Braid Burn Hydrology Fieldtrip

Welcome
Welcome to
to the
the channel
channel hydrology spreadsheet

This
This has been designed to make data entry simple and minimise the number of calculations you need to perform.
There
There are
are three
three sheets
sheets in
in this
this workbook:
workbook:

1.
1. Flow
Flow gauge
gauge -- this
this page,
page, for
for entering
entering the
the water
water depth
depth and
and flow
flow meter data.
2.
2. Stones
Stones -- for
for estimating
estimating the
the bed
bed roughness
roughness using
using your
your stone
stone data.
data.
3.
3. Flood
Flood modelling
modelling -- this
this page
page allows
allows you
you to
to estimate
estimate how
how the
the river
river might
might behave
behave in
in aa flood.
flood.

The
The sheets
sheets must
must be
be filled
filled out
out in
in order,
order, as
as the
the later
later sheets
sheets use
use values
values calculated
calculated from
from the
the flow
flow guage
guage data.
data.
ology Fieldtrip

s you need to perform.

d.
d.

flow guage data.

 Braid Burn flow gauging

1
Please click on the button to
input the details of your cross-section Enter Details Flowmeter type: White

Then enter your data into the green columns below.

2 The other columns should be calculated automatically

d w P A v
Distance Observation Mean Depth Width of Wetted Area of Measurement Point Average Discharge
Depth to Flowmeter Revs Velocity
from start Depth (d1 + d2) ÷ section Perimeter section time velocity velocity in (cumecs) A
bed (m) (Revs) per min Values
(m) 0.6 x d 2 (m) (m) (m2) (seconds) (m s-1) section xv

0.45 0.12 0.07 60 0.219

0.9 0.13 0.08 0.13 0.5 0.5 0.05625 60 0.262 0.241 0.014

1.35 0.19 0.11 0.16 0.5 0.5 0.072 60 0.259 0.261 0.019

1.8 0.12 0.07 0.16 0.5 0.5 0.06975 60 0.311 0.285 0.020

2.25 0.17 0.10 0.15 0.5 0.5 0.06525 60 0.612 0.462 0.030

2.7 0.17 0.10 0.17 0.5 0.5 0.0765 60 0.974 0.793 0.061

3.15 0.18 0.11 0.18 0.4 0.5 0.07875 60 0.907 0.941 0.074

3.6 0.15 0.09 0.17 0.5 0.5 0.07425 60 0.694 0.801 0.059

4.05 0.09 0.05 0.12 0.4 0.5 0.054 60 0.399 0.547 0.030

4.5 0.05 0.03 0.07 0.5 0.5 0.0315 CommandButton10

60 0.285 0.342 0.011
0.14 mean depth 4.0691 0.5783 mean point velocity = 0.52 ms-1

Total discharge = 0.32 cumecs

3 With the data entry complete, we can now use this information to explore the river's power...

Estimation of Stream Competence

Using the values from above, plus a few physical constants, we can now calculate the shear stress ( t ) exerted by the water at the channel bed.
Why would we want to do this? Well knowing the shear stress we can work out the size of the largest particle (sand grain, rock or shopping trolley)
that the river could move...

Calculation Information - Calculation of Shear Stress

Shear stress t = r H2O x g x R x S

where r H2O = the density of water (1000 kg m-3)

g = gravitational force (9.8 ms-2)
R = the Hydraulic Radius
S = the slope of the water surface (usually referred to as the Surface water slope)

As r H2O and g are constants, we only need to find values for R and S.

R is simply the cross-sectional area of the stream (A) divided by the wetted perimeter (P), i.e. R = A ÷ P.
Both these values are calculated from the data you input above.

Cross-sectional Area A= 0.58

Wetted Perimeter P= 4.07

Hydraulic Radius R= 0.14

S (Surface water slope) has to be measured in the field.

From a recent river survey carried out by second year Geography students, we know that the average surface water slope of the burn
is 0.007 metres per metre: If we travel 1 metre downstream, the river has dropped 0.007 m (7 mm) in height.

S= 0.0175 metres per metre

Knowing all the parameters, we can now calculate the shear stress on the channel bed…

Shear stress t = r H2O x g x R x S

= 1000 x 9.8 x 0.14 x 0.0175
= 24.37 Newtons

Calculation Information: Critical Shear Stress and Stream Competence

For a given particle of diameter D, the minimum force required to move it (t crit) can be found using the formula:

t crit = 0.06 x g (r silica - r H2O) x D

where, as before: r H2O = the density of water (1000 kg m-3)

g = gravitational force (9.8 ms-2)
and r silica = the density of silica (2650 kg m-3)
 Stone Sizes

5
Fill in your stone measurements (in cm) in the table below

The values are converted to metres for you and the ranks are calculated automatically

Stone sizes at each of the ten points across the channel (centimetres)
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

10.0 4.0 8.0 6.0 3.0 4.0 4.0 6.0 4.0

3.5 6.0 9.0 5.0 4.0 3.5 6.0 3.0 5.0

7.0 4.0 7.0 5.0 8.0 4.0 5.0 2.0 7.0

4.5 3.0 6.5 5.0 2.0 6.0 9.0 5.0 2.0

4.0 7.0 4.0 7.0 6.5 5.0 7.0 6.0 6.0

6.0 6.0 7.0 5.5 3.0 6.0 4.0 8.0 4.0

3.0 6.0 7.0 4.0 7.0 6.5 8.0 8.0 5.0

4.5 4.0 5.0 6.0 5.0 2.0 3.0 3.5 7.0

3.0 3.0 8.5 8.0 8.0 5.0 4.0 5.0 3.0

4.5 2.5 6.0 6.0 4.0 8.0 2.0 4.0 3.0

Your stone sizes at each of the ten points across the channel (metres)
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
0.100 0.040 0.080 0.060 0.030 0.040 0.040 0.060 0.040
0.035 0.060 0.090 0.050 0.040 0.035 0.060 0.030 0.050
0.070 0.040 0.070 0.050 0.080 0.040 0.050 0.020 0.070
0.045 0.030 0.065 0.050 0.020 0.060 0.090 0.050 0.020
0.040 0.070 0.040 0.070 0.065 0.050 0.070 0.060 0.060
0.060 0.060 0.070 0.055 0.030 0.060 0.040 0.080 0.040
0.030 0.060 0.070 0.040 0.070 0.065 0.080 0.080 0.050
0.045 0.040 0.050 0.060 0.050 0.020 0.030 0.035 0.070
 0.030 0.030 0.085 0.080 0.080 0.050 0.040 0.050 0.030
0.045 0.025 0.060 0.060 0.040 0.080 0.020 0.040 0.030

D50 Size of the 50th rank stone =

6
Using your stone measurements in the table above
The ranks are calculated automatically D75 Size of the 75th rank stone =

Estimation of Bed Roughness

As explained in the handout, bed roughness (n) can be measured using the Strickler equation

Method 1: For flat/wide gravel beds:

Bed roughness (n) = 0.051 (D50)

0.166
= 0.031017

Method 2: emphasizing the importance of particle size relative to depth of flow:

Bed roughness (n) = 0.113 (D75) ÷ (d)

0.05 0.33
= 0.189936
where d is the mean depth of water in the channel
(From your flow guage data, we know this to be 0.14 metres)

The question is, which one is more appropriate to use for this stretch of the Braid Burn?

To answer this, we have to bring in and tweak another equation - Manning's estimate of mean str

Manning's Equation Calculation

mean stream velocity = ū = (R0.666 x S0.5) ÷ n

where R = the Hydraulic Radius, which we know is 0.1421061

S = the Surface water slope, which we know is 0.0175
and n = the bed roughness

However, we are actually more interested in the value of n than ū in this equation
as from our flow guage data we already know the average stream velocity ū
We can use the average of our recorded point velocity values: 0.522555555555555 as our value of ū

So let's rearrange the formula as follows to see which value of n it suggests:

n = (R0.666 x S0.5) ÷ ū
Inserting the above values:
= 0.06903

Choosing the 'best' estimate of bed roughness:

As a reminder, the two values calculated above were:

Method 1: For flat/wide gravel beds:
n = 0.051 (D50)
0.166

= 0.031

Method 2: Emphasizing the importance of particle size relative to depth of flow:

n = 0.113 (D75) ÷ (d)
0.05 0.33

0.190

In this case the value of Method 1 is closest to that measured by Manning's equation, therefore the es
So for bankfull storm discharge estimates (on the next page) we should use
n= 0.031

6 Congratulations - that is the hard part over. Go to the last sheet for some flood modelling
10 Click
here for
2.0 Tip

2.0

3.0

7.0

1.0

2.0

3.0

3.0

3.0

1.0

10
0.020
0.020
0.030
0.070
0.010
0.020
0.030
0.030
 0.030
0.010

0.050 m
0.065 m

rickler equation in two ways:

th of flow:

of the Braid Burn?

estimate of mean stream velocity (ū)

we know is 0.142106149676648
ch we know is 0.0175

555 as our value of ū

 Click
here for
Tip

uation, therefore the estimate based on D50 is better

me flood modelling
 Braid Burn Stream Flow Modelli

This is the last exercise, when you should understand the value of your measurements
7 We will use the spreadsheet as a model, to predict the flow conditions for different depths

Summary of Data Entered

This is an extract of the?data your group entered earlier:

d w P
Mean
Distance Observation Wetted
Depth to bed Depth Width of
from start Depth Perimeter
(m) (d1 + d2) section (m)
(m) 0.6 x d (m)
÷2
0.45 0.12 0.07
0.9 0.13 0.08 0.13 0.45 0.4501111
1.35 0.19 0.11 0.16 0.45 0.4539824
1.8 0.12 0.07 0.16 0.45 0.4554119
2.25 0.17 0.10 0.15 0.45 0.4527693
2.7 0.17 0.10 0.17 0.45 0.45
3.15 0.18 0.11 0.18 0.45 0.4501111
3.6 0.15 0.09 0.17 0.45 0.4509989
4.05 0.09 0.05 0.12 0.45 0.4539824
4.5 0.05 0.03 0.07 0.45 0.4517743

The first thing to note is that we have had to discard the flow velocity measurements.
This is because they are specific to the condition of the river at the time of measurement
If we want to examine it's behaviour with more (or less) water in it, then we can't assum
that the flow rate would stay the same, as this is most unlikely.

We can assume that the following parameter still holds though:

Bed roughness (n)

Our best estimate of (n) the bed roughness is: 0.031

so enter it here: 0.031

 [Later we can come back and see the effect of using different estimates]

We also need to know the height of the riverbank above the current water surface.
This controls the maximum volume of water that the river can hold - its
Measurements taken by previous students suggest this is about 60 cm (0.60 m)

0.82 metres

[Later we can come back and experiment with different bank heights try anything up to 2m]

We can alter the depth of water in the stream (the individual values of
This is done using the slider below in the Modelling Section.

d w P
Mean
Distance Observatio Width of Wetted
Depth to bed Depth
from n Depth section Perimeter
(m) (d1 +
start (m) 0.6 x d (m) (m)
d2) ÷ 2
0.45 0.94 0.56
0.9 0.95 0.57 0.95 0.450111 0.45
1.35 1.01 0.61 0.98 0.453982 0.46
1.8 0.94 0.56 0.98 0.455412 0.46
2.25 0.99 0.59 0.97 0.452769 0.46
2.7 0.99 0.59 0.99 0.45 0.45
3.15 1.00 0.60 1.00 0.450111 0.45
3.6 0.97 0.58 0.99 0.450999 0.45
4.05 0.91 0.55 0.94 0.453982 0.46
4.5 0.87 0.52 0.89 0.451774 0.45
4.09

Modelling Section

Try altering the depth and see the effect on the value of Dmax

Empty

Braid Burn River Cross-section

3.00

2.50

2.00

1.50

1.00
3.00

2.50

2.00

1.50

1.00

0.50

0.00
0.45 0.9 1.35 1.8 2.25 2.7 3.15 3.6 4.05 4.5
Distance across river (m)

Manning's estimate of mean stream velocity (ū) 4.15 ms-1

Cross-section Area (A) 3.92 m
Total Discharge (ū x A) 16.25 cumecs
bed roughness estimate used (n) 0.031
Largest particle diameter river can move (Dmax) 0.169 m
Stream Flow Modelling

he value of your measurements

low conditions for different depths

Group Number:

Section Location:

Area of section
(m2)

0.05625
0.072
0.06975
0.06525
0.0765
0.07875
0.07425
0.054
0.0315

e flow velocity measurements.

river at the time of measurement.
) water in it, then we can't assume
e the current water surface.
ver can hold - its bankfull capacity.
is about 60 cm (0.60 m)

hts try anything up to 2m]

vidual values of d) to model different conditions

Area of section
(m2)

0.43
0.44
0.44
0.44
0.45
0.45
0.44
0.43
0.40
3.92

Bankfull

River Particles

Boulder
Pebble
Cobble
Granule
Sand
Silt
D max
 Boulder
Pebble
Cobble
Granule
Sand
Silt
D max

.05 4.5

Wetted Perimeter (P) 4.09 m

Hydraulic Radius (R) = A ÷ P) 0.96 m
Shear stress t 164.35 N

= 16.94 cm