2.

3 Hydraulic Jump
Description of hydraulic Jump
At specific energy levels higher than the minimum, the flow may occur either in rapid or tranquil
flow by increasing elevation of the liquid surface. This phenomenon of sudden increase in depth
of flow is referred to as the ‘hydraulic jump’. Because of its wave motion and stationary position,
a jump is also called the stationary wave. During jump, height of the liquid increases rapidly and
considerable energy losses are experienced due to eddying turbulence that accompanies the
abrupt transition from rapid to tranquil state of flow. Hence jump occurs when a super-critical
flow changes to a subcritical flow resulting in energy loss due to turbulence.

Derivation of condition for Hydraulic Jump

Consider steady flow of a liquid along a prismatic channel (Figure 1). A head of the hydraulic
jump (section 1), the flow is rapid (super critical, shooting) with uniform flow depth y1 ; y1 < yc
and is called the initial depth.
Downstream from hydraulic jump (section 2), the flow is tranquil (subcritical, streaming) with
uniform depth y2 ; y2 > yc and is called the sequent depth.
The corresponding section areas and velocities are A1, A2 and v1 and v2.

Assumption
The analysis of the hydraulic jump is based on the following assumption:
1. There is no friction at the walls and channel bed

1
 2. The slope of the channel bed is small and consequently the component of the weight of
the fluid in the flow direction is negligibly small
3. The flow is uniform and the pressure distribution is hydrostatic before and after the jump

Continuity equation
Continuity equation: the discharge per unit width
q = v1 y1 = v 2 y 2 (1)
q q
v1 = and v2 =
y1 y2

Hydrostatic equation:
With hydrostatic pressure distribution, the pressure force at any section is given as:
p = wAy (2)
Where y is the vertical depth of centroid of wetted area from the free liquid surface
y = mean depth of flow; p = pressure
w= unit weight (γ =ρg); A= cross section area
From (2)
 y 1
p = ρg ( y * 1) *   = ρgy 2
2 2
1 1
p1 = ρgy12 and p2 = ρgy 22 (3)
2 2
ρ = density and g = acceleration due to gravity

Momentum equation
From impulse – momentum equation
P1 – P2 = change in linear momentum
p1 − p 2 = ρq(v 2 − v1 ) (4)

 q q  1 1
1
( )
ρg y12 − y 22 = ρq −  = ρq 2  − 
2  y 2 y1   y 2 y1 
Note: q=Q/b specific discharge

2
  y − y2 
ρg ( y1 + y 2 )( y1 − y 2 ) = ρq 2  1
1
 (5)
2  y1 y 2 
1
Dividing through by ρg and rearranging
2
 2q 2 
( y1 − y 2 ) y1 + y 2 − =0 (6)
 gy1 y 2 

Equation (6) above is satisfied when y1 = y 2 , but there is no jump and if y1 ≠ y 2 , then y1 − y 2
can be dropped from equation (6, hence)
 2q 2 
i.e y1 − y 2 = 0 and y1 = y 2 or  1
y + y 2 − =0
 gy1 y 2 

 2q 2 
 y1 + y 2 − =0 (7)
 gy1 y 2 

Multiply (7) by y1 to obtain the equation in quadratic form for y1:

 2 2q 2 
 1
y + y y
1 2 − =0 (8)
 gy 2 

Solution of equation (8) gives: Using quadratic formula

y y 22 2q 2
y1 = − 2 ± + (9)
2 4 gy 2

Since y1 can not be negative, we have

y2 y 22 2q 2
y1 = − + +
2 4 gy 2

y2  8q 2 
y1 = −  1+ − 1 (10)
2  8 gy 23 
Expressing in terms of Froude number

3
 v q q
Fr = = = ; we get
gy y gy gy 3

y2 
y1 = 1 + 8 Fr 2 − 1
2
(11)
2  
Similarly, a relation can be written in terms of y1 and Fr1
y1 
y2 = 1 + 8 Fr 1 − 1
2
(12)
2 
 
Hence, the two depth y1 and y2 are termed conjugate depths.

Uses of hydraulic jump

Loss of energy due to hydraulic jump
The head or energy loss through a hydraulic jump equals in difference of specific energies at the
upstream and downstream section.

 v2   v2 
∆E = E1 − E 2 =  y1 + 1  −  y 2 + 2 
 2g   2g 

 v2 v2 
=  1 − 2  − ( y 2 − y1 ) (13)
 2g 2g 
q Q
Equation (13) can be written in terms of unit discharge q; recall ( v = and q= )
y b

q2  1 1 
∆E =  2 − 2  − ( y 2 − y1 )
2 g  y1 y 2 

q 2  y 22 − y12 
=   − ( y 2 − y1 ) (14)
2 g  y12 y 22 

q 2 ( y1 + y 2 ) y1 y 2
But from equation (6), =
2g 4
Therefore

( y1 + y 2 ) y1 y 2  y 22 − y12 
∆E = *  2 2  − ( y 2 − y1 )
4  y1 y 2 

4
 ( y1 + y 2 ) ( y 2 + y1 )( y 2 − y1 ) (
= * − y 2 − y1 )
4 y1 y 2

 ( y 2 + y1 )2 
= ( y 2 − y1 ) − 1
 4 y1 y 2 

( y 2 − y1 )2
= ( y 2 − y1 ) *
4 y1 y 2

( y 2 − y1 )3
∆E = (15)
4 y1 y 2

Occurrence of hydraulic Jump

A hydraulic jump occurs in the following situations:
(1) A the foot of hills and on the downstream sides of sluice
(2) When a sudden change in gradient occurs from steep slope to flat slope
(3) When a rapid flow meets a streaming flow having a larger depth

Application or
(i) Dissipate energy (ii) prevent scouring downstream of structures (iii) increasing water level &
weight on an apron (iv) aerating water (v) defining special control points

Height and Length of jump

The difference of the depths after and before the jump is known as the height of jump.
H j = ( y 2 − y1 ) (16)

Length of hydraulic jump is the distance measured from the face of jump to a point on the
surface immediately downstream of the jump; a point on the downstream where the flow just
stabilizes again. For rectangular channels with horizontal floor, the length of a jump has been
found to vary between 5 to 7 times the heights of jump.
L j = 5 to H j = 5 to 7( y 2 − y1 ) (17)

5
An inspection and analysis of the hydraulic jump equations would reveal the following
information
(i) Flow is supercritical upstream of the jump and sub critical downstream of the jump.
i.e y1 < yc < y2.
(ii) The depth of water across the jump must increase
(iii) The condition y2 > y1 signifies that Fr >1 condition for equation (12) to hold
(iv) Depth ratio across the jump and downstream Froude no depend only on the upstream
Froude no. When Fr1 = 1, Fr2 =1, i.e critical conditions are maintained across the
jump. Jump becomes a standing wave of infinitesimal height
(v) Stronger the jump, greater is the energy loss. Strength of a jump is defined as
y2 y − y1 F
or 2 or r1 (18)
y1 y1 Fr 2

Sample problem 1
Water flows under a sluice gate in a rectangular channel 3.5 m wide at a rate of 5.4 m3/s. A
hydraulic jump is formed just downstream of the sluice gate where the depth is 0.38 m. Calculate
the sequent depth and the power dissipated at this end.

Solution
Q=b1y1v1 = 5.4 v1=5.4/0.38 * 3.5 =4.06 m/s

v1 4.06
Fr1 = = =2.10
gy1 9.81 * 0.38

y2 =
y1
2
[
1 + 8 Fr 1
2
]1
2
−1

y2 =
0.38
2
[
1 + 8 * 2.10 2 ]
1
2
− 1 =0.956 m

( y 2 − y1 )3 = (0.956 − 0.38)3 = 0.13

∆E =
4 y1 y 2 4(0.38)(0.956 )
p = ρgQ∆E = 1000 * 9.81 * 5.4 * 0.13 =6886.62 watt = 6.89kW

6
Sample problem 2

A 3m wide rectangular channel conveys 7.5 m3/s of water of water with a velocity of 5 m/s. (i) is
there a condition for hydraulic jump to occur?. If so, calculate the height, length and strength of
the jump. (ii) Also determine the loss of energy per kg of water

Solution
(i) Check for the occurrence of hydraulic jump
Depth of water before jump, y1:
Q 7.5
y1 = = = 0.50m
b1v1 3 * 5
Discharge per unit width, q
Q 7 .5
q= = = 2 .5 m 3 / s
b1 3
Critical depth, yc
1 1
 q2  3
 2.5 2  3
y c =   =   = 0.861m
 g   9.81 
Since y1 < yc, a jump would occur

Froude number a head of jump, Fr1:

v1 5
Fr1 = = = 2.26
gy1 9.81 * 0.5

Depth of water downstream jump, y2:

y2 =
y1
2
[
1 + 8 Fr 1
2
]1
2
− 1=
0.5
2
[
1 + 8 * 2.26 2 ] 1
2
− 1 = 1.367 m

Height of jump: Hj=y2 - y1=1.367-0.5 = 0.867 m

Length of jump: Lj= 6(y2-y1)=6*0.867 =5.20 m
Strength of the jump = y2/y1=1.367/0.5=2.734

(ii) Loss of energy

Velocity before jump, v1 = 5m/s

7
Velocity after jump, v2 = q/y2=2.5/1.367=1.83 m/s
Therefore
v12 52
E1 = y1 + = 0.5 + = 1.774m
2g 2 * 9.81

v 22 1.83 2
E2 = y2 + = 1.367 + = 1.537 m
2g 2 * 9.81
Loss of energy in the jump, ∆E
∆E = E1 − E 2 = 1.774 − 1.537 = 0.237 m
Or

( y 2 − y1 )3 = (1.367 − 0.5)3
∆E = = 0.238
4 y1 y 2 4 * 1.367 * 0.5

Sample problem 3
A hydraulic jump occurs in a 0.5m wide rectangular channel at the point where depth of water
flow is 0.15 m and Froude number is 2.5. Calculate the specific energy, critical and sequent
depth, loss of head and energy dissipated.

Solution
v1
(i) Fr1 =
gy1

v1 = Fr1 * gy1 = 2.5 * 9.81 * 0.15 = 3.03m / s

q1 = v1 * y1 = 3.03 * 0.15 = 0.455m 3 / s

v12 3.03 2
(ii) E = y1 + = 0.15 + = 0.678m
2g 2 * 9.81
1 1
 q2  3
 0.455 2  3
y c =   =   = 0.2763m
 g   9.81 

8
y2 =
y1
2
[
1 + 8 Fr 1
2
]
1
2
−1

y2 =
0.15
2
[
1 + 8 * 2.5 2 ]
1
2
− 1 = 0.461m

( y 2 − y1 )3 = (0.461 − 0.15)3
(iii) ∆E = = 0.108m
4 y1 y 2 4 * 0.15 * 0.461
Discharge Q= A1v1=b1y1v1=0.5*0.15*3.03=0.227 m3/s
Therefore
p = ρgQ∆E = 1000 * 9.81 * 0.227 * 0.108 = 240 watt