2.critical Flow BB

Chapter Two : CRITICAL FLOW
• Criterion for a critical flow

• Calculation of the Critical Depth
• Section factor for critical flow (Zc)
• First Hydraulic Exponent (M)
• Characteristics of subcritical and supercritical flow
• Wave Propagation
• Transition with a change in width
• Transition with hump
• Choking
Critical Flow
For a given specific energy and discharge per unit width q, there are two
possible (real) depths of flow, and that transition from one depth to the
other can be accomplished under certain situations.
These two depths represented on the two different limbs of the E-y curve
separated by the crest c, are characteristic of two different kinds of flow; a
rational way to understand the nature of the difference between them is to
consider first the flow represented by the point c.
Here the flow is in a critical condition, poised between two alternative flow
regimes, and indeed the word “critical " is used to describe this state of flow;
it may be defined as the state at which the specific energy E is a minimum
for a given q.
Criterion for a Critical Flow
• The Froude number is equal to unity.
• The specific energy and specific force are minimum for the given
discharge.
• The discharge is maximum at the critical flow for a given specific

energy
• The velocity head is equal to half the hydraulic depth in a channel

of small slope. Thus yc = f (A,D) for a given discharge
• The velocity of flow in a channel of small slope with

uniform velocity distribution, is equal to the celerity of
small gravity waves (C = gh ) in shallow water caused by
local disturbance.
Criterion for a Critical Flow….
• Flow at the critical state is unstable.
• Critical flow may occur at a particular section or in the entire channel :
• For a prismatic channel for a given discharge
– The critical depth is constant at all sections of a channel.
Critical section
– The bed slope which sustains a given discharge at a uniform and

critical flow
Critical Slope
Critical Depth
• The condition of minimum specific energy is known as the critical flow condition
and the corresponding depth is known as Critical depth (yc ).
• At critical depth, the specific energy is minimum, if differentiating the equation of

specific energy with respect to y (keeping Q constant) and equating to zero
Designating the critical flow condition by suffix C

Computation of Critical Depth
Example 2-3
• Calculate the critical depth and corresponding specific energy
for a discharge of 5.0m3/sec in the following channels
a) Rectangular channel B=2.0m
b) Triangular channel m=0.5
c) Circular channel D=2.0m and θ =600
The
•
section Factor for critical flow
The section factor (Z) is the product of the water area and the
square root of the hydraulic depth.
• For critical flow by substituting
• Therefore
• When the energy coefficient is not assumed to be unity

Section factor (Z) for different channel section
• Rectangular
• Triangular
• Trapezoidal
Example 3.1.
Compute the critical depth the channel with its cross
section presented in the figure below and carrying a
discharge of 45m3/sec
First Hydraulic Exponent (M)
• In many computations involving a wide range of depths in
channel, such as in the GVF computations, it is convenient to
express the variation of Z with y in an exponential form.
• The (Z-y) relationship
• In this equation
– C1= a coefficient and
– M= an exponent called first hydraulic exponent.
• It is found that generally M is a slowly –varying function of the

aspect ratio for most of the channel shape
Example 3.2:
Obtain the value of the first hydraulic exponent (M) for
a) Rectangular channel
b) Exponential channel where the area A=K1ya

Characteristics of Flow
Subcritical and Supercritical
• Wave Propagation
• Transition with a change in width
• Transition with hump
• Choking
Wave Propagation
• C is the wave propagation velocity (celerity) on a flowing water with
velocity V1.
• If we take the celerity C equal but opposite to the flow velocity V1, then
the wave stays still and the steady state conditions may be applied.
• Writing the energy equation between cross-sections 1 and 2 and

neglecting the energy loss for a horizontal channel,
Wave Propagation ….
• For rectangular channels
• Substituting this relation to Equ. (a),
• If y1 = y then y2 = y+Δy and V1 = -c , in which Δy = Wave height, the above

equation may be written as,
Wave Propagation ….
This Equ. is valid for shallow waters. Generally Δy/y may be taken as zero. The
celerity equation is then
• Wave Propagation ….
Froude number for rectangular or wide channels is,
• Since celerity,
• Subcritical
• The generated wave will be seen in the entire flow surface. That is
why subcritical flows is also called downstream controlled flows.
• Supercritical Flows
• Since flow velocity is greater than the wave celerity, a generated

wave will propagate only in the downstream direction. That is why
supercritical flows are called upstream controlled flows.
Transition with a Hump
• Consider a horizontal, frictionless rectangular channel of width B
carrying discharge Q at depth y1
• At a section 2 a smooth hump of height ΔZ is built on the floor.
• Since there are no energy losses between sections 1 and 2,

construction of a hump causes the specific energy at section to
decrease by ΔZ. Thus the specific energies at sections 1 and 2
are,
…….with a Hump
…….with a Hump
Subcritical Supercritical
• Increase Z  decrease in y2 • Increase Z  increase in y’2
• Zmax become when y2 = yc • Zmax become when y’2 = yc
• If Z > Zmax no flow is • If Z > Zmax no flow is
possible in the given conation so possible in the given conation so
that adjustment is expected that adjustment is expected
• At upper stream (section 1) • At upper stream (section 1)
• Y1 should increase to y1A • Y1 should decrease to y’1A
• E1 also increase to E1A • E1 also decrease to E’1A
• At downstream (section 2) • At downstream (section 2)

• The flow will continue at • The flow will continue at
the minimum specific the minimum specific
energy level (critical energy level (critical
condition ) condition )
…….with a Hump
Subcritical Supercritical
Recollecting the various sequences,

For ΔZ > ΔZmax , the depth over the
when 0 < ΔZ < ΔZmax the upstream
hump y2 = yc will remain constant
water level remains stationary at y1
and the upstream depth y1 will
while the depth of flow at section 2
change. It will decrease to have a
decreases with ΔZ reaching a
higher specific energy E1`by
minimum value of yc at ΔZ = ΔZmax.
increasing velocity V1.
With further increase in the value of
ΔZ, i.e. for ΔZ > ΔZmax , y1 will
change to y1` while y2 will continue
to remain yc.
Transition with a Change in Width
Consider a frictionless horizontal
channel of width B1 carrying a
discharge Q at a depth y1 and at
a section 2 channel width has
been constricted to B2 by a
smooth transition
It is convenient to analyze
the flow in terms of the
discharge intensity q = Q/B.
At section 1, q1 = Q/B1 and
At section 2, q2 = Q/B2
……Change in Width
Y2’
Y1’
…….Change
Subcritical in Width
Supercritical
since B2 < B1, since B2 < B1,
 q2 > q1 and y1 > y2  q2 > q1 and y’1 < y’2
• If B2 is made smaller, then q2 As the width decrease R’ moves

will increase and y2 will up till B2 = B2min
decrease.
Further reduction in B2 causes the
• The limit of the contracted upstream depth to decrease to
width B2 = B2min is reached Y’1
when corresponding to E1, the
discharge intensity q2 = q2max
• …….Change in Width
At the minimum width, y2 = ycm = critical depth.
• For a rectangular channel, at critical flow

Choking
• In the case of a hump for all Δ Z ≤ ΔZmax , the upstream water depth is
constant and for all ΔZ > ΔZmax the upstream depth is different from y1.
Similarly, in the case of the width constriction, for B2 ≥ B2min, the upstream
depth y1 is constant; while for all B2 < B2min, the upstream depth undergoes
a change.
• Thus all cases with ΔZ > ΔZmax or B2 < B2min are known as choked conditions .
• Obviously, choked conditions are undesirable and need to be watched in

the design of culverts and other surface drainage features involving
channel transitions.
Examples

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Chapter Two : CRITICAL FLOW

• Criterion for a critical flow

other can be accomplished under certain situations.

separated by the crest c, are characteristic of two different kinds of flow; a

rational way to understand the nature of the difference between them is to

consider first the flow represented by the point c.

it may be defined as the state at which the specific energy E is a minimum

• The discharge is maximum at the critical flow for a given specific

• The velocity head is equal to half the hydraulic depth in a channel

• The velocity of flow in a channel of small slope with

• Flow at the critical state is unstable.

• Critical flow may occur at a particular section or in the entire channel :

• For a prismatic channel for a given discharge

– The critical depth is constant at all sections of a channel.

– The bed slope which sustains a given discharge at a uniform and

• At critical depth, the specific energy is minimum, if differentiating the equation of

Designating the critical flow condition by suffix C

• For critical flow by substituting

• When the energy coefficient is not assumed to be unity

• The (Z-y) relationship

– M= an exponent called first hydraulic exponent.

• It is found that generally M is a slowly –varying function of the

b) Exponential channel where the area A=K1ya

• Transition with a change in width

• Transition with hump

• Writing the energy equation between cross-sections 1 and 2 and

• Substituting this relation to Equ. (a),

• If y1 = y then y2 = y+Δy and V1 = -c , in which Δy = Wave height, the above

• Since flow velocity is greater than the wave celerity, a generated

• Since there are no energy losses between sections 1 and 2,

• At downstream (section 2) • At downstream (section 2)

Recollecting the various sequences,

• If B2 is made smaller, then q2 As the width decrease R’ moves

• For a rectangular channel, at critical flow

• Obviously, choked conditions are undesirable and need to be watched in

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