WSE =1427.

0'
1272.0'
1270.0'
So = .01
So = .0004
So = .003171
downstream
WSE = 1266.0
500'
1,500'
1,000'
The rectangular channel above is 20 ft wide and consists of three reaches of different slopes. The
channel has a roughness coefficient n = .015 and carries a discharge of 500 cfs. Determine:
a. normal and critical depth for each reach
b. water surface profile - must be done using hec-ras 2.2
c. Plot the entire water surface profile to some consistent scale
V.T. Chow, Open Channel Hydraulics, 1959
problem 9-8
y
n
= 1.863'
yc = 2.688'
y
n
= 5.436'
yc = 2.688'
y
n
= 2.702'
yc = 2.688'
y
c
and y
n
for each reach computed in file below and placed here
9-8 water surface profile 500 cfs.mcd
last save 10/7/2001 / 10:40 AM
C:\MyFiles\Mathcad application areas\Fluid
Mechanics-hydraulics and open channel
flow\CHOW\9-8 water surface profile 500
cfs.mcd
1 / 5
10/13/2001 / 8:17 AM
normal_depth1 1.863ft - normal depth on uppermost reach
normal_depth1 root Q
1.49
n
y b ( )
y b ( )
2 y ( ) b +

1
1
]
2
3
S
f
1
2
y ,

1
1
1
1
]
:
solve for the normal depth using the root function
Q
1.49
n
y b ( )
y b ( )
2 y b +

1
1
]
2
3
S
f
1
2
= Mannings equation
Compute normal depth in the uppermost reach of the channel S
f
.01 : , n .015 : , initial guess for y: y .5 ft :
Q 500
ft
3
sec
: b 20 ft : channel width
y 2 ft : water depth exiting from sluice gate
E
0
4 ft : Required specific energy across sluice gate, assuming no losses
Even though the discharge is given as 500 cfs we will determine the discharge from the specific energy
behind the sluice gate
elev
1
500 ft ( ) 1265ft bottom elevation at the lower end of the uppermost reach
elevation at upper end of reach = 1270'
elev
1
dist ( ) Elev
1
S
o1
dist :
dist 0 ft 100 ft , 500 ft .. : Elev
1
1270 ft :
1ft S
o1
100 ft : S
o1
.01
ft
ft
:
SECTION 1: S
o1
.01
ft
ft
:
Determine the elevation every 100' along the structure. Begin with most upstream section
9-8 water surface profile 500 cfs.mcd
last save 10/7/2001 / 10:40 AM
C:\MyFiles\Mathcad application areas\Fluid
Mechanics-hydraulics and open channel
flow\CHOW\9-8 water surface profile 500
cfs.mcd
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10/13/2001 / 8:17 AM
Now compute the critical depth for the entire system. This is independent of slope and will be constant
throughout system:
Q
y
c
b
g y
c

1 = Froude number
y
c
1
b
2
Q g b
2

( )
2
3

,
g
: y
c
2.688ft critical depth, Fr =1.0
This depth combined with the normal depth, computed earlier, tells us that the flow issueing from the sluice
gate is in the supercritical range. This means there will not be a critical section at the upstream end of the
system because the flow depth issueing from the sluice gate is already less than critical and will drop even
further as it moves down reach 1. The appropriate upstream boundary condition is then the know water
surface elevation, 1272' and we will have a mixed water surface profile.
SECTION 2 S
o2
.0004 :
Elevo
2
1265 ft :
004
S
o2
100 ft :
004
0.04ft
dist 0 ft 100 ft , 1500 ft .. :
elevation at upperend of reach : elev
1
500 ft ( ) 1265ft
elev
2
dist ( ) Elevo
2
S
o2
dist :
elev
2
1500 ft ( ) 1264.4ft - elevation at lower end of reach
normal_depth1 root Q
1.49
n
y b ( )
y b ( )
2 y ( ) b +

1
1
]
2
3
S
o2
1
2
y ,

1
1
1
1
]
:
normal_depth1 5.436ft > y
c
therefore flow subcritical
Based on this we surmise that a hydraulic jump must occur somewhere on reach 1 or 2.
9-8 water surface profile 500 cfs.mcd
last save 10/7/2001 / 10:40 AM
C:\MyFiles\Mathcad application areas\Fluid
Mechanics-hydraulics and open channel
flow\CHOW\9-8 water surface profile 500
cfs.mcd
3 / 5
10/13/2001 / 8:17 AM
SECTION 3 S
o3
.003171 :
Elevation at upper end of reach Elevo
3
1264.4 ft :
dist 0 ft 100 ft , 1000 ft .. : S
o3
100 ft 0.317ft
elev
3
dist ( ) Elevo
3
S
o3
dist :
Elevation at lower end of reach elev
3
1000 ft ( ) 1261.229ft
y 8 ft : Q 500
ft
3
sec

normal_depth1 root Q
1.49
n
y b ( )
y b ( )
2 y ( ) b +

1
1
]
2
3
S
o3
1
2
y ,

1
1
1
1
]
:
normal_depth1 2.702ft note that this is quite close to the critical depth of y
c
2.688ft
Thus, the water surface elevation assuming normal depth at the lower end of the reach will be
1261.23ft 2.702ft + 1263.9ft
normal_depth1 2.702ft > y
c
2.688ft

therefore normal depth flow regime will be subcritical
However, the problem points out that the depth at the lower end of the profile is 1266'. Thus we have an
M-1 profile extending back from this known elevation.
Note: Flow never reaches uniform conditions on reach 2 for Q = 500 cfs. the reach is too short. Flow
approaches critical depth on reach 3 but stays just above it as it transitions to an M-1 profile.
9-8 water surface profile 500 cfs.mcd
last save 10/7/2001 / 10:40 AM
C:\MyFiles\Mathcad application areas\Fluid
Mechanics-hydraulics and open channel
flow\CHOW\9-8 water surface profile 500
cfs.mcd
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HEC - RAS water surface profile 500 cfs Problem 9-8 Chow
0 500 1000 1500 2000 2500 3000
1260
1262
1264
1266
1268
1270
1272
1274
Main Channel Distance (ft)
E
l
e
v
a
t
i
o
n

(
f
t
)
Legend
WS 500 cfs
Crit 500 cfs
Ground
hydraulic jump
M-2 profile
M-1 profile
y
n
= 5.436' reach 2
y
n
= 2.702' reach 3 y
n
= 1.863' reach 1
S-2 profile
y
c
= 2.688'
9-8 water surface profile 500 cfs.mcd
last save 10/7/2001 / 10:40 AM
C:\MyFiles\Mathcad application areas\Fluid
Mechanics-hydraulics and open channel
flow\CHOW\9-8 water surface profile 500
cfs.mcd
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