CRITICAL FLOW

BERNOULLIS EQUATION

p1

2
1

2
2

v
p2
v
z1

z2

2g

2g

SPECIFIC ENERGY

v
Es d
2g

Specific Energy
In a channel with constant discharge, Q

Q A1V1 A2V2
Ed

2g

Q
Ed
2
2gA

Consider rectangular channel (Area= b.d) and Q= q.b

q is the discharge per unit width of channel

Area
b

q
Ed
2
2gd

Specific Energy: Sluice Gate

d1

d2

10
9
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
0

sluice gate q = 5.5 m2/s

EGL d2 = 0.45 m
V2 = 12.2 m/s
1
d1 = 8.07 m

q2
Ed
2gd 2

2
0

5
E

9 10

E1 E2

Given downstream depth and discharge, find upstream depth.

alternate depths (same specific energy)

d1 and d2 are ___________

Specific Energy:
Raise the Sluice Gate
sluice gate
4

EGL

d1 3
d2

E1 E2

1
0
0

q2
Ed
2gd 2

as sluice gate is raised, d1 approaches d2

E is minimized for a given discharge or
Q is maximized for a given energy

CRITICAL FLOW

Minimum E

dc

2
1
0
0

Consider a channel with an irregular cross-section

2
E

Q
Ed
2
2gA

dE
Q 2 dA
0 1 3
dd
gA dd

but

dd
dA

A
P

dA Tdd
2

Q T
1
3
gA

Fr 1
Critical Flow exists

Maximum Q
Consider a channel with an irregular cross-section
Q2
E d
2gA2

Q A 2g(E d )

dQ dA
g

2g (E d ) A
0
dd dd
2g (E d )

but dA/ dd T and

2g (E d ) Q / A

Q T
1
3
gA

dd
dA

Fr 1
Critical Flow exists

CRITICAL FLOW
General
Sample:

Equation

Q T
1
3
gA

A flow of 280 L/s of water is carried by a

90-V notch flume with n = 0.011.
Find the critical depth.

dc = 0.44 m

CRITICAL FLOW
For

rectangular sections

Vc gd c

dc

Vc2

Ed

V2
2g

dc 3

q
g

d c Vc2

2
2g
dc
E dc
2

Sc

Vc n
Rc

velocity head =

4/3

1/2 (dc)

2
dc E
3

CRITICAL FLOW
For

rectangular sections

Vc gd c

dc 3

q
g

Sc

Vc n 2
Rc

4/3

Sample:

A channel having a rectangular section and

base width of 3 m carries a flow of 5.70
m3/s. Find the critical depth, the critical
velocity and the critical slope if n = 0.011.