1.

0 INTRODUCTION
An open channel is a conveyance in which water flows with a free surface. When
discharge remains the same and depth does not change then we have uniform steady flow.
Therefore the velocity of flow, V and the flow rate, Q can be determined by Mannings equation.
2

1
Q= A R 3 S 0 2
n

where
R= Hydraulic Radius
A= Area of the water flow
S0 = Longitudinal Slope
n = Manning roughness coefficient

The hydraulic capacity of a drainage channel is dependent on the size, shape, slope and
roughness of the channel section. For a given channel, the hydraulic capacity becomes greater as
the grade or depth of flow increases. The channel capacity decreases as the channel surface
becomes rougher. A rough channel can sometimes be an advantage on steep slopes where it is
desirable to keep flow velocities from becoming excessively high.
For this project, we have to choose one drainage channel in University Tun Hussein Onn
to study the open channel flow by estimate the velocity of water flow, V and the flow rate, Q
using technique like Water level method.

1.1 OBJECTIVE
1. To understand the practical application of mannings equation.
2. To be familiar to the hydraulic design of open channel.
3. To explore the technique used in determining the channel slope Water level
method.

2.0 STUDY AREA

The channel 14 we chosen to carried out was adjacent

to C10 building. As from the picture above shown this
channel is just located beside the pathway and there have
some trees planted
beside it. We went to do our
measurement on 12th May 2014 at
around 5.30p.m and the weather was
sunny and windy.

The geometry of the channel

14 is combination of semicircle and
B
trapezoidal structure and as shown in the picture above, the base surface of the channel was
A
rough, not flat and has some debris on it. The channel
slope S0 at point A is higher than at point B, therefore the
flow direction of the channel are from point A to point B as
shown in the picture above.

3.0 METHODS AND EQUIPMENT

2

Equipment:
i
ii
iii
iv
v

Ruler
Water level tube
Stopwatch
Measuring tape
Ping Pong ball

Methods:
i

Drainage Slope Determination

A water level is a device used for matching elevations of locations that are too far apart

for a spirit level to span. By using the concept of water level, the slope of drainage can be
determined by measuring the height of water level at two different points and the length between
two points.
For this, our group has used the water level method by using the tube. It is the simplest
water level method with a section of clear tubing partially filled with water. During the whole
process, the ends of tube were held vertically, and the rest of the tubing lied on the ground of
drainage. Then, the heights of water level at the two different fixed points (H1 and H2) were
recorded with the length between them fixed at 2m. For your information, whether or not the two
ends are adjacent, the water level at these ends will still be maintained at same elevation. Finally,
the slope of the drainage can be determined by using ratio method.

H 1H 2 S
=
L
1

S=

H 1H 2
L

Where;
H1 & H2 = height of water level
L = length between the two points
S = slope of drainage
ii

Drainage Geometries Determination

First, the curvature of the drainage was determined by placing the water level tube along

the interior side of drainage. Then, the length of the tube is measured with measuring tape. Due
to the small size of drainage, the depth, drainage bottom radius and top width were measured by
using ruler. To make sure the accuracy, all these measurements were done on-site at three
different sections of drainage: upstream, middle and downstream within the 2m reach. With these
information recorded, the area and wetted perimeter of the drainage were calculated and shown
at the analysis part of this report.
iii

On-site Activities
At the beginning, we filled the selected drainage with water so that it could act like an

ordinary channel. Within the 2m reach we have measured, a Ping Pong ball was put on the
upstream. For your information, Ping Pong ball was selected as it is light and its weight can be
neglected. Time was recorded for the ball to flow from the upstream to the downstream. This
activity was purposely done to observe the flow of the drainage and roughly estimate the velocity
of flow.
V=

L
t

where
V = velocity of flow
L = length between the upstream and downstream
t = time for Ping Pong to flow from upstream to downstream

Depth of drainage was measured

with rulers

Top width of drainage was

measured with ruler

Water was poured into the dry drainage

4.0 VELOCITY AND DISCHARGE OF FLOW

4.1 CALCULATION
UPSTREAM
5

Radius 1, R1 =11.00 cm
Depth 1

=14.40 cm

Top Width 1 =23.50cm

MIDDLE
Radius 2, R2 =11.00 cm
Depth 2

=15.00 cm

Top Width 2 =23.50 cm

DOWNSTREAM
Radius 3, R3 =11.0 cm
Depth 3

=15.60 cm

Top Width 3 =23.50 cm

AVERAGE
Radius

= (11.0 + 11.0 + 11.0)/3 = 11.0 cm

Depth

= (14.4 + 15.0 + 15.6)/3 = 15.0 cm

Top Width

= (23.5 + 23.5 + 23.5)/3 = 23.5 cm

By using AutoCAD, we can determine the partial circle at bottom has the radius of 11 cm with
the angle of 154 . Thus, we can determine the area for the drainage.

Area of A =

Csin
180
R2

C is the central angle in Degrees

R is the radius of the circle which the segment is apart.
is pi, appromaximately 3.142
Sin is the trigonometry Sine function.
Area of A

2
= 11 /2(3.142 x 154 /180 - sin 154 )

2
= 136.11 cm

Area of B

= ( 22 + 23.5) (4)
2
= 91 cm

Total Area, A

= 136.11 + 91
7

= 227.11 cm

Wet Perimeter, P

154
= 2(4.07) + 2 (11) ( 360 )
= 37.71 cm

Hydraulic Radius

= A/P
= 227.11/37.71
= 6.02 cm

UPSTREAM

200c
5.8c

7.5

At site, we measure the height of the 1st point, H1 = 7.5 cm and the height of the 2nd point, H2 =
5.8 cm, while the length between two points is 200cm.
Thus, S0 = (7.5-5.8)/200
S0 = 0.0085
The average longitudinal slope

= (0.0095+0.0105+0.0085)/3
= 0.0095

MIDDLE

200c
6.1c

8.0
At site, we measure the height of the 1st point, H1 = 8.0 cm and the height of the 2nd point, H2 =
6.1 cm, while the length between two points is 200cm.
Thus, S0 = (8.0-6.1)/200
S0 = 0.0095

DOWNSTREAM

200c
6.4c

8.5

At site, we measure the height of the 1st point, H1 = 8.5 cm and the height of the 2nd point, H2 =
6.4 cm, while the length between two points is 200cm.
Thus, S0 = (8.5-6.4)/200
S0 = 0.0105

The surface material of experimental drainage is mortar cement. Therefore the value of manning
roughness coefficient, n of the drainage we choose from the table of manning roughness
coefficient is 0.011.
Hydraulic Radius, R = 6.02 cm = 0.0602 m
Area of the water flow, A = 227.11 cm2 = 0.022711m2
Hydraulic depth, D = 0.022711m2 / 0.0235m = 0.97m
Longitudinal Slope, S0 = 0.0095
Manning roughness coefficient, n = 0.011

Maximum velocity of drainage,

10

1
A R 3 S 02
n

1
0.011

2
3

0.0227110.0602 0.0095

1
2

= 0.0309 m/s

= AV
= 0.022711 x 0.0309
= 7.02 x 10-4 m3/s

Froude Number Fr =

v
gD
0.0309
(9.81)( 0.97)

= 0.01
Since the Froude number Fr is less than one, therefore the flow in the channel 14 is sub-critical
flow.

5.0 CONCLUSION
As a conclusion, our group used water level method because this is the simplest water
level method with a section of clear tubing partially filled with water to determine the drainage
slope. The slope of the drainage is determined by using ratio method then. Based on the depths,
we decided the upstream, middle and downstream part of the channel. By using Manning flow
resistance equation, we calculated the maximum value of velocity, V = 0.0309 m/s. From the
maximum velocity we obtained, the flow type of the channel is consider as sub-critical flow by
using Froude number equation Fr = v/gD . The flow rate, Q of Channel 14 is calculated by
using equation Q= AV and the value of Q obtained is 7.02 x 10-4 m3/s.
From our point of view, the result will be more accurate if the channel is filled with water
itself rather than us filling water into it. During this project, we encounter some problems such as
insufficient time for group discussion and difficulty to meeting up all members and etc.
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However, we were able to accomplish this project with the help from our lecturer and do some
reference from other sources. Through this project, we have learn that how to carry out water
level method to determine drainage slope and we are able to understand the practical application
of mannings equation on the calculation of velocity and flow rate Q.

6.0 REFERENCES
1. Mr Wan Afnizan Bin Wan Mohamed. Department Of Water and Environmental
Engineering, Faculty of Civil and Environmental Engineering, UTHM. e-mail:
afnizan@uthm.edu.my, Hydraulic Notes (BFC21103).
2. Puan Noor Aliza. Department Of Water and Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Civil
and Environmental Engineering,UTHM. Fluid Mechanics Notes (BFC10403).
3. Encik Mohd Adib bin Razi. Department Of Water and Environmental Engineering,
Faculty of Civil and Environmental Engineering,UTHM.
4. Open Channel Flow. Retrieved on May 20th ,2014 at 11.00am from
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Open-channel_flow
5. Calculation of Critical Depth and Critical Slope for Open Channel Flow. Retrieved on
May 21th ,2014 at 2.00pm from http://www.brighthubengineering.com/hydraulics-civil-

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engineering/122607-calculation-of-critical-depth-and-critical-slope-for-open-channelflow/

7.0 APPENDIX
a. Approximate locations of the 17 identified open channels

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This is our channel

(Channel 14)

b. On-site Activities

14