Open channel flow, mannings equation and specific energy

Click For Summary
SUMMARY

The discussion focuses on calculating the uniform depth of flow in a 4m wide channel with a bed slope of 1 in 1500 and a Manning's roughness coefficient of n=0.01, given a discharge of 10.5m³/s. The correct application of Manning's equation yields a depth of 1.22m. The participants also explore the depth of water over a broad crested weir, ultimately confirming that the correct slope value is critical for accurate calculations. The specific energy calculations reveal discrepancies that stem from initial misinterpretations of the slope value.

PREREQUISITES
  • Manning's equation for open channel flow
  • Understanding of specific energy in fluid mechanics
  • Basic principles of Bernoulli's equation
  • Knowledge of flow rate calculations in hydraulic engineering
NEXT STEPS
  • Study the application of Manning's equation in various channel geometries
  • Learn about the design and analysis of broad crested weirs
  • Explore specific energy concepts and their implications in open channel flow
  • Investigate numerical methods for solving hydraulic equations
USEFUL FOR

Hydraulic engineers, civil engineering students, and professionals involved in water resource management and channel design will benefit from this discussion.

ShawnCohen
Messages
12
Reaction score
0

Homework Statement


A 4m wide channel has a bed slope of 1 in 1500 and a Manning's roughness coef n=0.01. A broad crested measuring weir in the form of a streamlined hump 0.4m high spans across the full width of the channel. the discharge is 10.5m^3/s. Determine
i)the uniform depth of flow
iv)the depth of water on the weir, is this critial


Homework Equations


Mannings equation: Q=A^(5/3)*(S)^(1/2)/(n*P^(2/3)) where A is cross sectional area, S is bed slope, P is wetted perimeter

Bernoulli equation elevation+(v^2)/(2*g)=constant (i ignore pressure head here as I am working on surface so use atmospheric pressure as zero)

Specific energy - E=d+(Q/w)^2/(2*g*d^2) where d is the depth and w is the width

The Attempt at a Solution


i use mannings equation to determine the depth and i get 1.22m, but then when i try and find the depth on top of weir i get nowhere, in face if i work out the minimum possible specific energy i get 1.333 and on top of the weir i get 1.05, so I am clearly going wrong somewhere. any help anyone??
 
Physics news on Phys.org
I admit up front that I don't know much about channel flow rates... but I took your Manning's equation and assumed that if ww = 4m is the channel width, and wd is the unknown water depth, then A = ww*wd and P = ww + 2wd, and take the other constants as given. I inserted a constant ##k = 1m^{1/3}s^{-1}## to make the units balance for flow rate.

Then, using a numerical solver I find that wd = 1.891m.

Of course I may be missing some procedural details regarding taking the weir into account...EDIT: I discovered later that I had used S = 1/5000 instead of 1/1500 for this calculation. See below for further groveling.
 
Last edited:
thanks for the reply, but I am pretty sure that's not right, if you put in 1.22m you get Q=10.47 as required, but if you put in 1.891 you get Q=19.16 don't you?
 
ShawnCohen said:
thanks for the reply, but I am pretty sure that's not right, if you put in 1.22m you get Q=10.47 as required, but if you put in 1.891 you get Q=19.16 don't you?

Hmm. If I plug wd = 1.891 m into the formula I find Q = 10.5 m3/s. That formula being:

$$Q = k \frac{(ww\;wd)^{5/3}\sqrt{S}}{n (ww + 2wd)^{2/3}}~~~~~~~k = m^{1/3}s^{-1}$$
 
really?? i keep trying it again and again and i get 1.22 as the answer. what value are you using for S? 1/1500=6.67x10^-4 right?
 
ShawnCohen said:
really?? i keep trying it again and again and i get 1.22 as the answer. what value are you using for S? 1/1500=6.67x10^-4 right?

D'OH! I've been wasting your time :blushing: For some reason when I copied down the constants I "saw" the slope as 1 in 5000. Much apologies.

If I use the correct value for S then I too get 1.22 m for the depth.
 
aha i thought i was going insane for a minute. thanks for attempting anyway
 

Similar threads

Replies
1
Views
4K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
1K
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
2K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
11K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
9K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
2K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
3K
Replies
1
Views
3K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
2K
  • · Replies 11 ·
Replies
11
Views
2K