53:071 Principles of Hydraulics

Laboratory Experiment #3
Analysis of Open-Channel Flow
Transitions Using Specific Energy
Diagram
Li-Chuan Chen, Marian Muste, and
Larry Weber
Objective
To observe the changes in the behavior
of the free surface when subjected to
changes in the channel bed.
Principle

 V2   V2  V2 q2
 z  y     z  y   H  y  y
 2 g 1  2 g 2 2g 2 gy 2

H 1  H 2  z
Principle

2
q
H  y 2
2gy

H 1  H 2  z
Apparatus — Flume

Q  2.04 h
Apparatus — Obstruction
ybump (ft)

0.24
x (ft)
5 5.87 6.96 7.78

For x5 ybump = 0

For 5 < x  5.87 ybump = 0.276x – 1.38
For 5.87 < x  6.96 ybump = 0.24
For 6.96 < x  7.78 ybump = 2.28 - 0.293x
For x > 7.78 ybump = 0
What are we going to do?
We are going to measure the water
surface elevation along a open channel.
Procedures
1. Establish a stabilized discharge in the system.
2. Measure the water level difference on the
differential manometer for computing
discharge.
3. Measure the water surface elevation
upstream, above, and downstream of the
obstruction.
4. Change the flow rate and repeat Step 2 and 3
for another flow condition.
5. Observe the ripples formed at the tip of the
point gage.
Data Sheet
Flow Situation I Flow Situation II

h = (ft); Q = (cfs); yc1 = (ft) h = (ft); Q = (cfs); yc1 = (ft)

Track Water Bump Actual Track Water Bump Actual

(ft) Surface Geome depth (ft) Surface Geome depth
Elevation try (ft) (ft) Elevation try (ft) (ft)
(ft) (ft)
Analysis
Plot the water surface elevation in the
vicinity of the channel transition.
Construct the specific energy diagram
using the measured data.
Compare theoretical specific energy
diagrams with the experimental curves.
Comment on the flow behavior in the
two flow situation.
 Sample Result — Water
Surface Profile

W
a
teree
lva
ti
onth
rou
gh
ch
an
ne
tr
l an
sti
ion
0
2
.0
Flow depth (m)

0
1
.5

0
1
.0 y
1 yc

M
easue
r m e
q
2n
>s
t
q
1
0
0
.5 M
easue
r m e
q
1ns
t
C
hanne b
l ed
y
2
0
0
.0
1
17
.1
18
.1
19
.1
20
.1
21
.1
22
.1
23
.1
24
.125
.126
. 1
27
.128
.1
29
.1
30
.1
31
.1
32
.1
33
.1
34
.1
35
.
Fu
lmetrack
(m)
Sample Result — Specific
Energy Diagram
Specific energy diagram
0. 20
M easur em ent s
q2 >q1
0. 18 M easur em ent s
q1
Theor et ical diagr am q2
0. 16 Theor et ical diagr am q1

0. 14

0. 12
y1( subcr itcal)
0. 10
Depth(m)

0. 08
y(c unit dischar ge) = 0. 057 m
0. 06 yc ( dat a) = 0. 056 m
0. 04
y2( super cr itcal)
0. 02

0. 00
0. 00 0. 02 0. 04 0. 06 0. 08 0. 10 0. 120. 14 0. 16 0. 18 0. 20
Specific energy (m)
Further Considerations
What are the main assumptions associated
with the use of the specific energy diagram?
Comment on the differences noticed on the
ripples produced by the point gage upstream
and downstream the obstruction.
Analyze the water surface behavior for the
same unit discharges used in your experiment
hypothesizing the flow enters in the
obstruction as supercritical flow.