UNIVERSIDAD SAN FRANCISCO DE QUITO

COLEGIO POLITÉCNICO
ICV-0385 INGENIERÍA CIVIL HIDRÁULICA

LABORATORIO #5: HYDRAULIC JUMP

OBJECTIVES:
 To physically achieve a hydraulic jump in the lab flume experiment.
 To measure the physical dimensions of a hydraulic jump.
 Calculate the energy losses dissipated through a hydraulic jump.
 Classify the stability of various hydraulic jumps according to their Froude Number.

APPARATUS REQUIRED:
 Hydraulic Channel Flume  Collecting tank
 Sluice Gate  Water Pump
 Ruler/Measuring Tape  Weight Balance

THEORY:
Hydraulic jump in open channels can be attributed to rapidly varied flow where a significant change
in velocity occurs from supercritical flow to subcritical flow. This fact may owe to the presence of some
structures obstructing the movement of flow in open channels. Undershot weir or gate is the most impressive
example for hydraulic jump formation in canals where the flow undergoes high velocity under gates with
upstream small depth and returns to a higher downstream conjugate depth away from the gate with lower
velocity. Froude number represents the clear impact of nonuniform flow velocity in open channels where
supercritical flow is obtained at Froude number greater than 1, whereas subcritical flow is indicated at Froude
number less than 1. The main advantage of hydraulic jump occurrence in canals is energy dissipation
downstream spillways where accumulation of water behind the gate is associated to the high flow velocity
which abruptly declines downstream gate and thus avoiding bed erosion and scour.

Further studies have been discussed to show the relationship between conjugate depth ratio, Froude
number and energy dissipated in the hydraulic jump. Mathematical models based on experimental studies
have currently revealed an attractive way to demonstrate the influence of various parameters on canal
performance. Moreover, such models provide a beneficially robust tool to ensure the obtained outcomes
and approach more accurate results.

DESCRIPTION:
When water flows down a steep surface such as a spillway and enters a relatively flat channel, the
result is a transition from rapid shallow flow to slower, deeper flow. Any abrupt transition from a lower-stage
supercritical flow to a higher-stage subcritical flow is referred to as a hydraulic jump. Figure 5.1 shows a
hydraulic jump.

Hydraulic jumps can occur wherever flow in a channel is very rapid, such as a steep channel
transitioning to a flat channel or flow discharging under a sluice gate into a channel. Hydraulic jumps can also
be induced at a point of rapid flow to reduce the high velocity and thus control erosion downstream. Typical
jump-inducing structures include stilling basins and energy dissipaters consisting of concrete blocks acting as
obstructions to the flow.

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ICV-0385 HYDRAULIC JUMP HIDRÁULICA

Fig 5.1: Hydraulic Jump.

Hydraulic jumps can be weak or very pronounced depending on flow conditions. A classification of
different types of jumps according to the Froude number (NFr) of the incoming flow has been developed. The
value of NFr must be greater than 1.0 for a hydraulic jump to form. This is because hydraulic jumps always
occur when flow transitions from supercritical flow to subcritical flow. According to the classification, the
greater the value of NFr, the stronger is the hydraulic jump. The strongest jumps occur when NFr > 9.0. For
values of NFr between 1.0 and 9.0, the hydraulic jumps that form have various characteristics, including weak,
oscillating, and steady.

Fig 5.2: Classification of Hydraulic Jumps.

Typical features of a hydraulic jump are shown in Figure 5.2. Flow depth before the jump, Y1, is called
initial depth and the depth after the jump, Y2, is called sequent depth. The length, L, of the jump cannot be
computed mathematically because of the complex motion of the water within the jump. However, values of
L have been determined experimentally and can be found in many hydraulic texts.

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ICV-0385 HYDRAULIC JUMP HIDRÁULICA

Generally, sequent depth is determined by normal depth in the channel downstream of the hydraulic
jump. The location of the jump is determined by the initial velocity and the initial depth relative to the
sequent depth. A hydraulic jump will form in a rectangular channel when the following equation is satisfied:

1 2
𝑦2 = 𝑦 [ √1 + 8 𝑁𝐹1 −1]
2 1

The location of a hydraulic jump can be very important in the design of hydraulic structures. In the
case of a spillway, the apron would be extended downstream of the hydraulic jump to protect against scour.

Generally, if the sequent depth is increased, the jump occurs more upstream, and if the sequent
depth is decreased, the jump occurs more downstream. Usually, an upstream jump location is desirable.
However, control of the sequent depth is difficult because varying discharge values result in varying sequent
depths and therefore varying locations of the hydraulic jump. Methods of mitigating this problem include
constructing a stilling basin or a sloping apron.

FORMULAS USED:

A) HYDRAULIC JUMP
 Sequent Depth (Y2)  Flow Velocity (v)
1 2
𝑄
𝑦2 = 𝑦 [ √1 + 8 𝑁𝐹1 −1] 𝑣1 =
2 1 𝐵 𝑦1

 Froude’s Number (NF)  Height of Hydraulic Jump (y)

𝑣 ∆𝑦 = 𝑦2 − 𝑦1
𝑁𝐹 =
√𝑔 𝑦ℎ

B) SPECIFIC ENERGY
 Specific Energy (E)  Energy Dissipation (E)
𝑣2 (𝑦2 − 𝑦1 )3
𝐸 =𝑦+ ∆𝐸 = 𝐸1 − 𝐸2 =
2𝑔 4 𝑦1 𝑦2

Where,

Fig 5.3: Specific Energy of Hydraulic Jumps.

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ICV-0385 HYDRAULIC JUMP HIDRÁULICA

PRECAUTIONS:

 Check that air is not trapped in the hose or pump before turning it on.
 Hydraulic jumps are very unstable so try to perform measurements accurately and quickly as possible.
 Use 3 decimal digits for measurements values.

PROCEDURE (LAB INSTRUCTIONS):

Experiment steps:
1. Measure the width of the channel.
2. Start the pump to supply water to the flume and reach a steady state.
3. Then close the upstream gate to allow water to accumulate.
4. Develop the hydraulic jump by opening the sluice gate about 2 mm - 4 mm.
5. Adjust the position of the hydraulic jump by adjusting the amount of closure of sluice gate.
6. Measure the water surface level before the hydraulic jump.
7. Next, measure the water surface level downstream of the jump.
8. Repeated the measurement steps again for a different flowchart.
9. Estimate the flow velocity in the supercritical region and subcritical region by dividing the flow by the
area of each region.

After entering the readings in the Tabulation 5.1, compute the necessary values.

PROCEDURE (Write down your own procedure report format)

POST-EXPERIMENT ACTIVITIES:

 The apparatus should be drained and cleaned after use.

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ICV-0385 HYDRAULIC JUMP HIDRÁULICA

OBSERVATION AND COMPUTATIONS: Nombre: _____________________________

Canal Width B = __________________. Fecha: _________________

Tabulation 5.1: Hydraulic Jump data and Specific Energy calculations.

FLOW UPSTREAM OF FLOW DOWNSTREAM OF

Calculated HYDRAULIC JUMP
HYDRAULIC JUMP HYDRAULIC JUMP
Error
Run Volume Time Flow Y1 A1 v1 E1 Y2 A2 v2 E2 Y2* Y E
Error
NF1 NF2
(J/N)
Y2* Ecalc* Ecalc*
# (mL) (sec) (L/s) (mm) (cm2) (m/s) (J/N) (mm) (cm2) (m/s) (mm) (%)
= Y2-Y1 = E1-E2 (%)

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ICV-0385 HYDRAULIC JUMP HIDRÁULICA

RESULTS AND COMMENTS:

1. Compute the velocity before and after the jump.

2. Compute the specific energy for each depth using the measured values of supercritical, Y1, and subcritical,
Y2, depths.
3. For each depth measured, compute the corresponding Froude number before and after the jump.
4. For the constant flowrate, compute the critical depth, Yc, using equation for critical flow conditions.
5. For each jump, compute the sequent depth, Y2*, for each measured value of Y1; and compare it with your
measurement of Y2, find % error.
6. Estimate the energy loss in the jump as the difference of E1–E2 and compare this value with E of the
equation, find % error.
7. Analyze and explain the results and calculations obtained from your lab experiment.

GRAPH:

 Plot a Specific Energy curve diagram for 4 runs of your laboratory data. Show all pertinent depths (Y1, Y2,
Y2*, and Yc) and indicate the energy loss, , for each hydraulic jump (similar to Fig. 5.3).
 Graphically, determine the alternate depth (Y2-alternate) for the initial specific energy E1.
 Plot Froude’s Number NF1 vs Flow Depth Y1, taking Froude number on the y-axis and depth on the x-axis.

DISCUSSION:

 Discuss assumptions of the theory applied and if any assumptions made caused a bias in this lab practice.
 Discuss the accuracy of each result, numerically. Identify the possible experimental errors.
 Analyze probable sources of error. Explain causes of the error and how much % on consequence.
 Determine the %-Error between Y2-measured vs. Y2-calculated. Discuss the factors causing
discrepancy between Y2 measured vs. Y2 calculated.
 Determine the %-Error between E vs. Ecalculated. Discuss the factors causing discrepancy between E
vs. Ecalculated.

 QUESTIONS:

1) Why do we need to understand and analyze the behavior of a hydraulic jump? What is the purpose of a
hydraulic jump and where do you use them in the practical life?

2) What can you infer about the stability of each jump based on the computed sequent depth and the
laboratory data? Classify each jump based on their Froude Number.

3) Determine the Efficiency of each hydraulic jump based on the following equation:

(𝟖𝑵𝑭𝟏 𝟐 + 𝟏)𝟑/𝟐 − 𝟒𝑵𝑭𝟏 𝟐 + 𝟏

𝒆𝑱 = × 𝟏𝟎𝟎
𝟖𝑵𝑭𝟏 𝟐 (𝟐 + 𝑵𝑭𝟏 𝟐 )

4) What is the meaning of Froude Number? Explain the interpretation of this dimensionless parameter.

5) What is the difference between subsequent depth and alternate depth in a hydraulic jump?

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