SECTION 6-1

OPEN CHANNEL
FLOWS
Spesific Energy

1 Prof. Dr. Mehmet F. Sevimli

 6.1 Specific Energy
Consider the flow of a liquid in a channel at
a cross section where the flow depth is y,
the average flow velocity is V, and the
elevation of the bottom of the channel at
that location relative to some reference
datum is z. The total mechanical energy of
this liquid in the channel in terms of heads
is expressed as (Fig. 6.1)

Figure 6.1
𝑽𝟐 𝑷 𝑽𝟐
𝑯= + +𝒛= +𝒚+𝒛 (𝟔. 𝟏)
𝟐𝒈 𝝆𝒈 𝟐𝒈
where z is the elevation head, P/g = y is the gage pressure head, and V2/2g is
the velocity or dynamic head. If the datum coincides with the channel bottom at
the cross-section, the resulting expression is know as SPECIFIC ENERGY and is
denoted by E (Eq. 6.2). Thus, specific energy is the energy at a cross-section of
an open channel flow with respect to the channel bed.

2 Prof. Dr. Mehmet F. Sevimli

 𝑽𝟐 𝑸𝟐
𝑬=𝒚+ =𝒚+ (𝟔. 𝟐)
𝟐𝒈 𝟐𝒈𝑨𝟐

Here, cross-sectional area A depends on water depth y and can be defined as,
A = A(y). Examining the Equ. (6.2) show us that, there is a functional relation
between the three variables as,

𝒇 𝑬, 𝑸, 𝒚 = 𝟎
In order to examine the functional relationship on the plane, two cases are
introduced.

1. Q = Q1 : Constant → E = f (y, Q1). Variation of the specific energy with the

water depth (E-y) at a cross-section for a given discharge Q1.

2. E = E1 : Constant → Q = f (y, E1). Variation of the discharge with the water

depth (Q-y) at across-section for a given specific energy E1.

3 Prof. Dr. Mehmet F. Sevimli

6.2 Constant Discharge Situation
Equation 6.2 shows the variation of 𝑉2 𝑄2
the specific energy with flow depth. 𝐸 =𝑦+ =𝑦+
2𝑔 2𝑔𝐴2
During steady flow in an open channel
the flow rate is constant, and a plot of
E versus y for constant Q and b is given
in Fig. 6.2. From the Eq. 6.2:
𝟏) 𝒚 = 𝟎; 𝑨 𝒚 → 𝟎 𝑬→∞
𝑇ℎ𝑒 𝑙𝑖𝑛𝑒 𝒚 = 𝟎 𝑖𝑠 𝑎𝑛 𝑎𝑠𝑦𝑚𝑝𝑡𝑜𝑡𝑒.
𝑸𝟐
𝟐) 𝒚 → ∞ →𝟎 𝑬→𝒚
𝟐𝒈𝑨𝟐
𝑬 = 𝒚 𝑙𝑖𝑛𝑒 𝑖𝑠 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑠𝑒𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑑 𝑎𝑠𝑦𝑚𝑝𝑡𝑜𝑡𝑒.

For given Q and E, Eq. 6.2 is a cubic

equation with three solution, y1, y2,
Figure 6.2 Variation of specific energy E
and yneg. Two of the root are positive with depth y for a specified flow rate
and the other, yneg, is negative. The
negative root has no physical meaning
and can be ignored.
4 Prof. Dr. Mehmet F. Sevimli
From the Fig. 6.2:
𝑦1 < 𝑦𝑐 < 𝑦2 𝐴1 < 𝐴𝑐 < 𝐴2 𝑉1 > 𝑉𝑐 > 𝑉2
We abstract the following results from this figure:
• The distance from a point on the vertical y-axis to the curve represents the
specific energy at that y-value. The part between the E=y line and the curve
corresponds to dynamic head (V2/2g) of the liquid, and the remaining part to
pressure head (y).
• The specific energy tends to infinity as y → 0 and it becomes equal to flow depth
y for large values of y (due to the velocity and thus the kinetic energy becoming
very small). The specific energy reaches a minimum value Emin at some
intermediate point, called the critical point, characterized by the critical depth
yc and critical velocity Vc. The minimum specific energy is also called the critical
energy.
• There is a minimum specific energy Emin required to support the specified flow
rate Q. Therefore it must be E  Emin.
• For E  Emin, a vertical line intersects the curve at two points (fig. 6.2),
indicating that a flow can have two different depths corresponding to a fixed
value of specific energy. These two depths are called alternate depths. The
upper depth corresponds to the subcritical flow, and the lower depth to the
supercritical flow.
5 Prof. Dr. Mehmet F. Sevimli
 • A small change in specific energy near the critical point causes a large
difference between alternate depths and may cause violent fluctuations in
flow level. Therefore, operation near the critical point should be avoided in
the design of open channels.
The minimum energy requirement for an increase in flow will also increase
(Fig. 6.3).

Figure 6.3

6 Prof. Dr. Mehmet F. Sevimli

 The value of the minimum specific energy and the critical depth is
determined by differentiating E from Eq. 6.2 with respect to y for constant
b and Q, and setting the derivative equal to zero:

𝑑𝐸 𝑄2 𝑑𝐴 𝑄2 𝑑𝐴
=1− 3 =0 → 3 =1
𝑑𝑦 𝐴 𝑔 𝑑𝑦 𝐴 𝑔 𝑑𝑦

An increase in dy in depth y causes an

increase in dA in area A.
Figure 6.4
𝑑𝐴 𝑸𝟐 𝑩 𝒚
𝑑𝐴 ≅ 𝐵𝑑𝑦 → = 𝐵 𝑣𝑒 𝐵 = 𝑓 𝑦 𝟑
=𝟏 (𝟔. 𝟑)
𝑑𝑦 𝒈 𝑨 𝒚

Here A and B are functions of y. Since Q and g are constant, the solution of
this equation with respect to y gives the critical depth (yc).
𝑭𝒐𝒓 𝑬 = 𝑬𝒎𝒊𝒏 → 𝒚 = 𝒚𝒄

7 Prof. Dr. Mehmet F. Sevimli

 6.2.1 Special solution for rectangular channel
𝑄2 𝑄2 −2
𝐸 =𝑦+ 2
; 𝑏 =𝐵 → 𝐴=𝐵×𝑦 𝐸 =𝑦+ 2 𝑦
2𝑔𝐴 𝐵 2𝑔
𝑑𝐸 𝑄2 𝑄2 𝑄2 𝐵
=1+ 2 −2 𝑦 −3 = 0 1− 2 3 =0 → 3 3 =1
𝑑𝑦 𝐵 2𝑔 𝐵 𝑔𝑦 𝐵 𝑔𝑦

𝑸𝟐 𝑩
𝟑
=𝟏 (𝟔. 𝟒)
𝒈 𝑨

𝑄2 𝐵 3
𝑄2 𝟑 𝑸𝟐
=1 𝑦𝑐 = 2 𝒚𝒄 = (𝟔. 𝟓)
𝑔 𝐵3 𝑦𝑐 3 𝐵 𝑔 𝑩𝟐 𝒈

𝑄 𝟑 𝒒𝟐
Flowrate per unit width: 𝑞 = 𝒚𝒄 = (𝟔. 𝟔)
𝐵 𝒈

8 Prof. Dr. Mehmet F. Sevimli

 𝑄2 𝐵 𝑄2 𝐴3 𝑄2 𝐴 𝑄2
=1→ = → = → 𝐸𝑚𝑖𝑛 = 𝑦𝑐 +
𝑔 𝐴3 𝑔 𝐵 2𝑔𝐴2 2𝐵 2𝑔𝐴2

𝐴 𝐵 × 𝑦𝑐 𝑦𝑐 𝟑
𝐸𝑚𝑖𝑛 = 𝑦𝑐 + 𝐸𝑚𝑖𝑛 = 𝑦𝑐 + 𝐸𝑚𝑖𝑛 = 𝑦𝑐 + 𝑬𝒎𝒊𝒏 = 𝒚𝒄 (𝟔. 𝟕)
2𝐵 2𝐵 2 𝟐

3 𝑞2 𝑞2
𝑦𝑐 = → 𝑦𝑐 3 = → 𝑞2 = 𝑔𝑦𝑐 3 → 𝒒= 𝒈𝒚𝒄 𝟑 (𝟔. 𝟖)
𝑔 𝑔

𝟐 𝟐
𝑄 𝑄 𝑞 𝟑 𝒒𝟐 𝟑
𝑉𝑐 𝑦𝑐
𝑉𝑐 = = = → 𝒒 = 𝑉𝑐 𝑦𝑐 𝒚𝒄 = → 𝑦𝑐 =
𝐴 𝐵𝑦 𝑦𝑐 𝒈 𝒈

𝑽𝒄 = 𝒈𝒚𝒄 (𝟔. 𝟗)

9 Prof. Dr. Mehmet F. Sevimli

 [Link] Froude Number

𝑄 2 𝑑𝐴
=1 This expression is equal to the square of the Froude number.
𝐴3 𝑔 𝑑𝑦

𝑑𝐴 𝑄2 𝐵 𝐴 𝑄2 1 𝑄 𝑉2
=𝐵→ 2 =1 =𝐷→ 2 =1 𝑉= → =1
𝑑𝑦 𝐴 𝑔 𝐴 𝐵 𝐴 𝑔𝐷 𝐴 𝑔𝐷

𝑉2 𝑽
= 1 = 𝐹𝑟 𝑭𝒓 = (𝟔. 𝟏𝟎) Since D = y in rectangular
𝑔𝐷 𝒈𝑫 channel;

𝑽
Fr < 1 Subcritical flow 𝑭𝒓 = (𝟔. 𝟏𝟏)
𝒈𝒚
Fr = 1 Critical flow
Fr > 1 Supercritical flow

10 Prof. Dr. Mehmet F. Sevimli

 6.3 Discharge-Depth Curve (Q-y)
For a given specific energy E1 = constant,
𝑄2
𝐸 =𝑦+ 2 → 𝑄 = 𝐴 2𝑔(𝐸 − 𝑦) (6.12)
𝐴 2𝑔
𝑦 = 0 𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑛 𝐴 𝑦 → 0 𝑸=𝟎
𝑦=𝐸 𝑸=𝟎

Variation of discharge (Q) with the water depth

(y) is known as Koch parabola (Fig. 6.5)., Figure 6.5 Variation of discharge
with water depth

The condition for maximum discharge can be obtained by differentiating

Equ. (6.12) with respect to y and equating it zero while keeping E constant,

𝑄 = 𝐴(2𝑔)1 2 (𝐸 − 𝑦)1 2

𝑑𝑄 𝑑𝐴 1
= (2𝑔)1 2 (𝐸 − 𝑦)1 2 +𝐴(𝑦) × 0 × 𝐸 − 𝑦 1 2 + 𝐴(𝑦) 2𝑔 1 2 𝐸−𝑦 −1 2 −1 = 0
𝑑𝑦 𝑑𝑦 2

11 Prof. Dr. Mehmet F. Sevimli

𝑑𝐴 1
(2𝑔)1 2 (𝐸 − 𝑦)1 2 − 𝐴(𝑦) 2𝑔 1 2
𝐸−𝑦 −1 2
=0
𝑑𝑦 2

𝑑𝐴 1
(2𝑔)1 2 (𝐸 − 𝑦)1 2 = 𝐴(𝑦) 2𝑔 1 2
𝐸−𝑦 −1 2
𝑑𝑦 2

𝐵 𝑦 × 𝑑𝑦 × (𝐸 − 𝑦)1 2
1
𝑑𝐴 = 𝐵 𝑦 × 𝑑𝑦 = 1 2
𝐴(𝑦)
𝑑𝑦 2 𝐸−𝑦

𝟐(𝑬 − 𝒚)𝑩 𝒚
=𝟏 Here, A and B are functions of y. Since E is constant, the
𝑨(𝒚)
solution of this equation gives us a value of y, which
maximizes the flowrate. This y-value is the critical depth
denoted by yc. A and B values ​corresponding to this yc
value will be A(yc) and B(yc). According to this;

𝑸𝒎𝒂𝒌𝒔 = 𝑨 𝒚𝒄 𝟐𝒈 𝑬 − 𝒚𝒄 (𝟔. 𝟏𝟑)

12 Prof. Dr. Mehmet F. Sevimli

 𝑄𝑚𝑎𝑘𝑠 = 𝐴(𝑦𝑐 ) 2𝑔(𝐸 − 𝑦𝑐 ) Let's subtract (E - yc) from this expression.

𝑄𝑚𝑎𝑘𝑠 2
𝑄𝑚𝑎𝑘𝑠 2 = 2𝑔𝐴2 𝑦𝑐 𝐸 − 𝑦𝑐 𝐸 − 𝑦𝑐 =
2𝑔𝐴2 𝑦𝑐
𝑄𝑚𝑎𝑘𝑠 2
2(𝐸 − 𝑦)𝐵 𝑦𝑐 2 𝐵 𝑦𝑐 𝑸𝒎𝒂𝒌𝒔 𝟐 𝑩 𝒚𝒄
2𝑔𝐴2 𝑦𝑐
=1 =1 𝟑
= 𝟏 (𝟔. 𝟏𝟒)
𝐴(𝑦𝑐 ) 𝐴(𝑦𝑐 ) 𝒈 𝑨 𝒚𝒄

This is the same as Equ. (6.3) and hence

represents the critical flow conditions. Hence,
the critical flow condition (yc) also corresponds
to the maximum discharge (Qmax) in a channel for
a fixed specific energy.
A flow rate Qmax passes through any section at
depth yc. A flow smaller than Qmax can be passed
through 2 different water depths (y1, y2). One of
these depths is smaller than yc and the other is
greater than yc (Fig. 6.6).
Figure 6.6
13 Prof. Dr. Mehmet F. Sevimli
 6.3.1 Special solution for rectangular channel
𝑄𝑚𝑎𝑥 2 𝑄𝑚𝑎𝑥 2 𝑞𝑚𝑎𝑥 2
𝐸 =𝑦+ 2 = 𝑦𝑐 + 2 2 = 𝑦𝑐 + 2
2𝑔𝐴 𝐵 𝑦𝑐 2𝑔 𝑦𝑐 2𝑔

𝒒𝒎𝒂𝒙 = 𝒚𝒄 𝟐𝒈 𝑬 − 𝒚𝒄 (𝟔. 𝟏𝟓)

𝟑 𝟑 𝟏
𝑬𝒎𝒊𝒏 = 𝒚𝒄 → 𝒒𝒎𝒂𝒙 = 𝒚𝒄 𝟐𝒈 𝒚 − 𝒚𝒄 = 𝒚𝒄 𝟐𝒈 𝒚𝒄
𝟐 𝟐 𝒄 𝟐

𝒒𝒎𝒂𝒙 = 𝒚𝒄 𝟑 𝟐 𝒈 𝑸𝒎𝒂𝒙 = 𝑩𝒚𝒄 𝟑 𝟐 𝒈 (𝟔. 𝟏𝟔)

14 Prof. Dr. Mehmet F. Sevimli