Open Channel Flow

Fluid develops a free surface exposed to atmospheric pressure.

Can also occur in par8ally-full closed conduits.
Associated energy losses are also important but ow here is
governed by gravity forces.

Head Losses in Open Channels

Energy Equa8on:

where y = ow depth

Head Losses in Open Channels

Cri8cal ow:
Rectangular channels

Circular Pipes

Head Losses in Open Channels

Similar to pressurized pipes, fric8on losses are caused by shearing
forces associated with the channel roughness.
Impact of resistance on free surface ow:
Manning Formula:

Chezy (KuPer) Formula:

Where Sf = Slope of EGL; R = Hydraulic radius

Flow Classification
steady/unsteady; uniform/non-uniform
Examples:

I.

Euent owing over a weir over a short-5me

II. Flow through a long, submerged intake pipe

III. Open Channel ow through a screen
IV. Flow through a pipe where an upstream valve is being closed

Open Channel Flow

Uniform Flow
v Velocity remains constant over prescribed length.
v Geometric proper5es are not constrained as in closed pipes.
v Free surface ow ul5mately reaches uniform ow: normal
depth yn.
v Gravity forces are balanced with resis5ng shear forces.
v HGL is parallel to EGL (Sf) and the channel invert (S0).

Open Channel Flow

Varied Flow
v The depth and velocity vary longitudinally along the channel.
v Common in short channels, at changes in channel grade or
geometry & near hydraulic structures e.g. weirs, gates, transi5ons...
v If changes are gradual, resis5ng shear forces con5nue to be
important and the eect of accelera5on on ow between 2 adjacent
sec5ons is negligible.
v However, in rapidly-varied ow, iner5al forces dominate and
pressure distribu5ons can no longer be assumed hydrosta5c Large
losses are incurred.

Open Channel Flow

Gradually varied ow:
Assump5ons
Fric8on loss iden8cal to that in uniform ow.
The pressure distribu8on remains hydrosta8c.
Velocity distribu8ons at one sec8on are constant.
Prisma8c channel (constant shape and slope).
Resistance coecients are independent of ow depth.

Head Losses in Open Channels

Terminology:

Zone 1
Zone 2

Zone 3

Open Channel Flow Water Surface Profiles

10

Open Channel Flow Water Surface Profiles

11

Open Channel Flow

Direct Step Method:

Standard Step Method:

Solves for the distance over

Itera8vely solves for the

which a specied change in

unknown depth at one end of

depth occurs. Ideally suited for

the channel.

prisma8c channels.
Does not directly yield the
depth at the end of a known
channel length.

12

 CHANNEL TRANSITIONS










Cylinder quadrant inlet transi8on from trapezoidal to rectangular channel

 SHARP-CRESTED WEIRS:

Rectangular suppressed

18

 SHARP-CRESTED WEIRS:

Rectangular contracted

19

 BROAD-CRESTED WEIRS:

20

Types of Hydraulic Jump

FREE JUMP



FORCED JUMP


SUBMERGED JUMP

 Key parameters in energy dissipa8on:

i)

Headwater ra8ng curve

ii) Energy line for headwater

iii) Tailwater ra8ng curve
iv) Energy line for tailwater

 FLIP BUCKET ON OVERFLOW SPILLWAY

 SPILLWAYS:
~ Safety valve of the dam-reservoir system
Oken indispensible: it is not economical to have a reservoir capacity
larger than the dierence between inow and oumlow
Percent of total cost varies e.g.
4 % for unlined rock spillways
22 % for earth and rock ll dams
Libby and Dwoskak dams: 5 M $ repair cost due to reduced # of
spillways

Classification of Spillways
Classica8on according to:
Most prominent feature
Ogee, Chute, Labyrinth, side channel, tunnel, shak, siphon, stepped

Func8on
Service, Auxiliary, Fuse
Control Structure
Gated, Ungated, Orice

Classification of Spillways
OR Classica8on according to:
Inlet
Overow, collec8ng channel, shak, siphon, orice

Regula8on
Sluicegate, radial gate, ap gate, unregulated

Outlet
S8lling basin, roller bucket, sky jump, plunge pool

Spillway Design
2 steps:
Find type and size to t the requirements of the specic site
Hydraulic and structural design

Prepara8on for design

Evalua8on of date: topogaphy, geology, ood hydrography, storage and
release requirements
Crest type, size and eleva8on
Control
Alterna8ve arrangements + cost analysis
Analysis of exis8ng spillways (trends for a given set of condi8ons)

Aspects involved in design

1) Inow design ood e.g. ood formulae, sta8s8cal methods,
numerical modeling of rainfall-runo rela8ons
2) Spillway design ood: previously based on dam height, storage
volume, downstream development; now based on consequences of
dam failure ( most complicated issue): each country has its standards
3) Spillway oumlow discharge: Flood-rou8ng analysis requires:
Full reservoir level
Crest Level
# of spans
Dsicharge ra8ng curves

Aspects involved in design

Based on 3)
Crest prole
Downstream protec8on
Energy dissipa8on




4) Frequency of usage: depends on runo characteris8cs of drainage
area and reservoir capacity

Ogee Spillway design charts