Open channel flow, mannings equation and specific energy

AI Thread Summary
The discussion revolves around calculating the uniform depth of flow and the depth of water over a weir in a channel using Manning's equation and specific energy principles. The channel has a width of 4m, a bed slope of 1 in 1500, and a discharge of 10.5 m³/s. Initial calculations led to confusion regarding the correct depth, with one participant mistakenly using an incorrect slope value, resulting in erroneous flow rates. After clarifying the slope, both participants confirmed that the uniform depth of flow is 1.22m, aligning with the required discharge. The conversation highlights the importance of accurate parameter values in hydraulic calculations.
ShawnCohen
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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??
 
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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.
 
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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
 
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