Effective Depth in Channels Having Bed Undulations

Basic experimental studies were conducted in a laboratory flume to investigate the value of the depth of flow as a parameter to be used for computing the friction factor in open channels having bed undulations. The analysis of the experimental data showed that the practice of taking the depth of flow as the mean depth, on the basis of all the undulations having been evened in a levelling process, needs modification since the concentration of the undulations plays a significant part. Necessary correction factor for obtaining the effective depth of flow has been suggested. It is felt that the concept of effective depth as developed in this paper would be helpful in future studies on the complex subject of flow in open channels with undulating beds.