Example 4.

The data pertaining to a stream-gauging operation at a gauging site are given in the
table below. The rating equation of the current meter is v = 0.51 Ns + 0.03 m/s
Calculate the discharge in the stream using mid section method.

Distant from left of

water edge(m) 0 1.0 3.0 5.0 7.0 9.0 11.0 12.0

Depth(m) 0 1.1 2.0 2.5 2. 1.7 1.0 0

Revolutions of a current meter kept

at 0.6 depth 0 39 58 112 90 45 30 0
Duration of
observation (s) 0 100 100 150 100 100 100 0

Solution:

The calculations are performed in a tabular form.

For the first and last sections,
2
2
1 2
Average width, W
21
= 2.0 meter

For the rest of the segments

2 2
W 2.0 meter
2 2

Since the velocity is measured at 0.6 depth, the measured velocity is the average

velocity at that vertical v .

The calculation of discharge by the mid-section method is shown in tabular form below:

Distance from left Average width Depth Velocity Segmental

water edge (m) W (m) y Vave discharge
(m) (m/s) Qi (m3/s)
0 0 0
1 2.00 1.10 0.229 0.504
3 2.00 2.00 0.326 1.304
5 2.00 2.50 0.411 2.055
7 2.00 2.00 0.336 1.344
9 2.00 1.70 0.260 0.884
11 2.00 1.00 0.183 0.336
12 0 0 - -
Qi = 6.457
=
Total discharge Q = 6.457 m3/s
Example 4.2

Calculate the discharge at the river cross section shown in Fig. 4.14. Table below
provides the field measurements of width, depth, and velocity. Use the mean section
method.

Vertical Section width Depth Average

Section No. (m) (m) velocity (m/s)
0 0 0 0
1 4.2 4 2.1
2 3.3 5 2.3
3 4.8 7.2 2.7
4 5.2 7.4 2.8
5 3.7 7.1 2.5
6 5.1 4.7 2.2
7 5.9 0 0
Solution:

Table 4.2 provides the calculations for the discharge, where the average velocity
between vertical sections is used as the velocity in each sub-area. The stream
discharge is 376.2 m3/s.

Table 5.2: Calculation of Discharge

Average
Sub-area Cross-sectional Discharge Q
2 velocity
in Fig. 4.2 area (m ) (m3/s)
(m/s)
0-1 8.40 1.05 8.82
1-2 14.85 2.20 32.67
2-3 29.28 2.50 73.20
3-4 37.96 2.75 104.39
4-5 26.83 2.65 71.10
5-6 30.09 2.35 70.71
6-7 13.87 1.1 15.26
Total 161.28 376.15
Example 5.3

A 25 gm/l solution of a flourescent tracer was discharged into a stream at a constant rate
of 10 cm3/s. The background concentration of the dye in the stream water was found to
be zero. At a sufficiently distance downstream section, the dye was found to reach an
equilibrium concentration of 5 parts per billion. Estimate the stream discharge.

Solution:

By using Eq. (5.9) for the constant-rate injection method,

C C2
Q 1 q
C2 C0
q = 10 cm3/s = 10 x l0-6 m3/s

C1 = 0.025, C2 = 5 x 10-9 , C0 = 0

Q
0.025 5x10 10 x10 = 50 m3/s
9
6

5x10
9