
◉ So= 0.0006
◉ N=0.012
◉ Depth of water at Section 1= Y1= 0.92m
◉ Depth of water at Section 2= Y2= 0.86m
◉ Yc=? Distance between two sections=∆x
 Lecture No:

Problem no: 4
◉ First of all we find the velocity of water at normal depth.

◉ V= So ½ R= = = 0.428m
◉ V= (0.0006) ½
◉ V=1.159m/s
◉ Q=AxV=(1x1.5)(1.159)
◉ Q=1.7389m3/s
 Lecture No:

Problem no: 4
◉ q=
◉ q= = 1.159m3/s
◉ Yc=()1/3 =(0.13699)1/3=0.515m
 Lecture No:

Problem no: 4
◉ For distance between two sections, we have

◉ E1=Y1+ ∵ Q=A1V1 ⇒ V1= 1.26m/s

◉ E1=0.92+=1.0009m
◉ E2=Y2+ ∵ Q=A2V2 ⇒ V2= 1.347m/s
◉ E2=0.86+ = 0.9526m
◉
 Lecture No:

Problem no: 4
◉ E2=Y2+ ⇒ Q=A2V2 ⇒ V2= 1.347m/s
◉ E2=0.86+ = 0.9526m
◉
◉ Y== = 0.89
◉ Q=AV V=
◉ V== =1.302
 Lecture No:

Problem no: 4
◉ V= Sf ½
◉ 1.302= Sf ½
◉ Sf=8.099x10-4
 Lecture No:

Problem no: 4
we know that

• = 230m
 Lecture No:

Problem no: 4
◉ Now check two sections located downstream or upstream

◉ = - 2.606 X 10 -4
◉ As is neative so, two section lies down stream
 Lecture No:

Back water curve and Afflux

◉ In an open channel when the flow is uniform, the flow has constant
depth at all the sections. and
◉ the surface of the free water lies parallel to bed of the channel.
◉ when an obstruction like a dam, weir etc. Comes across the channel
width water level rises and it has maximum depth from the bed at
some section as shown in figure.
 Lecture No:

Length of back water curve

 If Y1 is the depth of water at the point, where the water starts rising.

 Y2 is the maximum height of rising water from the bed,

 then this increase in depth i-e (Y2-Y1) is known as afflux

 the curved surface of the liquid with its concavity upwards, is known
as back water curve.
 Lecture No:

Length of back water curve

◉ The length of back water curve is the distance along the bed of the
channel between the section where water starts rising to the section
and where water has maximum depth.

◉ Consider a channel in which a back water curve is formed as shown

in fig. let two sections 1-1 and 2-2 are so chosen that distance
between them represents the length of back water curve.
 Lecture No:

Length of back water curve

◉ Y1= depth of flow at section 1-1
◉ V1= velocity of flow at section 2-2
◉ Y2= depth of flow at section 2-2
◉ V2=velocity of flow at section 2-2
◉ Sb= bed slope
◉ Sw= slope of energy line
◉ L=Length of back water curve
 Sf

Sw

Sb So
 Lecture No:

Problem:05
◉ A weir is installed across a rectangular open channel thereby raising
the flow depth from 1.5m in a normal flow to 2.5m at the weir. The
width of the channel is 10m and it is laid to a slope of 1 in 10000.
find an approximate length of the back water curve considering the
average velocity, average depth and average slope midway between
the two sections. Take the value of manning’s coefficient equal to
0.02.
 Lecture No:

Problem:05
◉ Data
◉ Up stream section 1-1
◉ b1= 10m
◉ Y1=1.5m
◉ Solution
◉ A1=b1y1= 10x1.5=15m2
◉ P1=b1+2y1= 10+2x1.5= 13m
◉ R1= = = 1.154m
 Lecture No:

Problem:05
◉ V1= So ½
◉ V1= (0.0001) ½
◉ V1=0.55m/s
◉ Specific energy
◉ E1=Y1+
◉ E1=1.5+ = 1.515m
 Lecture No:

Problem:05
◉ Downstream section2-2
◉ b2=b1=10m
◉ Y2=2.5m
◉ A2=b2xY2= 10x2.5
◉ P2=b2+2y2= 10+2x2.5=15m
◉ R1= = =1.667m
 Lecture No:

Problem:05
◉ As we know that
◉ A1xV1=A2xV2
◉ V2== = 0.33m/s
◉ Specific energy
◉ E2=Y2+
◉ E2=2.5+ = 2.505m
 Lecture No:

Problem:05
◉ The value of Sf (slope of energy line) is calculated by the
combination of chezy’s and manning’s formula corresponding the
flow of condition the average depth of flow.
◉ Y== = 2m
◉ At the average depth flow
◉ A=bxy= 10x2=20m2
◉ P=b+2y= 10+2x2= 14m
 Lecture No:

Problem:05
◉ R= = 1.428m
◉ AV=A1V1 ⇒ V=
◉ = = 0.4125m/s
◉ So
◉ V= Sf ½
◉ 0.4125= Sf ½
◉ Sf ½ = 0.0065= Sf=0.0000423
 Lecture No:

Problem:05
◉ The length of the back water curve
◉ L= == 17157m= 17.157km
 Lecture No:

Problem:06
◉ A river 45m wide has a normal depth of flow of 3m and an average
bed slope of 1 in 10000. a weir is built across the river raising the
water surface level at the weir site to 5m above the bottom of the
river. Assuming that the back water curve is an arc of circle, calculate
the approximate length of the back water curve. Consider that river is
prismatic. Take value of N=0.025.
 Lecture No:

Problem:06
◉ Data
◉ b=45m
◉ Yn= 3m
◉ So=1in 10000
◉ Y=5m
◉ N=0.025
◉ Solution
◉ h= Y-Yn= 5-3=2m
 Lecture No:

Problem:06
◉ Lenth of the back water curve by circular arc method is given as
◉ L=
◉ A1= 45x 3= 135m2
◉ P1=45+2x3=51m
◉ R1= = =2.65m
◉ As velocity of flow
◉ V1= So ½
 Lecture No:

Problem:06
◉ V1= (0.001) ½
◉ V1= 0.766m/s
◉ AV=A1V1
◉ V= = = 0.46m/s
◉ S0
◉ V= Sf ½
◉ R= = = 4.091m
 Lecture No:

Problem:06
◉ So by putting values in equation
◉ V= Sf ½
◉ Sf= 0.0000202

◉ = 0.00008
 Lecture No:

Problem:06
◉ Now putting the values in equation
◉ L=
◉ L= = 50 km
◉