TOPIC 2

Open channel: a channel where the water flows with mainly by gravity force and there has a free surface and
atmosphere pressure on the water. Open Channel is a covered or uncovered conduit in which liquid (usually water)
flows with its top surface bounded by the atmosphere. Typical open channels are rivers, streams, canals, flumes,
reclamation or drainage ditches, sewers, and water-supply.

Open-channel flow is a flow of liquid (basically water) in a conduit with a free surface. That is a surface on which
pressure is equal to local atmospheric pressure.
There are two types of open channel

a) Natural Channels
There are not regular nor prismatic and their materials are of construction can vary widely (although they are mainly of earth
this can process many different properties). The surface roughness will often change with time distance and even elevation.

b) Artificial channels
These are channels are made by man. They include irrigation canals, navigation canals, spillways, sewer and drainage. They
are usually constructed in irregular cross-section shape throughout and are thus prismatic channel
2.1 The concept of uniform flow and non-uniform flow in open channel
Steady and Unsteady: Time is the criterion.
Flow is said to be steady if the depth of flow at a particular
point does not change or can be considered constant for
the time interval under consideration. Kedalaman dan halaju
aliran adalah malar disebarang titik dan pada sebarang masa. The flow
is unsteady if depth changes with time.

Uniform Flow: Space as the criterion.

Open Channel flow is said to be uniform if the depth
and velocity of flow are the same at every section of the
channel. Aliran seragam adalah aliran di mana ukur dalam alirannya tidak
berubah atau sama pada setiap keratan sepanjang saluran. Hence it
follows that uniform flow can only occur in prismatic
channels. For steady uniform flow, depth and velocity is
constant with both time and distance. This constitutes the
fundamental type of flow in an open channel. It occurs
when gravity forces are in equilibrium with resistance
forces. Kedalaman dan halaju aliran adalah malar disebarang titik dan
pada sebarang masa. Aliran seragam hanya terjadi dalam aliran lurus yang
prismatik dengan cerun dasar yang malar.
Non-uniform flow - Depth, discharge & velocity is different along the length of the channel.

Steady non-uniform flow

- Depth, discharge & velocity is not constant along the length of the river and not changed with time
2.1.4 Manning’s Equation and coefficient for several types of surface channel

Q = A x 1/n . R2/3 . s1/2

Channels Cross - Area Wetted Surface width Hydraulic radius
section A perimeter B (R)
P

by b+2y b Y

(b  zy ) y
(b+zy)y b+2y b+2zy
b  2y 1 z2
1  z2

zy2 2zy 1
2y 1  z
2
2y

1
(  sin  )d 0
2

8 1 1
d o (sin  )d o  
1    sin  
2 2
atau  d 0
8  sin 1  
2 y (d o  y )  
 2 
Worked Example 2a.
Water is flowing 0.3m deep in a 1m wide, open channel of rectangular cross section, as shown in the diagram below. The
channel is made of concrete (made with steel forms), with a constant bottom slope of 0.003. Estimate the flow rate of water
in the channel.
R = A/P
= by / b+2y
= (1x0.3) / [1+(2x0.3)]
= 0.187 m

A = by
Solution : = 1 x 0.3

y = 0.3m Q = AV = 0.3 m
b = 1m V = 1/n . R2/3 . s1/2
s = 0.003 A = by = 1/0.011 x 0.187(2/3) x
Q=?
n = 0.011 V = 1/n . R2/3 . S1/2 0.003(1/2)
= 1.628 m/s
Q = AV
= 0.3 x 1.628
= 0.488 m3/s
Worked Example 2b.
A 3m wide rectangular channel a discharge of 25 m3/s at a uniform depth of 1.2 m. Determine the slope of the channel if n =
0.022 (Ans: s= 0.041)

Given :

b = 3m
Q = 25 m3/s
y = 1.2m
n = 0.022
s=?