Hydraulics Prof. B.S.

Murty










Indian Institute of Technology Madras
38.1 Surge Computation

Hydraulic jump - Steady state
Type - I
Type - II Type - III
Type - I is caused by a
sudden reduction of the
flow in a channel when
gate is closed or discharge
is reduced. The front becomes
less marked as it progresses
away from the Gate and finally
dies out in a series of Cnoidal
waves
Type - II waves is caused by
sudden increase in depth at
the downstream end of flow
similar to the rising tide into
an estuary. This is known as
Moving hydraulic jump or Bore
Type - III waves is caused by
sudden increase of the discharge
such as opening of Gates or
Dam break
SURGES - MOVING (TRAVELLING FRONTS)


As defined earlier, a surge is a moving wave front which results in an abrupt change of
the depth of flow. It is a rapidly varied unsteady flow condition. For example, consider
the movement of a positive surge wave in x-direction in an open channel having an
irregular cross section as shown in figure 38.1. Here, as the surge moves with an
absolute velocity, V
w
, flow depth becomes equal to y
2
behind the surge. Undistributed
flow depth ahead of the surge is y
1
. The corresponding flow velocities behind and ahead
of the slope front are V
2
and V
1
respectively. The surge has been created due to a
sudden change of flow rate from Q
1
to Q
2
. In this context, the problem definition for
surge computation is: given Q
1
,y
1
,Q
2
and channel slope parameters, determine the
surge wave velocity, V
w
and the surge height, y
2
-y
1
. Equations for computing the above
are based on the basic principles of conservation of mass and momentum. Following
assumptions are made in the derivation.
Hydraulics Prof. B.S. Murty










Indian Institute of Technology Madras
Figure 38.1 - Definition sketch for surge movement
V
2
y
2
V
w
y
1 V
1
Bed



38.1.1 Assumptions

Channel is horizontal and frictionless;

Pressure distribution is hydrostatic at locations away from the front;

Velocity is uniform within the cross section, at location away from the front;

Change in the flow depth at the front occurs over a very short distance;

wave shape, height, and wave velocity do not change as the wave propogates in
the channel;
water surfaces behind and ahead of the wave front are parallel to the bed.


38.1.2 Derivation of Equations

We first choose a control volume encompassing the wave front. This control volume can
be made stationary by superimposing a constant velocity, Vw (equal to the absolute
velocity of surge wave) in the negative x-direction. Thus the unsteady flow of Fig. 38.1
may be transformed to steady flow fig. 38.2, and the principles of conservation of mass
and momentum can be applied to a steady flow situation.

Hydraulics Prof. B.S. Murty










Indian Institute of Technology Madras
Control Volume
V
2
- V
w y
2
y
1
V
1
- V
w
Fig. 38.2: Surge movement viewed as steady flow



Applying continuity equation to the control volume of fig. 38.2,
( ) ( ) ( )
2 2 w 1 1 w
A V V A V V 0 38.1 =
in which, =density of water; A
2
=flow area behind the wave and A
1
=flow area
ahead of the wave. Since is a constant, Eq. (38.1) may be written as
( ) ( ) ( )
2 2 w 1 1 w
A V V A V V 38.2 =
Equation (38.2) can also be written as
( )
( )
1 1 w
2 w
2
A V V
V V 38.3
A

= +
Another way of writing the continuity equation is
( )
2 2 1 1
w
2 1
A V A V
V 38.4
A A

Applying momentum equation to the control volume of Fig. 38.2,
( )( ) ( )( ) ( )
1 1 w 1 w 2 2 w 2 w
Net force A V V V V A V V V V 38.5 =

The channel is prismatic, horizontal and frictionless. Therefore, the only force acting on
the control volume is pressure force. Pressure force acts in the positive x - direction at
the inlet section and in the negative x - direction at the outlet section. Equation (38.5)
can be written as

Hydraulics Prof. B.S. Murty










Indian Institute of Technology Madras
( )( ) ( )( ) ( )
2 1 1 1 w 1 w 2 2 w 2 w 2 1
gy A gyA A V V V V A V V V V 38.6 = -
in which
2
y =depth to the centroid of inlet section of the C.V., and
1
y =depth of the
centroid of outlet section.


Substitution of Eq. (38.2) in Eq (38.6) leads to

( )( ) ( )
2 1 1 1 w 1 2 2 1
g y A yA A V V V V 38.7

=

-


Substitution of Eq. (38.3) in Eq. (38.7) and subsequent simplification leads to

( )
( )
( )
( )( )
1 1 w
2 1 1 1 w 1 w 2 1
2
2
1
2 1 1 w
2
A V V
g y A yA A V V V V 38.8
A
A
A A V V
A


=




-
=


wave is propogating in the downstream direction.

Therefore, V
w
should be greater than V
1
.



( )
( )
( )
( )
( )
( )
2 2 1 2 1
w 1
1 2 1
2
w 1 2 1 2 1
1 2 1
gA y A yA
V V 38.9
A A A
or
gA
V V y A yA 38.10
A A A

= +

Now, substitution of Eq. (38.4) in Eq. (38.7) and subsequent simplification leads to

( )
( )
( )
( )
2
1 2 1 2
2 1 2 1
2 1
A A V V
y A yA 38.11
g A A

Equations (38.10) and (38.11) can be used to determine the surge wave velocity and
the surge height, if we know the values of undisturbed flow depth, y
1
, flow rate before
the surge, Q
1
, and the flow rate after the surge, Q
2
. Equations (38.10) and (38.11) are
Hydraulics Prof. B.S. Murty










Indian Institute of Technology Madras
non-linear equations. They can be solved by an appropriate numerical technique. For
rectangular channels, Eqs. (38.10) and (38.11) simplify to the following.


( )
( )
( )
( )( )
( )
2 2 1
w 1
1
2 2
2 1 2 1 2
1 2
1 2
gy y y
V V 38.12
2y
or
g y y y y
V V 38.13
2y y
+
= +

=