Objectives:

To define the term control section

To be able to understand the importance of critical flow
in open channels
To have understanding of flow over a broad crested weir

Occurrence of critical flow conditions

Since, at the critical depth, the volume rate of flow is a maximum for a given specific
energy, cross-sections at which the flow passes through the critical depth are known
as control sections. Such sections are a limiting factor in the design of a channel and
can be expected to occur under the following circumstances:
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Transition from tranquil to shooting flow

This may occur as shown in Fig. 1 where there is a change of bed slope s. Upstream
the slope is mild and s is less than the critical slope sc. Over a considerable distance the
depth will change smoothly from D1 to D2 and at the break in the slope the depth will
pass through the critical depth forming a control section which regulates the depth
upstream. The reverse transition from shooting to tranquil flow occurs abruptly by means
of a hydraulic jump.

Fig. 1
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Entrance to a channel of step slope from a reservoir

If the depth of flow in the channel is less than the critical depth for the channel the
water surface must pass through the critical depth in the vicinity of the entrance (Fig. 2),
since conditions in the reservoir correspond to tranquil flow.

Fig. 2
-

Free outfall from a channel with a mild slope

In Fig. 3 if the slope s of the channel is less than s c the upstream flow will be tranquil.
At the outfall there is no resistance to flow so that, theoretically, it will be a maximum
and the depth should be critical. In practice, the gravitational acceleration creates a
curvature of the streamlines and an increase of velocity at the brink so that the depth is
less than critical. Experiments indicate that critical depth occurs at a distance of 3D c to 10
Dc from the brink is approximately 0.7Dc. If the slope of the channel is steep, s being
greater than sc, the upstream flow will be shooting and the depth will everywhere be less
than the critical depth.

Fig. 3
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Change of bed level or channel width

Under certain circumstances flow will occur at critical depth is a hump is formed in
the bed of the channel or the width of the channel is reduced.

Flow over a broad-crested weir

A broad-crested weir consists of an obstruction in the form of a raised portion of
the bed extending across the full width of the channel with a flat upper surface or crest
sufficiently broad in the direction of flow for the surface of the liquid to become parallel
to the crest. The upstream edge is rounded to avoid the separation losses which would
occur at a sharp edge.

Fig. 4
In Fig. 4 the flow upstream is tranquil and the conditions downstream allow a free
fall over the weir. Since there is no restraining force on the liquid, the discharge over the
weir will be the maximum possible and flow over the weir will take place at the critical
depth. For a rectangular channel,
Dc = (Q2/gB2)1/3
So that Q = B(gDc3)1/2
Since Dc = 2/3E,
Q = B(gx8/27E3)1/2 = 1.705BE3/2 in SI units.
The specific energy E measured above the crest of the weir will, assuming no
losses, be equal to H + v2/2g, where H is the height of the upstream water level above the
crest and v is the mean velocity at a point upstream where the flow is uniform. If the
depth upstream is large compared to the depth over the weir, v2/2g is negligible and above
equation can be written
Q = 1.705BH3/2 in SI units.

A single measurement of the head H above the crest of the weir would then be
sufficient to determine the discharge Q.
Since the critical depth Dc = (Q2/gB2)1/3 , the depth over the crest of the weir is
fixed, irrespective of its height. Any increase in the height of the weir will not alter D c but
will cause an increase in the depth of flow upstream.
If, as in Fig. 5 the level of the flow downstream is raised, the surface level will
draw down over the hump, but the depth may not fall to the critical depth. The rate of
flow can be calculated by applying Bernoullis equation and the continuity of flow
equations and will depend upon the difference in surface level upstream and over the
weir.

Fig. 5