Dr.

Mohd Hafiz bin Zawawi

Hydraulic Engineering
CEWB222

CHAPTER 2
(OPEN CHANNEL PROPERTIES)

Natural channel
All watercourses that occurs naturally, for example streams
and rivers
The Hydraulic properties are generally irregular
Not regular nor prismatic and their materials of construction
can vary widely.
The surface roughness will often change with time distance
and even elevation.

Types of open channel

Man-made channel
Constructed in a regular cross-section shape throuhout and thus
are PRISMATIC CHANNELS.

Made from concrete, steel or earth with well defined surface
roughness.
All watercourses that are constructed by human effort, for
example :
Types of open channel

Canal : a long and mild-sloped channel built in the ground that
may be unlined or lined with stone masonry, concrete ,etc.

Flume : a channel of concrete, masonry, etc that is usually
supported on or above the surface of the ground to convey
water across a depression.

Chute : a channel with steep slopes.


Culvert : a covered channel of comparatively short length
installed to drain water through highway and railroad
embankments.
Types of open channel
Canal

Trunk Drain - Wet Period
Rigid Boundary Canal
FLUME
Existing Culvert
Existing Pipe Culvert
Existing Box Culvert

Prismatic channel : a channel with
unvarying cross section and constant
bottom slope.
Non-prismatic channel : a channel
with varying cross section and
constant bottom slope.
Channel Geometry
CHANNEL GEOMETRY
Rectangular

Properties and geometric elements of
typical channel cross section
Area
, A
Wetted
perimeter,
P
Hydraulic
Radius, R
Top
Width, B
Hydraulic
depth, D
by b + 2y
by /
(b+2y) b y
Trapezoidal

Properties and geometric elements of typical
channel cross section
Area, A
Wetted
perimeter, P
Hydraulic
Radius, R
Top Width,
B
Hydraulic
depth, D
(b + ty)y
b + 2yw
w= (1+ t
2
)
0.5
A/P b + 2ty A/B
Triangular

Properties and geometric elements of typical
channel cross section
Area
, A
Wetted
perimeter,
P
Hydraulic
Radius, R
Top
Width, B
Hydraulic
depth, D
ty
2
2yw ty / (2w) 2ty A/B
Circular

Properties and geometric elements of typical
channel cross section
Area, A
Wetted
perimeter,
P
Hydraulic
Radius, R
Top Width,
B
Hydraulic
depth, D
( - sin ) d
2
/8 r
(1 - sin/)
d/4 2r sin(/2) A/B
Semi circular

Properties and geometric elements of typical
channel cross section
Area, A
Wetted
perimeter,
P
Hydraulic
Radius, R
Top Width,
B
Hydraulic
depth, D
r
2
/2 r r/2 2r r/4
Properties and geometric elements of typical
channel cross section
RECTANGULAR CHANNEL
T
Area (A) = by
Wetted perimeter (P) = b+2y

Hydraulic Radius (R) = A/P=
y 2 b
by

Top width (T) = b

Hydraulic Depth (D) = y
b
y
TRAPEZOIDAL CHANNEL
Area = (b+zy)y

P =
2
1 2 z y b
2
1 2
) (
z y b
y zy b

R =
T =
zy b 2
D =
zy b
y zy b
2
) (

y
b
z
1
T



A concrete rectangular channel has a bottom
width of 4 meters. If the channel is on a 1%
slope and is flowing 1 meter deep throughout its
length, what is the cross sectional area, wetted
perimeter and hydraulic radius?
Example 1
Solution:
If the shape of the channel is rectangular, the
discharge computed as follows:
A = by = (4) (1) = 4m
2
P = b+2y = 4 + 2 (1) = 6m
R = 4m
2
/ 6m = 0.67m
T
4
1



A concrete trapezoidal channel has a bottom width of 4
meters and 45 side slopes. If the channel is on a 1%
slope and is flowing 1 meter deep throughout its
length, what is the cross sectional area, wetted
perimeter and hydraulic radius?

Example 2


Solution:
If the shape of the channel is trapezoidal, the discharge
computed as follows:
A = (b+zy)y = (4+(1)(1))1 = 5.00m
2
P = (b+ 2y (1+ z
2
)
0.5
)= 4 + 2 (1) (2)
0.5
= 6.83m
R = A/P = 5.00m2/6.83m = 0.73m
Example 2
T
4
1
1
1


Water flows at a depth of 1.83 m in a trapezoidal,
concrete-lined section with a bottom width of 3 m and
side slopes of 2:1 (H:V). The slope of the channel is
0.0005 and the temperature is 20
o
C. Assuming uniform
flow conditions, estimate the cross sectional area (A),
wetted perimeter (P) and hydraulic radius (R)?
Example 3

Solution:
Flow area, A = (b+zy)y = (3 + 2 (1.83)) x 1.83
= 12.2 m
2
Wetted perimeter, P = 14.89m
Hydraulic Radius, R = A/P = 12.2/ 14.89 = 0.819 m
Example 4
TEXTBOOKS REFERENCES

Lariyah, M.S. & Norazli, O., Hydraulic Notes,
UNITEN, 2006
Roberson, J. A., Cassidy, J. J. & Chaudry, H.,
Hydraulic Engineering, 1st S.I. Ed., John
Wiley, 1998
Chin, D., Water Resources Engineering,
Prentice Hall, 2006
Thank You