CHAPTER 7: GRADUALLY VARIED FLOW |
7.1 EQUATION OF GRADUALLY VARIED FLOW
The flow is gradually varied when the discharge Q is constant but the other
hydraulic variables (A, V, D, R, P, and so on) vary gradually in space.
The basic assumptions of gradually varied flow are:
The flow is steady, i.e., none of the hydraulic variables vary in time.
The streamlines are essentially parallel; thus,
the pressure distribution in the vertical direction is hydrostatic, i.e., proportional to the flow depth.
The head loss is the same as that corresponding to uniform flow; therefore, the uniform
flow formula may be used to evaluate the energy slope.
The value of Manning's n is the same as that of uniform flow.
Other assumptions of gradually varied flow are:
The slope of the channel is small.
The pressure correction factor cosθ ≅ 1.
There is negligible air entrainment.
The conveyance is an exponential function of the flow depth (except for the case of circular culverts).
The roughness (Manning's n) is independent of the flow depth (only an approximation) and is constant
throughout the reach under consideration.
Fig. 7-1 Definition sketch for energy in open-channel flow.
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|
Under gradually varied flow, the gradient of hydraulic head is (Fig. 7-1):
dH d V 2
_____ = ___ ( z + y + _____ ) = - Sf
dx dx 2g
| (7-1) |
The negative sign in front of the friction slope Sf is required because the flow direction is from left to right,
while the derivative is taken from right to left, by convention. By definition, the friction slope is:
in which ΔL = length of the channel reach under consideration. The gradient of specific energy is:
dE d V 2 dz
_____ = ___ ( y + _____ ) = - ____ - Sf
dx dx 2g dx
| (7-3) |
The gradient of the channel bed, or channel slope (bottom slope), is:
dz z2 - z1
_____ = ________
dx ΔL
| (7-4) |
dz z1 - z2
- _____ = ________ = So
dx ΔL
| (7-5) |
Therefore, the gradient of specific energy is:
dE d V 2
_____ = ___ ( y + _____ ) = So - Sf
dx dx 2g
| (7-6) |
Under steady flow: Q = V A = constant. Therefore:
d Q 2
____ ( y + _______ ) = So - Sf
dx 2g A2
| (7-7) |
dy d Q 2
_____ + _____ ( _______ ) = So - Sf
dx dx 2g A2
| (7-8) |
dy Q 2 dA
_____ - ( ______ ) _____ = So - Sf
dx g A3 dx
| (7-9) |
dy Q 2 dA dy
_____ - ( ______ ) _____ _____ = So - Sf
dx g A3 dy dx
| (7-10) |
Using Eq. 3-11:
dy Q 2 T dy
_____ - ( ________ ) _____ = So - Sf
dx g A3 dx
| (7-11) |
Therefore, the flow-depth gradient is:
dy So - Sf
_____ = _______________________
dx 1 - [(Q 2 T ) / (g A3)]
| (7-12) |
The friction slope based on the Chezy equation (Eqs. 5-10 and 2-4) is:
Q 2
Sf = ____________
C 2 A2 R
| (7-13) |
Since R = A / P :
Q 2 P
Sf = _________
C 2 A3
| (7-14) |
Substituting Eq. 7-14 into Eq. 7-12, the flow-depth gradient is:
dy So - [(Q 2 P ) / (C 2 A3)]
_____ = ___________________________
dx 1 - [(Q 2 T ) / (g A3)]
| (7-15) |
dy So - (g/C 2) (P / T ) [(Q 2 T ) / (g A3)]
_____ = _______________________________________
dx 1 - [(Q 2 T ) / (g A3)]
| (7-16) |
The square of the Froude number is (Eq. 3-12):
Q 2 T
F 2 = _________
g A3
| (7-17) |
Substituting Eq. 7-17 into Eq. 7-16:
dy So - (g/C 2) (P / T ) F 2
_____ = _________________________
dx 1 - F 2
| (7-18) |
Substituting Eq. 5-12 into Eq. 7-18:
dy So - f (P / T ) F 2
_____ = _____________________
dx 1 - F 2
| (7-19) |
Therefore, the depth gradient (dy/dx) is a function of:
Channel slope So,
Friction coefficient f,
Ratio of wetted perimeter to top width P / T, and
Froude number.
For dy/dx = 0, Eq. 7-19 reduces to a statement of uniform flow:
So = f (P / T ) F 2
| (7-20) |
For F = 1, Eq. 7-20 reduces to a statement of critical uniform flow:
So = f (Pc / Tc ) = Sc
| (7-21) |
in which Sc = critical slope, i.e., the channel slope for which the flow is critical.
In terms of critical slope (Eq. 7-21), the flow-depth gradient is:
dy So - (P / T ) (Tc / Pc )
Sc F 2
_____ = ________________________________
dx 1 - F 2
| (7-22) |
For (P / T ) ≅ (Pc / Tc ), i.e., for a constant
ratio (P / T) with flow depth, Eq. 7-22 reduces to:
dy So -
Sc F 2
_____ = _______________
dx 1 - F 2
| (7-23) |
For conciseness, the flow-depth gradient can be written as:
dy  
Sy = _____
dx
| (7-24) |
Substituting Eq. 7-24 into Eq. 7-23, the flow-depth gradient is:
Sy (So / Sc) - F 2
____ = __________________
Sc 1 - F 2
| (7-25) |
Equation 7-25 (or 7-23) is the gradually varied flow equation. The depth gradient Sy is a function
only of: (1) channel slope So, (2) critical slope Sc, and (3) Froude number F.
Note on the applicability of Eq. 7-25
Strictly speaking,
Eq. 7-25 applies only for
the case (P / T ) (Tc / Pc ) = 1, which is the same as
(P / T ) = (Pc / Tc ); that is,
for a constant ratio (P / T ), regardless
of flow depth. This condition is less restrictive that the (asymptotic) hydraulically wide
channel condition, for which (P / T ) = 1.
Therefore, for a hydraulically wide channel, for which P ≅ T,
it follows that: (P / T ) (Tc / Pc ) ≅ 1. Thus, it is concluded that Eq. 7-25 applies for a hydraulically wide channel.
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7.2 CHARACTERISTICS OF FLOW PROFILES
In Eq. 7-25, the sign of the left-hand side (LHS) is that of Sy
(numerator), since Sc (denominator)
is always positive (friction is always positive). The sign of Sy (i.e, the sign of
the LHS) may be one of three possibilities:
- A positive value, leading to RETARDED FLOW (BACKWATER),
- A zero value, leading to UNIFORM FLOW (NORMAL), or
- A negative value, leading to ACCELERATED FLOW (DRAWDOWN).
In the right-hand side (RHS) of Eq. 7-25, there are three possibilities for the numerator (USDA Soil Conservation Service, 1971):
- So / Sc > F 2, leading to SUBNORMAL FLOW,
- So / Sc = F 2, leading to NORMAL FLOW, or
- So / Sc < F 2, leading to SUPERNORMAL FLOW.
There are three possibilities for the denominator:
- 1 > F 2, leading to SUBCRITICAL FLOW,
- 1 = F 2, leading to CRITICAL FLOW, or
- 1 < F 2, leading to SUPERCRITICAL FLOW.
Given the above inequalities,
there arise three types (or families) of water-surface profiles, shown in Table 7-1.
The total number of profiles is 12.
A summary is shown in Table 7-2.
Table 7-1 Types of water-surface profiles.
Type | Description
| Numerator and denominator of RHS of Eq. 7-25 |
Sign of LHS | Flow profile
I
| Subnormal/subcritical flow |
Both numerator and denominator are positive
|
+ |
Retarded |
II | A
| Subnormal/supercritical flow | Numerator is positive and denominator is negative |
- |
Accelerated | B | Supernormal/subcritical flow | Numerator is negative and denominator is positive |
- |
Accelerated |
III | Supernormal/supercritical flow
| Both numerator and denominator are negative |
+ |
Retarded |
Table 7-2 Summary of water-surface profiles.
Family
| Character
| Rule
| So > Sc
| So = Sc
| So < Sc
| So = 0
| So < 0
I
| Retarded (Backwater)
| 1 > F 2 < (So / Sc)
| S1
| C1
| M1
| -
| -
|
II | A
| Accelerated (Drawdown)
| 1 < F 2 < (So / Sc)
| S2
| -
| -
| -
| -
|
B
| Accelerated (Drawdown)
| 1 > F 2 > (So / Sc)
| -
| -
| M2
| H2
| A2
|
III
| Retarded (Backwater)
| 1 < F 2 > (So / Sc)
| S3
| C3
| M3
| H3
| A3
|
| |
Type I
In the Type I family, the flow is subnormal/subcritical. Therefore, the rule is:
1 > F 2 <
(So / Sc )
| (7-26) |
which is the same as:
Equation 7-27 states that So may be lesser than, equal to, or greater than Sc .
This gives rise to three types of profiles:
Since
and
it follows that
Thus:
Therefore, no horizontal (H) or adverse (A) profiles are possible in the Type I family of water-surface profiles.
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Type II A
In the Type II A family, the flow is subnormal/supercritical. Therefore, the rule is:
1 < F 2 <
(So / Sc )
| (7-32) |
which is the same as:
Equation 7-33 states that So may only be greater than Sc . This gives rise
to only one profile:
Since
and
it follows that
Thus:
Therefore, no horizontal (H) or adverse (A) profiles are possible in the Type II A family of water-surface profiles.
|
Type II B
In the Type II B family, the flow is supernormal/subcritical. Therefore, the rule is:
1 > F 2 >
(So / Sc )
| (7-38) |
which is the same as:
Equation 7-39 states that So may be lesser than Sc ,
equal to 0, or lesser than 0.
This gives rise to three types of profiles:
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Type III
In the Type III family, the flow is supernormal/supercritical. Therefore, the rule is:
1 < F 2 >
(So / Sc )
| (7-44) |
which is the same as:
Equation 7-45 states that So may be lesser than, equal to, or greater than Sc .
This gives rise to five types of profiles:
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Figure 7-14 shows a graphical representation of flow-depth gradients
in water-surface profile computations. The
arrows indicate the direction of computation.
Fig. 7-14 Graphical representation of flow-depth gradient
ranges in water-surface profile computations.
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7.3 LIMITS TO WATER SURFACE PROFILES
The flow-depth gradients vary between five (5) limits (Fig. 7-14):
The channel slope So
The critical slope Sc
Zero.
+ ∞
- ∞
The theoretical limits to the water-surface profiles may be analyzed using Eq. 7-25, repeated
here in a slightly different form:
So - Sc F 2
Sy = ______________
1 - F 2
| (7-46) |
Operating in Eq. 7-46:
Sy (1 - F 2) = So - Sc F 2
| (7-47) |
So - Sy
F 2 = ____________
Sc - Sy
| (7-48) |
For uniform (normal) flow: Sy = 0, and Eq. 7-48 reduces to:
For gradually varied flow: Sy ≠ 0, and Eq. 7-48 is subject to three (3) cases:
-
F 2 > 0
So > Sy and Sc > Sy
The following inequality is satisfied: So > Sy < Sc
So < Sy and Sc < Sy
The following inequality is satisfied: So < Sy > Sc
It is concluded that Sy has to be either less than
both So and Sc, or greater than both.
|
F 2 < 0: Since F ≥ 0, this condition is impossible.
The following inequality is NOT satisfied: So > Sy > Sc
The following inequality is NOT satisfied: So < Sy < Sc
It is concluded that Sy cannot be less than So and greater than
Sc , or
less than Sc and greater than
So
. Thus, Sy has to be less than both So AND Sc,
or greater than both (See Case 1).
|
Uses of water-surface profiles
Table 7-3 and Fig. 7-16 show the typical occurrence of mild water-surface profiles.
Table 7-3 Occurrence of mild water-surface profiles. |
M1
| Flow in a mild channel, upstream of a reservoir.
|
M2
| Flow in a mild channel, upstream of an abrupt change in grade or a steep channel carrying supercritical flow.
|
M3
|
Flow in a mild channel, downstream of a steep channel carrying supercritical flow.
|
Fig. 7-16 Typical occurrence of mild profiles.
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|
Table 7-4 and Fig. 7-17 show the typical occurrence of steep water-surface profiles.
Table 7-4 Occurrence of steep water-surface profiles. |
S1
| Flow in a steep channel, upstream of a reservoir.
|
S2
|
Flow in a steep channel, downstream of a mild channel carrying subcritical flow.
|
S3
| Flow in a steep channel,
downstream of a steeper channel carrying supercritical flow.
|
Fig. 7-17 Typical occurrence of steep profiles.
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7.4 METHODOLOGIES
There are two ways to calculate water-surface profiles:
The direct step method.
The standard step method.
The direct step method is applicable to prismatic channels, while the standard step method
is applicable to any channel, prismatic and nonprismatic (Table 7-5). The direct step method is direct,
readily amenable to use with a spreadsheet, and relatively straight forward in its solution.
The standard step method is iterative and complex
in its solution. In practice, the standard step method is represented by the Hydrologic Engineering Center's
River Analysis System, referred to as HEC-RAS (U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, 2014).
The direct step method applies particularly where
data is scarce and resources are limited.
The standard step method applies for comprehensive projects. The use of a widely accepted government program
such as HEC-RAS enhances credibility.
The required number of cross sections in the standard step method increases with the channel slope.
Steeper channels may require more cross sections. Lesser cross sectional variability
results in more reliable and accurate results. Note that extensive two- and three-dimensional flow features
may not be accurately represented in the one-dimensional water-surface profile model.
Table 7-5 Comparison between direct step and standard step methods. |
No. | Characteristic | Direct step method |
Standard step method |
1 | Cross-sectional shape | Prismatic |
Any (prismatic or nonprismatic) |
2 | Ease of computation | Easy (hours) |
Difficult (months) |
3 | Calculation advances ⇒ | Directly |
By iteration (trial and error) |
4 | Type of cross-section input | One typical
cross section (prismatic) |
Several cross sections (nonprismatic) |
5 | Data needs | Minimal |
Extensive | 6 | Accuracy increases with ↠ | A smaller flow depth increment |
More cross sections and/or lesser cross-sectional variability |
7 | Independent variable | Flow depth |
Length of channel |
8 | Dependent variable | Length of channel |
Flow depth |
9 | Tools | Spreadsheet or programming |
HEC-RAS |
10 | Reliability | Answer is always possible |
Answer is sometimes not possible, depending
on the type of cross-sectional input data |
11 | Cost | Comparatively small |
Comparatively large |
12 |
Public acceptance | Average |
High |
7.5 DIRECT STEP METHOD EXAMPLE
Calculation of M2 and S2 profiles, upstream and downstream
of a change in grade, from mild to steep
Input data:
- Discharge Q = 2000 m3
- Bottom width b = 100 m.
- Side slope 2 H : 1 V
- Upstream channel slope = 0.0001
- Upstream channel Manning's n = 0.025
- Downstream channel slope = 0.03
- Downstream channel Manning's n = 0.045
Solution
Calculate the normal depth and velocity,
and critical depth and velocity, in the upstream and downstream channels.
Use ONLINE CHANNEL 05.
For the upstream channel:
Normal depth = 10.098 m
Normal velocity = 1.648 m/s
Normal Froude number = 0.179
Critical depth = 3.364 m
Critical velocity = 5.571 m/s
For the downstream channel:
Normal depth = 2.669 m
Normal velocity = 7.113 m/s
Normal Froude number = 1.425
Critical depth = 3.364 m
Critical velocity = 5.571 m/s
Calculation of critical slope for the upstream channel:
yc = 3.364 m
Vc = 5.571 m/s
Ac = (b + zyc ) yc = 359.033 m2
P = b + 2 yc (1 + z 2)1/2 = 115.044 m
Rc = Ac / Pc = 3.121 m
Sc = n 2 Vc2 / Rc4/3 = (0.025)2
(5.571)2 (3.121)4/3 = 0.00425
Verify the critical slope with ONLINE CHANNEL 04: Sc = 0.004254.
Calculation of critical slope for the downstream channel:
Sc = n 2 Vc2 / Rc4/3 = (0.045)2
(5.571)2 (3.121)4/3 = 0.0138
Verify the critical slope with ONLINE CHANNEL 04: Sc = 0.01378.
The calculation of the M2 water-surface profile is shown in Table 7-6.
The following instructions are indicated:
The calculation moves in the upstream direction, starting at critical depth at the downstream end.
Column [1]: The second depth is set at 4 m; subsequently, the depth interval is set at 1 m.
Column [2]: The flow area is: A = (b + zy ) y . . . (1)
Column [3]: The mean velocity is: V = Q / A . . . (2)
Column [4]: The velocity head is: V 2 / (2g) . . . (3)
Column [5]: The specific head is: H = y + V 2 / (2g) . . . (4)
Column [6]: The wetted perimeter is: P = b + 2 y (1 + z 2)1/2 . . . (5)
Column [7]: The hydraulic radius is: R = A / P . . . (6)
Column [8]: The friction slope is: Sf = n 2 V 2 / R 4/3 . . . (7)
Column [9]: The average friction slope is: Sf ave = 0.5 (Sf 1
+ Sf 2) . . . (8)
Column [10]: The specific head difference is: ΔH = H2 - H1 . . . (9)
Column [11]: The channel length increment ΔL,
explained in the box below.
Column [12]: The cumulative channel length, i.e., the cumulative sum of ΔL increments.
Derivation of the formula for the channel length increment ΔL
With reference to Fig. 7-18, the average friction slope is:
hf
Sf ave = ______
ΔL
| (7-54) |
Fig. 7-18 Definition sketch for the calculation of channel length increment ΔL.
|
|
H1 +
z1 = H2 +
z2 + Sf ave ΔL
| (7-55) |
z1 -
z2 = H2 -
H1 + Sf ave ΔL
| (7-56) |
z1 -
z2 - Sf ave ΔL = H2 -
H1
| (7-57) |
z1 -
z2
So = _________
ΔL
| (7-58) |
So ΔL - Sf ave ΔL = H2 -
H1
| (7-59) |
(So - Sf ave) ΔL = H2 -
H1
| (7-60) |
H2 -
H1
ΔL = ______________
So - Sf ave
| (7-61) |
ΔH
ΔL = ______________
So - Sf ave
| (7-62) |
Equation 7-62 enables the calculation of the channel length increment ΔL, i.e., Col. 11 of Table 7-6.
When ΔL is negative, the calculation moves upstream, as in the M2 profile (Table 7-6).
Conversely, when ΔL is positive, the
calculation moves downstream, as in the S2 profile (Table 7-7).
|
Table 7-6 Calculation of M2 water-surface profile (So = 0.0001). |
[1]
| [2]
| [3]
| [4]
| [5]
| [6]
| [7]
| [8]
| [9]
| [10]
| [11]
| [12]
|
y
| A
| V
| V 2/(2g )
| H
| P
| R
| Sf
| Sf ave
| ΔH
| ΔL
| ∑ ΔL
|
| (1)
| (2)
| (3)
| (4)
| (5)
| (6)
| (7)
| (8)
| (9)
| Box
|
|
3.364
| 359.033
| 5.570
| 1.581
| 4.945
| 115.044
| 3.1208
| 0.00425
| ---
| ---
| ---
| 0
|
4.000
| 432.000
| 4.630
| 1.092
| 5.092
| 117.888
| 3.664
| 0.00237
| 0.00331
| 0.147
| -45.794
| -45.794
|
5.000
| 550.000
| 3.636
| 0.674
| 5.674
| 122.360
| 4.495
| 0.00111
| 0.00174
| 0.528
| -354.878
| -400.672
|
6.000
| 672.000
| 2.976
| 0.451
| 6.451
| 126.833
| 5.298
| 0.00060
| 0.000855
| 0.777
| -1029.139
| -1429.811
|
7.000
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
8.000
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
9.000
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
10.000
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
10.097
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 0.0001
|
|
|
|
|
In the direct step method, the accuracy of the computation depends on the size of depth interval (Col. [1] of Table 7-6).
The smaller the interval, the more accurate the computation will be. This is because the average friction slope for a subreach (Col. [9])
is the arithmetic average of the friction slopes at the grid points (linear assumption). In practice, a computation
using a computer would have a much finer interval than that shown in Table 7-6.
The calculation of the S2 water-surface profile is shown in Table 7-7.
Table 7-7 Calculation of S2 water-surface profile (So = 0.03). |
[1]
| [2]
| [3]
| [4]
| [5]
| [6]
| [7]
| [8]
| [9]
| [10]
| [11]
| [12]
|
y
| A
| V
| V 2/(2g )
| H
| P
| R
| Sf
| Sf ave
| ΔH
| ΔL
| ∑ ΔL
|
| (1)
| (2)
| (3)
| (4)
| (5)
| (6)
| (7)
| (8)
| (9)
| Box
|
|
3.364
| 359.033
| 5.570
| 1.581
| 4.945
| 115.044
| 3.1208
| 0.00425
| ---
| ---
| ---
| 0
|
3.300
| 351.780
| 5.685
| 1.647
| 4.9475
| 114.758
| 3.0654
| 0.0147
| 0.01425
| 0.002
| 0.127
| 0.127
|
3.200
| 340.48
| 5.874
| 1.759
| 4.9586
| 114.311
| 2.979
| 0.0163
| 0.0155
| 0.0111
| 0.765
| 0.892
|
3.100
| 329.22
| 6.075
| 1.881
| 4.981
| 113.864
| 2.891
| 0.0181
| 0.0172
| 0.0224
| 1.750
| 2.642
|
3.000
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2.900
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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|
|
2.800
|
|
|
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|
|
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2.700
|
|
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|
|
|
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2.669
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 0.03
|
|
|
|
|
Online calculations
The M2 water-surface profiles may be calculated online using ONLINE_WSPROFILES_22.
Using the number of computational intervals n = 100, and number of tabular output intervals m = 100,
the length of the M2 water-surface profile is calculated to be: ∑ ΔL = 147,691.5 m.
Fig. 7-19 Definition sketch for M2 water-surface profile.
|
|
The S2 water-surface profiles may be calculated online using ONLINE_WSPROFILES_25.
Using the number of computational intervals n = 100, and number of tabular output intervals m = 100,
the length of the S2 water-surface profile is calculated to be: ∑ ΔL = 152.02 m.
Fig. 7-20 Definition sketch for S2 water-surface profile.
|
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QUESTIONS
PROBLEMS
REFERENCES
Chow, V. T. 1959. Open-channel Hydraulics. McGraw Hill, New York.
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. (2014). HEC-RAS: Hydrologic Engineering Center River Analysis System.
USDA Soil Conservation Service. (1971). Classification system for varied flow in prismatic channels. Technical Release No. 47 (TR-47), Washington, D.C.
http://openchannelhydraulics.sdsu.edu |
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140810 18:50 |
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