BETH 2313 - Fluid Mechanics

Chapter 13
OPEN-CHANNEL FLOW
CONTINUED
Lecture slides by
Olawale Ifayefunmi
 Objectives
Predict if hydraulic jumps are to occur during
flow, and calculate the fraction of energy
dissipated during hydraulic jumps
Understand how flow rates in open channels
are measured using sluice gates and weirs

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GRADUALLY VARIED FLOW
Gradually varied flow (GVF): A form of steady nonuniform flow characterized by
gradual variations in flow depth and velocity (small slopes and no abrupt changes)
and a free surface that always remains smooth (no discontinuities or zigzags).
A change in the bottom slope or cross section of a channel or an obstruction in the
path of flow may cause the uniform flow in a channel to become gradually or rapidly
varied flow.

Variation of properties over a differential flow section in an open 3

channel under conditions of gradually varied flow (GVF).
 For specified values of S0 and Sf , the
term dy/dx may be positive or negative,
depending on whether the Froude
number is less than or greater than 1.
Therefore, the flow behavior is opposite
in subcritical and supercritical flows.
For S0 Sf > 0, the flow depth increases
in the flow direction in subcritical flow,
but it decreases in supercritical flow.

A slow-moving river of approximately constant

depth and cross section, such as the Chicago
River shown here, is an example of uniform
flow with S0 Sf and dy/dx 0.
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FLOW CONTROL AND MEASUREMENT
The flow rate in pipes and ducts is controlled by various kinds of
valves.
Liquid flow in open channels, however, is not confined, and thus the
flow rate is controlled by partially blocking the channel.
This is done by either allowing the liquid to flow over the obstruction
or under it.
Weir: An obstruction that allows the liquid to flow over.
Underflow gate: An obstruction with an adjustable opening at the
bottom that allows the liquid to flow underneath it.
Such devices can be used to control the flow rate through the
channel as well as to measure it.

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Underflow Gates Common types of underflow gates to control flow rate.

Discharge coefficient, Cd

Schematic and flow

depth-specific energy
diagram for flow
through underflow
gates. 6
 Discharge
coefficients for
drowned and
free discharge
from underflow
gates.

Most values of Cd for free outflow from a vertical sluice gate range
between 0.5 and 0.6. The Cd values drop sharply for drowned outflow,
and the flow rate decreases for the same upstream conditions. For a
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given value of y1/a, the value of Cd decreases with increasing y2/a.
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Overflow Gates
The one-dimensional energy equation for open-channel flow
between upstream section 1 and downstream section 2:

For a channel of constant width b:

This diagram is extremely valuable as it

shows the allowable states during flow.
Once the upstream conditions at a flow
section 1 are specified, the state of the
liquid at any section 2 on an Esy
diagram must fall on a point on the
specific energy curve that passes
through point 1.

Variation of specific
energy Es with depth y for
a specified flow rate in a
channel of constant width. 9
Flow over a Bump with Negligible Friction

Schematic and flow

depth-specific energy
diagram for flow over
a bump for subcritical
and supercritical
upstream flows. 10
Broad-Crested Weir
The flow over a sufficiently high obstruction in an open channel is always critical.
Such obstructions placed intentionally in an open channel to measure the flow
rate are called weirs.

Broad-crested weir: A rectangular block of height Pw and length Lw that has a

horizontal crest over which critical flow occurs.
Weir head, H: The upstream head above the top surface of the weir.

Flow over a broad-crested weir.

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Sharp-Crested Weirs
A sharp-crested weir is a vertical plate placed in a channel that forces the liquid
to flow through an opening to measure the flow rate.
The type of the weir is characterized by the shape of the opening.
A vertical thin plate with a straight top edge is referred to as rectangular weir
since the cross section of the flow over it is rectangular; a weir with a triangular
opening is referred to as a triangular weir; etc.

Flow over a sharp-crested weir.

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A triangular (or V-
notch) sharp-crested
weir plate geometry.
The view is from
downstream looking
upstream.
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 Summary
GRADUALLY VARIED FLOW
Liquid Surface Profiles in Open Channels, y(x)
Some Representative Surface Profiles
Numerical Solution of Surface Profile
RAPIDLY VARIED FLOW AND THE HYDRAULIC JUMP
FLOW CONTROL AND MEASUREMENT
Underflow Gates, Overflow Gates

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