University of Leeds

School of Civil Engineering

CIVE240001 Fluid Mechanics 2.2

An example to demonstrate one method of integrating backwater curves in prismoidal

channels under conditions of steady flow

Problem

A trapezoidal channel of base width 6 m and side slopes of 1 vertically to 1 horizontally

is laid at a gradient of 1 in 1,000 and carries a flow of 25 m3/s. The channel, which is
grass lined, with a Mannings n estimated to be 0.025, terminates in a free outfall.

In order to decide if there is a risk of erosion of the banks it is necessary to determine the
length of channel which has a velocity in excess of 10% above the uniform flow velocity.

Note:- it is impractical for a channel of this type to terminate in a free outfall, it is being
used in this case to demonstrate the calculation of critical depth in a non-
rectangular section.

Solution

The channel cross section is shown in Figure 1

B (top width)

1 y

1
6m

Figure 1

The cross sectional area of flow, A, is given by

A = y (6 + 1.5 y ) (1)
1
where y is the depth, the wetted perimeter, P, is given by

P = 6 + 2 y 2 + 2.25 y 2 = 6 + 3.61 y (2)

We now need to determine both the normal and critical depths, the normal depth so that
we can determine the limiting velocity and the critical depth to determine the starting
depth at the downstream end of the channel.

(i) the normal depth

By Mannings formula

Am 2 / 3 i
v= (3)
n

and by continuity

Q = Av (4)
Combining the two equations yields

y n (6 + 1.5 y n ) y n2 / 3 (6 + 1.5 y n ) 2 / 3
Q= . . 0.001 = 25 (5)
0.025 (6 + 3.61 y n ) 2 / 3

This expression is difficult to differentiate hence the Newton-Raphson

method of solution would be difficult to apply however the equation can
readily be solved using the bisector method.

Whichever method of solution is chosen it is necessary to make an initial

estimate for the depth. An experienced engineer will estimate 2 m or
thereabouts. Until you have gained this experience the following approach
may be found useful to make the estimate.

Velocity is an easy parameter to visualise, the great majority of flows will

have a velocity of about 1 m/s unless the flow is taking place under extreme
conditions, for example flood flow on a spillway. For the sort of cases that
occur in everyday engineering the estimate of 1 m/s may be up to a factor of
2 wrong however it is unlikely to be worse than that therefore will provide
an acceptable estimate to start the iteration process. Combining the
continuity equation (equation 4) with the expression for the area, A,
(equation 1) and setting the velocity to 1 m/s yields a quadratic of the form

1.5 y n20 + 6 y n 0 25 = 0 (6)

2
where yno is the initial estimate of the normal depth, solving this gives
yno = 2.5 m.

Equation 5 is now arranged as a function which is set equal to zero i.e.

y n (6 + 1.5 y n ) y n2 / 3 (6 + 1.5 y n ) 2 / 3
f ( yn ) = . . 0.001 25 = 0 (7 )
0.025 (6 + 3.61 y n ) 2 / 3

To start the bisector method we require two values of yn, one to make f(yn)
positive and a second to make it negative.

Choose yn=1.0 m and yn=4.0 m then

f(1.0) = -16.96 and f(4.0) = +82.22

if f(yn) is continuous then there must be a root to the equation between these
two values.

(4.0 + 1.0)
f = f (2.5) = +17.54
2

take y n = 1.0 and 2.5

(1.0 + 2.5)
f = f (1.75) = 3.15
2

take y n = 1.75 and 2.5

(1.75 + 2.5)
f = f (2.13) = +6.30
2
take y n = 1.75 and 2.13

(1.75 + 2.13)
f = f (1.94 ) = +1.42
2

3
 Continue in this way for three or four more iterations to yield a final value
for yn of 1.88 m.

We can now determine the area of flow for this depth hence the velocity of
flow.

25
A = 1.88(6 + 1.5*1.88) = 16.58 m 2 hence vn = = 1.51 m 2 / s
16.58

Add 10% to this value to obtain the controlling velocity

vcontrol = 1.51 + 0.15 = 1.66 m/s

The backwater curve will have to be integrated upstream until the velocity
drops below this value.

(ii) the critical depth

Froude No. (Fn) = Q2B/(gA3) = 1 (for critical conditions)

Now Ac = yc (6 + 1.5 yc) and Bc = 6 + 3yc

Combining these two equations with the expression for the Froude No.
yields
25 2 (6 + 3 y c ) = g (6 + 1.5 y c ) y c3 (8)
3

Re-arranging and dividing both sides by g to reduce the magnitude of the

numbers yields

f ( y c ) = y c3 (6 + 1.5 y c ) 63.71(6 + 3 y c ) = 0 (9)

3

This expression is readily differentiable hence could be solved by the

Newton-Raphson method, in practice it proved to be unstable therefore,
once again, the bisector method is used 1

As a first approximation assume that yc yn, say 1.0 m, then take

yc1 = 0.5 m and yc2 = 1.5 m then

f(0.5) = -439 and f(1.5) = +1226

1
As an exercise it is suggested that you try the method of Newton-Raphson to see if you can make the
solution work. It would be much faster to solve this way since the error would reduce exponentially with
each iteration and not merely halve as is the case with the bisector method.

4
 i.e. we have obtained estimates of the root with opposite signs therefore the
solution can proceed in exactly the same manner as for the normal depth.

0 .5 + 1 .5
f = f (1) = 152
2

take y c = 1 .0 and 1.5

1 .0 + 1 .5
f = f (1.25) = +333
2

After four or five more iterations the solution will converge to 2

yc = 1.10 m

We are now in a position to integrate the backwater curve. The limiting velocity is
1.66 m/s, the curve will have to be integrated back until the velocity drops below this
value.

The value of y chosen is 0.075 m, this is a decision based on experience. The smaller
the value of y the more accurate the curve will be, however this accuracy is superficial
since the values of Q and Mannings n are based on subjective judgement. It should also
be noted that choosing too small a value of y may result in numerical error; also
choosing too large a value will result in appreciable error since the approximation of the
backwater curves as a series of short straight lines will be invalidated. The integration is
shown in Figure 2 as an Excel spreadsheet.

The velocity drops below the critical value of 1.66 m/s approximately 417 m from the
outfall therefore this length of channel will require protection against scour. In practice
probably about 450 m would be lined to give a margin of safety. The chainage at the
downstream end of the channel is set to zero for arithmetic convenience. In practice the
chainage would be measured from the upstream end and the chainage points in the table
would then appear as positive values.

As an exercise it is recommended that you set up this spreadsheet and experiment with
different values of Q, the bed slope i, Mannings n, bottom width and y.

I.M. Goodwill

2
It is strongly recommended that you carry out these few iterations as an exercise.

5
 6

Integration of the backwater function

Depth (y) Mean Depth Mean Area Wetted Hydraulic Mean Chezy C jm=vm2/C2mm Mean Top Froude No. dy/dx=(i-jm)/ (1- Chainage
(ym) A(ym) Perimeter Mean Velocity (=mm1/6/n) Width (Bm) (FNm) FNm)
(Pm) Radius (vm)
(mm)

1.095 0.0
1.17 1.13 8.72 10.09 0.86 2.87 39.04 0.00624 9.40 0.903 -0.05423 -1.4
1.245 1.21 9.43 10.36 0.91 2.65 39.38 0.00498 9.62 0.731 -0.01476 -6.5
1.32 1.28 10.16 10.63 0.96 2.46 39.70 0.00402 9.85 0.598 -0.00750 -16.5
1.395 1.36 10.91 10.90 1.00 2.29 40.01 0.00328 10.07 0.494 -0.00451 -33.1
1.47 1.43 11.67 11.17 1.04 2.14 40.29 0.00270 10.30 0.412 -0.00290 -59.0
1.545 1.51 12.45 11.44 1.09 2.01 40.57 0.00225 10.52 0.347 -0.00191 -98.2
1.62 1.58 13.25 11.71 1.13 1.89 40.83 0.00189 10.75 0.294 -0.00126 -157.8
1.695 1.66 14.07 11.98 1.17 1.78 41.08 0.00159 10.97 0.251 -0.00079 -252.3
1.77 1.73 14.90 12.25 1.22 1.68 41.32 0.00136 11.20 0.216 -0.00045 -417.2
1.845 1.81 15.75 12.53 1.26 1.59 41.55 0.00116 11.42 0.186 -0.00020 -795.6

Flow 25 (m3/s)

Bottom Width 6 (m)

Side Slope 1 in 1.5

Bed slope 1 in 1000

Manning's n 0.025

y 0.075 (m)

6 Figure 2