Solved Examples

unsteady Channel flow

& water hammer surge

Bijan Dargahi
KTH, April 2025

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 Examples
• Channel flow
• Water hammer_1
• Water hammer_2
• Surge in pipelines
• Surge in a simple pipeline

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 Channel flow

A 4m wide channel carries a flow of 25 m3/s with a flow depth of 3m. The

downstream discharge is suddenly reduced to 12 m3/s by the partial closure

of a gate. Determine the initial depth and celerity.

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 Solution Channel flow
Positive surge from downstream

c
y2?
V1 V2?
y1=3m

Input Data:
y1=3m
B=4m
Q=25m3/s
Qreduced=12m3/s

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Solution
y1=3m v1=2.083 m/s (25/4x3)

Q=12m3/s v2=12/4y2=3/y2 ………………..(1)

Applying equation of continuity

y1(v1+c1)= y2(v2+c2)…………………(2)

c1=c2=c

2 3(2.083+c)=y2(3/y2+c) …………..(3)

3 c=3.249/y2-3 sub in Eqn. 19

Sub the values in Eqn 19

3.249 𝑔𝑦 2 𝑦2+3
= − 2.83 ……………………(4)
𝑦2 2 3

From Eqn 4, yields y2=3.75m & c=4.35m/s

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 Water hammer_ 1

The outlet valve of a pipe 1200m long is closed in 1 sec causing a

uniform retardation of the water flowing in the pipeline. Calculate the
rise in pressure at the valve if the initial velocity of water is 1.8 m/s
Assuming the pipe is rigid and fluid is incompressible.

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Solution

Initial velocity, V0=1.8 m/s & Time of closure, t=1 s

• Uniform retardation of water, f= V0/t=1.8 m2/s

• Mass of water in pipe=ρAL

𝑑𝑉
• Force on valve= mass x retardation ( 𝐹 = 𝑚 ) =ρALf
𝑑𝑡

• Pressure, Pf =force/area= ρLf

Sub. 𝜌=1000 kg/m3, L=1200m, yields

Pressure Pf at valve=1000x1200x1.8=2160 KN/m2

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 Water hammer_ 2

A surge chamber 10m in diameter, tunnel length=10km

with diameter D=3m. The steady state flow discharge is 36

m3/s. The flow to the turbine is suddenly stopped by

closing the turbine inlet valves. Find the maximum rise in

the water level in the surge chamber.

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Solution

• Comupte the mean velocity, (AT = 7.07 m2 & As=78.54 m2)

V0=36/7.07=5.09 m/s

𝐿𝐴𝑠 10000𝑥78.54
• Use Eqn 26a 𝑇 = 2𝜋 𝑇 = 2𝜋 = 668.67s
𝑔𝐴 𝑇 9.81𝑥7.07

• Use Eqn 25 𝐴𝑇 𝑇 78.54 668.67

𝐶2 = 𝑉0 𝐶2 = 5.09 = 48.78
𝐴𝑠 2𝜋 7.07 2𝜋

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• Use Eqn 22 2𝜋𝑡 2𝜋𝑡
𝑍 = 𝐶2 sin 𝑍 = 48.78 sin
𝑇 𝑇

• Z max when t=T/4 which gives

Z=48.78 m occuring after 167.17 s

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 Surge in pipelines

Water flows from a reservoir along a rigid horizontal pipe. The pipe intake is 20m below the water

surface elevation of the reservoir. Pipe diameter D=0.15m, L=1500m, λ=0.02. The valve can be

completely closed in 4 seconds. Calculate the pressure just upstream of the valve and 500m upstream

of the valve if the valve aperture is adjusted from fully open to ½ open in 2 seconds.

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Solution
Before the closure the flow velocity V0 , apply the head loss equation in a pipe

• Initially hf=20m thus we can calculate the initial velocity

𝜆𝐿𝑢02 0.02 𝑥 1500 𝑥 𝑢02

ℎ𝑓 = = uo=1.4 m/s
2𝑔𝐷 2 𝑥 9.81 𝑥 0.15

• Durig valve closure: du/dt=u0/t=1.4/4

• For ½ closure, u= uo/2=1.4/2=0.7m/s

𝜆𝐿𝑢2 0.02 𝑥 1500 𝑥 0.72

ℎ𝑓 = = = 5𝑚
2𝑔𝐷 2 𝑥 9.81 𝑥 0.15

• Apply the surge pressure equation 2 given by: 𝐿 ∆𝑢

∆𝐻 =
𝑔 ∆𝑡
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 1500 1.4
• Then we get: ∆𝐻 = = 53.5𝑚
9.81 4

• Total head at valve= (static head+Δh-hf) = 20 + 53.5 -5 =68.5m

• Head at a point 500 m (i.e. L-500) upstream of the valve is:

1000 1.4
∆𝐻 = = 35.7𝑚
9.81 4

1000
ℎ𝑓 = 5 = 3.3𝑚
1500

Total head =20+35.7-3.3=52.4m

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Plot the pressure head diagram

Surge pressure line

Static head Δh

Reservoir hf

Hydraulic gradient

L=1500m, D=0.15m, 𝜆=0.02

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 Surge in a simple pipeline
(effect of valve closure)

A valve is placed at the downstream end of a 3km long pipeline. Water is

initially flowing along the pipe at a mean velocity of 2.5m/s. What is the
magnitude of the surge pressure generated by a sudden valve closure.
Plot the pressure diagram for the complete cycle.
Take celerity of sound in water as 1500m/s.

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Solution
• Increase in pressure is given by eqn. 30

ΔP=ρcV0=1000 x 1500 x 25 =3.75x106 N/m2

• Compute the transmission time for the shock wave

• T=L/c = 3000/1500=2sec

• Sketch the pressure varations

0 2 4 6 8 10 12

4s shock wave
travels to reservoir decompression wave
returns to valve

Negative pressure
for 4s
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End of example slide show!

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