Open Channel Hydraulics
Expert-defined terms from the Professional Certificate in Hydraulic and Water Resources Engineering course at Stanmore School of Business. Free to read, free to share, paired with a globally recognised certification pathway.
Abrasion refers to the wearing away of the channel bed and banks due to t… #
Related terms include erosion and sediment transport. Abrasion is an important concept in Open Channel Hydraulics as it can affect the channel's hydraulic properties and the design of hydraulic structures. For example, abrasion can cause a channel to become wider and deeper, which can increase its capacity to carry water and sediment.
Adverse slope refers to a negative slope in a channel, where the elevatio… #
This can cause water to flow upstream, which can lead to flooding and erosion. Related terms include backwater and hydraulic gradient. Adverse slope is an important concept in Open Channel Hydraulics as it can affect the flow of water and sediment in a channel. For example, a channel with an adverse slope can cause water to flow upstream, which can lead to flooding and erosion.
Backwater refers to a rise in water level upstream of a hydraulic structu… #
Related terms include hydraulic jump and weir. Backwater is an important concept in Open Channel Hydraulics as it can affect the design and operation of hydraulic structures. For example, a backwater curve can be used to determine the water level upstream of a dam, which can affect the design of the dam and its operation.
Bed load refers to the sediment that is transported along the bed of a c… #
Related terms include suspended load and wash load. Bed load is an important concept in Open Channel Hydraulics as it can affect the channel's shape and size, as well as the design of hydraulic structures. For example, bed load can cause a channel to become narrower and deeper, which can decrease its capacity to carry water and sediment.
Chezy equation is a formula used to calculate the flow of water in a chan… #
Related terms include Manning equation and Darcy-Weisbach equation. Chezy equation is an important concept in Open Channel Hydraulics as it can be used to determine the flow of water in a channel, which can affect the design and operation of hydraulic structures. For example, the Chezy equation can be used to calculate the flow of water in a channel, which can be used to design a dam or weir.
Channel roughness refers to the roughness of a channel's bed and banks, w… #
Related terms include Manning's roughness coefficient and Darcy-Weisbach friction factor. Channel roughness is an important concept in Open Channel Hydraulics as it can affect the channel's hydraulic properties and the design of hydraulic structures. For example, a channel with a high roughness coefficient can cause water to flow more slowly, which can increase the risk of flooding and erosion.
Critical depth refers to the depth of water in a channel at which the flo… #
Related terms include critical velocity and Froude number. Critical depth is an important concept in Open Channel Hydraulics as it can affect the flow of water and sediment in a channel. For example, a channel with a critical depth can cause water to flow more quickly, which can decrease the risk of flooding and erosion.
Critical velocity refers to the velocity of water in a channel at which t… #
Related terms include critical depth and Froude number. Critical velocity is an important concept in Open Channel Hydraulics as it can affect the flow of water and sediment in a channel. For example, a channel with a critical velocity can cause water to flow more quickly, which can decrease the risk of flooding and erosion.
Darcy #
Weisbach equation is a formula used to calculate the flow of water in a channel, which takes into account the channel's slope, roughness, and hydraulic radius. Related terms include Chezy equation and Manning equation. Darcy-Weisbach equation is an important concept in Open Channel Hydraulics as it can be used to determine the flow of water in a channel, which can affect the design and operation of hydraulic structures. For example, the Darcy-Weisbach equation can be used to calculate the flow of water in a channel, which can be used to design a dam or weir.
Energy equation refers to a mathematical equation used to calculate the e… #
Related terms include Bernoulli's equation and momentum equation. Energy equation is an important concept in Open Channel Hydraulics as it can be used to determine the energy of water in a channel, which can affect the design and operation of hydraulic structures. For example, the energy equation can be used to calculate the energy of water in a channel, which can be used to design a dam or weir.
Floodplain refers to the area surrounding a channel that is subject to fl… #
Related terms include flood control and flood mitigation. Floodplain is an important concept in Open Channel Hydraulics as it can affect the design and operation of hydraulic structures. For example, a floodplain can be affected by the design of a dam or weir, which can increase or decrease the risk of flooding.
Flow regime refers to the behavior of water in a channel, which can be af… #
Related terms include subcritical flow and supercritical flow. Flow regime is an important concept in Open Channel Hydraulics as it can affect the flow of water and sediment in a channel. For example, a channel with a subcritical flow regime can cause water to flow more slowly, which can increase the risk of flooding and erosion.
Friction factor refers to a dimensionless coefficient used to calculate t… #
Related terms include Darcy-Weisbach equation and Manning equation. Friction factor is an important concept in Open Channel Hydraulics as it can affect the flow of water and sediment in a channel. For example, a channel with a high friction factor can cause water to flow more slowly, which can increase the risk of flooding and erosion.
Froude number refers to a dimensionless number used to calculate the rati… #
Related terms include critical depth and critical velocity. Froude number is an important concept in Open Channel Hydraulics as it can affect the flow of water and sediment in a channel. For example, a channel with a high Froude number can cause water to flow more quickly, which can decrease the risk of flooding and erosion.
Gradually varied flow refers to a type of flow in a channel where the dep… #
Related terms include rapidly varied flow and uniform flow. Gradually varied flow is an important concept in Open Channel Hydraulics as it can affect the flow of water and sediment in a channel. For example, a channel with a gradually varied flow can cause water to flow more slowly, which can increase the risk of flooding and erosion.
Hydraulic gradient refers to the slope of the water surface in a channel,… #
Related terms include adverse slope and backwater. Hydraulic gradient is an important concept in Open Channel Hydraulics as it can affect the flow of water and sediment in a channel. For example, a channel with a high hydraulic gradient can cause water to flow more quickly, which can decrease the risk of flooding and erosion.
Hydraulic jump refers to a phenomenon where the flow of water in a channe… #
Related terms include backwater and weir. Hydraulic jump is an important concept in Open Channel Hydraulics as it can affect the flow of water and sediment in a channel. For example, a channel with a hydraulic jump can cause water to flow more slowly, which can increase the risk of flooding and erosion.
Hydraulic radius refers to the ratio of the cross #
sectional area of a channel to its wetted perimeter, which can be affected by the channel's hydraulic properties and the design of hydraulic structures. Related terms include Chezy equation and Darcy-Weisbach equation. Hydraulic radius is an important concept in Open Channel Hydraulics as it can affect the flow of water and sediment in a channel. For example, a channel with a high hydraulic radius can cause water to flow more quickly, which can decrease the risk of flooding and erosion.
Manning equation is a formula used to calculate the flow of water in a ch… #
Manning equation is an important concept in Open Channel Hydraulics as it can be used to determine the flow of water in a channel, which can affect the design and operation of hydraulic structures. For example, the Manning equation can be used to calculate the flow of water in a channel, which can be used to design a dam or weir.
Manning's roughness coefficient refers to a dimensionless coefficient use… #
Related terms include channel roughness and friction factor. Manning's roughness coefficient is an important concept in Open Channel Hydraulics as it can affect the flow of water and sediment in a channel. For example, a channel with a high Manning's roughness coefficient can cause water to flow more slowly, which can increase the risk of flooding and erosion.
Meandering refers to the curving of a channel, which can be affected by t… #
Related terms include sinuosity and channel migration. Meandering is an important concept in Open Channel Hydraulics as it can affect the flow of water and sediment in a channel. For example, a meandering channel can cause water to flow more slowly, which can increase the risk of flooding and erosion.
Open channel refers to a type of channel where the flow of water is not c… #
Related terms include closed channel and pipe flow. Open channel is an important concept in Open Channel Hydraulics as it can affect the flow of water and sediment in a channel. For example, an open channel can cause water to flow more quickly, which can decrease the risk of flooding and erosion.
Rapidly varied flow refers to a type of flow in a channel where the depth… #
Related terms include gradually varied flow and uniform flow. Rapidly varied flow is an important concept in Open Channel Hydraulics as it can affect the flow of water and sediment in a channel. For example, a channel with a rapidly varied flow can cause water to flow more quickly, which can decrease the risk of flooding and erosion.
Reynolds number refers to a dimensionless number used to calculate the ra… #
Related terms include Froude number and friction factor. Reynolds number is an important concept in Open Channel Hydraulics as it can affect the flow of water and sediment in a channel. For example, a channel with a high Reynolds number can cause water to flow more quickly, which can decrease the risk of flooding and erosion.
Sediment transport refers to the movement of sediment in a channel, which… #
Related terms include bed load and suspended load. Sediment transport is an important concept in Open Channel Hydraulics as it can affect the channel's shape and size, as well as the design of hydraulic structures. For example, sediment transport can cause a channel to become narrower and deeper, which can decrease its capacity to carry water and sediment.
Sinuosity refers to the ratio of the length of a channel to the distance… #
Related terms include meandering and channel migration. Sinuosity is an important concept in Open Channel Hydraulics as it can affect the flow of water and sediment in a channel. For example, a channel with a high sinuosity can cause water to flow more slowly, which can increase the risk of flooding and erosion.
Specific energy refers to the energy of water in a channel per unit weigh… #
Related terms include energy equation and hydraulic gradient. Specific energy is an important concept in Open Channel Hydraulics as it can affect the flow of water and sediment in a channel. For example, a channel with a high specific energy can cause water to flow more quickly, which can decrease the risk of flooding and erosion.
Subcritical flow refers to a type of flow in a channel where the flow is… #
Related terms include supercritical flow and critical depth. Subcritical flow is an important concept in Open Channel Hydraulics as it can affect the flow of water and sediment in a channel. For example, a channel with a subcritical flow can cause water to flow more slowly, which can increase the risk of flooding and erosion.
Supercritical flow refers to a type of flow in a channel where the flow i… #
Related terms include subcritical flow and critical depth. Supercritical flow is an important concept in Open Channel Hydraulics as it can affect the flow of water and sediment in a channel. For example, a channel with a supercritical flow can cause water to flow more quickly, which can decrease the risk of flooding and erosion.
Suspended load refers to the sediment that is transported in suspension i… #
Related terms include bed load and sediment transport. Suspended load is an important concept in Open Channel Hydraulics as it can affect the channel's shape and size, as well as the design of hydraulic structures. For example, suspended load can cause a channel to become narrower and deeper, which can decrease its capacity to carry water and sediment.
Uniform flow refers to a type of flow in a channel where the depth and ve… #
Related terms include gradually varied flow and rapidly varied flow. Uniform flow is an important concept in Open Channel Hydraulics as it can affect the flow of water and sediment in a channel. For example, a channel with a uniform flow can cause water to flow more slowly, which can increase the risk of flooding and erosion.
Velocity distribution refers to the variation of velocity across a channe… #
Related terms include velocity profile and shear stress. Velocity distribution is an important concept in Open Channel Hydraulics as it can affect the flow of water and sediment in a channel. For example, a channel with a velocity distribution can cause water to flow more quickly, which can decrease the risk of flooding and erosion.
Water surface profile refers to the shape of the water surface in a chann… #
Related terms include hydraulic gradient and backwater. Water surface profile is an important concept in Open Channel Hydraulics as it can affect the flow of water and sediment in a channel. For example, a channel with a water surface profile can cause water to flow more slowly, which can increase the risk of flooding and erosion.
Weir refers to a type of hydraulic structure used to measure or regulate… #
Related terms include dam and hydraulic jump. Weir is an important concept in Open Channel Hydraulics as it can affect the flow of water and sediment in a channel. For example, a weir can cause water to flow more quickly, which can decrease the risk of flooding and erosion.