OPEN CHANNEL FLOW: In a channel if the flow is steady (no changes in time)

and uniform (no changes down stream) we have normal flow

Through a balance of the gravity (weight) to friction shear forces-for wide channels
h

ghS
cf

or

h3S 2
u
n

where

1
2

1
6

h cf
1

g2

Manning's Formula mks system

cf is dimensionless BUT n is not

If there is no change in friction or slope as we move down stream

Then the depth of the flow remains constant the normal depth

Q cf

hn
gSB 2

1
3

Qn
1
2
S B

3
5

This value can be calculated for any stream

as a stream characteristicthe value, however
will only coincide with the stream surface
under the Normal flow condition

using the definition of discharge Q = (B x h)u (the volume flow per time)

Derivation:--once more
As a force balance

consider fluid element with unit area base

and height of depth h moving down slope

Shear force acting on fluid element

Up along slope is

Gravity force down stream

c f u 2

gh sin ghS , ( 1)

ghS
cf
h

Energy in a fluid: In stream settings We have seen how useful balances of

Mass (Volume) and Momentum (Manning) can be in understanding basic behavior-.
In addition to these conservations we can also consider the balance of Energy
Engineers (Civil) like to measure energy as a vertical height above a datum
A
h
B

Consider a large fluid filled tank with a hole near the bottom.
If the level h (height) of the tank is maintained, the flow near A
Is essential still, and the fluid speed at the exit is u. The potential
energy per unit volume at A (relative to the datum) is gh
This is converted into the Kinetic Energy
Per unit volume at B

u 2 / 2

These energy forms can be expressed in terms of height (length) dimensions, by

dividing by g
Then an Energy balance between A and B can be expressed as

h hloss A B

u2

2g

friction head loss

Derive Normal flow with

Energy balance

hloss a b

consider fluid element with unit area base

and height of depth h moving down slope

a
h

friction head loss

friction force per unit mass X length /g

2
c f u2L
L
1 cfu
L

, 1
h cos( ) g
gh cos( )
gh

b
B

Applying this idea to a stream channel under-normal flow conditions

Average Velocity
a

Q
hB

1 Q
H a a ha

2 g hB

Bed elevation

1 Q
b hb

2 g hB

hloss

Specific Energy
S

c f u 2 L / gh
B

a b c f u 2 L / gh

So In uniform flow energy

Balance becomes
But by definition of slope S same as

SL c f u 2 L / gh

So under normal flow Energy balance will recover our previous result

Q cf

hn
gSB 2

1
3

Qn
1
2
S B

3
5

Q uBh u Q / Bh

Specific Energy:
1 Q

2 g hB

Energy Line

1 Q
H h

2 g hB

h
1 Q
Eh

2 g hB

The specific energy

Energy (head) relative to channel bed
Changes Non-linearly with stream depth, h
See Excell worksheet
(make sure to download open.xls along with this power point

Critical Depth: The specific energy

1 Q
Eh

2 g hB

Is non-linear

Can show that, for a given discharge and

stream width E will reach a minimum when

hcr
2
gB
2

1
3

The critical depth

At critical depth

0.5
0.45

Sub-critical Flow
Sp Energy increases
with increase in depth

0.5

B=

hcr=

0.14147

y
w
a
t
e
r
d
e
p
t
h

0.4

Q=

ucr2 hcr 2

hcr

or
ucr ghcr

0.35
0.3
0.25

Fr 1

0.2

1
3

And

0.15
0.1

Fr 1

0.05

Fr

0
0

0.1

0.2

Super-critical Flow
Sp Energy increases
with decreases in depth

0.3

0.4

ucr
1
ghcr

0.5

E-Sp Energy

Fr

Q2
B 2 gh 3

Why we want to know about this

Normal flow is all well and good.
???

Or slope?

???

What about changes in depth?

The Question: How does a disturbance in the flow propagate up and down stream
How far is the effect felt

The form of the flow response to

changes such as this depends on a
number called the Froude Number

Fr

Flow speed

gh
Max wave speed

Flow Over an Object: What happens as a sub-critical normal flow

Goes over a low object? Recognize that this an important SRES question

?
?
?
h =0.3
B=3
Q=.5

z .05

We can construct an Energy Balance between A and Bneglecting

slope changes and bed friction (small distance)
0.5
0.45

y
w
a
t
e
r
d
e
p
t
h

0.4

0.35
0.3
0.25
0.2
0.15
0.1
0.05

hB
h =0.3
B=3
Q=.5

0
0

1 Q

hA
2 g hA B

E B z

Implies that

0.2

0.3

E-Sp Energy

z .05

EA

0.1

1 Q

hB z
2 g hB B

hA z hB

0.4

0.5

We can construct an Energy Balance between A and Bneglecting

slope changes and bed friction (small distance)
0.5
0.45

y
w
a
t
e
r
d
e
p
t
h

0.4

0.35
0.3
0.25
0.2
0.15
0.1
0.05

hB

0
0

E A E B z
1 Q

hA
2 g hA B

1 Q

hB z
2 g hB B

implies that
See Excell worksheet

0.2

0.3

E-Sp Energy

z .05

h =0.3
B=3
Q=.5

0.1

hA z hB

0.4

0.5

What happens when we increase the bump height

The level of the flow over the bump will continue to decrease--until the critical height hcr is reached.
0.5
0.45

y
w
a
t
e
r
d
e
p
t
h

0.4

0.35
0.3
0.25
0.2
0.15
0.1
0.05

hcr 0.141
h =0.3
B=3
Q=.5

0
0

0.1

0.2

0.3

0.4

0.5

E-Sp Energy

z .1037

See Excell worksheet

If the bump height increases more: The level over the bump is caught between
A rock and a hard place going both up or down will only increase the energy
--so with an increasing bump the the level over the bump is fixed at hcr

--so with an increasing bump the the level over the bump is fixed at hcr
The only way to establish an energy balance is for the height at A to
Increase
Back
A
B
water
0.5

0.45

y
w
a
t
e
r
d
e
p
t
h

0.4

0.35
0.3

0.25
0.2
0.15
0.1

hcr 0.141

0.05
0
0

0.1

0.2

0.3

E-Sp Energy

z .1037
1 Q

hA
2 g hA B

1 Q

hcr z
2 g hcr B

This will mean that down-stream of the bump the flow

Will not be normal

hA hn
As we move further back friction will reestablish
Normal flowthe distance to reestablish normal flow is the
Back Water Distancewill be calculated

0.4

0.5

What about down stream of our high bump ?

h hcr

0.5
0.45
0.4
y
w
a
t
e
r
d
e
p
t
h

Since fluid has lost the pot. energy

The energy is more easily recovered
By the level dropping below critical

0.35
0.3
0.25
0.2
0.15
0.1

Further down stream

The bottom friction
Will drive it back up to the normal
Depth
0.05
0

0.1

0.2

0.3

E-Sp Energy

0.4

0.5

If normal depth is sub-critical hn > hcr something interesting happens

h hcr

The flow level can not

Pass smoothly
Thorough the critical depth
And you get a hydraulic jump

How Far down stream in an other wise normal flow is an obstacle felt ?
This elevation change is important

Fr

Q2
B 2 gh 3

dh S Sf

A
2
dx 1 Fr

Sf

c f Q2
gB 2 h 3

The Stress slope

S S f , when h hn
S S f , when h hn

See derivation on Board

Now consider head balance behind an obstacle-not in uniform flow

Average Velocity
a

1 Q
a ha

2 g hB

b
B

Q
hB

Bed elevation

1 Q
b hb

2 g hB

hloss

Now consider head balance behind an obstacle-not in uniform flow

Average Velocity
a
h

a ha

Q
hB

1
ua 2 b hb 1 ub 2 c f u 2 L / gh
2g
2g

ha

1
ua 2 hb 1 ub 2 (S f S ) L
2g
2g

a b
, bed slope, S f c f u 2 / gh c f Q 2 / gh3 B 2 friction slope
L

For a small distance deltax

d u

( S f S )
dx 2 g

u du dh

( S f S )
g dx dx

Result follows on subbing for u

and noting that

du
Q dh
2
dx
Bh dx

Behavior of water surface near an object depends on normal

flow level in relation to critical flow level

Fr

dh S Sf

A
dx 1 Fr2

B 2 gh 3

Sf

c f Q2

The Stress slope

2 3

gB h

S S f , when h hn
S S f , when h hn

Assumed to be
Slope at normal flow

Fr < 1
,

critical

Sf <S,

normal

1,
S

>S
,

<

<S
,

1,

,
<S
Sf

Fr
>

Mild slope, normal flow depth > critical flow depth

Fr
<

,
>1
Fr

A> 0
normal
S=S
Fr < 1
, Sf >S
, A< 0 f
critical
Fr > 1, S
Fr=1
f >S, A >
0

>

>

Fr=
1
S=
S
f

Steep slope, normal flow depth < critical flow depth

Homework: find a web page that shows examples of water level change for obstacles
In streams/channelssend web-address to Voller