CAIRO UNIVERSITY

Faculty of Engineering
Irrigation & Hydraulics Department

HYDRAULICS
3 year Civil Eng.
2011 2012
rd

Exercise (4): Open Channel Flow - Gradually Varied Flow

1) A wide channel consists of three long reaches and has two gates located midway
of the first and last reaches. The bed slopes for the three reaches are S1 = 0.008,
S2= 0.00309, and S3 = 0.0005. The water discharges to the channel from a lake
where the water surface is higher than the normal depth at the inlet. If the
discharge is 0.675 m3/sec/m, and n = 0.015, sketch the possible water surface
profiles in the channel for the following cases:
a) The last reach terminates in a sudden fall.
b) The last reach discharges to a lake of water level higher than the normal depth
at the exit.
Also trace the variation in water depth through both gates on the S.E.D.
2) Water flows with constant discharge q=1.0 m3/s/m into a wide rectangular channel
that consists of two very long reaches where the bed slope changes from
So1=6.87x10-3 to So2=3.24x10-4, Calculate:
a) The depth of both uniform and critical flow in both reaches (take n=0.018)
b) Draw a neat sketch of the water profile at the transition zone and calculate the
water depths and the head losses wherever appropriate.
3) A barrage is constructed across a wide river whose discharge is 6 m3/sec/m, and bed
slope is 10 cm/km. If the afflux produced at the site of the barrage is 3 m, find the
length of the water surface profile produced from the site of the barrage till a point
where the water depth is 6.25m. Use the direct step method considering 3 points,
Chezy coefficient C = 50.
4) A trapezoidal channel of bed width of 7 m, side slopes 3:2, Manning coefficient
n of 0.02 is laid on a slope of 0.001 and carries a discharge of 30m3/sec. The
channel terminates to a free fall. It is required to compute and plot the water
surface profile from downstream to a water depth of 0.9 the normal depth. Use the
direct step method (use 3 steps).
5) A steep long channel takes its water from a lake. Prove that the discharge per unit
width in the channel is given by:
3
8
q
gH 2
27
Two lakes are joined by a wide concrete channel A-B as shown in the figure below, n
= 0.02. The water levels in the lakes are constant.

a) Find the flow rate into the channel for each of the following bed slopes:
1

CAIRO UNIVERSITY
Faculty of Engineering
Irrigation & Hydraulics Department

HYDRAULICS
3 year Civil Eng.
2011 2012
rd

i. So = 10 cm/km
ii. So = 0.003924
iii. So = 0.01
Compare your results and explain how the flow depth at A affects the flowing
discharge.

b) Sketch the Water surface profile for the above cases and calculate the water
depths wherever appropriate.
c) Does a hydraulic jump occur? If so, How far upstream point B does it occur?
Use the direct step method, considering 5 points.

1.5m

A
2.0m

n = 0.02, Bed Slope = So

d) If a gate is located at point A (Cc=0.65 and Cd=0.6) to control the discharge

into the channel as in the figure below. Find the flow rate into the channel for
the following gate openings (So=0.01):
i. d = 0.5m
ii. d = 0.8m
iii. d = 1.2m

1.5m

A
2.0m

n = 0.02, Bed Slope = 0.01

2

CAIRO UNIVERSITY
Faculty of Engineering
Irrigation & Hydraulics Department

HYDRAULICS
3 year Civil Eng.
2011 2012
rd

6) A 10 m wide, rectangular concrete-lined canal (n = 0.015) has a bottom slope of 0.01

and a constant level lake at the upstream end. The water level in the lake is 6m above
the bottom of the canal at the entrance. If the entrance losses are negligible,
determine:
a) The flow depth 600 m downstream of the channel entrance, use the improved
Euler method.
b) The distance from the lake where the flow depth is 3.0 m. Use the direct step
method.
7) The figure below shows a longitudinal section in a channel of wide cross section.
Mannings n = 0.02 and the bed slope is 0.001.

So= 1/1000, n = 0.02

A gate is located at point A. The discharge equation for the gate in case of free
outflow is given by:

q C d d 2 g ( H Cc d )
and for a submerged outflow is:

q Cd d 2 g ( H y)

Where q is the discharge per unit width (m2/sec), Cd is the discharge coefficient and
is equal to 0.6, d is the height of the gate opening (m), H is the water depth just
upstream of the gate (m), y is the water depth downstream the gate (m), and g is the
gravitational acceleration (m/sec2). The coefficient of contraction of the gate Cc =
0.63.
3

CAIRO UNIVERSITY
Faculty of Engineering
Irrigation & Hydraulics Department

HYDRAULICS
3 year Civil Eng.
2011 2012
rd

a) If q = 3 m3/sec/m, and H = 3m, find the gate opening d, and check if a free
hydraulic jump will form downstream of the gate. Assume the channel
downstream A is long enough to allow for uniform flow to develop. If a jump will
form, how far downstream of A will it be? (Use an appropriate method to
calculate the distance)
b) Point B is located 600m upstream of the gate. Find the water depth at B. Use the
improved Euler method considering two steps. If the bed level at A = 20.75m,
find the water level at B.
c) The gate at A is used to maintain a constant water level at B for different values
of discharge. What is the required gate opening to keep the water level at B
unchanged, for a low flow of 1 m3/sec/m? Use the improved Euler method with
two steps.
8) A trapezoidal channel having bottom slope 0.001 is carrying a flow of 30m3/s. The
bottom width is 10.0m and side slope 2H to 1V. A control structure is built at the
downstream end which raises depth at the downstream end to 5.0m. Compute and
draw the water surface profile. Manning n is 0.013.

CAIRO UNIVERSITY
Faculty of Engineering
Irrigation & Hydraulics Department

HYDRAULICS
3 year Civil Eng.
2011 2012
rd

Problems to be solved by computer:

Water flows in a rectangular channel of 10m bed width, n = 0.018, at a flow rate of 15m3/sec.
Create an Excel Spread Sheet to plot to a suitable horizontal and vertical scale the bed slope,
water surface profile, and the total energy line (TEL) between points A and B for the following
cases (water flows at point A with uniform flow depth).

In order to perform the required plots, calculate the bed elevation, water surface elevation, and
the TEL elevation along the profile. You may assume bed elevation at the start of your profile
with any appropriate value.
Comment on the relation between the bed slope So and the slope of the TEL Se for the three
cases then calculate and compare the length between A and B.

H = 3m
B

A
So= 15 cm/km

A
So= 15 cm/km

B
Free Fall

H = 3m
B

A
So= 0.02

CAIRO UNIVERSITY
Faculty of Engineering
Irrigation & Hydraulics Department

HYDRAULICS
3 year Civil Eng.
2011 2012
rd

Model Answer
Question (1)
q = 0.675 m3/sec/m, n = 0.015, So1 = 0.008, So2 = 0.00309, So3 = 0.0005.

)
)
)

CAIRO UNIVERSITY
Faculty of Engineering
Irrigation & Hydraulics Department

HYDRAULICS
3 year Civil Eng.
2011 2012
rd

CAIRO UNIVERSITY
Faculty of Engineering
Irrigation & Hydraulics Department

HYDRAULICS
3 year Civil Eng.
2011 2012
rd

Question (2)
q = 1.0 m3/sec/m , So1 = 6.87 x 10-3, So2 = 3.24 x 10-4, n =0.018

(a)
(

(b)

then the hydraulic jump will occur on the steep slope

(

CAIRO UNIVERSITY
Faculty of Engineering
Irrigation & Hydraulics Department

HYDRAULICS
3 year Civil Eng.
2011 2012
rd

Question (3)
q = 6 m3/sec/m, So = 10 cm/km, afflux = 3 m, C = 50 .

CAIRO UNIVERSITY
Faculty of Engineering
Irrigation & Hydraulics Department

HYDRAULICS
3 year Civil Eng.
2011 2012
rd

calculate the length of M1 curve using direct step method from y = 8.24 m
to y = 6.25 m (3 points).

y (m)

yavg (m)

Fr^2

Se

(1-Fr^2)/(SoSe)

dy

dx

6.25
7.25

6.750

0.012

0.000047

18580.431

1.00

18580.431

8.24

7.745

0.008

0.000031

14377.332

0.99

14233.559

dx=

32813.990

10

CAIRO UNIVERSITY
Faculty of Engineering
Irrigation & Hydraulics Department

HYDRAULICS
3 year Civil Eng.
2011 2012
rd

Question (4)
Trapezoidal channel
b = 7 m, t = 1.5, n = 0.02, So = 0.001, Q = 30 m3/sec.

then yo > yc (Mild channel)

11

CAIRO UNIVERSITY
Faculty of Engineering
Irrigation & Hydraulics Department

HYDRAULICS
3 year Civil Eng.
2011 2012
rd

calculate the length of M2 curve using direct step method from y =

0.9x1.623 = 1.46 m to y = yc = 1.13 m (4 points).

y (m)

yavg
(m)

Fr^2

Se

(1-Fr^2)/(So-Se)

dy

dx

1.405
1.295
1.185

12.796
11.581
10.401

12.066
11.669
11.273

1.061
0.992
0.923

11.215
10.885
10.555

0.491
0.643
0.861

0.002033
0.002712
0.003704

-492.695
-208.546
-51.575

-0.11
-0.11
-0.11

54.196
22.940
5.673

dx=

82.810

1.46
1.35
1.24
1.13

12

CAIRO UNIVERSITY
Faculty of Engineering
Irrigation & Hydraulics Department

HYDRAULICS
3 year Civil Eng.
2011 2012
rd

Question (5)

neglect the head loss at the inlet (relatively short distance )

But

then

13

CAIRO UNIVERSITY
Faculty of Engineering
Irrigation & Hydraulics Department

HYDRAULICS
3 year Civil Eng.
2011 2012
rd

ai)
n = 0.02 , So = 10 cm / km
assume steep channel

yo > yc (wrong assumption)

14

CAIRO UNIVERSITY
Faculty of Engineering
Irrigation & Hydraulics Department

HYDRAULICS
3 year Civil Eng.
2011 2012
rd

assume mild channel

from 1, 2 then

15

CAIRO UNIVERSITY
Faculty of Engineering
Irrigation & Hydraulics Department

HYDRAULICS
3 year Civil Eng.
2011 2012
rd

a ii )
n = 0.02 , So = 0.003924
assume steep channel

yo = yc (Critical channel)
As the water depth at the inlet remains yc , then
and the discharge (q) will remain the same

16

is valid

CAIRO UNIVERSITY
Faculty of Engineering
Irrigation & Hydraulics Department

HYDRAULICS
3 year Civil Eng.
2011 2012
rd

a iii )
n = 0.02 , So = 0.01
assume steep channel

yo < yc (Steep channel)

17

CAIRO UNIVERSITY
Faculty of Engineering
Irrigation & Hydraulics Department

case
So
type
q (m3/sec/m)

HYDRAULICS
3 year Civil Eng.
2011 2012
rd

i
0.0001
Mild
0.959

ii
0.003924
Critical
3.132

iii
0.01
Steep
3.132

"The discharge flowing into the channel from the lake depends on the
conditions at the inlet (water depth at point A). For a constant specific
energy available (water head H in the lake), the maximum discharge that
can be diverted to the channel occurs when water depth at the inlet is at
Ycritical, otherwise, the flowing discharge decreases. In this problem,
changing the channel slope from critical to steep slope did not affect the
water depth at A and thus the flowing discharge remained te same. On the
other hand, when the channel slope changed to be Mild, water depth at A
increased to Normal depth and thus the flowing discharge decreased. In
addition to the above, when the water depth at A in Ycritical, the flowing
discharge in to the channel depends only on the available head in the lake,
while in case of mild slope, other channel parameters that affect normal
depth (n, So) also affect the flowing discharge in addition to H."

18

CAIRO UNIVERSITY
Faculty of Engineering
Irrigation & Hydraulics Department

HYDRAULICS
3 year Civil Eng.
2011 2012
rd

c)
For case i , and ii no hydraulic jump will occur
For case iii a hydraulics jump will occur

19

CAIRO UNIVERSITY
Faculty of Engineering
Irrigation & Hydraulics Department

HYDRAULICS
3 year Civil Eng.
2011 2012
rd

calculate the length of S1 curve using direct step method from y = 1.293 m
to y = 2.0 m (5 points).

y (m)

yavg (m)

Fr^2

Se

(1-Fr^2)/(So-Se)

dy

dx

1.45

1.372

0.388

0.001369

70.953

0.157

11.140

1.6

1.525

0.282

0.000961

79.441

0.150

11.916

1.8

1.700

0.204

0.000669

85.359

0.200

17.072

1.9

0.146

0.000462

89.558

0.200

17.912

dx=

58.039 m

1.293

20

CAIRO UNIVERSITY
Faculty of Engineering
Irrigation & Hydraulics Department

HYDRAULICS
3 year Civil Eng.
2011 2012
rd

d)

Cd = 0.6 , Cc = 0.65
(i) d = 0.5 m

21

CAIRO UNIVERSITY
Faculty of Engineering
Irrigation & Hydraulics Department

HYDRAULICS
3 year Civil Eng.
2011 2012
rd

(ii) d = 0.8 m

(iii) d = 1.2 m
q = qmax = 3.132 m3/sec/m

22

CAIRO UNIVERSITY
Faculty of Engineering
Irrigation & Hydraulics Department

HYDRAULICS
3 year Civil Eng.
2011 2012
rd

23

CAIRO UNIVERSITY
Faculty of Engineering
Irrigation & Hydraulics Department

HYDRAULICS
3 year Civil Eng.
2011 2012
rd

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CAIRO UNIVERSITY
Faculty of Engineering
Irrigation & Hydraulics Department

HYDRAULICS
3 year Civil Eng.
2011 2012
rd

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CAIRO UNIVERSITY
Faculty of Engineering
Irrigation & Hydraulics Department

HYDRAULICS
3 year Civil Eng.
2011 2012
rd

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CAIRO UNIVERSITY
Faculty of Engineering
Irrigation & Hydraulics Department

HYDRAULICS
3 year Civil Eng.
2011 2012
rd

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Faculty of Engineering
Irrigation & Hydraulics Department

HYDRAULICS
3 year Civil Eng.
2011 2012
rd

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Faculty of Engineering
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HYDRAULICS
3 year Civil Eng.
2011 2012
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CAIRO UNIVERSITY
Faculty of Engineering
Irrigation & Hydraulics Department

HYDRAULICS
3 year Civil Eng.
2011 2012
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Faculty of Engineering
Irrigation & Hydraulics Department

HYDRAULICS
3 year Civil Eng.
2011 2012
rd

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CAIRO UNIVERSITY
Faculty of Engineering
Irrigation & Hydraulics Department

HYDRAULICS
3 year Civil Eng.
2011 2012
rd

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CAIRO UNIVERSITY
Faculty of Engineering
Irrigation & Hydraulics Department

HYDRAULICS
3 year Civil Eng.
2011 2012
rd

33

CAIRO UNIVERSITY
Faculty of Engineering
Irrigation & Hydraulics Department

HYDRAULICS
3 year Civil Eng.
2011 2012
rd

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