Abstract

During the propagation of an unsteady open-channel flood wave, its discharge, velocity and water stage are variable. And these three factors affect each other according to a complex rule. This paper presents some experimental and theoretical studies on this phenomenon. Some parameters of the flood wave, such as discharge, velocity and water depth were measured in a flume system, which is established for researching the unsteady flow properties. The wave deformation caused by the unsteadiness of flow was studied. By using the Saint-Venant equation and with some simplifications, expressions were deduced for the variation of unsteady discharge with water stage. The mechanism of the asynchronism among discharge, velocity and water stage, as well as the influence of unsteadiness on the phasic relationship, were analyzed. Furthermore, the loop phenomenon in the characteristic curve of discharge in open-channel flows was investigated. The results showed that the comparative loop size was varied with the changing of the unsteady flow parameter. Based on both the experimental data and the farther theoretical analysis, the effect of the unsteadiness on the wave deformation was shown explicitly and the regularity of flood wave propagation was uncovered preliminary.

 

Keywords: Unsteady flow, Open channel flow, Rating curve, Loop phenomenon