NPTEL Course Developer for Fluid Mechanics Dr.

Niranjan Sahoo
Module 04; Lecture 33 IIT-Guwahati

Example 2
A trapezoidal channel with base width 2m and side slope of 1:2 carries water with a depth
of 1m. The bed slope is 1 in 625. Calculate the discharge and average shear stress at the
channel boundary. Take Manning coefficient as n = 0.03 .
Solution
Given that,
1
b = 2m; y = 1m; N = ( 1/ 2 ) ; S0 = ; Side slope, N = 1
625
The area of the flow and wetted perimeter for a trapezoidal section is given by,
A = ( b + Ny ) y = 2.5m 2
P = b + 2 y N 2 + 1 = 4.24m
By definition of hydraulic radius,
A 2.5
Rh = = = 0.59
P 4.24
Using Mannings formula,
2
( 0.59 ) 3 ( 1 625)
23 12 0.5
R S
V= h 0
= = 0.95m/s
n 0.03
Discharge, Q = A V = 2.375m 3 /s
Average shear stress at the channel boundary,
t = r gRh S0 = 1000 9.810.59 ( 1/ 625 ) = 9.26 N m 2

Example 3
Water flows in channel (cross-section of the shape of isosceles triangle) of bed width a
and sides making an angle 450 with the bed. Determine the relation between depth of flow
d and the bed width a for the condition of: (i) maximum velocity; (ii) maximum
discharge. Use Mannings formula.
Solution

1
NPTEL Course Developer for Fluid Mechanics Dr. Niranjan Sahoo
Module 04; Lecture 33 IIT-Guwahati

Water flow in a channel of isosceles triangular cross-section is shown in the following

figure for which depth of flow and bed width are d and a , respectively.

H J (a/2)

45 deg. 45 deg.

E F
d a d

Rh2 3 S01 2
(i) By Manning equation, V=
n
The area of the flow and wetted perimeter for the above cross-section is given by,

EF + JH ( a - 2d ) + a d = a - d d ; d A = a - 2d
A= d = ( )
2 2 d d
d P
P = EF + FJ + EH = a + 2 2d ; = 2 2
d d
For a given bed slope, the velocity will be maximum when,
d Rh d ( A P) d A d P
= 0; dd = 0; P d - A = 0
dd d
d d
Thus by substitution, 2.83d 2 + 2ad - a 2 = 0
Solving the above quadratic equation, d = 0.34a

1
23 12
1 A5
1

(ii) Discharge, Q = AV AR S 3
. = = 2 S0
2
h 0

n n P

For a given bed slope, the discharge will be maximum when,

(
d A5 P 2 ) = 0; 5P d A - 2 A d A = 0

dd d
d d d
d P d A
Substituting and , we get,
d d d d

22.63d 2 + 1.5ad - 5a 2 = 0

2
NPTEL Course Developer for Fluid Mechanics Dr. Niranjan Sahoo
Module 04; Lecture 33 IIT-Guwahati

Solving the above quadratic equation, d = 0.44a

Example 4
A rectangular channel of 5m width and 1.2m deep has a slope of 1 in 1000 and is lined
with rubber for which the Mannings coefficient is 0.017. It is desired to increase the
discharge to a maximum by changing the section so that the channel has same amount of
lining. Find the new dimensions and probable increase in discharge.
Solution
Using Mannings formula, the discharge through the channel is given by,
ARh2 3 S01 2
Q1 = AV
. =
n
1 A
Here, S0 = ; A = 5 1.2 = 6m 2 ; P = 5 + ( 2 1.2 ) = 7.4m; Rh = = 0.81
1000 P
Substituting the values, Q1 = 9.7 m s
3

Let b and y be the width and depth of the flow for the new section of the channel. In
order to have the same amount of lining,
P = b + 2 y = 7.4
For the discharge to be maximum in a rectangular channel, it can be proved that
b = 2y

Solving above two equation, y = 1.85m; b = 3.7m

So, the area of cross-section and hydraulic radius for new channel cross-section becomes,
A
A = 6.845m 2 ; Rh = = 0.925m
P

ARh2 3 S01 2
By Mannings formula, new discharge, Q2 = AV
. = = 12.1m3 s
n
Q2 - Q 1
Percentage increase in discharge = 100 = 24.45%
Q1

EXERCISES

3
NPTEL Course Developer for Fluid Mechanics Dr. Niranjan Sahoo
Module 04; Lecture 33 IIT-Guwahati

1. Design a concrete lined channel (trapezoidal cross section) to carry a discharge of

480m3/s at a velocity of 2.3m/s. The bed slope and the side slope of the channel are
1:4000 and 1:1 respectively. Take Mannings roughness coefficient for lining as 0.015.
2. A canal of trapezoidal cross-section has a bed width of 8m and bed slope of 1:4000. If
the depth of flow is 2.4m and side slopes are 1:3, then determine the average flow
velocity and discharge in the channel. Also, compute the average shear stress at the
channel boundary.
3. A trapezoidal canal is to carry 50m3/s of water with a mean velocity of 0.6m/s. One
side of the canal is vertical where as the other side has a slope of 1:3. Find the minimum
hydraulic slope if the Mannings coefficient is 0.015.
4. Water flows in a channel as shown in the following figure. Find the discharge if
Chezys constant is 60 and bed slope is 1 in 1000.
1.4m

0.7m

0.7m

5. Water flows in canal with bed slope of 1:2300. The cross-section of the canal is shown
in the following figure. Estimate the discharge when the depth of water is 2.5m. Assume
Chezys constant as 40.

0.6m
2.5m

140m
15m
Side slope = 1 vertical to 2 horizontal

4
NPTEL Course Developer for Fluid Mechanics Dr. Niranjan Sahoo
Module 04; Lecture 33 IIT-Guwahati

6. A concrete lined circular channel of 0.6m diameter has a bed slope of 1: 500. Find the
depth of flow when the discharge is 0.3m 3/s. Also, determine the velocity and flow rate
for conditions of: (i) maximum velocity; (ii) maximum discharge. Assume Chezys
constant as 40.