Open Channel Uniform Flow & Specific Energy

Civil Engineering

How It Works

Open channel flow is driven by the component of gravity along a sloping channel bed and balanced by turbulent boundary shear along the wetted perimeter. Manning's equation models uniform steady flow, predicting discharge as a function of roughness coefficient, cross-sectional area, hydraulic radius, and energy slope. Specific energy curves distinguish deep subcritical flow regimes from shallow supercritical regimes.

Governing Equation
Q = (1/n) · A · R_h^(2/3) · S_0^(1/2)  |  E = y + v² / (2 · g)