Civil Engineering Department
School of Engineering
Al-Ahliyya Amman University
Fluid Mechanics Laboratory
Experiment No.5:Uniform Flow
Eng. Lubna Qaraleh
Introduction
• An open channel is a duct in which the liquid flows with a free surface exposed to
atmospheric pressure.
• The flow channel is one of the most important tools available for the teaching of hydraulic
principles. The flow channel has been designed to allow students a wide range of
experiments on water flow in an open channel under different flow conditions and analyze
the effects of test models of various shapes on water flow.
• It also allows the verification of the Chezy equation and Mannings friction factor.
Objectives this experiment aims to:
• To establish steady uniform flow conditions in laboratory flume and to
determine the Chezy’s constant “C” & Manning’s roughness
coefficient “n”.
• To determine the critical depth and the critical slope of the open
channel.
Uniform Flow Apparatus
CLASSIFICATION BASED ON CHANNEL FLOW
• Steady flow & Unsteady flow
• Uniform flow& Non-Uniform flow
• Laminar flow & turbulent flow
• Subcritical flow, critical flow, Supercritical flow
1-
• Steady Flow
In this type of flow in which flow properties (discharge, velocity etc )
remains same with respect to time at a particular section. Steady
uniform flow
• Unsteady Flow
In this type of flow in which flow properties (discharge, velocity etc )
does not remain same with respect to time at a particular section. ex
river flow.
2-
• Uniform Flow
In this type of flow in which flow properties (discharge, velocity etc )
remains same with respect to distance. ex:- flow through a pipe of
uniform diameter is steady uniform flow.
• Non-Uniform Flow
In this type of flow in which flow properties (discharge, velocity etc )
change with respect to distance. ex:- flow through a pipe of
varying diameter. Steady
3-
Flow Classifications Depending on the Reynolds number, Re
• Laminar Flow (if Re < 500): very slow and shallow flowing water in
very smooth open channels.
• Turbulent Flow (if Re > 1000): ordinary flow in ordinary open
channels.
• Transition Flow (if 500 < Re < 1000)
V = Average channel velocity
L = Length of channel
v = kinematic viscosity of fluid
4-
Depending on Froude number, Fr
Fr = 1 : Critical Flow
Fr < 1 : Subcritical Flow – slow flowing water
Fr > 1 : Supercritical Flow – fast flowing water
• V = average channel velocity
• g = gravity acceleration
• D = hydraulics water depth
• Normal depth is the depth of flow that would occur if the flow was
uniform and steady and is usually predicted using the Manning's
Equation.
• Critical depth is defined as the depth of flow where energy is at a
minimum for a particular discharge and is determined when Fr=1.
Assumptions of an Ideal Fluid
Fluid is non viscous.
Fluid is incompressible.
Fluid motion is steady.
Fluid is Uniform.
GEOMETRIC PROPERTIES OF OPEN CHANNELS
y Normal depth of flow y
b Bottom channel width b
(surface width)
A Cross-sectional Area of
flow, normal to the
direction of flow A=by
Rectangular Cross-Section p Wetted Perimeter P= b+2y
R Hydraulic Radius R= =
D Hydraulic Depth D=y=
• The two most common uniform flow formulas are Manning’s equation
and Chezy’s equation. Of these two Manning’s is the most widely used
to compute flow in open channels.
Manning’s equation
V is the velocity in m/s
R is the hydraulic radius in m, R=
S is the slope
n is the roughness coefficient called Manning’s n.
The Chezy equation was developed much earlier and is considered by
most to be the first uniform flow equation.
V is the velocity in m/s,
R is the hydraulic radius in m,
S is the slope,
C is a flow resistance factor called Chezy’s C
Relationship between Chezy’s & Manning’s Formula
By combining the two equations, the relationship between Chezy’s C and Manning’s n can be
experessed in the following equation.
Data Table
b= Bottom channel width = 7.5 cm = 0.075 m
Trial y,mm Time, sec Water Mass, Kg Slope
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
Results Table
Critical Flow Fr=1
Table 1: Uniform flow experiment result Subcritical Flow Fr <1
Supercritical Flow Fr>1
Tria Y Time Volume Slope Q Area P R V n C Fr Type of 𝑹𝟐/𝟑 𝑺𝟏/𝟐
l (m (sec) (m³) S (m3/s) (m²) (m) (m) (m/s) flow
m) 𝟐
𝑹𝟑 × 𝑺 𝟐
𝟏
𝟏 𝑽
𝐖𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐌𝐚𝐬𝐬, 𝐊𝐠 𝟏
(
𝐊𝐠
) (Vol/time) (b.y) (Q/A) 𝑽 𝒏 × 𝑹𝟔 𝒈𝒚
𝟏𝟎𝟎𝟎
m³
5
• Plot a graph of the velocity V against 𝟐/𝟑 𝟏/𝟐 , and determine the
Manning roughness value from the slope of the graph
V
• Manning roughness value (n) = Best fit line
Find Slope
𝑹𝟐/𝟑 × 𝑺𝟏/𝟐
• Calculate the result table
• Plot a graph of the velocity V against 𝟐/𝟑 𝟏/𝟐 , and determine the
Manning roughness value from the slope of the graph.
• Discuss your results
• Write sources of error
• Any recommendation
• Sample of calculation for one trial
