Journal of Hydrology 456–457 (2012) 139–145

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Journal of Hydrology
journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/jhydrol

Use of the Gaussian hypergeometric function to solve the equation

of gradually-varied flow
Chyan-Deng Jan a,⇑, Cheng-lung Chen b,1
a
Department of Hydraulic and Ocean Engineering, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan 70101, Taiwan
b
Consulting Hydrologist, Cupertino, CA, USA

a r t i c l e i n f o s u m m a r y

Article history: The direct-integration method is a conventional method used to analytically solve the equation of grad-
Received 4 February 2012 ually-varied flow (GVF) that is a steady non-uniform flow in an open channel with gradually changes in
Received in revised form 7 June 2012 its water surface elevation. The GVF equation is normalized by using the normal depth hn. The varied-
Accepted 13 June 2012
flow function (VFF) needed in the direct-integration method has a drawback caused by the imprecise
Available online 23 June 2012
This manuscript was handled by
interpolation of the VFF-values. To overcome the drawback, we successfully use the Gaussian hypergeo-
Konstantine P. Georgakakos, Editor-in-Chief, metric function (GHF) to analytically solve the GVF equation without recourse to the VFF in the present
with the assistance of Ioannis K. Tsanis, paper. The GHF-based solutions can henceforth play the role of the VFF table in the interpolation of the
Associate Editor VFF-values. We plot the GHF-based solutions for GVF profiles in the mild (M), critical (C), and steep (S)
wide channels under specific boundary conditions, thereby analyzing the effects of the dimensionless
Keywords: critical depth hc/hn and the hydraulic exponent N-value on the profiles.
Gradually-varied flow Ó 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Varied-flow function
Gaussian hypergeometric function
Normal depth

1. Introduction for analytically solving the GVF equation is reviewed and discussed
herein.
The gradually-varied flow (GVF) is a steady non-uniform flow in
a prismatic channel with gradual changes in its water surface 1.1. Dimensionless GVF equation
elevation. The drawdown produced at a sudden drop in a channel
and the backwater produced by a dam or weir across a river are The differential equation of 1-D GVF in open channels with
few typical examples of GVF. The evaluation of steady one- arbitrary cross-sectional shapes can be written as (Chow, 1959)
dimensional gradually-varied flow (1-D GVF) profiles under a spe-  2
cific flow discharge is very important in open-channel hydraulic dh 1  KKn
¼ S0  2 ð1Þ
engineering. Two basic assumptions are involved in the analysis dx 1  Zc Z
of GVF. One is the pressure distribution at any section assumed to
be hydrostatic. The other is the resistance to flow at any depth as- This equation denotes the relation between the flow depth h and
sumed to be given by the corresponding uniform flow equation, the axial distance x along the open channel having a slope S0.
such as Manning’s equation, as shown in Subramanya (2009, Symbols Z and K denote the section factor and conveyance of the
Section 4.1). Almost all major hydraulic-engineering activities in channel section, respectively. The subscripts ‘‘n’’ and ‘‘c’’ refer to
free surface flow involve the computation of GVF profiles. The var- the normal and critical flow conditions, respectively.
ious available procedures for computing GVF profiles can be classi- If the section factor Z and conveyance K can be expressed in
fied as: the graphical-integration method, the direct integration, terms of the power of h with respective exponents, M and N, Eq.
and the numerical method, as shown in Chow (1959, Section 10) (1) yields (Chow, 1959)
and Subramanya (2009, Section 5.1). The direct-integration method  N
dh 1  hhn
¼ S0  M ð2Þ
⇑ Corresponding author. Tel.: +886 2757575x63251; fax: +886 2741463.
dx 1  hc h
E-mail address: cdjan@mail.ncku.edu.tw (C.-D. Jan).
1
Dr. C.-L. Chen was born in 1931 and passed away on January 25, 2012. He was
In open-channel hydraulics, M and N are usually called the
used to be an excellent hydrologist in US Geological Survey, and a professor in hydraulic exponents for critical-flow computation and uniform-
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and in Utah State University. flow computation, respectively (Chow, 1959). It is expected that

0022-1694/$ - see front matter Ó 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2012.06.023
140 C.-D. Jan, C.-l. Chen / Journal of Hydrology 456–457 (2012) 139–145
the solution of (2), if obtainable, can be expressed in a form of h as
an implicit function of x with S0, hn, hc, M, and N as parameters.
However, before solving (2), we can rearrange (2) into a dimen-
sionless form, which will facilitate the solution thereof. While
keeping M and N intact, we can combine the primary variables, x
and h, with length parameters to create respectively their dimen-
sionless counterparts. Thus, via rearrangement, we can reduce
the number of the parameters appearing in (2). Normalizing x
and h in (2) based on hn, and rearranging the expression of (2) in
terms of the dimensionless variables u (=h/hn) and x ð¼ xS0 =hn Þ,
we can have the reciprocal of the slope of the 1-D GVF profile in
the form as
dx uN þ kM uNM
¼ ð3Þ
du 1  uN
in which k is the quotient of peculiar water depth values, hc and hn,
i.e., k = (hc/hn). Eq. (3) is a nonlinear differential equation, describing
a dimensionless 1-D GVF profile with k, M, and N as parameters. The
characteristic length ratio k is the primary parameter, which classi-
fies GVF under study into those in mild, critical, and steep channels
according as k is less than, equal to, and larger than unity, respec-
tively. By and large, M and N are functions not only of h (or u in case
of the dimensionless form thereof), but also of channel geometry
and roughness. However, with the present knowledge in mathe-
matics, it is unlikely that one can solve (3) analytically unless M
and N are treated as constants. Insomuch that, we henceforth as-
sume the invariance of both M and N with u and confine the solu-
tions of (3) to a case in which the values of M and N do not vary
with u within a given channel geometry (i.e., implying the solutions
only for GVF in wide channels).
1.2. Direct integration method
The integration of (3) yields (Chow, 1959)
Z Z
1 uNM
x ¼ u  du þ kM du þ Const ð4Þ
1  uN 1  uN
in which ‘‘Const’’ is the constant of integration. However, one has
not yet successfully integrated directly such a nonlinear differential
equation with arbitrarily assumed real numbers of M and N due to
the difficulty in integrating the two indefinite integrals of a proper
fraction in (4). Many attempts have been made by previous investi-
gators to evaluate the hydraulic exponents and the two indefinite
integrals (Allen and Enever, 1968; Bakhmeteff, 1932; Chen and
Wang, 1969; Chow, 1955, 1957, 1959, 1981; Gill, 1976; Kumar,
1978; Patil et al., 2001; Ramamurthy et al., 2000; Shivareddy and
Viswanadh, 2008; Srivastava, 2003; Subramanya and Ramamurthy,
1974; Venutelli, 2004; Zaghloul, 1992, 1998). The integration of
both indefinite integrals has been performed in two ways by previ-
ous researchers. The first way is to have each integrand in the two
indefinite integrals expanded into a finite set of partial fractions so
that every term of them can be integrated separately, using the
elementary transcendental functions (ETFs), such as trigonometric,
inverse trigonometric, hyperbolic, inverse hyperbolic, exponential,
and logarithmic functions (Allen and Enever, 1968; Bresse, 1860;
Gill, 1976; Kumar, 1978; Venutelli, 2004). In the second way, each
of the two indefinite integrals was integrated using a number of
various infinite series (Bakhmeteff, 1932; Chow, 1955, 1957,
1959; Ramamurthy et al., 2000).
Bakhmeteff (1932) prepared an integration table of the varied-
flow function (VFF), by which such two indefinite integrals for the
fixed M- and N-values could be approximately evaluated. Decades
later, Chow (1955, 1957, 1959) refined and extended the VFF table
for computing GVF profiles numerically in both sustaining and
adverse channels with all kinds of regular cross-sectional shapes.
Obviously, the methods used by Bakhmeteff (1932) and Chow
(1955, 1957, 1959) in the computation of the VFF-values belong
to the second way. Ramamurthy et al. (2000) expanded the rational
function in (3) in the form of a binomial series in u to facilitate its
direct integration and obtain an expression for the GVF profile of
the reach. The Bresse solution (Bresse, 1860; Chow, 1959) was
probably the earliest ETF-based solution of the two indefinite inte-
grals for M = N = 3 that one can find in the literature. Allen and
Enever (1968) used two power-law flow resistance formulas, the
Chézy formula and the Blasius formula in their formulation of
the 1-D GVF equation. They subsequently evaluated the two indef-
inite integrals via the partial-fraction expansion and then at-
tempted to get the ETF-based solution for each of the cross-
sectional geometries under study. However, they only obtained a
few simple ETF-based solutions, such as the Bresse solution for
wide rectangular channels and a solution based on logarithmic
function for narrow rectangular channels, among others. Gill
(1976) and Kumar (1978) ever obtained ETF-based solutions and
then used them to construct the VFF tables. Unfortunately, it is
too tedious to construct such a VFF-like table from the ETF-based
solutions, though Gill (1976) obtained a number of ETF-based solu-
tions for such purposes.
Unfortunately, the Bakhmeteff–Chow-like procedure based on
the VFF table suffers from two major drawbacks, which have
impeded the progress of the 1-D approach in the GVF profile com-
putation. The first drawback is caused by the imprecise interpola-
tion of the VFF-values for a range of the dimensionless flow depth
near unity or between the contiguous N-values as the VFF param-
eter. In other words, the VFF-values provided in the table are not
sufficiently precise to evaluate such two indefinite integrals, espe-
cially for the dimensionless flow depth near unity, where the VFF-
value changes rapidly with a small change in the dimensionless
flow depth or between the contiguous N-values as the VFF param-
eter. On the other hand, the second drawback has resulted from the
incompleteness of a method proposed by Bakhmeteff (1932) and
Chow (1955, 1959) to render the exact M- and N-values. Rigorously
speaking, to use their method, the computed M- and N-values,
which are supposed to vary considerably with the depth of flow
in a channel with cross-sectional shape other than wide rectangle,
are inaccurate.
Nowadays, the extensive and rapidly growing use of digital
computers can facilitate the evaluation of the two indefinite inte-
grals, one way or the other, by use of the mathematics software,
such as the Mathematica (Wolfram, 1996). As for the first way,
for example, Venutelli (2004) found from the Mathematica the
ETF-based solutions of the two indefinite integrals for M = 3 and
N = 10/3, which are expanded into two finite sets of partial frac-
tions, each term of which can be integrated separately by use of
the ETF. To overcome the first drawback, this paper presents a no-
vel approach to integrate the two indefinite integrals using the
Gaussian hypergeometric function (GHF) without recourse to the
VFF table. The definition of GHF and some relations are shown in
Appendix A.
2. Analytical solutions of GVF equation
Since the solutions of (3), if expressed in terms of GHF, are sub-
ject to the convergence criterion of GHF, i.e., |u| < 1, an alternative
form of (3) has yet to be formulated and its solutions expressed in
terms of the reconciled GHF, which is valid for |u| > 1. To derive the
alternative form of (3) in order for its GHF-based solutions to be
valid for |u| > 1, (3) on substitution of u = w1 and du = w2dw
yields
dx w2 þ kM wM2
¼ ð5Þ
dw 1  wN
 C.-D. Jan, C.-l. Chen / Journal of Hydrology 456–457 (2012) 139–145 141

Z  
Obviously, the analytical solutions of (5), if expressed in terms u/ u/þ1 /þ1 N
du ¼ g ; u þ Const ð7bÞ
of GHF, are convergent for |w| < 1, which on substitution of 1  uN /þ1 N
w = u1 yields |u| > 1.
Replacing the two indefinite integral terms in (4) using (7b), we
can express (4) in terms of GHF as
2.1. Feasible arrangement of two indefinite integrals
    
1 N uNMþ1 NMþ1 N
The right-hand side of (3) is a rational function of u, which by x ¼ u 1  g ;u þ kM g ;u
N NMþ1 N
the process of long division can be expressed in the form of a poly-
þ Const ð8Þ
nomial plus a proper fraction in two ways before we integrate
them as follows: One way is to divide the first term of the numer- which is valid only for |u| < 1.
ator on the right-hand side of (3) by the denominator and integrate
separately the two terms in the remainder of the proper fraction as 2.2.2. For |u| > 1
shown in (4). The other way is to divide the second term of the For |u| > 1 (or |w| < 1 by substitution of u = w1 into |u| > 1), by
numerator on the right-hand side of (3) by the denominator and the same token, we can similarly express the analytical solution
integrate separately the two terms in the remainder of the proper of (5) in terms of GHF as
fraction as    
Z Z 1 wM1 M1 N
u1M
M uN uM x ¼ w1 g  ; wN þ kM g ; w þ Const ð9Þ
x ¼ k  du þ kM du þ Const ð6Þ N M1 N
1M 1  uN 1  uN
which is valid for |w| < 1. To express (9) in terms of u, substituting
In principle, two GHF-based solutions to be obtained from (4)
w = u1 into (9) yields
and (6) should be identical. Therefore, equating such two GHF-    
based solutions will establish a recurrence formula between the 1 uMþ1 M  1 N
x ¼ ug  ; uN þ kM g ;u þ Const ð10Þ
two contiguous GHFs, as shown in (A4) of Appendix A. N M1 N
which is valid for |u| > 1.
2.2. GHF-based solutions of the GVF equation
Although the absolute value of the variable, i.e., |u|, has been
imposed to derive the solutions of (3) for GVF in wide sustaining
The complete GHF-based solutions of the dimensionless 1-D
channels, the complete GHF-based solutions of (3) can only cover
GVF equation are obtained in the following by executing the inte-
the physically possible domain of u, i.e. 0 6 u < 1, thus consisting
gration of the two indefinite integrals in (4), (6) for |u| < 1 as well as
of (8) in the domain of 0 6 u < 1, x ¼ 1 at u = 1, and (10) in
those derived from (5) for |w| < 1 (or |u| > 1 by substitution of
the domain of u > 1. Insomuch that, we can unconditionally lift
w = u1 into its solution). It is noted that either GHF-based solution
the absolute-value restriction imposed on u in expressing the solu-
excludes the point where u = 1 or w = 1 because the GHF diverges
tions of (3). Thus, except for x ¼ 1 at u = 1, the complete solu-
at u = 1 or w = 1. Physically, this point corresponds to a theoretical
tions of (3) should consist of the combination of (8) in the
limit where the GVF profile runs parallel with the channel bottom,
domain of 0 6 u < 1 with (10) in the domain of u > 1.
i.e., at x ¼ 1.

2.2.1. For |u| < 1 3. Classification of the GVF profiles

For |u| < 1, using the commercial software of the Mathematica
[Wolfram, 1996], we can find the solution of the indefinite integral There exist only eight types of the hn-based GVF profiles, three
in terms of GHF as shown below. on the mild (M) (hc/hn < 1) slope, two on the critical (C) (hc/hn = 1)
Z   slope, and three on the steep (S) (hc/hn > 1) slope, for hn is infinite
u/ u/þ1 /þ1 /þ1 N
du ¼ F 1; ; 1þ ; u þ Const ð7aÞ on the horizontal (H) slope and undefined on the adverse (A) slope.
1  uN /þ1 N N
Eight hn-based GVF profiles on the M, C, and S slopes are respec-
The symbol F(a, b; c; z) expressed in the right-hand side of (7a) is tively referred to as M1, M2, and M3; C1 and C3; S1, S2, and S3,
the Gaussian hypergeometric function (GHF) as defined in (A1), and its entire domain of u, i.e., 0 6 u < 1, is demarcated according
with the function parameters a = 1, b = (/ + 1)/N, c = b + 1, and the to Chow’s (1959) classification except C2, which is excluded from
variable z = uN. The parameter / could be 0, N–M, N, and M, this paper for a reason to be justified later. In fact, the eight
respectively for the four indefinite integrals in (4) and (6). hn-based GVF profiles so classified can be described using either
For facilitating the reading of the manuscript, we can use a sim- (8), (10), as tabulated in Table 1, except those on the C slope, which
pler expression as shown in (A5) to reduce the equations to shorter are more specifically described by (8) and (10) on substitution of k
expressions. Therefore, (7a) can be written in the form as (=hc/hn) = 1 as

Table 1
The dimensionless equations for eight GVF profiles expressed in terms of GHF.

Types of GVF profiles (valid domain of u) Equations for dimensionless GVF profiles in terms of GHF with hydraulic exponents, M and N Eq. no.
   
M1 (1 < u < 1) Mþ1
x ¼ ug  N1 ; uN þ kM uM1 g M1 N (10)
N ;u þ Const
  1 N  NMþ1 N 
M2 (hc/hn 6 u < 1) x ¼ u 1  g N ; u M uNMþ1
þ k NMþ1 g ; u þ Const (8)
N
    
M3 (0 6 u 6 hc/hn) uNMþ1
x ¼ u 1  g N1 ; uN þ kM NMþ1 g NMþ1 ; uN þ Const (8)
N
 1 N  uMþ1 M1 N 
C1 (1 < u < 1) x ¼ ug  N ; u þ M1 g N ; u þ Const (12)
  1 N  uNMþ1 NMþ1 N 
C3 (0 6 u < 1) x ¼ u 1  g N ; u þ NMþ1 g ; u þ Const (11)
N
   
S1 (hc/hn 6 u < 1) Mþ1
x ¼ ug  N1 ; uN þ kM uM1 g M1 N (10)
N ;u þ Const
 1 N  M1 N 
S2 (1 < u 6 hc/hn) x ¼ ug  N ; u M uMþ1
þ k M1 g N ; u þ Const (10)
    
S3 (0 6 u < 1) uNMþ1
x ¼ u 1  g N1 ; uN þ kM NMþ1 g NMþ1 ; uN þ Const (8)
N
142 C.-D. Jan, C.-l. Chen / Journal of Hydrology 456–457 (2012) 139–145

3.0 Unlike the M and S profiles that diverge at u = 1, the C1 and C3

hc /hn = 2.0 profiles, as represented respectively by (12) and (11), neither di-
1.0
1.8
2.8 1.6 0.95 verges nor converges at u = 1 because both equations have a hole
1.4 0.9
1.2 0.8 at u = 1, except for M = N = 3. As shown above, the C1 and C3 pro-
2.6 0.6
1.1 files in the simplest case of M = N = 3 become a continuous straight
1.05 0.4
0.0 line without a hole being created at u = 1. This result can readily be
2.4
deduced from (3) on substitution of k = 1 and M = N = 3.
2.2 Once the N-value is selected, the constant of integration,
‘‘Const’’, in (8) and (11) for 0 6 u < 1 as well as in (10) and (12)
2.0 for u > 1 can be determined from the prescribed boundary condi-
tions of a problem under study. Because a particular solution of
1.8 (3) is composed of two equations in (8) and (10) [or (11) and
(12) if hc/hn = 1], we only need two boundary conditions, one for
1.6
2.0 each equation, to determine ‘‘Const’’ in each equation. For illustra-
u

0.0 1.8 tion, we plot (10) [or (12)] and (8) [or (11)] for M = 3 and N = 10/3
1.4
0.4
0.6
1.6 (a typical value corresponding to the Manning’s formula) using two
1.4
1.2
0.8 1.2 boundary conditions set at (x⁄, u) = (3, 2) and (4, 0), respec-
0.9 1.1
0.95 1.05 tively, as shown in Fig. 1. We first plot (10) and (8) for both M
1.0
1.0 and S profiles with hc/hn as a parameter, and then draw (12) and
0.95 1.0
(11) for the C1 and C3 profiles, respectively, with hc/hn = 1. The the-
0.9 1.05
0.8 0.8 1.1 oretical range of hc/hn is 0 6 hc/hn < 1, but all the profiles are only
0.6
0.4
1.2 plotted for 0 6 hc/hn < 2 herein. In particular, the solution curves so
0.6 0.0 1.4
plotted for hc/hn = 0 correspond to the case of hc = 0, but not that of
1.6
1.8 hn = 1. Except for hc/hn = 0, there are two points on each profile to
0.4
2.0 which the slope of the profile is infinite, one at u = 0 and the other
0.2 at u = hc/hn. It should be noted that both (10) and (8) diverge at
u = 1, whereas both (12) for u > 1 and (11) for 0 6 u < 1, respec-
0.0 tively describing the C3 and C1 profiles, can be proved to have a
-6.0 -5.0 -4.0 -3.0 -2.0 -1.0 0.0 hole at u = 1, thus becoming undefined, as marked by two small
x open circles in Fig. 1.
Strictly speaking, we only need two boundary conditions, one
Fig. 1. The hn-based dimensionless 1-D GVF profiles for M = 3 and N = 10/3 plotted
against the various values of hc/hn. for each of (10) and (8) [or (12) and (11) if hc/hn = 1], to determine
‘‘Const’’ in each equation, as stated above. However, we may pur-
     posely use three rather than two boundary conditions correspond-
1 N uNMþ1 NMþ1 N
x ¼ u 1  g ;u þ g ; u þ Const ing to the three channel zones to evaluate ‘‘Const’’ before
N NMþ1 N
substituting it into (10), (12) for u > 1 and (8), (11) for 0 6 u < 1.
ð11Þ
We can thus get eight particular dimensionless GVF solutions,
    (14) through (21), as tabulated in Table 2.
1 uMþ1 M  1 N For illustration, we substitute the five N-values listed in Table 3
x ¼ ug  ; uN þ g ;u þ Const ð12Þ
N M1 N for fully rough flows, one at a time, into each of the eight particular
Therefore, (11) and (12) are equations describing the C3 and C1 pro- solutions in Table 2 with boundary conditions listed in Table 4,
files, respectively. In a special case, (11) upon substitution of thereby plotting five hn-based dimensionless GVF profiles on a
M = N = 3 readily reduces to mild (M) slope (hc/hn = 0.6), on a critical (C) slope (hc/hn = 1), and
on a steep (S) slope (hc/hn = 1.8), as depicted in Figs. 2–4, respec-
x ¼ u þ Const ð13Þ tively. A comparison of the five dimensionless GVF profiles so plot-
which is a straight line. Likewise, we can prove that with the help of ted in each zone on each type of the three channel slopes with one
the recurrence formula, (A4), in Appendix A, (12) on substitution of another may shed light on the effects of hc/hn and the N-value on
M = N = 3 also reduces to (13), a straight line. the characteristics of GVF profiles. The profiles are plotted against

Table 2
The dimensionless GVF profiles expressed using GHF with respectively specified boundary conditions.

Types of GVF profiles (valid domain Equations for dimensionless GVF profiles using GHF with the exponents, M and N, and respectively specified boundary Eq.
of u) conditionsa no.
    Mþ1 M1 N   
M1 (1 < u < 1) x ¼ xM1 þ ug  N1 ; uN  uM1 gð N1 ; uN kM
 uMþ1 g M1 N (14)
M1 Þ þ M1 u g N ;u M1 N ; uM1
  1 N    1 N      
M2 (hc/hn 6 u < 1) x ¼ xM2 þ u 1  g N ; u  uM2 1  g N ; uM2 þ NMþ1 kM
uNMþ1 g NMþ1 ; uN  uNMþ1 g NMþ1 ; uN (15)
N M2 N M2
  1 N    1 N      
M3 (0 6 u 6 hc/hn) x ¼ xM3 þ u 1  g N ; u  uM3 1  g N ; uM3 þ NMþ1 kM
uNMþ1 g NMþ1 ; uN  uNMþ1 g NMþ1 ; uN (16)
N M3 N M3
  1 N      
C1 (1 < u < 1) x ¼ xC1 þ ug  N ; u  uC1 gð N1 ; uN
C1 Þ þ M1 u
1 Mþ1
g M1 N
 uMþ1 g M1 N (17)
N ;u C1 N ; uC1
   NMþ1 NMþ1 N   
C3 (0 6 u < 1) 1 N 1 N
x ¼ xC3 þ u 1  gðN ; u Þ  uC3 1  gðN ; uC3 Þ þ NMþ1 u 1
g ; u  uC3 NMþ1
g NMþ1 ; uNC3
(18)
N N
   M     
S1 (hc/hn 6 u < 1) x ¼ xS1 þ ugð N1 ; uN Þ  uS1 g  N1 ; uN k
uMþ1 g M1 N
 uMþ1 g M1 N (19)
S1 þ M1 N ;u S1 N ; uS1
    Mþ1 M1 N  M1 N 
S2 (1 < u 6 hc/hn) x ¼ xS2 þ ugð N1 ; uN Þ  uS2 g  N1 ; uN þ kM
u g ; u  u Mþ1
g ; u (20)
S2 M1 N S2 N S2
       NMþ1 NMþ1 N   
S3 (0 6 u < 1) x ¼ xS3 þ u 1  g N1 ; uN  uS3 1  g N1 ; uN kM
þ NMþ1 u g ; u  uNMþ1 g NMþ1 ; uN (21)
S3 N S3 N S3

a
The boundary conditions specified in plotting GVF profiles on sustaining slopes, as shown in Figs. 2–4, are given in Table 4.
 C.-D. Jan, C.-l. Chen / Journal of Hydrology 456–457 (2012) 139–145 143

Table 3 4. Discussion
N-values determined from N = 2m + 3 for fully rough flows.

mth power 0 1/6a 1/5 1/4a 1/3 4.1. Applicability of the GHF-based solutions in perspective
N-value 3 10/3 17/5 7/2 11/3
a
The one-sixth power and one-fourth power formulas are often referred to as the In this paper, we treat the hydraulic exponents, M and N, as con-
Manning and Lacey formulas, respectively (Chen, 1991). stant, thereby averting the difficulty in obtaining the GHF-based
solutions from (3) for the dimensionless GVF profiles in channels
with the depth-dependent M- and N-values. This simplified treat-
Table 4 ment has confined the application of the GHF-based solutions to
Specified boundary conditions for eight dimensionless GVF profiles plotted in Figs. 2 the flow in wide channels, i.e., M = 3. Nevertheless, this by no
throguh 4.
means implies that the parameters, M and N, in the GHF-based
M1 M2 M3 solutions cannot accept real numbers. In other words, the mathe-
x⁄M1 uM1 x⁄M2 uM2 x⁄M3 uM3 matical capability of M and N in the GHF-based solutions to accept
Types of GVF profiles on the mild (M) slope
real numbers will provide a potential to expand the GHF-based
0.0 3.0 0.5 0.6 1.0 0.0 solutions for GVF profiles in wide channels to those in channels
C1 C3
with regular cross-sectional shape, such as rectangle, triangle,
trapezoid, and circle, in which the values of M and N vary with
x⁄C1 uC1 x⁄C3 uC3
the flow depth, h. Such superiority of the GHF-based solutions will
Types of GVF profiles on the critical (C) slope exclusively enable one to apply the GHF-based solutions to the
0.0 3.0 1.8 0.0
numerical computation of 1-D GVF profiles in channels with
S1 S2 S3 cross-sectional shape other than wide rectangle.
x⁄S1 uS1 x⁄S2 uS2 x⁄S3 uS3
Types of GVF profiles on the steep (S) slope 4.2. Role of hc/hn in the domain of the GHF-based solution space
0.0 3.0 1.0 1.8 2.0 0.0
In case for sequential applications of the GHF-based solution to
the numerical computation of GVF profiles in a series of channels,
the continuity of hc/hn in the domain of the GHF-based solution
3.0
1.4 space for the given values of M and N is crucial to success in such
2.8 computation. One can clearly see from Fig. 1 that GVF profiles vary
continuously throughout the domain of the GHF-based solution
2.6 1.3 N=3 space as hc/hn changes from 0 to 1 though all the profiles are
not plotted beyond hc/hn = 2 and u = 3, i.e. a limit imposed on the
u

10/3
2.4 11/3 scale of the ordinate in the graph. In particular, if hc/hn = 0 (i.e.,
1.2
17/5 7/2 the case of hc = 0, but not that of hn = 1), (8) and (10) reduce
2.2 respectively to
  
2.0 1.1 1 N
-2.4 -2.2 -2.0 -1.8 x ¼ u 1  g ;u þ Const ð22Þ
x N
1.8
 
1
1.6 x ¼ ug  ; uN þ Const ð23Þ
N
u

M1 profiles
1.4 in which ‘‘Const’’ can be evaluated using the two boundary condi-
tions at (x⁄, u) = (4, 0) and (3, 2), respectively. Consequently,
1.2
(22) and (23) on substitution of the respective ‘‘Const’’ so evaluated
1.0 yields respectively
0.96
11/3   
0.94 N =3
7/2 1 N
u

0.8 0.92
10/3
M2 profiles x ¼ u 1  g ;u 4 ð24Þ
0.90
17/5
N
-0.9 -0.8 -0.7 -0.6
x
0.6 0.6    
N =11/3 1 1
7/2 x ¼ ug  ; uN  2g  ; 2N  3 ð25Þ
0.4 0.4
3
N N
u

0.2 10/3 M3 profiles

0.2
17/5 Eqs. (24) and (25) for N = 10/3 are plotted in Fig. 1 as limits of (8) for
0.0
-1.00 -0.95 -0.90 0 6 u < 1 and (10) for u > 1, respectively, for hc/hn = 0.
x
0.0
-4.0 -3.0 -2.0 -1.0 0.0
4.3. Limitation of the direct-integration method
x

Fig. 2. The hn-based dimensionless 1-D GVF profiles on a mild slope (hc/hn = 0.6) for The direct-integration method for analytically solving the
flow in a wide channel (M = 3). dimensionless 1-D GVF equation using the GHF has been successful
developed as shown in the previous sections. However, one should
five N-values, each corresponding to the mth power of the power- note that Eqs. (1)–(3) used herein to develop the GHF-based ana-
law flow resistance formula (Chen, 1991). All the M and S profiles lytical solution of the GVF profiles only takes care of the frictional
are proved to diverge at the normal depth (i.e. u = 1), at which the C energy loss without the consideration of form loss (also called eddy
profiles are undefined for all N-values except N = 3 owing to the loss). Therefore, the GHF-based GVF solutions obtained herein are
existence of holes in the rational function representing the slopes suitable for use in prismatic channels. The energy loss in a natural
of the C profiles. channel that usually has non-prismatic channel sections is the sum
144 C.-D. Jan, C.-l. Chen / Journal of Hydrology 456–457 (2012) 139–145

3.0
1.6

1.4 N=3
2.5 10/3 11/3

u
1.2 17/5
7/2

C1 profiles
2.0 1.0
-2.0 -1.9 -1.8 -1.7 -1.6 -1.5 -1.4
x

1.5
u

1.0
N =11/3

7/2 3
0.5 C3 profiles
10/3
17/5

0.0
-2.0 -1.9 -1.8 -1.7 -1.6 -1.5 -1.4 -1.3 -1.2 -1.1 -1.0 -0.9 -0.8 -0.7 -0.6 -0.5 -0.4 -0.3 -0.2 -0.1 0.0
x

Fig. 3. The hn-based dimensionless 1-D GVF profiles on a critical slope (hc/hn = 1) for flow in a wide channel (M = 3).

3.0 (Chau, 2006; Cheng et al., 2002; Wang et al., 2009; Wu et al.,
2009), could be used to evaluate the free-water surface in natural
2.8 2.3 channels.
2.2
2.6
2.1 5. Conclusions
S1 profiles
u

2.4 2
N=3
The 1-D approach has been traditionally used by hydraulicians
11/3
2.2 1.9
10/3
7/2 to solve the GVF problem for free-surface water flow in channels
17/5
1.8 with gradually changes in its water surface elevation. The conven-
2.0 -0.7 -0.6 -0.5 tional methods used to compute GVF profiles include the graphi-
x
cal-integration method, the direct integration, and the numerical
1.8 1.16
method. Only the direct-integration method is discussed herein.
1.14
1.6 10/3
N=3 Using the direct-integration method, many investigators have at-
1.12
tempted to analytically solve the 1-D GVF equation for h, as shown
u
u

S2 profiles 11/3
1.10 7/2
1.4 17/5 in (3), with M, N, and hc/hn as the three parameters. Despite their
1.08
efforts to overcome the drawback of the conventional direct-inte-
0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.7 0.8
1.2 x gration method in the evaluation of the two indefinite integrals
appearing in (4), our prospect to develop a viable technique to
1.0
counter it without recourse to the table of the varied-flow function
11/3
0.8 (VFF) has not been bright for decades until recently there has been
S3 profiles 7/2 the extensive and growing use of the mathematics software, such
0.6 17/5 as the Mathematica, to perform effectively and efficiently the inte-
gration of the improper rational function (i.e., the reciprocal of the
N=3
0.4 10/3 slope of the 1-D GVF profile) via the partial-fraction expansion or
the infinite-series expansion. The availability of such powerful
0.2
software has helped integrate successfully the two indefinite inte-
0.0
grals using the Gaussian hypergeometric function (GHF) without
-3.0 -2.0 -1.0 0.0 1.0 2.0 3.0 4.0 recourse to the VFF table as shown in this paper. This merits atten-
x tion because the GHF embraced in the GHF-based solution can
henceforth replace the VFF. The GHF-based solutions can hence-
Fig. 4. The hn-based dimensionless 1-D GVF profiles on a steep slope (hc/hn = 1.8)
for flow in a wide channel (M = 3).
forth play the role of the VFF table in the interpolation of the
VFF-values. So, after decades’ long efforts made by hydraulicians
to solve the 1-D GVF equation using exclusively the VFF to com-
of friction and form losses. A suitable numerical method or ad- pute 1-D GVF profiles in channels with cross-sectional shape other
vance hydrologic model is still needed to compute the GVF profile than wide rectangle, we have finally come up with a novel ap-
in a natural channel. The basic methodology used in the computa- proach, in which the VFF is no longer needed in the integration
tion of GVF profiles in natural channels is the so-called standard- of the two indefinite integrals.
step method. The computations are carried out using well tried The complete GHF-based solutions of the hn-based dimension-
out softwares like HEC-RAS and MIKE 21 (Subramanya, 2009, Sec- less 1-D GVF equation constitute the combination of (8) for
tion 5.6). In addition, some contemporary and advanced hydrologic 0 6 u < 1 with (10) for u > 1 (u = h/hn, the dimensionless flow
neural-network models as demonstrated in depth). With hc/hn and N as two parameters, for the given boundary
 C.-D. Jan, C.-l. Chen / Journal of Hydrology 456–457 (2012) 139–145
conditions, we can plot the hn-based dimensionless 1-D GVF
profiles in the mild, critical and steep wide channels using the
GHF-based solution. Even though the treatment of constant M-
and N-values has confined the application of the GHF-based solu-
tions to the flow in wide channels (i.e., M = 3), the mathematical
capability of M and N in the GHF-based solutions to accept real
numbers will provide a potential to expand the GHF-based solu-
tions for GVF profiles in wide channels to those in channels with
regular cross-sectional shape.
It is noted that Eq. (3) used herein to develop the GHF-based
analytical solution of the GVF profiles only takes care of the fric-
tional energy loss without considering the eddy loss. Therefore,
the GHF-based GVF solutions obtained herein is suitable for use
in prismatic channels only. The energy loss in a natural channel
that usually has non-prismatic channel sections is the sum of fric-
tion and form losses. A suitable numerical method or advance
hydrologic model is still needed to compute the GVF profile in a
natural channel at this time. More study is needed to expand the
GHF-based solutions for the GVF in non-prismatic channels.
Acknowledgments
Supports from the National Cheng Kung University and the
National Science Council (NSC 100-2221-E-006-202-MY3) in Taiwan
to C.D. Jan for this study are acknowledged. We gratefully acknowl-
edge the comments and suggestions of the anonymous reviewers,
which improved the presentation of the paper considerably.
Appendix A. Gaussian hypergeometric function
The Gaussian hypergeometric function (GHF) can be expressed
as an infinite series and symbolized in the form of 2F1(a, b; c; z) as
shown in the books of Korn and Korn (1961), Luke (1975), and
Pearson (1974). The form 2F1(a, b; c; z) can be safely changed to
the more friendly form F(a, b; c; z) as Olde Daalhuis (2010, Section
15.1) indicates, i.e.,
CðcÞ X 1
Cða þ sÞCðb þ sÞ s
Fða; b; c; zÞ ¼ z ðA1Þ
CðaÞCðbÞ s¼0 Cðc þ sÞs!
in which a, b, and c are the function parameters and z is the variable.
The form F(a, b; c; z) is used herein. Such an infinite-series represen-
tation in (A1), as often referred to as the hypergeometric series, is
convergent for arbitrary a, b, and c, provided that c is neither a neg-
ative integer nor zero (Seaborn, 1991) and that a or b is not a neg-
ative integer (Whittaker and Watson, 1992) for real 1 < z < 1 (or
|z| < 1), and for z = ±1 if c > a + b.
It is evident that (A1) has the following symmetric property.
Fða; b; c; zÞ ¼ Fðb; a; c; zÞ
If a, b, and c are fixed with specified relations, a = 1 and c = b + 1,
(A1) yields
X 1
zs
Fð1; b; b þ 1; zÞ ¼ b
s¼0
bþs
The following functional identity relation (so-called recurrence
formulas) can be generally established from (A3).
bz
Fð1; b; b þ 1; zÞ ¼ 1 þ Fð1; b þ 1; b þ 2; zÞ
bþ1
The GHFs used in the solutions of the gradually-varied-flow
profiles herein are all in the form of (A3). Considering that the first
145
argument is always unity, the second and third arguments differ in
one unity, and the fourth argument is a variable only, we use a sim-
pler expression as shown in (A5) to reduce the related equations to
shorter expressions for facilitating the reading of the present
manuscript.
gðb; zÞ ¼ Fð1; b; b þ 1; zÞ ðA5Þ
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