Flow in Channels

AST 324
Carl E. Anderson

2/15/2000

Channel Flow.ppt

Lesson Objectives
1. Understand the effects of waterway
slope, shape, and roughness on the flow
velocity of water.
2. Know how to determine the area and
hydraulic radius of the three major
channel cross section shapes used in
waterways.
3. Be able to use the Manning Equation
and the Continuity Equation to predict
flow- velocity and flow-rate in a waterway.
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Channel Flow.ppt

Think of water flowing down a

channel as a soapbox racer going
down a racetrack. The only force
causing motion is gravity.
What factors would cause the racer
(water) to move down the track
(channel) faster?
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Channel Flow.ppt

If you wanted to find a tire that

would get better traction, what
characteristics would you
look for?

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Channel Flow.ppt

Open Channel Flow

Q=AV
Cross-Section
Area
Wetted Perimeter

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Channel Flow.ppt

MANNING EQUATION

C 23 12
V R S
n
V = velocity of flow in feet per
second (meters per second)
C = Constant = 1.49 for English units
(1.00 for metric units)
R = Hydraulic Radius in feet
(meters)
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Channel Flow.ppt

MANNING EQUATION

C 23 12
V R S
n
S = channel slope in ft/ft or m/m
n = Manning roughness coefficient

2/15/2000

Channel Flow.ppt

MANNING EQUATION

C 23 12
V R S
n
More roughness in the channel (n)
will slow down the water
Smaller R (flow depth) will slow
down the water
Smaller slope (S) will slow down the
water
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Channel Flow.ppt

MANNING ROUGHNESS
COEFFICIENTS

Smooth concrete
Corrugated pipe
Smooth soil
Cultivated soil

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Channel Flow.ppt

n = 0.012
n = 0.025
n = 0.03
n = 0.04

CHANNEL HYDRAULIC
RADIUS
R = A / P (the average flow depth)
A = Area of the flow crosssection in sq. ft (sq. m)
P = Length of the line of contact
between the channel and the
water on the area in feet (meters)
2/15/2000

Channel Flow.ppt

10

Manning Equation
Simple Example:
Rectangular cross-section

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A = BD
P = B + 2D
For
B = 5 ft.,
D
D = 2 ft.
A = 10 ft.2
B
P = 9 ft.
R = 10 / 9 = 1.11
ft.
Channel Flow.ppt
11

MANNING EQUATION

2
3

S
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1
2

Channel Flow.ppt

12

Manning Equation
Simple Example: continued
Rectangular cross-section

A = 10 ft.2
P = 9 ft.
R = 10 / 9 = 1.11 ft
For
S = 1% = 0.01 ft/ft
n = 0.04

2/15/2000

Channel Flow.ppt

13

Manning Equation
Simple Example: continued
Rectangular cross-section
2
149
.
3
v
.
001
.
111
004
.
(3725
. )(1072
.
)(01
.)

399
. ft / sec
Q = AV = (10)(3.99) = 39.9 CFS
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Channel Flow.ppt

14

PRINCIPLES OF WATER
FLOW
Trapezoidal Open Channel

D
Z
B

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A = BD + ZD2
P=B+
2D(Z2+1)1/2
R = A/ P

Channel Flow.ppt

15

PRINCIPLES OF WATER
FLOW
Round pipe flowing full2
A = D / 4
P = D
R = A/ P =
D/ 4
2
D
1.49 D
V

n 4

2/15/2000

Channel Flow.ppt

16

Example for Trapezoidal

Channel
B = 10 feet
D = 3 feet
n = 0.04
S = 0.1% = 0.001 ft/ ft
Z = 2 feet horizontal for each foot
vertical on the side slopes.
Estimate the Velocity and Capacity

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Channel Flow.ppt

17

Example for a full pipe

D = 12 inches = 1 foot
= 3.1416
n = 0.015
S = 0.1% = 0.001 ft/ ft
Estimate the flow velocity and the
capacity of this pipe.

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Channel Flow.ppt

18

Parabolic Channel Crosssection

T
A

D
P

A 2 / 3(TD) P T
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Channel Flow.ppt

R (2 / 3)D
19