Open Channels

Open Channels
-An open-channel flow denotes a flow with a free surface touching an
atmosphere, like a river or a canal or a flume.
-As contrasted with liquid in a pipe, in which flow normally occurs under
pressure, the liquid conveyed by an open channel exerts no pressure
other than that caused by its own weight and the pressure of the
atmosphere.
- Is driven by gravity force only.
- One needs to predict the flow rates and water depths that result from
a given channel geometry, whether natural or artifi cial, and a given
wet-surface roughness.
Natural:
• Vary in size from tiny side-hill rivulets through brooks,
small rivers and large rivers to tidal estuaries.
• Includes underground streams in caves as long as free
surface
• Usually irregular in cross-section and alignment and in
character and roughness of stream bed.
• Streams in erodible material may frequently or
continuously shift their location and cross-section.
Artificial:
• Water-power development
• Irrigation
• City Water Supply
• Sewerage
• Drainage
• Flood Control
Distribution of Velocities:
• The flow of water in open channels is ordinarily turbulent, laminar flow occurs so
seldom.
• As in pipes, velocities in open channels are retarded near the conduit surface and if
there were no other influences the maximum velocity in a cross-section would occur
at the water surface.
• Surface tension, however, produces a resistance to flow and causes the max. velocity
to occur at some distance below the surface. (20% below the surface)
• Under ideal conditions, where there are no disturbing influences of any kind, the
distance of velocities in a regular channel will be uniform and similar on either side
of the center.
• There are however sufficient irregularities in every channel to prevent a uniform
distribution of velocities.
Wetted Perimeter, P
-Is the line of intersection of its wetted surface with a cross-sectional
plane (2 sides and a bottom)

Hydraulic Radius, R
-Is the area of cross-section of the stream divided by the wetted
perimeter.
-is the term used to describe the shape of the channel.
Flow Capacity
Manning’s Formula:

1 2/3 1/2
𝑣= 𝑅 𝑆 𝑄 = 𝐴𝑣
𝑛

Chezy’s Formula:

𝑣 = 𝐶 𝑅𝑆 𝑄 = 𝐴𝑣
Steady, Uniform and Continuous Flow
-apply in open channel flow
Steady Flow:
-Q passing a given cross-section is constant with time.

Uniform Flow:
-The average velocity at every cross-section is the same.

Continuous Flow:
- at any instant, the number of particles passing every cross-section of
the stream is the same.
Energy in an Open Channel:

𝑣2
𝐻= +𝑧
2𝑔
Problem 1:
A trapezoidal canal with a bottom width 4m and a side slopes 1H:1V
on the left and 1.5H:1V on the right, with n=0.016 and a bed slope of
3 in 10000, carries a discharge of 8 m^3/s.

Determine the ff:

a. The normal depth
b. The Specific energy
c. The average shear stress on the channel bed
Problem 2:
A channel has a vertical wall 2m apart and semicircular invert. The
channel has a centerline depth of 1.5 m, the bed slope is 1 in 2000
and the discharge is 1 m^3/s.

Determine the ff:

a. The roughness coefficient
b. Chezy’s Value
c. Friction Factor
Problem 3:
A rectangular channel is flowing uniformly at a normal depth of 0.9 m.
The channel bed is laid on a slope of 1.5 per thousand. If the width of
the channel is 1.2m, determine the value of the coefficient C in
(m^(1/2))/ sec if corresponding roughness coefficients of the bed and
side materials are n=0.014, m= 0.09 and f= 0.022.

a. by Manning’s
b. by Kutter’s
c. by a formula for C in terms of the friction factor.
Problem 4:
A rectangular channel is flowing at a normal depth of 1.2 m (uniform flow).
The bed is load on a slope of 1.2 m per km with a roughness n=0.015
(f=0.025) for both the bed and the sides. If the width of the channel is 1.5
m, determine the discharge using:

a. the Manning’s formula for v

b. by Chezy’s formula for v and the Kutter’s C
c. Chezy’s formula for v and C in terms of f.
Problem 5:
Uniform flow occurs in an isosceles trapezoidal channel with bottom width
1.5 m and top width water surface of 2.4 m and a depth of flow of 1.4 m. If
the bed and the sides are laid on a slope of 0.52 degrees, and n= 0.013,
determine the ff.:

a. the discharge
b. the hydraulic depth
c. the unit tractive force in Pa.
Problem 6:
Uniform flow occurs in an isosceles triangular channel with apex angle of 80
degrees at a normal depth of 1.6 m. The roughness coefficient n=0.018. The
mean velocity of flow is limited to 1.2 m/s to avoid scouring effect.

a. the maximum allowable discharge in this channel to avoid scouring

effect
b. the hydraulic mean depth
c. the drop in the channel bed per 600 m length of channel
Scour: The clearing and digging action
of flowing air or water, especially the
downward erosion caused by stream
water in removing material (e.g., soil,
rocks) from a channel bed or bank or
around in-channel structures.
Problem 7:
For the channel cross-section shown, n=0.014.
8m

2m

1m

3m

a.) What bed slope is required so that the flow will be steady at 17.2 m^3/s
when the depth of flow is 1.5 m?
b.) How about the required bed slope in a tunnel with water cross-sectional
area of 17.75 m^2 and the wetted perimeter 11.92 m? The flow rate is
45.30 m^3/s and n for its concrete lining is 0.013.
Problem 8:
For the section shown, assume uniform flow in each of the portion of the
channel and the total depths are 0.9 m, 3.6 m, and 1.2 m, from left to right.

a. Compute the flow rate if 𝑠0 = 0.0018, 𝑛𝐿 = 𝑛𝑅 =0.06 and 𝑛𝑀 =0.030.

b. Recompute the flow rate if 𝑛𝐿 = 𝑛𝑅 = 𝑛𝑀 =0.05

0.9 m 1.2 m

3.6 m

36 m 15 m 75 m
Problem 9:
Uniform flow occurs in a trapezoidal channel with bed width of 1.5 m, one
vertical side, and one sloping side. The sloping side is on a slope of 2H:1.5V
and the depth of flow is 1.8 m. If the lining material has n=0.016, and is laid
on a slope of 0.001,
Determine:
a. the flow rate
b. the new bed width if the flow rate is to be doubled?
c. the new hydraulic depth?

2
1.8 m
1.5

1.5 m
Problem 10:
Compute the normal depth of flow for the ff. sections having the same
discharge of 4.80 m^3/s and material characteristics and slope of 0.0008.
The roughness coefficient n = 0.014.
The sections are to be:

a. rectangular with bottom of width 2 m.

b. triangular section with apex angle of 70 degrees.
c. trapezoidal section of bottom width 1.80 m and sides sloping at 50
degrees to the horizontal.
Problem 11:
Compute the normal depth of flow for the following sections having the
same discharge of 4.80 m^3/s and material characteristics and slope of
0.0008. The roughness coefficient n=0.014.

The sections are to be:

a. circular section of diameter 3.2 m
b. circular section of diameter 2.40 m
Minimum Seepage Effect for Trapezoidal Sections
-To minimize seepage loss
𝜃
b = 4𝑑 𝑡𝑎𝑛
2

d
b
Problem 11:
A trapezoidal canal having its sides sloping at an angle of  degrees with the
horizontal is to carry a discharge of 25 m^3/s with an average velocity of 1
m/s.

a. Compute the depth of the canal if it will have a minimum seepage and
=60 degrees.
b. Compute the depth of the canal if  = 75 degrees and b = 5m.
c. If the width of the base is twice as its depth, compute the depth of the
canal for  = 67.38 degrees.
Most Efficient Sections (MES):

-in channels of different shapes/proportions but of the same A, s and n, the

one that gives the largest Q and smallest P is the MES.

- also called as the most economical section, most hydraulically efficient

section, best hydraulic section, most advantageous section and the like.

- may be used to save excavation and lining or surfacing of the channel.

Hierarchy of Efficiency
1. Semi-circular: the most efficient of all efficient sections.
𝐷 𝑟
𝑅ℎ = =
4 2
2. Trapezoidal Section: when top width is equal to the sum of non-
parallel sides. 𝑑
𝑅ℎ =
2
3. Rectangular / Isosceles Right Triangle: are equally efficient.
* For Rectangular * For Isosceles Triangular
b= 2d B= 2d
𝑑 𝑑
𝑅ℎ = 𝑅ℎ =
2 2 2
Problem 12:

a. Derive the proportions for an efficient rectangular section

b. Derive the proportions for an efficient isosceles triangular section
c. Derive the proportions for an efficient trapezoidal section
Problem 13:
An efficient rectangular section has fixed hydraulic properties such as A, n,
and s. Determine the percentage increase in discharge retaining the given
hydraulic properties if the section is replaced by an efficient:

a. Triangular section;
b. Trapezoidal section;
c. The most efficient of all efficient sections;
Problem 14:
An efficient rectangular section has fixed hydraulic properties such as P, n,
and s. Determine the percentage increase in discharge retaining the given
hydraulic properties if the section is replaced by an efficient:

a. Triangular section;
b. Trapezoidal section;
c. The most efficient of all efficient sections;
Problem 15:
Uniform flow occurs in a circular channel of diameter D. The hydraulic
properties n and s are fixed for this channel. Determine the depth of flow
corresponding to a maximum mean velocity of flow in terms of D. Derive a
direct formula for that maximum mean velocity in terms of D, n, and s.
Problem 16:
Uniform flow occurs in a circular channel of diameter D. The hydraulic
properties n and s are fixed for this channel. Determine the depth of flow
corresponding to a maximum discharge in terms of D. Derive a direct
formula for that maximum discharge in terms of D, n, and s.
Problem 17:

a.) Compute the full capacity of a 1.5 –m diameter culvert.

b.) What is the maximum capacity of the culvert?
c.) What is the maximum mean velocity expected in the culvert? Assume
uniform flow and n= 0.015 and 𝒔𝟎 = 𝟎. 𝟎𝟎𝟏.
Problem 18:
A trapezoidal canal has the following flow and channel properties:
𝒎𝟑
Discharge = 𝟏𝟕
𝒔
𝒄𝒎
Mean velocity of flow = 𝟖𝟎
𝒔𝒆𝒄
Roughness coefficient = 𝟎. 𝟎𝟏𝟖
Side slope = 𝟒𝑯: 𝟑𝑽

Using the most efficient trapezoidal section, determine:

a.) the depth of flow
b.) the width of bottom base
c.) the bed slope required
Problem 19:
A rectangular channel 6.2 m wide by 1.2 m deep is lined with smooth
stones, well laid and has a hydraulic slope of 0.001. Using n = 0.013,

a.) What is the capacity of the channel?

b.) What savings in earth excavation could have been offered by using the
more favorable proportions but adhering to the same delivery and slope?
c.) What savings in lining per meter length is achieved by using the more
favorable proportions but adhering to the same delivery and slope.
END OF
SLIDE 