Lecture 5

Specific Energy, Critical Depth,

and Flow Classification

Specific Energy
Specific energy is the total energy (E) of a channel

section measured with respect to the channel bottom

as the datum, and is equal to the sum of static energy
(i.e., pressure energy expressed as y) and kinetic
energy (expressed as 2 /2) shown below:

Specific Energy
Specific energy curve can be further expressed as follows:
E y

V2
Q2
y
2g
2 gA 2

(1)

The inverse of the slope of the curve can be expressed as follows:

dE
Q2 d 1
Q 2 2 dA
Q 2 dA
1
( 2 ) 1
{ 3
) 1 3
dy
2 g dy A
2 g A dy
gA dy

(2)

1 Q 2 1 dA
V 2 1 dA
1
1
2
g A A dy
g A dy

Let dA T (top width) and

dy

A
D
T

(hydraulic depth)

the above equation becomes:

dE
V2
1
dy
gD

(3)
3

Critical Depth
Critical depth yc is defined as the depth where dE/dy = 0
The corresponding relationship between velocity Vc and hydraulic depth

Dc can be derived as follows:

2

V
dE
1 c 0
dy
gDc

or

Vc
1
gDc

(4)

From Eq.4, the critical velocity can be expressed as follows:

Vc gDc

(5)

It can be seen from Eq.5, the critical velocity is a function of critical

hydraulic depth only and is independent of channel bed slope and

channel roughness coefficient.
For a rectangular channel of width b and the top width T = b, the critical

depth yc can be determined for a given discharge Q using the following

relation:
Q AcVc byc gyc bg 1/ 2 yc

3/ 2

(6)
4

Critical Depth
Section factor for critical flow Zc:
Under critical flow condition:

Q AcVc Ac gDc
Z c Ac Dc

(7)

Q
g

(8)

Zc is a function of Q only. That is, Zc can be computed

from the above equation and used to determine the

critical depth for a given Q.

Flow Classification
Super-critical, Critical, and Sub-critical Flows
Open channel flows can be classified based on dE/dy

Critical Flow
Critical Flow (Froude number Fr = 1)
Set

dE
V2
2
1
1 Fr 0
dy
gD

V
Fr 1
gD

Vc gDc
For a rectangular channel,

Dc= yc , therefore,
gDc
D
Vc 2
3
E yc
yc
yc c yc
2g
2g
2 2

yc

2
E
3
7

Super-critical Flow
Super-critical Flow (Froude number Fr > 1)
Set

dE
V2
2
1
1 Fr 0
dy
gD

V
Fr 1
gD

V Vc

y yc

Sub-critical Flow
Sub-critical Flow (Froude number Fr < 1)
Set

dE
V2
2
1
1 Fr 0
dy
gD

V
Fr 1
gD

V Vc
y yc

Flow Classifications Based on Specific Energy

Summary
Sub-critical
Flow

dE/dy > 0

V < Vc

y > yc

Fr < 1

Critical Flow

dE/dy = 0

V = Vc

y = yc

Fr = 1

Super-Critical
Flow

dE/dy < 0

V > Vc

y < yc

Fr >1

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Example 1
Computation of Critical Depth

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Example 1
Computation of Critical Depth

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Alternate Depths for a Rectangular Channel

For a rectangular channel, specific energy

E can be expressed as a function of y:

E y

1 2
V
2g

1 Q2
Q2 1
E y
y
2 g A2
2 gb2 y 2
Q2
3
2
y Ey
0
2 gb2

For a given discharge Q and specific

energy E, the above equation yields two

possible depths, called alternate depths.
One of the alternative depth y1 is greater
than yc (in sub-critical flow), while the
other one y2 is smaller than yc (in supercritical flow).
The depth actually occurs is determined

by the channel slope and other factors.

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Channel Transition
Flow transition occurs when a channel

changes in width or bed elevation in the

longitudinal direction:
Transition due to change in channel

width.
Transition due to change in bed

elevation.
Transition due to change in both

channel width and bed elevation.

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Transition Due to Change in Bed Elevation

From energy equation, specific energy at two
different sections of a channel can be expressed
as follows (assuming no head loss):
2

V
V
z1 y1 1 z 2 y2 2
2g
2g

z1 E1 z2 E2

E2 E1 ( z2 z1 ) E1 z

It can be seen from the above equation that E2

decreases with rising bed elevation by z. The
corresponding change in depth at section 2 is as
follows:
For sub-critical Flow:

Depth decreases with positive z (rise).

Depth increases with negative z (drop).

For super-critical Flow:

Depth increases with positive z (rise).

Depth decreases with negative z (drop).
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Transition Due to Change in Channel Width

For a rectangular channel:
V2
1 Q2
1 Q2
1 Q 2 1
1 2
E y
y

(
)
(
)

q
2g
2 g A2
2 g b2 y 2
2g b
y2
2 gy 2

For subcritical flow:

Depth increases as channel becomes wider

For super-critical flow:

Depth decreases as channel becomes wider

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