CRITICAL FLOW

Critical State of flow is characterized by

 Minimum Specific energy, dE/dy = 0

 Minimum Specific Force, dF/dy = 0
 Fr = 1
CRITICAL FLOW

 A flow near or at critical state is unstable and the

water surface appears wavy.
 A minor change in energy would cause a major
change in energy

Critical depth, yc : Depth of flow at critical state

Critical slope, Sc : The slope of the channel that
maintain the given discharge at critical state
 OCCURRENCE OF CRITICAL
STATE OF FLOW

 Flow over a broad-crested weir

 When slope of the channel changes from a mild
one to a steep one
 At free overfall

H
yc yc yc

3 - 4 yc

broad-crested weir Mild slope change to steep Free overfall

SECTION FACTOR

FR  1 For critical state of flow

V
1
gD
A Q2 A
V g
2
2
g
T A T
Q2 A3 Section Factor for critical depth
 computation
g T
COMPUTATION OF CRITICAL
DEPTH
Methods
• Trial and error
• Graphical
• Dimensionless design chart (to simplify the computation
of critical depth for common channel shapes)

Dimensionless chart is a function

y Section Factor
vs
( width or diameter ) ( width or diameter ) 2.5
APPLICATION OF CRITICAL
STATE OF FLOW

Flow Measurement
If the depth of flow, yc, at the top of the weir can be
measured the discharge can be determined

q  gy c
3

Q  B gy c
3
B = width of the weir
Try an error
y A T Z=A3/T
0.00 0.00 6.00 0.00
0.20 1.28 6.80 0.31
0.40 2.72 7.60 2.65
0.60 4.32 8.40 9.60
0.80 6.08 9.20 24.43
1.00 8.00 10.00 51.20
1.20 10.08 10.80 94.83
1.40 12.32 11.60 161.20
1.60 14.72 12.40 257.22
1.80 17.28 13.20 390.89
2.00 20.00 14.00 571.43
Graphical Method

2.50

2.00

1.50
y

1.00
Yc

0.50

0.00
0.00 100.00 200.00 300.00 400.00 500.00 600.00
Q2/g=Z Z=A3/T
APPLICATION OF CRITICAL
STATE OF FLOW
Design height of broad crested weir
The minimum height, zc, is usually taken as the
weir height so as to produce a critical depth at its top
and to prevent back water situation.

Critical depth at its top is desirable in a case where the

discharge needs to be determined.
If z< zc, critical depth will not occur

If z> zc, critical depth will occur, but the height is too
big which cause backwater and might cause flooding at
upstream end.