OPEN CHANNEL – WSP Computations

1) A trapezoidal channel with a bottom width of 20 ft, a slope of 0.0016, Manning's n of

0.025, and side slope of 2:1 has a discharge of 500 cfs. An obstruction in the channel
causes a backwater profile with a depth of 6.5 ft just upstream of the obstruction. Use
a equal to 1.1 and a depth increment of 0.1 ft.
a) What profile type is occurring in the channel?
b) Solve for one step by hand then develop a spreadsheet.
c) What are the depths of flow 400 and 600 ft upstream of the obstruction?
d) How far upstream will normal depth occur?
e) Compare results using a 0.1 increment to a single step between the downstream
location and normal depth.
f) Plot the results showing the bed, yn, yc and the WSP.

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 OPEN CHANNEL – WSP Computations
2) A 500-ft long, 6-ft diameter reinforced concrete pipe culvert (n =0.012) is used to convey stormwater
from a detention reservoir to a downstream flood control channel. The slope of the culvert is 0.02.

The culvert outlet is placed at an elevation so that it will not be submerged and the flow falls freely from
into the flood control channel. Assume the appropriate boundary condition location has a water depth
equal to critical depth.

For a discharge of 230 cfs, compute the WSP using a spreadsheet. Use a increment of 0.1 feet.