CE 516

Design of Open Channels

Open channels have uses in
• urban stormwater drainage
• urban sanitary-sewer systems
• irrigation delivery systems
In the next few lectures, we’ll discuss the design procedure for 3 types of open
channels:

lined (nonerodable channels) - are primarily used to maximize flow rates and
minimize construction costs

unlined (erodible channels) - are the least expensive and what is commonly
found in nature, but often experience unacceptable levels of sediment transport
and erosion.

grass-lined - are commonly used to transmit intermittent irrigation and stormwa-

ter flows and to control erosion.

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Open Channel Design Fundamentals

There are many design considerations which are common to all 3 types of chan-
nels. This includes the determination of the best hydraulic section. The best
hydraulic section will accommodate the design flow at a reasonable cost and limit
erosion/deposition of sediment and other material.

Trapezoidal Channel

To determine the optimum channel size for a trapezoidal channel, we need to

determine the optimum channel width and side slope (to minimize excavation
costs) which will maximize the flowrate. First recall Manning’s Equation,
1
Q= AR2/3 So1/2
n

Rearranging
 3/5
Qn
A= √ P 2/5
So

Restating the above statement another way, we need to minimize A & P with
respect to Q or
 3/5
Qn
√
So

Recall the area and wetted perimeter definitions for a trapezoidal cross section

combining these two equations

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substituting into Manning’s equation

The optimum perimeter/area is determined by differentiating with respect to

y (while holding m constant).

Similarly, the optimum channel side slope is determined by differentiating with

respect to m (while holding y constant).

Combining the optimum perimeter and optimum slope equations, we can deter-
mine the best hydraulic section for a trapezoid is

This solution assumes the channel slope can be set to any value. Often this is
not possible, in which case use a known (or specified) m value to determine the
optimum perimeter. Please note, in the design of lined channels, the side slope is
often specified as being less than 33.7o . The best hydraulic section for a variety
of channels is given in the below table

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Other considerations

The previous derivations does not consider the following points:

• freeboard (distance between water surface and top of channel)

• whether or not its possible to excavate the optimum channel

• cost of lining
• access to site
Minimal permissible velocity
• 0.6-0.9 m/s (2-3 ft/s) to prevent sedimentation
• 0.75 m/s (2.5 ft/s) to prevent vegetation growth
Channel Slopes
• Longitudinal
governed by topography (unless velocities are too low)
• Side Slopes
a function of material

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Other considerations (continued)

Freeboard

The freeboard is the vertical distance between the water surface and the top
of the channel slope. It’s basically a factor of safety to keep the channel from
overflowing. For unlined channels, the freeboard is estimated with:
√
F = 0.55 Cy
where
F is the freeboard in meters
y is the design flow depth
C is a coefficient

Generally, ASCE recommends a minimum freeboard of 30 cm. In sinuous chan-

nels, additional freeboard is needed at the channel bends to account for the
super-elevation of the water surface. The super-elevation in the vicinity of the
bend is approximated with
V 2T
hs =
grc

where
V is the average velocity
T is the top width of the channel
rc is the bend radius

According to the USACE (1995) rc > 3T

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Design of Lined Channels

Lined (or rigid-boundary channels) are used in the following situations:

• transmit flow at high velocities
• decrease seepage losses
• decrease maintenance and operation costs
• ensure channel stability
The design procedure for lined channels is as follows:
1. Estimate the roughness coefficient, n, and the freeboard coefficient, C, for
the desired channel lining and flowrate

2. Compute the normal depth of flow, yn , with Manning’s equation

1
Q= AR2/3 So1/2
n
3. Verify that:
• minimum permissible velocities are being met

• flow is subcritical, F r < 0.8

• maximum permissible velocities are being met

V < 2.1 m/s unreinforced channel
V < 5.5 m/s reinforced channels
If necessary, choose new channel dimensions and recalculate yn to ensure above
criteria are satisfied.

4. Calculate the required freeboard (including the additional freeboard at the

channel bends)

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Example:
Design lined channel to carry 20 m3 /s on a longitudinal slope of 0.0015. The
lining of the channel is to be reinforced float finished concrete. Consider a) the
best hydraulic section and b) a section with side slopes of 1.5:1 (H:V).
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Solution:
a) given:

1. Estimate the roughness coefficient, n, and the freeboard coefficient, C, for

the desired channel lining and flowrate

2. Compute the normal depth of flow, yn , with Manning’s equation. Determine

the best hydraulic section:

1
Q= AR2/3 So1/2
n

b = 2.4 m
yn = 2.09 m

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3. Verify that:
• minimum permissible velocities are being met

V = 2.6 m/s
• flow is subcritical, F r < 0.8
F r = 0.66

• maximum permissible velocities are being met

V < 5.5 m/s reinforced channels

4. Calculate the required freeboard (including the additional freeboard at channel

bends)

F = 1.04 m

The total channel depth (including freeboard) is 3.13 m.

The channel is to have a bottom width of 2.4 m and side slopes is 58:1 (H:V).

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b)

Step 1. Estimate the roughness coefficient, n, and the freeboard coefficient, C,

for the desired channel lining and flowrate

Step 2. Compute the normal depth of flow, yn , with Manning’s equation

determine the geometry given H : V = 1.5 : 1

1
Q= AR2/3 So1/2
n

b = 1.16 m
yn = 1.94 m

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Step 3. Verify that:

• minimum permissible velocities are being met

V = 2.53 m/s
• flow is subcritical, F r < 0.8

F r = 0.76
• maximum permissible velocities are being met
V < 5.5 m/s reinforced channels

Step 4. Calculate the required freeboard (including the additional freeboard at

channel bends)

F = 1.00 m

The total channel depth (including freeboard) is 2.94 m.

The channel is to have a bottom width of 1.16 m and side slopes is 1.5:1 (H:V)

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Design of Unlined Open Channels

In the design of unlined channels, it is necessary to assure that sediment won’t be

eroded from or deposited on channel beds. To design new (or analyze existing),
we’ll need to approximate the stress applied to the channel walls by the fluid and
the stress required to move the sediment particles.

Stress applied by the flow

The stress applied by the flow is not applied evenly to the channel sidewalls and
bottom walls. For the two conditions it is defined with

bottom

side

Stress required to move sediment

The stress required to move particles on the bottom is a function of the immersed
particle weight, the particle geometry, and the applied friction between particles.

Where

the critical stress required for sediment to move becomes

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For particles on the side slope of the channel, the relationship with gravity is
more complicated. The above expression is modified, so the critical stress to
move particles on the channel sides becomes

where

The ratio of the critical shear stress on the side to the critical shear stress on the
bottom is defined as the tractive force ratio, K, with

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Design Procedure for Unlined Channels

1. Estimate the roughness coefficient, n, based on the perimeter characteristics

(attached table) of the channel, and select the freeboard coefficient, C, based
on the design flowrate in the channel.

2. Estimate the angle of repose (attached figure 4.31)

3. Estimate the channel sinuousness (attached table 4.15)

4. Specify a side slope angle (attached table 4.13)

5. Estimate the tractive force ratio

6. Estimate the permissible tractive force on the bottom and sides of the channel

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7. Assume permissible shear stress on the channel sides is the limiting design
factor, and determine the normal depth

8. Calculate the required bottom width, b, of the channel using Manning’s

equation

9. Compare the permissible tractive force on the bottom with the actual tractive
force

10. Compare the permissible velocity and calculate the Froude number (verify
that it is subcritical)

11. Estimate the required freeboard and super elevation if needed

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Example:
Design a trapezoidal channel to carry 20 m3 /s through a slightly sinuous channel
on a slope of 0.0015. The channel is to be excavated in course alluvium with a
75-percentile diameter of 2 cm (.8 in) and with particles on the perimeter of the
channel moderately rounded.
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Solution:

Step 1. Estimate the roughness coefficient, n, and select the freeboard coeffi-
cient, C, based on the design flowrate in the channel.

Step 2. Estimate the angle of repose (attached figure 4.31)

Step 3. Estimate the channel sinuousness (attached table 4.15)

Step 4. Specify a side slope angle (attached table 4.13)

Step 5. Estimate the tractive force

Step 6. Estimate the permissible tractive force on the bottom and sides of the
channel

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Step 7. Determine the normal depth

Step 8. Calculate the required bottom width, b, of the channel using Manning’s
equation

Step 9. Compare the permissible tractive force on the bottom with the actual
tractive force

Step 10. Verify permissible velocity and that flow is subcritical

Step 11. Estimate the required freeboard

The total depth of the channel is to be excavated (including the freeboard) is

1.27. The channel is to have a bottom width of 24.2 and side slopes of 2:1
(H:V).
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Design of Grass-Lined Open Channels

Grass-lined channels are often used to transmit intermittent irrigation and storm
water flows. They are often preferable to lined channels because they provide
increased storage, low velocities, and aesthetic benefits. The additional design
considerations for grass-lined channels include:

Channel Roughness- The Manning’s n value is a function of the velocity and

channel geometry, in addition to the roughness provided by the grass.

The Manning’s n for the various retardances is given in the below figure.

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Permissible Velocities - There exists a variety of considerations for determining

the maximum permissible velocities in a grass-lined channel. Those include the
table on the next page (table 4.188) and the below considerations from the soil
conservation service

Vmax (m/s) Conditions

0.9 Sparse vegetation cover possible
0.9-1.2 Vegetation to be established by seeding
1.2-1.5 Dense sod (or temporarily diverted flow)
1.5-1.8 Well-established sod
1.8-2.1 Very special conditions ???

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Channel Cross Sections - In addition to the best hydraulic section and slope
stability, grass lined channels may have to be designed to allow farm equipment
to cross.

Freeboard - The freeboard on a grass lined channel is defined with

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Design Procedure for grass-lined channels

This procedure must be completed for BOTH upper and lower bound of retar-
dance i.e. mowed and unmowed conditions).

Stage I - Lower Bound Retardance

1. Assume the value of the roughness coefficient and determine the value of VR

2. Select the maximum permissible velocity (attached table)

3. Using Manning’s equation, compute new VR

4. Repeat until VR is converged

5. Determine A from design flow and maximum permissible velocity

6. Determine the channel proportions for the calculated values of R and A

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Stage II - Upper Bound Retardance

1. Assume a depth of flow for the channel assumed in Stage I and compute A
and R

2. Compute the averaged velocity

3. Compute VR using the results of 1 & 2

4. Determine n from the attached figure using the upper bound retardance

5. Use the n from step 4, R from step 1, compute V from the manning’s equation

6. Repeat 1 - 5 until V has converged

7. Add the appropriate freeboard and check the Froude number

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Example

Design a triangular grass-lined channel to handle intermittent flow of 0.7 m3 /s.

The channel is to be excavated in an easily erodible soil, on a longitudinal slope
of 2%, and lined with Bermuda grass. During the early stages of channel devel-
opment, the height of the grass will be maintained at about 4 cm (a retardance
of E); during the latter stages of development, the Bermuda grass is expected to
be at a height of about 30 cm (a retardance of B).

Solution

given:
Q = 0.7m3 /s
So = 0.02
Bermuda grass
easily eroded soil
Stage I: E retardance
Stage II: B retardance

Stage I
1. - 4. guess at n, determine V R
determine Vmax from table
compute R = V R/Vmax
find new V R from Manning’s eq.
repeat with adjusted n

n VR VR R VR ∆n
(f t2 /s) 2
(m /s) (m) 2
(m /s)
fig 4.33 fig V R/Vmax = R5/3 So1/2 /n
4.33 / 10.76

Find the Area (triangle)

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Determine channel geometry from A and R

m = 1.71
y = 0.48 m
note: you’ll get two solutions for m and have to chose the best

Stage II:

1.-4. guess at y, from stage I from stage I geometry

compute A & R from known geometry
compute the average velocity (= Q/A)
compute V R
determine n (fig 4.33)
compute V from manning’s equation

Y A R V VR VR n V ∆V
(m) (m2 ) (m) (m/s) (m /s) (f t2 /s)
2
(m/s)
V R/ = Q/A V R∗ fig 4.33 = R2/3 So1/2 /
Vmax 10.76 n

Find the freeboard

F = 0.3

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Check for subcritical flow

F r = 0.38, subcritical, ok design

The total depth of flow is 1.05 m. The triangular channel is to have side slopes
of 1.7 : 1 (H : V ).

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