Laws of turbulent flow in open channels

Abstract

The theoretical investigations of Prandtl and Karman, and the experimental work of Nikuradse, have led to rational formulas for velocity distribution and hydraulic resistance for turbulent flow in circular pipes. With certain assumptions regarding the effects of secondary currents and of the free surface, and with the adoption of the hydraulic radius as the characteristic length, similar rational formulas are deduced for open channels. The validity and the applications of these formulas are illustrated by a study of Bazin's experiments. In this study the equivalent sand roughnesses of the channels used by Bazin are determined. The criterion for determining the conditions under which a channel with woodenplank surfaces is to be considered hydrodynamically wavy or hydrodynamically rough is also evaluated. The rational formulas with constants determined from Bazin's experiments are expressed in the form of power laws. It is shown that Manning's empirical formula is a good approximation to the rational formula for rough channels when the relative roughness is large.