Lesson 16.

Specific Energy Application

1) Consider rectangular channel in which a change in elevation is present

We know y1, V1, Δz.
We want y2, V2 knowing that energy losses can be neglected.
Consider case where z increases monotonically between z1 and z2.

EGL=ct V12
hL  0 y V 2
2g
V12 2
V22 2g
2g q=ct
2g
y1 1
y2
2
y1 y2
2 yc 2' 1'
y2′
1 z2 y1′ E
z1 45° Ec E1  z E1
zc

Recall

 V2   V2 
 y1  1    y2  2   z  h f , where z  z 2  z1 ; h f  0
 2g   2g 

 E1  E2  z

Q
As width remains the same q   ct from section 1 to section 2.
b
Thus, all (y, E) points between 1 and 2 should lie on the same q  ct curve.

Question : Does point 2 or 2′ correspond to state of the flow at section 2?

If the answer will be 2′ and as we have to remain on the q  ct curve, then the energy
should first decrease to Ec and then increase back to E2 .
As the width is constant, this means the bottom elevation should increase first to
zc  z and then decrease back to z .
This is not the z variation considered in our case.
For that to happen flow has to start subcritical and then to go supercritical like in the
sketch below.

Ec E2′
yc
E1 y1 y2′
zc
z

So, in the case we considered (z varies monotonically between sections 1 and 2), as we
move from section 1 to section 2, the flow conditions on the (E, y) plot change from
point 1 to point 2 on the corresponding q  ct curve.
Once point 2 is determined, we know

V22 q2
E2  E1  z  y2   y2 
2g 2 gy22

Thus, we can calculate y2 and V2  Q / A  qb / y 2 b  q / y 2  We know ( y2 , V2 )

V22 V12
As point 2 is beneath point 1  ( V2  V1 ) and y2  y1
2g 2g
Flow starts subcritical and remains subcritical in the case we considered.
2) Consider rectangular channel in which a change in width is present

V12
2g V 22
b1 b2 2g

y1 V1 y2 V2

1 i 2 1 z 2

Suppose we know: y1, V1, b1, b2.

We want to estimate: y2, V2.

Neglect energy losses.

Assume b changes monotonically between sections 1 and 2.
Q
Q=ct but q  is not constant.
b(x)

 V2   V2 
Energy eqn. is:  y1  1    y2  2   z  hL , where hL  0 as in the previous case
 2g   2g 

Also, if no change in elevation, z1=z2, Δz=0 for each section i between 1 and 2.
So E1=E2
Q Q
q1  q2  , where q2  q1 as b2  b1
b1 b2

y q=q2
V12
q=q1
2g

y1 1
yc 
2
Ec
y2 2 qmax=qc 3
yc 3
2'
1'
E
As E=ct between section 1 and 2, from point 1 one can move only on the vertical.
As in section 2, q  q2 there are only 2 possible (E,y) points (2 or 2′) corresponding to
the flow at section 2.
But if point 1 jumps to 2′, q has first to increase to qmax and then to decrease.
For this to happen, as Q=ct, the width b has first to decrease (constriction) to bmin and
then to increase (expansion), like in the sketch below. However, this is not the case in
our example.
C

b1 bmin b2

C
Critical flow

So, in our example point 1 moves to point 2.

Similarly, if upstream conditions would correspond to point 1′ (supercritical conditions),

point 1′ will move to 2′ and not to point 2 if b changes monotonically between sections
1 and 2.

For point 1 to go to 2′ or for 1′ to go to 2, we need the flow to become critical in a

section between sections 1 and 2 (e.g., section c in the sketch above). At that section
db
0.
dx

Observe also that the water depth decreases in the subcritical regime as we go from 1 to
2.

In the supercritical case the water depth increases as we go from 1′ to 2′

V2 Q2
E 2  E1  y 2  2  y 2   known ,
2g 2 gb22 y 22

Calculate y2 from the previous equation, then V2  Q / A  Q / b2 y 2  q / y 2

Example Problem

0.3m

y1 y2

b1 1.3m

Rectangular channel Q=1.1 m3/s

At section 1  y1=0.80m, b1=b=1.3m
At section 2  30cm wide pier is present
Active width is b2=b-0.3=1m

a) Calculate y2
b) What is minimum width b2 such that flow remains subcritical (neglect energy
losses)?