Energy Losses and Shear Stresses in Channel Bends

Abstract

A method for calculating the friction factor coefficient in bends is developed. The average water depth in an established section of a channel bend is less than the depth that would be produced in the same place if the channel were straight. A correlation has been found between this loss of depth which is generated by the effect of the curvature and the average flow velocity at the entrance of the channel bend. A logarithmic equation facilitates the calculation of the energy losses in bends. This correlation is based mainly on published flume data for a limited range of flume widths. Also, the magnitude of the shear maxima produced by the curved flow can be predicted by its correlation with the maximum velocity head that occurs at a section where the water surface obtains its minimum depth.