UNIT – I

OPEN CHANNEL FLOW

Dr GK Viswanadh
Professor of Civil Engineering &
OSD to Vice-Chancellor JNTUH
Email: kasi.gorthi@gmail.com
 UNIT – I
OPEN CHANNEL FLOW:
• Introduction : Types of flows - Type of channels –
Velocity distribution – Energy and momentum
correction factors
• Uniform flow : Chezy’s, Manning’s; and Bazin formulae
– Most Economical sections.
• Critical flow: Specific energy-critical depth –
computation of critical depth – critical sub-critical and
super critical flows.
• Non uniform flow G.V.F -Dynamic equation for G.V.F.,
Mild, Critical, Steep, horizontal and adverse slopes-
surface profiles-direct step method-
• Rapidly varied flow, hydraulic jump, energy dissipation.
Dr G K Viswanadh , Prof. of Civil Engineering
06/01/2017
& OSD to VC JNTUH
 UNIT – I
OPEN CHANNEL FLOW:
• Types of flows - Type of channels – Velocity
distribution – Energy and momentum
correction factors – Chezy’s, Manning’s; and
Bazin formulae for uniform flow – Most
Economical sections.

Dr G K Viswanadh , Prof. of Civil Engineering

06/01/2017
& OSD to VC JNTUH
 Open channel Hydraulics INTRODUCTION

• An open channel is a conduit in which a

liquid flows with a FREE surface.
• The free surface is actually an interface
b/w the moving liquid and an overlying
fluid.
• In Civil Engineering applications water is
the most common liquid with air at
atmospheric pressure as the overlying
fluid.
Fig . Free Surface
• Flow of water takes place with a free surface
• The prime motivating force for open channel flow
is that due to gravity.

• A channel may be defined as a passage through

which water flows under atmospheric pressure.

• Free surface is subjected to atmospheric pressure

in open channels.
• In pipe flow, the flow is under pressure which can be
known by inserting a piezometer.

• The line joining the water levels in the piezometer

tube installed at different sections is known as the
HYDRAULIC GRADIENT LINE (HGL)

• In open channel flow, the free surface itself acts as

the HYDRAULIC GRADIENT.
Dr G K Viswanadh , Prof. of Civil Engineering
06/01/2017
& OSD to VC JNTUH
 Dr G K Viswanadh , Prof. of Civil Engineering
06/01/2017
& OSD to VC JNTUH
 Dr G K Viswanadh , Prof. of Civil Engineering
06/01/2017
& OSD to VC JNTUH
 Dr G K Viswanadh , Prof. of Civil Engineering
06/01/2017
& OSD to VC JNTUH
 Dr G K Viswanadh , Prof. of Civil Engineering
06/01/2017
& OSD to VC JNTUH
Fig. Difference in pipe flow and open channel flow
 Dr G K Viswanadh , Prof. of Civil Engineering
06/01/2017
& OSD to VC JNTUH
 Dr G K Viswanadh , Prof. of Civil Engineering
06/01/2017
& OSD to VC JNTUH
Fig. TEL and HGL
 V2
•Total Gradient = Hydraulic gradient +
2g

•Slope in bottom of channel to have flow.

•Natural and artificial channels.

•Flow in rivers, streams

•Flow in canals – to supply water

 TYPES OF CHANNELS:
1) Prismatic & Non – Prismatic Channels:

A Channel in which the cross–sectional area,

shape, size and also the bottom slope are constant
is termed as “ PRISMATIC CHANNEL”.

Eg:-Rectangular, circular, triangular trapezoidal

etc
• All natural channels generally have varying
cross sections and bottom slope.

• Non prismatic channels : A Channel in which the

cross–sectional area, shape, size and also the
bottom slope are not constant is termed as “ NON-
PRISMATIC CHANNEL”.
2. Rigid and Mobile boundary channels:

On the basis of nature of boundary

Rigid boundary channels

Mobile boundary channels

Rigid channels are those in which the boundary is not

deformable in the sense that the shape, plainform
and roughness magnitudes are not functions of flow
parameters.
• Eg:- Lined canals, Sewers, Non – erodible
• canals
• No erosion takes place

• Channel geometry and roughness are constant w.r.t

time.

• Only one degree of freedom – depth of flow

• We have many unlined channels in alluvium – both

manmade channels and natural rivers – in which
boundaries undergo deformation due to the continuous
process of erosion and deposition due to flow.

Dr G K Viswanadh , Prof. of Civil Engineering

06/01/2017
& OSD to VC JNTUH
Mobile boundary channels
The boundary of the channel is mobile, in such
cases the flow carries considerable amounts of
sediment through suspension and in contact with
bed.

Four degrees of freedom

Depth of flow, bed width, longitude slope and
plan form (layout)

Study is confined only to Rigid boundary

channels.
3) Based on c/s form: Natural channel, Artificial
channel.

•A natural channel is the one which has irregular

sections of varying shapes, which is developed in a
natural way.

• Eg:- Rivers, strecmretic.

•An artificial channel is the one which is built

artificially for carrying water for various purposes.
4) Based on Regular geometrical shapes.

• Rectangular, Trapezoidal, Triangular circular,

parabolic channels.
 OPEN CHANNELS and CLOSED channels.

• The channels may also be classified as OPEN

CHANNELS and CLOSED channels.

• The channels having cover at top are known as

closed channels. They are the channels Running
partly full.

• Eg:- Conduits or pipes with partly full of water,

underground drains, tunnels, not running full.