Flow Profiles

Flow Profile Determination in Gradually Varied Flow

The gradual variation of the depth of flow in the longitudinal direction of an open
channel is governed by the following equation:

dd = s − i
dl 1 − Fr 2

In a wide rectangular channel the equation may be simplified to give:

  dn  
3
1−  d  
dd = s  (d 3 − d 3n )
=s 3
 3
dl 1 −  c  
d (d − d 3c )
 d 

It is sometimes necessary to determine the distance from some control point where a
predetermined depth occurs or to determine the depth of flow at some
predetermined distance from a control point. In both these cases it is necessary to
solve the equations above for depth or distance.

In some cases where there is a prismatic channel with constant slope and resistance
coefficient, direct integration may be possible. However, in most natural channels
the equation can only be soloved by numerical means. The nature of the numerical
method used, depends on the case under consideration. Some of these methods will
now be presented.

Direct Integration Method

Consider gradually varied flow in a wide rectangular channel:

dd = s (d − d n )
3 3

dl (d 3 − d 3c )

dl d 3 − d 3c d 3n − d 3c
=> s = 3 = 1− 3
dd d − d 3n dn − d3
 Flow Profiles

3
1 −  d cn 
d

= 1− 3
1 −  ddn 

  dc  
3
 1 −  dn  
=> s.dl =  1 − 3
dd
 1 −  ddn  
 

  dc  
3
s.l = d − d n  1 − Φ + C
  d n  
d
where Φ = ∫ dd 3 and C is a constant.
0 1−d

d
dd
The integral ∫ is known as the Bakhmeteff Varied Flow Function. This
1−d N
0
integral has been tabulated for values of d and N. The magnitude of N depends on
the shape of the channel. When N = 3 as in the example above the integral is
known as the Bresse Backwater Function.

Step Method (Uniform Method)

This method is a numerical method which determines the profile using specified
depth or length intervals.

dd = s − i = s − i
dl 1 − Fr 2 1 − v 2
gD
 Flow Profiles

From the Manning equation:

2 1
3i2
v = 1.49R
n
2 2
=> i= v n
4
2.22R 3

Substituting for i

v 2n 2
s− 4
dd = s − i = 2.22R 3
dl 1 − v 2 v2
1 − gD
gD

dd ∆d
The differential term dl
can be approximated by the difference expression ∆l

where
∆d = d i+1 − d i
∆l l i+1 − l i

The smaller the depth or length intervals used, the smaller will be the error
associated with the introduction of the difference operator.

Combining both equations:

v2 n 2
s−
dd ≈ d i+1 − d i =
4
2.22R 3
dl l i+1 − l i v2
1 − gD

s − Q n 4 
2 2

 2.22A 2 R 3 
d i+1 = d i + (l i+1 − l i )  
 1 − Q2 
2

 gA D 
 Flow Profiles

 Q2 
 1 − gA D 
2
or l i+1 = l i + (d i+1 − d i )  2 2 
s − Q n 4 
 2.22A 2 R 3 

Thus the equation can be solved for specified length or specified depth intervals and
the profile of the water surface can be plotted.

Standard Method (Non-Uniform Channel)

In this method a depth dn+1 is estimated and modified so as to equalize the values for
Hn+1 given in the equations below:

n n+1

v 2n+1
H n+1 = + Z n+1 + d n+1 (1)
2g

i n + i n+1
H n+1 = H n + ∆l (2)
2
The process is as follows:

1. Estimate a dn+1 value at a distance l from the control point.

2. Evaluate the R.H.S. of equation 1.
 Flow Profiles

3. Evaluate the R.H.S. of equation 2.

4. If the values are not sufficiently close then modify dn+1 and return to step 2.
5. When the values are approximately equal, increment n and return to step 1.

In this, as in any iterative method, it is necessary to ensure that the value for dn+1
approaches the correct value in the least number of possible iterations. The
following procedure can be followed to assure rapid convergence with this method.

The difference between the energy values evaluated with equations 1 and 2 is

 v 2n+1 i +i 
Hd =  + Z n+1 + d n+1 − H n − n n+1 ∆l 
 2g 2 

Hd can only be modified by adjusting the value of dn+1 since, on each successive
step, dn has already been determined. The change in Hd with respect to dn+1 is given
by

dH d d  v 2n+1 i n+1 
= d n+1 + − ∆l
dd n+1 dd n+1  2g 2 

Q2 3i n+1
= 1− + ∆l
gA 2n+1 D n+1 2d n+1

Therefore, in order for Hd to approach zero on the second try;

Hd
(d n+1 ) 2 = (d n+1 ) 1 − 2
Q 3i
1− + 2dn+1 ∆l
gA 2n+1 D n+1 n+1