Solutions to Problems in Hydromechanics 5

Uniform Flow

1. (F 5.4)

Determine normal discharge for yN = 1.8 m, n = 0.015, and S = 0.0020.

a.

Rectangular section with a width of 6.1 m.

Manning’s formula is written:

1
Q= AR 2 / 3 So1/ 2
n

The hydraulic radius is:

A 6.1⋅1.8
R= = = 1.13 m
P 6.1 + 2 ⋅1.8

The flow is obtained as:

1
Q= ⋅ 6.1⋅1.8 ⋅1.132 / 3 ⋅ 0.00201/ 2 = 35.5 m3 / s
0.015

b.

Triangular section with bottom angle 60 deg.

Section area and hydraulic radius is given by:

1 2 y 2 1.82
A= yN yN = N = = 1.87 m 2
2 3 3 3
A 1.87 1.87
R= = = = 0.45 m
P 2 ⋅ 2 yN / 3 4.16

The flow rate is given by Manning’s formula:

1
Q= ⋅1.87 ⋅ 0.452 / 3 ⋅ 0.00201/ 2 = 3.3 m3 / s
0.015
c.

Trapezoidal section with bottom width 6.1 m and a side slope 1:2.

Section area and hydraulic radius is given by:

A = ( b + zy N ) yN = ( 6.1 + 2 ⋅1.8 ) ⋅1.8 = 17.46 m 2

A 17.46 17.46
R= = = = 1.23 m
P 6.1 + 2 ⋅1.8 ⋅ 1 + 2 2 14.2

The flow rate is given by Manning’s formula:

1
Q= ⋅17.46 ⋅1.232 / 3 ⋅ 0.00201/ 2 = 59.8 m3 / s
0.015

2. (F 5.10)

Develop a theoretical expression for the critical slope in terms of n and q.

The Manning formula gives the flow per unit width according to:

1
q= yN yN2 / 3 So1/ 2
n

q 2 n2
So =
y10
N
/3

At critical conditions (yc = yN) the Froude number is equal to 1, yielding:

uN
Fr = 1 =
gy N
q / yN
→ =1
gy N

2/3
⎛ q ⎞
yN = ⎜
⎜ g ⎟⎟
⎝ ⎠

Combining the above equation gives:

 q 2n2 n 2 g 10 / 9
Soc = =
( )
2 / 3 10 / 3 q2/9
⎛ q/ g ⎞
⎜ ⎟
⎝ ⎠

3. (F 5.18)

What is the depth of flow in a circular storm water drainage pipe (1.8 m diameter), if n =
0.015, Q = 2.1 m3/s, and So = 0.0004?

Manning’s formula:

1
Q= AR 2 / 3 So1/ 2
n

This equation may be re-written:

Qn 2.1⋅ 0.015
AR 2 / 3 = = = 1.575
So 0.0004

Solution procedure: calculate AR 2 / 3 for various depths and see when it becomes equal to
1.575. However, a more straightforward method is to employ Fig. 5.2. Calculate
AR 2 / 3 / D8 / 3 = 1.575 /1.88/ 3 = 0.33 and use the figure. For this value, y N / D = 0.89 is
obtained, which results in yN = 1.8⋅0.89 = 1.60 m.

4. (F 5.25)

Estimate the roughness coefficient in a triangular channel with apex angle 50 deg that
conveys a flow of 1.4 m3/s at a depth of 0.3 m and a slope of 0.009.

Top width of triangular flow area:

a = 2 y N tan 25 = 2 ⋅ 0.30 ⋅ tan 25 = 0.28 m

Wetted perimeter:

yN 0.30
P=2 = 2⋅ = 0.66 m
cos 25 cos 25

Flow area:

1 1
A= y N a = ⋅ 0.30 ⋅ 0.28 = 0.042 m 2
2 2
Hydraulic radius:

A 0.042
R= = =0.064 m
P 0.66

Use the Manning formula to derive the roughness:

1
Q= AR 2 / 3 S 1/ 2
n

1
1.4 = ⋅ 0.042 ⋅ 0.0642 / 3 ⋅ 0.0091/ 2
n

→ n = 0.00045

This roughness is too low to be possible to obtain.

5. (F 5.28)

Estimate slope required to convey 5.7 m3/s in a rectangular channel 3.0 m wide (lined
with poorly troweled concrete) so that the Froude number is 2.

Assume a roughness of n = 0.015 (from French page 126).

Froude number equal 2 yields :

uN Q 1 5.7
Fr = 2 = = =
gy N by N gy N 3 g yN3/ 2

→ y N = 0.45 m

The hydraulic radius is given by:

A 3 ⋅ 0.45
R= = = 0.346 m
P 3 + 2 ⋅ 0.45

Using the Manning formula, the required slope is obtained:

 1
Q= AR 2 / 3 S 1/ 2
n

1
5.7 = ⋅ 3 ⋅ 0.45 ⋅ 0.3462 / 3 ⋅ So1/ 2
0.015

→ So = 0.0165