CIV E 530 - OPEN-CHANNEL HYDRAULICS
FALL 2011
LAB No. 6:  CHANNEL DESIGN


  1. A channel has the following data:   Q = 330 cfs, z = 2, n = 0.025, and S = 0.0018. Use the tractive force method to calculate the bottom width and depth under the following conditions:

    • The particles are moderately angular and of size d25 = 0.9 in.

    • The particles are of the same size as in (a), but they are moderately rounded.

    Discuss how the particle shape affects the design.

  2. A channel has the following data:   Q = 60 m3/s, z = 2, n = 0.03, and S = 0.0006. Use the tractive force method to calculate the bottom width and depth under the following conditions:

    • The particles on the sides are slightly angular and of size d25 = 35 mm; the particles on the bottom are of size d50 = 5 mm.

    • The particles on the sides are the same as in (a), but the particles on the bottom are smaller, of size d50 = 4 mm.

    Both cases (a) and (b) have low content of fine sediment in the water and the channel sinuosity is none. Discuss how the bottom particle size affects the design.