University Of Zimbabwe

Department Of Civil Engineering

Bsc(Honours) Civil Engineering
Laboratory Report Submission Form
SUBJECT /MODULE
LEVEL:.
LAB/EXPERIMENT

DATE

OF

LAB.

STUDENT NAME .

REG.NO: ..

GROUP AND SUBGROUP ..

LECTURER:..
RESPONSIBLE LAB.TECHNICIAN
DATE OF SUBMISSION:.................................................................................

TITLE
To investigate the relationship between specific energy (E) and depth of flow (y) in a rectangularchannel.
OBECTIVE: to confirm the theory realting to the flow of water over a hump section located on the channel bed.
Apparatus:
1) Rectangular channel incorporating a triangular hump section in the channel bed
2)Constant water supply to channel
d)Stopwatch

4) Travelling depth gauge

5)Measuring scale

Theory
For flow in a rectangular channel above
q=Q
b
and E= y + q2
2gy2
q = quantity of flow percent + width
Q= total quantity of flow
E = Specifc Energy head
y=depth of flow
In the following surface profile to be investigated, the flow upstream of the hump is theoratical and the flow
immeadiately downstream of the hump is supercritical.
Criticle Conditions exist over the hump.
As water flows over the hump, the available of specific energy diagram E1 is reduced to E by an amount equal to the
height of the hump
E = E1-S ; E2=E2-SC
This variation of E1 described on the specific energy diagram. Critical flow conditions exist when the specific energy
head E is a minimum. Therefore critical conditions should exits whrn the value os S is a maximum i.e at the crest of
the hump.
At this condition the critical depth y0 given by the relationship :
y0 =( q2)1/3
(2g)1/3
or interms of the minumum specific energy head Ec
H = B +S
= y + q2
2gy2

EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURE
The slope of the channel was adusted so that the bed was horizontal. The hump section was installed near to the
upstream end of the channel. The boundaries between the wall and bed of the channel and the hump section sealed to
prevent leakage. The channel width, and the height of the hump above the channel were recorded at stations(1) to 8
inclusive.The water supply was admitted to channel and the flow rate was adusted to give a smooth surface profile
over the hump conditions aloowed to give a smooth surface profile over the hump conditions aloowed to staedy and
the flow rate together with the depth of flow at staition 1 to 8 inclusive were recorded.

Station
number

Distance
dwnstream
st(mm)

300

358

416

486

556

626

776

Height of
hump(mm)

28.4

49.0

37.8

25.3

12.7

Depth of
flow(y)
(mm)

127.2

127.8

95.5

65.5

55.9

45.3

41.3

38.2

Surface
profile(abv
channle
bed(mm)

127.2

127.8

123.9

114.5

93.7

70.6

54

38.2

Station
number

Specific
Energy
head
E(mm)
Total
Energy
head(H)
(mm)
Depth (y)
(mm)