Lecture 2

Channel geometry


CHANNEL GEOMETRY
The term channel section means cross section of channel taken normal to the direction of
the flow. A vertical channel section is the vertical section passing through the lowest or
bottom section.
Nature channels sections are in general very irregular in shape whereas, artificial
channels are usually designed with sections of regular geometry shapes.
The trapezoid is a commonly used shape; the rectangle and triangle are special case of
trapezoid. Since the rectangle has vertical sides, it is commonly used for channels built of
stable materials, such as lined masonry, rocks, metal or timber.
The depth of flow y is the vertical distance from the water surface to the lowest point of
the channel section.
Stage is the elevation or vertical distance of the free surface above a datum.
Top width T is the width of the natural section at the water surface.
Water area A is the cross sectional area of the flow measured normal to the direction of
the flow.
The wetted perimeter P is the length of the line of intersection of the channel wetted
surface with the cross sectional plane normal to the direction of the flow.
Hydraulic radius R is the ratio of the water area to its wetted perimeter. R=A/P
Hydraulic depth D is the ratio of the water area to the top width D=A/T
Section factor Z for critical flow computation Z is the product of the water area and the
square root of hydraulic depth. D A Z =
In case of uniform flow section factor is given by
3 / 2
AR Z =





RECTANGLECHANNEL:
Breadth=B
Depth=y
AreaA=B.y
PerimeterP=(B+2y)
TopwidthT=B
HydraulicRadius
y B
By
R
2 +
=

TRIANGULARCHANNEL:
Depth=y
Sideslopem:1
Area
2
my A =
Perimeter ( )
2
1 2 m y P + =
TopwidthT=2my
HydraulicRadius
( )
2
1 2 m
my
R
+
=

TRAPEZOIDALCHANNEL:
Depth=y
Sideslopem:1
Area y my b A ) ( + =
Perimeter ( )
2
1 2 m y b P + + =
TopwidthT=b+2my
HydraulicRadius
( )
2
1 2
) (
m y b
y my b
R
+ +
+
=

y
B
y
T
m
1
y
T
m
1
O

CIRCULAR CHANNEL:
Area of flow is given by, A = {r
2
-r
2
(sin2/2)}
Area OMQN=r
2

Area of OMN= *rsin*rcos}*2=r
2
sin.cos=r
2
sin2/2
Perimeter P= (r*2)
Hydraulic mean radius, (R
h
) =A/P=

2
(0-
sin20
2
)
20
=
(0-
sin20
2
)
20

Top width, T=2(r sin)
Hydraulic depth, D=A/T=

2
(0-sn202)
2(sn0)
=

2
(0-
sin20
2
)
sn0

Section factor, Z=A = r
2
[0 -
sn20
2
_

2
[
0-sn202
sn0

Example: A lined channel of trapezoidal section carries a discharge of 8 cumecs, at a depth of

1.2m, with bottom width 2m and side slope of 1.5 Horizontal to 1Vertical. Consider uniform
flow and calculate:
1. The longitudinal slope of the channel.
2. The average shear stress over the wetted perimeter
3. The value of equivalent Darcys f .
4. The Froude number of flow. Assume, Mannings n= 0.015.

Solution: Given: Bottom width of the cross-section, b = 2.0m; Depth of the flow, y = 1.2m;
Side slope = 1.5H;1V;, Discharge, Q= 8 Cumecs; Mannings coefficient, n=0.015.
Area of flow is given by,
Area
2 2 2
56 . 4 2 . 1 50 . 1 2 . 1 2 m my by A = - = =

Wetted perimeter is given by,
( ) ( ) m m y b P 32 . 6 5 . 1 1 2 . 1 2 0 . 2 1 2
2 2
= + + = + + =
Therefore,
m
P
A
R 72 . 0
32 . 6
56 . 4
= = =
Velocity of flow is given by,
s m
A
Q
v / 75 . 1
56 . 4
8
= = =
According to Mannings formula,
2 / 1 3 / 2
1
S R
n
v =
( )
2 / 1 3 / 2
72 . 0
015 . 0
1
75 . 1 S =
52 . 936
1
= S

Average shear stress is given by,
RS t =
0

2
0
53 . 7
52 . 936
1
72 . 0 9800
m
N
= = t
We know that,
f
g
C
8
=
But,
11 . 63 72 . 0
015 . 0
1 1
6 / 1 6 / 1
= = = R
n
C
Therefore,
f
g 8
11 . 63 =
f=0.019
Froude number is given by,
gD
v
Fr =
81 . 0
2 . 1 5 . 1 2 2
56 . 4
2
56 . 4
=
+
=
+
= =
my b T
A
D

Therefore,
0 . 1 62 . 0
81 . 0 81 . 9
75 . 1
< =

= Fr

Hence, the flow is subcritical.