In this experiment, only the Continuity and Energy Equations will be used.

For a
rectangular channel of uniform width:

Continuity Equation:

V
Q= = Av=Byv=constant [1]
t

Discharge per unit width (rectangular):

Q
q= = yv=constant [2]
B

Energy Equation (assuming no head loss):

p v2
+ H + y + =constant [3]
2g

The Specific Energy and other supplemental open-channel flow values can be
determined from the experiment, and are computed using the following formulas:

Froude Number:

Fr=v / gy [4 ]

Specific Energy:

v2
E= y+ [5]
2g

Critical Depth:
3
y c = q2 / g [6 ]

Critical Velocity:

v c =q/ y c = g y c [7 ]

Minimum Specific Energy:

Emin =1.5 y c [8]

 Figure 1. Control Volume for an Open Channel with a Bum

Figure 2. Flow Pattern over a Bump

The critical depth and Froude Number are the limiting and governing parameters
that determine the value of the maximum allowable bump height,
z max , before the

bump forces the upstream flow to change behavior. From Equation [3 ] :

p1 v 12 p2 v 22
+h+ y 1 + = + h+ y 2+ z +
2g 2g

2 2
v v
y 1+ 1 = y 2 + z+ 2
2g 2g

E1=E 2+ z [9]

Since the restricting factor is the critical state, then Equation [9] becomes:

E1=E min + z max

z max=E 1Emin [10]

Equation [10 ] is the equation needed to obtain the maximum allowable bump
height.