Direct Solution to Problems of Open-Channel Transitions: Rectangular Channels

The specific energy equation has many applications in rectangular open-channel flow problems. The existing methods of solving this equation are as follows: trial-and-error solution, graphical solution, and design tables prepared from the specific energy equation expressed in dimensionless form. No direct solutions are available in the technical literature for this equation to date because it was presumed that finding roots of this equation requires a series of substitutions. In this technical note, the writer develops an analytical solution for transitions located in rectangular open channels: (1) to avoid the inconvenience in available solutions; (2) to derive a less time consuming method; and (3) to achieve more accurate results than those as a result of using existing methods.