Nondimensional Expression of Unsteady Canal Flow

Abstract

By appropriate choice of reference variables, dimensionless governing equations and initial and boundary conditions of unsteady canal flow have fewer independent parameters that do their dimensioned counterparts; the same information can be expressed more compactly. With design discharge and normal depth as references, unsteady flow is governed by cross-sectional shape factors, Froude number at normal depth, and the dimensionless length, as well as initial and boundary conditions. A particular dimensionless form of the Saint-Venant equations was found to have the same appearance as the dimensioned equations. Dimensionless