This article was downloaded by: [University of Nebraska, Lincoln], [Amin Mohebbi]

On: 21 October 2014, At: 11:42

Publisher: Taylor & Francis
Informa Ltd Registered in England and Wales Registered Number: 1072954 Registered office: Mortimer
House, 37-41 Mortimer Street, London W1T 3JH, UK

Journal of Hydraulic Research

Publication details, including instructions for authors and subscription information:
http://www.tandfonline.com/loi/tjhr20

Turbulent velocity distribution with dip phenomenon

in conic open channels
a b bc d
Junke Guo , Amin Mohebbi , Yuan Zhai & Shawn P. Clark
a
(IAHR Member), Associate Professor, Department of Civil Engineering, University of
Nebraska-Lincoln, 1110 S 67th Street, Omaha, NE 68182, USA
b
PhD Student, Department of Civil Engineering, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 1110 S
67th ST, Omaha, NE 68182, USA
c
currently, Hydraulic Engineer, General Institute for Planning and Design of Water
Resources and Hydropower, Beijing 100011, People's Republic of China
d
Associate Professor, E1-368 EITC, Department of Civil Engineering, University of
Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada R3T 5V6 Email:
Published online: 17 Oct 2014.

To cite this article: Junke Guo, Amin Mohebbi, Yuan Zhai & Shawn P. Clark (2014): Turbulent velocity distribution with dip
phenomenon in conic open channels, Journal of Hydraulic Research, DOI: 10.1080/00221686.2014.928807

To link to this article: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/00221686.2014.928807

PLEASE SCROLL DOWN FOR ARTICLE

Taylor & Francis makes every effort to ensure the accuracy of all the information (the Content) contained
in the publications on our platform. However, Taylor & Francis, our agents, and our licensors make no
representations or warranties whatsoever as to the accuracy, completeness, or suitability for any purpose of
the Content. Any opinions and views expressed in this publication are the opinions and views of the authors,
and are not the views of or endorsed by Taylor & Francis. The accuracy of the Content should not be relied
upon and should be independently verified with primary sources of information. Taylor and Francis shall
not be liable for any losses, actions, claims, proceedings, demands, costs, expenses, damages, and other
liabilities whatsoever or howsoever caused arising directly or indirectly in connection with, in relation to or
arising out of the use of the Content.

This article may be used for research, teaching, and private study purposes. Any substantial or systematic
reproduction, redistribution, reselling, loan, sub-licensing, systematic supply, or distribution in any
form to anyone is expressly forbidden. Terms & Conditions of access and use can be found at http://
www.tandfonline.com/page/terms-and-conditions
 Journal of Hydraulic Research, 2014
http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/00221686.2014.928807

Research paper

Turbulent velocity distribution with dip phenomenon in conic open channels

JUNKE GUO (IAHR Member), Associate Professor, Department of Civil Engineering, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 1110 S 67th
Street, Omaha, NE 68182, USA
Downloaded by [University of Nebraska, Lincoln], [Amin Mohebbi] at 11:42 21 October 2014

Email: jguo2@unl.edu (author for correspondence)

AMIN MOHEBBI, PhD Student, Department of Civil Engineering, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 1110 S 67th ST, Omaha, NE
68182, USA
Email: amohebbi@unomaha.edu

YUAN ZHAI, PhD Student, Department of Civil Engineering, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 1110 S 67th ST, Omaha, NE 68182,
USA; currently, Hydraulic Engineer, General Institute for Planning and Design of Water Resources and Hydropower, Beijing
100011, Peoples Republic of China
Email: 43michelle@gmail.com

SHAWN P. CLARK, Associate Professor, E1-368 EITC, Department of Civil Engineering, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB,
Canada R3T 5V6
Email: clarks@cc.umanitoba.ca

ABSTRACT
Conic open-channel ow as occurs in sub-drains, sewers, and culverts is computed by Mannings or Darcys resistance equations for the cross-sectional
average velocity only. Yet, sh passage culvert design requires the cross-sectional velocity distribution, which is proposed in this paper based on two
hypotheses: (i) centreline velocity distribution follows the conventional log-law with a cubic deduction near the water surface; (ii) cross-sectional
velocity distribution is described by Guo and Juliens modied log-wake-law but neglecting the squared sine function. These hypotheses result in
a novel and simple velocity distribution model without any tting parameter. Its graphical interpretation for the elliptic, parabolic, and hyperbolic
channels indicates reasonable velocity contours with dip phenomenon. Further, it agrees well with circular pipe data related to the average shear
velocity, velocity-dip position, centreline and cross-sectional velocity distributions. A potential application includes sh passage culvert design by
specifying a low velocity zone near the wall.

Keywords: Conic section; culvert ow; sh passage; open channel; partially-lled pipe; velocity-dip phenomenon; velocity
distribution

1 Introduction
The turbulent velocity distribution with dip phenomenon in rect-
angular open channels has been widely studied (Sarma et al.
1983, Hu 1985, Chiu 1989, Tominaga et al. 1989, Yang et al.
2004, Bonakdari et al. 2008, Guo and Julien 2008, Roussinova
et al. 2008, Absi 2011, Guo 2014). Yet, many articial and natural
open channels are characterized by conic sections including the
circle, ellipse, parabola and hyperbola shapes. Circular (Fig. 1a)
and elliptical (Fig. 1b) pipes are widely used for sub-drains,
sewers and stream-crossing culverts (Chow 1959, American
Concrete Pipe Association 1992, Hager 2010); parabola (Fig. 1c)
approximates small and medium-size natural channels (Chow
1959, Knighton 1984, Dingman 2009); man-made triangular and
trapezoidal channels are approximated as hyperbola (Fig. 1d) if
the bottom corners are smoothed by sediment deposition (Chow
1959, Dingman 2009). The current knowledge of ows in these
channels is limited to the cross-sectional average velocity and
the ow depth. Yet, the design of sh passage culverts requires
cross-sectional velocity distributions. Therefore, the research
reported in this paper is focused on a turbulent velocity distribu-
tion in conic open-channel ow, particularly on the centreline and

Received 10 March 2014; accepted 21 May 2014/Currently open for discussion.

ISSN 0022-1686 print/ISSN 1814-2079 online

http://www.tandfonline.com
This material is published by permission of the J. Sterling Jones Hydraulics Research Laboratory, operated by the Turner-Fairbank Highway Research
Center for the US Department of Transportation under Contract No. DTFH61-11-D-00010. The US Government retains for itself, and others acting on
its behalf, a paid-up, non-exclusive, and irrevocable worldwide license in said article to reproduce, prepare derivative works, distribute copies to the
public, and perform publicly and display publicly, by or on behalf of the Government.
1
 2 J. Guo et al.
Downloaded by [University of Nebraska, Lincoln], [Amin Mohebbi] at 11:42 21 October 2014
Figure 1 Conic sections: (a) circle, (b) ellipse, (c) parabola, and (d) hyperbola
cross-sectional velocity distributions as well as the dip position.
We continue below with the review of the problem rst.
2 Review
Conic open-channel ow is similar to that in rectangular channels
except for wall boundary so that a review of rectangular open-
channel ow is instructive for this research. Consider uniform
and turbulent ow in rectangular channels with the maximum
velocity below the water surface. The primary ow is often
Journal of Hydraulic Research (2014)
divided into an inner and an outer region. The inner region,
bounded by the wall, is described by the classic law of the wall
scaled by the viscous length and the shear velocity; the outer
region, inuenced by the water surface, is modelled by a velocity-
defect law including the dip phenomenon. The two regions are
linked by an overlap described by the log-law (Millikan 1938). In
practice, the viscous layer of the inner region is often embedded
in roughness so that the cross-sectional velocity distribution is
only approximated by the outer region law (Sarma et al. 1983,
Hu 1985, Yang et al. 2004, Bonakdari et al. 2008, Roussinova
et al. 2008, Absi 2011). This research uses as benchmark the
 Journal of Hydraulic Research (2014) Conic open-channel ow 3

Figure 2 Theoretical and zero-velocity bed levels for (a) sand-grain and (b) corrugation roughness

recently modied log-wake-law (Guo 2014):

 
u(0, z) u(y, z) 1 2|y|
= ln 1
uw T
Downloaded by [University of Nebraska, Lincoln], [Amin Mohebbi] at 11:42 21 October 2014

   
1 2|y| 3 2c |y|
+ 1 1 + sin2
3 T T
(1)

Here u is the primary time-averaged velocity at the cross-

sectional coordinates (y, z) with y = 0 at the channel centre and
z pointing upward, uw is the local side-wall shear velocity but
approximated by the average value in Guo (2014), = 0.41 von
Karman constant, T is the top width (Fig. 1c), and c = 2
is the wake strength in the y-direction. The centreline velocity
distribution of Eq. (1) is:
 
u(0, z) 1 z 1 z
3 2 2 z
= ln + sin (2a)
uc z0 3 2

with uc as the centreline shear velocity. The zero-velocity bed

z0 (Fig. 2) depends on the roughness pattern. For uniform sand-
grain (Fig. 2a) of roughness ks and kinematic water viscosity Figure 3 Algorithms for solving for (a) Q and (b) h from Darcys law
using Swamee and Jains (1976) friction equation
(Guo and Julien 2007):
  
ks ks uc and ow depth using Mannings resistance equation (Sterling
z0 = + 1 exp (2b) and Knight 2000) or Darcys law:
9uc 30 26

hf f V2
For other roughness patterns (Fig. 2b), the equivalent ks is cal- Sf = = (3a)
ibrated by Colebrooks friction equation discussed below. With L Dh 2g
the ow depth h, the velocity-dip position in Eq. (2a) is
where Sf is the friction slope, hf is the head loss, L is chan-
estimated by:
nel length, Dh = 4Rh is hydraulic diameter with Rh as hydraulic
    1 radius, and g is gravity acceleration. The friction factor f
T 3/2 is estimated by Colebrooks friction equation (Hager 2010)
= 1 + exp (2c)
h h approximated explicitly by (Swamee and Jain 1976):
 
1 ks /Dh 5.72
The parameter  in Eq. (2a) is the wake strength coecient in  = 2 log + 0.9 (3b)
f 3.7 R
the z-direction:
   3/2  with R = VDh / as the Reynolds number and V as average
1 T
= 1 + exp (2d) velocity. Equation (3b) stems from the log-law velocity distribu-
2 2 h tion near the wall so that it may be used to calibrate ks for Eq. (2b),
or to estimate average ow information with equations in Fig. 3.
Unlike ow in rectangular channels, conic open-channel ow is The widely used model of Chiu (1989) for the cross-sectional
usually estimated only for the cross-sectional average velocity velocity distribution involves four tting parameters and thus it is
 4 J. Guo et al. Journal of Hydraulic Research (2014)

Figure 4 Circular open-channel ow with (a) primary velocity contours for D = 5 cm (Yoon et al. 2012), (b) simplied secondary ow cells adopted
from Clark and Kehler (2011), and (c) centreline velocity distribution (Ead et al. 2000)

inapplicable without the data. Particularly, it does not agree with

data well near the water surface (Yoon et al. 2012). Yet, experi-
Downloaded by [University of Nebraska, Lincoln], [Amin Mohebbi] at 11:42 21 October 2014

ments with circular channel ow (Replogle and Chow 1966, Ead

et al. 2000, Knight and Sterling 2000, House et al. 2005, Clark
and Kehler 2011, Yoon et al. 2012) reveal that the characteris-
tics observed in rectangular channel ows appear to be similar
to those in circular channels: (i) velocity-dip phenomenon also
occurs in circular channels (Fig. 4a), where the position is even
lower, if comparing with Eq. (2c), because smaller secondary
ow cells resulting from rectangular corners disappear in circular
channels (Fig. 4b); (ii) centreline velocity distribution in circular
channels (Ead et al. 2000, Clark and Kehler 2011) is similar to Figure 5 Conic open-channel ow with the inner (I) and outer (II) ow
those on rectangular channel ows, although with dierent shape regions
near the water surface (Fig. 4c).
These similarities result from the free water surface and
coordinates in Fig. 5 because zero shear at the water surface is
wall restrictions, implying that Eqs. (1) and (2) can serve as
required as the dip phenomenon disappears ( h) at the centre-
benchmarks for velocity distributions in conic channels. The
line vertical. The resulting model is then checked for the log-law
dierences result from the dierent secondary ow cells, orig-
in the overlap in terms of r.
inating from the section shapes and aecting , c , and  in
The momentum equation in the ow direction at the centreline
Eqs. (1) and (2a), implying that Eqs. (2c) and (2d) are invalid for
vertical (Fig. 4b) is:
conic channels.
z

3 Cross-sectional velocity distribution
Figure 5 shows conic open-channel ow with maximum veloc-
ity at point M. As for rectangular channels, the ow domain is
divided into the inner (I) and the outer (II) regions with a log-
law overlap. The inner ow follows the law of the wall with the
normal coordinate r (Fig. 5), but the viscous sublayer is often
smeared by roughness in practical cases; the outer ow follows
a velocity-defect law.
Physically, both the inner and outer region ows are governed
by the Navier-Stokes (or more specically for our considerations
Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes) equations, independent of
coordinate systems. Mathematically, if a shear stress (or velocity
gradient) is involved in the boundary conditions, a boundary-
3
tted coordinate system is preferable (Guo and Meroney 2013).
If only the wall shear is involved, as in the inner region (I) in
Fig. 5, a wall coordinate r is used; if only the water surface shear
applies, a rectangular coordinate system is considered. Clark and
Kehlers (2011) model suers a singularity near the water surface
at the centreline vertical because of generalizing the wall coordi-
nate r into the outer region. The current research uses rectangular
(0, z) = c 1 + uw (4)
h
where is the shear stress at the centreline vertical, c is the cen-
treline bed-shear stress, is water density, and w is secondary
time-averaged velocity in the z-direction. Equation (4) is iden-
tical for rectangular channel ow (Guo and Julien 2002, Yang
et al. 2004, Guo 2014), implying that Eq. (2a) is applicable for
conic channel ow. Yet, component w from the bed in rectangular
channel ow (Guo 2014) disappears in conic channels (Fig. 4b),
so that the water surface secondary ow moves the dip position
deeper. Further, the monotonic deduction in Fig. 4c indicates that
the sine-squared term in Eq. (2a) is negligible for conic channels.
Therefore, it is hypothesized that the centreline velocity follows:
 
u(0, z) 1 z 1 z
= ln (5)
uc z0 3
with uc as the centreline shear velocity and z0 (Fig. 2) determined
by Eq. (2b). Further, the cross-sectional velocity distribution
u(y, z) is approximated by applying the velocity-defect law
between points C and A in Fig. 5, thereby replacing T /2 with
yb in Fig. 5 and dropping the sine-squared term in Eq. (1), from
 Journal of Hydraulic Research (2014) Conic open-channel ow 5

which: with
   
 h h
u(0, z) u(y, z) 1 y I1 = yb ln z dz, I2 = yb z 3 dz (10b)
= ln 1 0 0
u yb
  3  For the parabola (Fig. 1c), simple analytical expressions for I1
1 y
+ 1 1 (6) and I2 exist. Inserting:
3 yb 
T z
yb = (11a)
with u as the average shear velocity and yb depending on z as 2 h
specied in Fig. 1 for dierent shapes. Applying Eq. (5) in Eq.
(6) and denoting: into Eq. (10b) gives:

     3  Ah3
Downloaded by [University of Nebraska, Lincoln], [Amin Mohebbi] at 11:42 21 October 2014

A A
1 y 1 y I1 = ln h , I2 = (11b)
(y, yb ) =
ln 1 + 1 1 2 3 6
yb 3 yb
(7) For circle, ellipse and hyperbola, numerical integrations using
Matlab integral.m are more convenient though analytical
results, with l = uc /u  1.1 (Clark and Kehler 2011) and expressions for I2 exist for all cases. Combining Eqs. (10a) and
depending on discharge Q as detailed below, in the cross- (5) gives
sectional velocity distribution:   3
u(0, z) 1 z A ln z0 3A Q z
  = ln I1 (12)
lu z 1 z
3 uc z0 2 8l 2uc I2
u(y, z) = ln u (y, yb ) (8)
z0 3
reducing the model parameters from three (uc , z0 , ) to two (uc ,
Integrating Eq. (8) over the cross-section gives (Fig. 5) z0 ). Comparing Eq. (12) with laboratory data, if z0 is estimated
by Eq. (2b), the only tting parameter is uc (or u ). Further, if u
 
h yb is determined from u = (gRh Sf )1/2 with Sf measured, there is
Q=2 u(y, z) dy dz no tting parameter in the proposed model, as interpreted below
0 0
 h  yb   for non-circular conic channel ow.
2u z
= l ln (y, yb ) dy dz (9)
0 0 z0
 h  yb  4 Graphical interpretation of non-circular conic channel
l ow
3 z 3 dy dz
3 0 0
 h  h  Although non-circular conic sections exist in nature and engi-
2uc A ln z0 3A 1
= yb ln z dz 3 yb z 3 dz neering (Chow 1959, Knighton 1984, American Concrete Pipe
0 2 8l 3 0
Association 1992, Dingman 2009, Hager 2010), no laboratory
with A as the cross-sectional area. Equation (9) is rearranged as data are available for these channels so that this research inter-
prets Eq. (8) graphically for elliptic, parabolic and hyperbolic
 
1 3 A ln z0 3A Q channel ows. Consider three uniform laboratory ows with
= I1 (10a)
3 I2 2 8l 2uc Sf = 103 and ks = 1 mm in three conic channels, respectively.

Table 1 Computational conditions and results of three conic open-channel ows

Conic section Flow conditions Geometric elements Average ow parameters Velocity-dip position
(1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6)

(a) Ellipse a = 0.2 m A = 0.152 m2 V = 0.679 m s1 f = 0.0235 = 0.186 m

b = 0.3 m P = 1.10 m Q = 0.103 m3 s1 R = 3.74 105 /h = 0.412
h = 0.45 m u = 0.0368 m s1 F = 0.328
(b) Parabola h = 0.45 m A = 0.135 m2 V = 0.651 m s1 f = 0.0239 = 0.188 m
T = 0.45 m P = 1.05 m Q = 0.0879 m3 s1 R = 3.36 105 /h = 0.418
u = 0.0356 m s1 F = 0.380
(c) Hyperbola a = 0.1 m A = 0.125 m2 V = 0.624 m s1 f = 0.0244 = 0.203 m
b = 0.3 m P = 1.03 m Q = 0.0779 m3 s1 R = 3.02 105 /h = 0.451
h = 0.45 m u = 0.0344 m s1 F = 0.382

Note: (i) P = wetted perimeter; (ii) Froude number F = V /(ghD )1/2 with hD = A/T as hydraulic depth.
 6 J. Guo et al.
Downloaded by [University of Nebraska, Lincoln], [Amin Mohebbi] at 11:42 21 October 2014
Figure 6 Velocity contours for (a) ellipse, (b) parabola, and (c) hyperbola
Given channel size and ow depth (column 2 in Table 1), the
geometric elements (column 3) are calculated by the equations
in Fig. 1; the average ow parameters (columns 4 and 5) are
next obtained by Eq. (3) with the algorithm in Fig. 3a; the dip-
position (column 6) follows from Eq. (10) with l  1.1; the
cross-sectional velocity distribution u(y, z) is nally computed
by Eq. (8), as plotted in Fig. 6 in terms of velocity contours.
Unlike in rectangular channels (Guo 2014), the dip-position
/h is even lower than half ow depth, implying that the maxi-
mum velocity is closer to the channel invert. This is why narrow
conic channels are often used for low-ow self-cleaning drainage
systems. Besides, from the dip position to the boundary, the
velocity gradually decreases because of free turbulent mixing;
yet, near the wall, the velocity rapidly tends to zero at the
wall, characterized by wall-bounded turbulence, i.e. the log-law
(Fig. 5).
This is proved as follows: For point A in the overlap of Fig. 5,
y yb so that Eq. (6) tends to:
u(0, z) u(y, z) 1 yb y
= ln
u yb
for which yb y = r/ sin with = tan1 dz/dy near point B
(Fig. 5). Thus, Eq. (13a) is rewritten as:
  ks
Journal of Hydraulic Research (2014)
This is consistent with the classic log-law in the overlap region
in terms of r. These features also agree qualitatively with data
from circular open channels, as discussed below.
5 Test with circular corrugated metal pipe data
The corrugated metal pipe (CMP) is widely used for sub-drains
and stream-crossing culverts. To identify the low velocity zone
for sh passage, Clark and Kehler (2011) measured cross-
sectional velocity distributions from an 80 cm diameter CMP
culvert of 13 mm 68 mm annular corrugations (Fig. 2b). The
test conditions included three channel slopes (column 2 in
Table 2), and ve ow depths (column 3); discharges (col-
umn 5) were measured using a magnum standard magmeter
and a custom-designed LabVIEW interface; average and shear
velocities are listed in columns 6 and 7, respectively. The veloc-
ity distribution data were collected using a standard acoustic
Doppler velocimetry technique.
To test Eq. (5) for the centreline velocity distribution, the
(13a) theoretical bed needs to be determined rst (z0 , Fig. 2), estimated
with Eq. (2b) and using the equivalent sand-grain roughness ks .
Because V and h are given for all tests, the value of ks (column
8 in Table 2) is back-calculated from Eq. (3), namely:
 
V ln 10
u(r, z) 1 u(0, z) 1 = 3.7 exp  (14)
= ln r + ln(yb sin ) (13b) Dh 8gDh Sf
u u

Table 2 Test conditions and computing parameters of Clark and Kehler (2011)

Test conditions Fitting and computing parameters

Test Sf () h (m) h/D () Q (m3 s1 ) V (m s1 ) u (m s1 ) ks (mm) u (m s1 ) uc (m s1 ) (m) /h () Error () r 2 ()
(1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) (8) (9) (10) (11) (12) (13) (14)

1 0.00028 0.49 0.61 0.086 0.26 0.025 43 0.025 0.028 0.29 0.58 1.99 0.987
2 0.0011 0.35 0.44 0.086 0.40 0.045 69 0.048 0.053 0.21 0.59 2.30 0.986
3 0.0011 0.52 0.65 0.176 0.51 0.050 55 0.052 0.057 0.29 0.59 2.15 0.982
4 0.0027 0.27 0.34 0.085 0.56 0.064 64 0.069 0.076 0.17 0.61 2.75 0.982
5 0.0027 0.40 0.51 0.176 0.69 0.073 63 0.078 0.085 0.23 0.58 1.11 0.994
 Journal of Hydraulic Research (2014) Conic open-channel ow 7

for which the eect of R is negligible. The resulting values in

column 8 are much larger than the 13 mm corrugation height
(Fig. 2b). Yet, they are physically reasonable because corru-
gations cause large ow separation zones. As stated by Chow
(1959), ks is merely a measure of the linear dimension of rough-
ness elements, but not necessarily equal to the actual height. The
corresponding z0 are then obtained by Eq. (2b) as z0 = ks /30 =
1.42.3 mm. Further, the theoretical bed (z = 0) is determined,
as shown in Fig. 2b.
Here z0 is so small that the data are not really shifted to the
theoretical bed. We can rearrange Eq. (12) as
Downloaded by [University of Nebraska, Lincoln], [Amin Mohebbi] at 11:42 21 October 2014

Y = uc X (15a)

with

 
Qz 3
Y = u(0, z) (15b)
2I2
 
z A ln z0 3A z 3
X = ln I1 (15c)
z0 2 8l I2

This implies that if Eq. (5) for the centreline velocity distribution
is true, the velocity data fall into a single straight-line according
to Eq. (15a); the slope gives the centreline shear velocity uc ; the
resulting average shear velocity u = uc /l should be conrmed
by these measured (column 7 in Table 2). Figure 7 shows the
centreline data by Eq. (15a), indicating that a linear relationship
Y (X ) indeed exists, so that the slope gives uc (column 10). The
values of u are next calculated and listed in column 9 with errors
<7% compared with column 7, indicating good agreement. The
dip-position (column 11) calculated by Eq. (10) is some 60%
of the ow depth (column 12), consistent with Clark and Kehler
(2011), stating that maximum water velocities are located at
roughly the mid-ow depth at the culvert centre. Note that the
ts in Fig. 7 do not pass through (0, 0) exactly since Eq. (3b),
strictly speaking, is accurate only for fully-lled pipe ow.
With z0 , uc , and available, the centreline velocity distribu-
tion equation is then compared with data according to Eq. (5)
in Fig. 8a. It is evident that the log-law ts the data well up
to the middle ow depth, but overestimates data near the water
surface; the deviation from the log-law is well described by the
cubic deduction in Eq. (5) denoted by solid lines. The dip phe-
nomenon is also tested in Fig. 8b in rectangular coordinates. The
agreement in both plots conrms the hypothesis on the centreline
velocity distribution.
The cross-sectional velocity distribution model is examined
in Fig. 9 where the left-half contours are from data interpolation
and the right-half from Eq. (8). In general, the calculation agrees
qualitatively with the data, although they are not perfectly sym- Figure 7 Determination of uc from Eq. (15a) for Test (a) 1, (b) 2, (c)
metrical about the centreline. Further, the relative errors (<3%) 3, (d) 4, and (e) 5
and coecients of determination (r 2 > 0.98) in Table 2 quan-
titatively demonstrate that the proposed cross-sectional velocity
 8 J. Guo et al. Journal of Hydraulic Research (2014)
Downloaded by [University of Nebraska, Lincoln], [Amin Mohebbi] at 11:42 21 October 2014

Figure 8 Comparison of centreline velocity distribution from Eq. (5)

with Clark and Kehler (2011) data in (a) Semi-log, and (b) rectangular
coordinates

distribution model (Eq. 8) is a good approximation for CMP cul-

vert ow. Therefore, the proposed model can be used for culvert
design requiring velocity distribution.

6 Application for design of sh passage culvert

This research was motivated by practical needs for sh passage
design at stream-crossings. The design requires that (i) ow depth
be larger than the minimum depth required for sh swimming
during low-ow periods; and (ii) during high-ow periods, ow
Figure 9 Comparison of velocity contours (left for data, right from
Eq. 8) with Clark and Kehler (2011) data for h/D = (a) 0.34, (b) 0.44,
(c) 0.51, (d) 0.61, and (e) 0.65
 Journal of Hydraulic Research (2014) Conic open-channel ow 9

velocity must be limited by sh swimming speed. The second is
often in conict with hydraulic requirements in terms of average
velocity. This conict is facilitated by the proposed velocity dis-
tribution model (Eq. 8), which species a low velocity zone near
the wall for sh passage while the core ow region with large
velocity for ood drainage. The design proceeds as follows:
well with the circular CMP culvert data in terms of average
shear velocity, dip position, centreline velocity distribution,
and cross-sectional velocity contours.
Funding

Step 1: Collect hydrologic (Q), geographic (Sf ) and aquatic This research was supported by the US FHWA Hydraulics
data; set-up criteria for sh passage in terms of sh speed R&D Program [Contract No. DTFH61-11-D-00010] through the
Vf and passage width. Genex System to the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
Step 2: Assume an elliptic CMP culvert, according to stream
width and depth, in terms of semi-axes (a, b). Note that
Notation
Downloaded by [University of Nebraska, Lincoln], [Amin Mohebbi] at 11:42 21 October 2014

(i) circle is a special case of ellipse; and (ii) all circular

CMP culverts tend to elliptical because of deections A = ow area (m2 )
caused by static and dynamic loads. a, b = semi-axes for ellipse and hyperbola (m)
Step 3: If ks is given, calculate V , h and u from Eq. (3) with D = pipe diameter (m)
the algorithm in Fig. 3b. If Mannings coecient n is Dh = hydraulic diameter (m)
given, calculate V , h and u from Mannings equation; E = 2nd kind of incomplete elliptic integral ()
ks is then estimated by Eq. (14). F = Froude number based on hD ()
Step 4: Determine z0 from Eq. (2b) or simply use z0 = ks /30 for f = friction factor ()
g = gravity acceleration (m s2 )
rough turbulence.
h = ow depth (m)
Step 5: Determine the velocity-dip position from Eq. (10). hD = hydraulic depth (m)
Step 6: Calculate u(y, z) from Eq. (8) and plot the velocity hf = friction head loss (m)
contours as in Figs. 6 and 9. I1 , I2 = integrals for (m2 , m5 )
Step 7: Identify the sh passage zone by contour u = Vf , and i = imaginary unit ()
check the passage width to see if adequate. If not, repeat k = dummy variable ()
Steps 26 until all criteria are satised. ks = sand-grain or equivalent roughness (m)
L = channel length (m)
This procedure is easily implemented by Matlab or other n = Mannings coecient (sm1/3 )
software. It is also valid for other conic channels, such as P = wetted perimeter (m)
self-cleaning drainage systems, for which the cross-sectional Q = discharge (m3 s1 )
velocity distribution or the maximum velocity with dip position R = Reynolds number based on Dh (m)
R = pipe radius (m)
is required.
Rh = hydraulic radius (m)
r = wall coordinate (m)
7 Conclusions r2 = coecient of determination ()
Sf = friction slope ()
The mean velocity distribution in conic open-channel turbulent T = top channel width (m)
t = dummy variable (m)
ow was studied in terms of the centreline and the cross-sectional
u = local velocity (m s1 )
velocity distributions, including the velocity-dip position, result-
u = average shear velocity (m s1 )
ing in the conclusions: uc = centreline shear velocity (m s1 )
uw = side-wall shear velocity (m s1 )
Centreline velocity distribution with dip phenomenon is well V = cross-sectional average velocity (m s1 )
described by the conventional log-law modied by a cubic Vf = sh swimming speed (m s1 )
deduction near water surface, for which the dip position w = secondary ow velocity (m s1 )
depends on discharge, roughness and ow area. Cross- X = auxiliary variable ()
sectional velocity distribution follows Guo and Juliens modi- Y = auxiliary variable (m s1 )
ed log-wake-law but with negligible sine-squared wake func- y, z = cross-sectional coordinates (m)
tion. Besides, the proposed model reduces to the conventional yb = boundary coordinate (m)
log-law near the wall in terms of wall coordinate. z0 = zero-velocity position (m)
= water surface angle ()
The proposed cross-sectional velocity distribution model does
= argument for channel boundary slope ()
not involve any tting parameters so that it is applicable in a = velocity-dip position from bottom (m)
predictive way. It produces velocity contours reasonably well = dummy variable ()
for elliptic, parabolic and hyperbolic channel ows, but more = von Karman constant ()
comprehensive tests are needed in future research. It agrees l = ratio of centreline to average shear velocity ()
 10 J. Guo et al.
= kinematic water viscosity (m2 s1 )
, c = wake strength coecients ()
= water density (kg m3 )
= shear stress (Pa)
c = centreline bed shear stress (Pa)
= velocity-defect function ()
References
Absi, R. (2011). An ordinary dierential equation for veloc-
ity distribution and dip-phenomenon in open channel ows.
J. Hydraulic Res. 49(1), 8289.
Downloaded by [University of Nebraska, Lincoln], [Amin Mohebbi] at 11:42 21 October 2014
American Concrete Pipe Association. (1992). Hydraulics of cul-
verts: Horizontal elliptical concrete pipe. Design Data 18.
Vienna, VA.
Bonakdari, H., Larrarte, F., Lassabatere, L., Joannis, C. (2008).
Turbulent velocity prole in fully-developed open channel
ows. Environ. Fluid Mech. 8(1), 117.
Chiu, C.-L. (1989). Velocity distribution in open channel ow.
J. Hydraulic Eng. 115(5), 576594.
Chow, V.T. (1959). Open-channel hydraulics. McGraw-Hill,
New York.
Clark, S.P., Kehler, N. (2011). Turbulent ow characteristics in
circular corrugated culverts at mild slopes. J. Hydraulic Res.
49(5), 676684.
Dingman, S.L. (2009). Fluvial hydraulics. Oxford University
Press, Oxford.
Ead, S.A., Rajaratnam, N., Katopodis, C., Ade, F. (2000). Tur-
bulent open-channel ow in circular corrugated culverts.
J. Hydraulic Eng. 126(10), 750757.
Guo, J. (2014). Modied log-wake-law for smooth rectangular
open channel ow. J. Hydraulic Res. 52(1), 121128.
Guo, J., Julien, P.Y. (2002). Boundary shear stress in smooth
rectangular open-channels. Proc. 13th IAHR-APD Congress,
Singapore 1, 7686.
Guo, J., Julien, P.Y. (2007). Buer law and transitional roughness
eect in turbulent open-channel ows. Proc. 5th Intl. Sym.
Environmental Hydraulics, Tempe, Arizona, CD.
Guo, J., Julien, P.Y. (2008). Application of the modied log-wake
law in open-channels. J. Appl. Fluid Mech. 1(2), 1723.
Journal of Hydraulic Research (2014)
Guo, J., Meroney, R.N. (2013). Theoretical solution for laminar
ow in partially-lled pipes. J. Hydraulic Res. 51(4), 408416.
Hager, W.H. (2010). Wastewater hydraulics: Theory and prac-
tice. ed. 2. Springer, Heidelberg.
House, M.R., Pyles, M.R., White, D. (2005). Velocity distribu-
tions in streambed simulation culverts used for sh passage.
J. Am. Water Resour. Assoc. 41(1), 209217.
Hu, C.H. (1985). Eects of width-to-depth ratio and side wall
roughness on velocity distribution and friction factor. MS
Thesis. Tsinghua University, Beijing, China (in Chinese).
Knight, D.W., Sterling, M. (2000). Boundary shear in circu-
lar pipes running partially full. J. Hydraulic Eng. 126(4),
263275.
Knighton, D. (1984). Fluvial forms and processes. Arnold,
London.
Millikan, C.B. (1938). A critical discussion of turbulent ows
in channels and circular tubes. Proc. 5th Int. Congress Appl.
Mech., Wiley, New York, 386392.
Replogle, J.A., Chow, V.T. (1966). Tractive-force distribution in
open channels. J. Hydraulic Eng. Div. 92(2), 169191.
Roussinova, V., Biswas, N., Balachandar, R. (2008). Revisiting
turbulence in smooth uniform open channel ow. J. Hydraulic
Res. 46(Extra 1), 3648.
Sarma, K.V.N., Lakshminarayana, P., Rao, N.S. (1983). Velocity
distribution in smooth rectangular open channels. J. Hydraulic
Eng. 109(2), 270289.
Sterling, M., Knight, D.W. (2000). Resistance and boundary
shear in circular conduits with at beds running part full. Proc.
ICE Water Maritime Energy 142(4), 229240.
Swamee, P.K., Jain, A.K. (1976). Explicit equations for pipe-ow
problems. J. Hydraulic Eng. Div. 102(5), 657664.
Tominaga, K., Nezu, I., Ezaki, K., Nakagawa, H. (1989). Three-
dimensional turbulent structure in straight open channel ows.
J. Hydraulic Res. 27(1), 149173.
Yang, S.-Q., Tan, S.-K., Lim, S.-Y. (2004). Velocity distribution
and dip-phenomenon in smooth uniform open channel ows.
J. Hydraulic Eng. 130(12), 11791186.
Yoon, J.I., Sung, J., Lee, M.H. (2012). Velocity proles and fric-
tion coecients in circular open channels. J. Hydraulic Res.
50(3), 304311.