Department of Technical Education

Andhra Pradesh
Name of faculty : A.S. Hiranmayi
Designation : lecturer
Branch : Civil Engineering
Institution : J.N.G.P,HYD
year/semester : III Semester
sub topic : Hydraulics
Sub. Code : C304
topic : Flow Through Open Channels
Duration : 50 min.
sub topic : Problems on Open Channel Flow
Teaching Aids : PPT, Animations
Revised By : V. Srinivasa Rao, Lecturer, DAGPT, Ongole

9C304.64 1
Objectives

On completion of this session, you would be able to

• Work out the problems relating to velocity, discharge of
open channel flow

• Work out the problems on most economical channel section

9C304.64 2
Recap

In the previous session, you have learnt about

• Chezy’s formula for discharge through rectangular &

trapezoidal sections

• Discharge through most economical channel section

9C304.64 3
Problems

1. Water is flowing at the rate of 16.5 cum/s in an earthen

trapezoidal channel with bed width 9m, water depth 1.2m
and side slope 1V:0.5H, calculate the bed slope, if the
value of “C” in the chezy’s formula be 49.5 .

Solution :
Given
Q=16.5m3/s ; b=9m; d=1.2m
Side slope 1:2(0.5H to1V)
C=49.5

9C304.64 4
 Let i= bed slope of the trapezoidal channel

Area of the flow; A=(1/2)(9+10.2)*1.2

=11.52m2
and wetted perimeter, P=9+2*1.2 √1+0.52
=11.68m
hydraulic mean depth,
m=A/P=11.52/11.68=0.986m

Discharge through the pipe, Q=AC √ mi

16.5=11.52*49.5 √ 0.986 i
i = 0.000849

9C304.64 5
 i = 8.49*10-4 = 1/1177

bed slope = 1 in 1177

9C304.64 6
2. A channel of rectangular cross section is 8 m
wide and 3 m deep. The bed slope is 1 in 1200.
Determine the velocity of channel if N=0.0293 in
Kutter’s formula
Solution :
Given :
b = 8.0m ; d = 3.0 m
i = 1/1200 ; N = 0.0293

9C304.64 7
Area of section, A = b*d
= 8*3 = 24m2
Wetted perimeter, P = 8+2*3 = 14m
Hydraulic mean depth, m = A/P = 24/14 = 1.714m (23  0.001
Chezy’s constant form Kutter’s (23, C
formula 
0.00155 / i )  1/
(23  0.00155 / iC )  1  (23  0.0
1/1N (23  0.0155
 (23
C(23   / i/) i) 1/
0.00155 / i )  1/ N / i) N /
C  (23 0.00155
0.00155
 /1/ N) N
N  0.0155
C C  1  (23  0.0155 / i ) N / / M
1 (23 0.0155 i M  0.0155
(23 
(23
*1200) 1
11     1/ 0.0293
(23
(23 0.0155
0.0155
0.0155/ i/)*1200)
iN) N/ / MM
(23  0.0155*1200)  1/ 0.0293 (23  0.0155 (23  0.0155 *1
*1200)0.029
(23 
(23
(23  0.0155*1200) 
0.0155 *1200)0.0293  1/ 0.0293 / 1.714
  (23(23  0.0155*1200)0.0293 / 1.714 37.84
0.0155*1200) 1/ 0.0293
37.84
 37.84

 37.84
(23 0.0155*1200)0.0293
0.0155*1200)0.0293 / / 1.714
VELOCITY 1.714 ,   c mi
VELOCITY , 
 37.84
VELOCITY ,   c mi
VELOCITY ,   c mi  37.84 1.714 *1/ 1200
 37.84
  37.84 1.714 *
VELOCITY

37.84 ,   c*1/1200
1.714 *1/1200
mi velocity ,   1.4 m / s
velocity,  , c1.4
37.84 1.714
VELOCITY mim / s velocity,   1.4m
 velocity
37.84 1.714 ,   1.4
*1/1200
m/ s
 velocity
37.84 1.714*1/1200
,   1.4m / s
9C304.64 8
3. An earthen channel with a 3m wide base and side slopes
1:1 carries water to a depth of 1m . The bed slope is 1 in
1600. Estimate the discharge. Take value of N in
Manning formula as 0.04.
Solution
Given
area of flow, A=(1/2)(3+5)*1
=4m2 1m
Wetted perimeter, P=3+2*1√12+12
3m
=5.83m

9C304.64 9
 hydraulic mean depth, m=A/P=4/5.83=0.686 m

• Discharge through the channel,

1 1 12 3 2 3 12 22132
AA*A
1
Q
QQ * ** m1
* m**j m * j3 * j1 22
Q  AN*N N * m * j
N 1 1
11 1 1 22 1
1
1
 4*
2 3


 4* *(0.686) *( 3 *( )2 3 *
3 2 m 3 12 m3
2 m
4* 1 *(0.686)
* (0.686) )
s ( 1 )
 4 *0.04
0.04 1600 s 2 m3 s
0.04* (0.686)1600 3
* ( 1600 ) s
 100*0.778*0.025
0.04
100*0.778*0.025
 100 * 0.778* 0.025
1600
Q100
 1.945
*m0.778*
3
0.025
Q1.945
s 3
Q m 3
1.945smm3 s
Q  1.945 s

9C304.64 10
 Quiz

1. The discharge through a rectangular channel is maximum

when

(a) m=d/3
(b) m=d/2
(c) m=2d
(d) m=3d/2

9C304.64 11
 Quiz
2. The hydraulic mean depth is given by

(a) P/A
(b) 2P/A
(c) A/P
(d) SQRT(A/P)

9C304.64 12
 Quiz

3. The discharge through a trapezoidal channel is

maximum when

(a) Half of top width =sloping side

(b) Top width= half of sloping side
(c) Top width= 1.5xof sloping side
(d) None

9C304.64 13
Frequently Asked Questions

1. Explain the term open channel .

2. Derive the chezy’s equation for steady uniform flow in
a open channel.
3. What do you understand by the term most economical
section of a channel.
4. Derive the expression for condition of most economical
section of a trapezoidal channel.
5. A rectangular channel 4m wide and 1m deep has a
longitudinal slope of 1 in 1000. Determine the
discharge if C=50.

9C304.64 14
Frequently Asked Questions
6. A rectangular channel has a cross section of 8 sqm
find the dimensions for the most economical section and
the discharge through the channel, if the slope of the
channel bed is 1 in 10000, take C=57.
7. Most economical rectangular channel is discharging
water at rate of 15 cumecs with a velocity of 2.5m/s.
Design the channel , if chezy’s constant =70.
8. A most economical trapezoidal channel is laid with a bed
slope of 1 in 2200. Determine the bed width, if the side
slope is 1:1, Also find the discharge ,if the depth of water
is 4m. Take c=50.

9C304.64 15