Variation of Velocity Distribution along Nonuniform Open‐Channel Flow

Abstract

A number of techniques have been developed to compute the velocity distribution and, hence, the momentum and energy coefficients along a nonuniform open‐channel flow. Analysis of velocity distribution in the probability domain has made it possible to determine the cross‐sectional mean velocity and the momentum and energy coefficients without having to deal with the geometrical shape of cross sections, which tend to be extremely complex in natural channels. In the probability space, the area mean values can be obtained as the mathematical expectations that can be determined from the probability density function of velocity derived by entropy maximization. The capability of a velocity distribution, derived from the probability and entropy concepts, to describe various possible patterns of velocity distribution along a nonuniform flow has been demonstrated. Simple graphical methods to estimate a model parameter have also been developed for practical applications in study of transport processes in open channels, natural or man‐made, that are related to the velocity distribution.