Hydraulic Lab · Manual Experiment 1

S6-type teaching flume
4.30 m long × 0.30 m wide × 0.45 m deep

Drag to orbit · scroll to zoom · three point gauges

Measure → calculate → compare

Set a slope and keep it fixed for a series.
Set the pump discharge. This simulator solves steady uniform flow.
Read three point gauges, or enter your own measured depths.
Calculate wetted perimeter, area, radius, velocity, n and C.
Repeat for at least five different discharges and compare the coefficients.

0 of 5 distinct discharges recorded.

Mean measured depth—m

Measured velocity—m/s

Manning n—s/m⅓

Chezy C—m½/s

#	S	Q m³/s	y₁ m	y₂ m	y₃ m	ȳ m	P m	A m²	R m	V m/s	n	C

Measurements can be virtual or manually entered; CSV records their origin. A new slope starts a new series for the five-discharge check.

Flume setup

Bed slope S Pump discharge

Q is set in L/s and converted to m³/s for calculations. Width is fixed at 0.30 m as specified in the manual.

Virtual gauges read the steady model to 0.1 mm. They are synthetic observations, not experimental evidence.

Gauge 1 · upstream (m)Gauge 2 · middle (m)Gauge 3 · downstream (m)

Set a discharge, then take gauge readings.

Equations

ȳ=(y₁+y₂+y₃)/3
P=b+2ȳ · A=bȳ · R=A/P
V=Q/A
n=A R⅔ √S / Q
C=V/√(RS)=R⅙/n

Simulation assumptions

The virtual flume uses a fixed illustrative n=0.010 and Manning uniform-flow depth. The experiment estimates n back from virtual measurements. Matching this value verifies the calculation, not the physical model.

The apparatus is an approximate S6-style reconstruction, not an exact manufacturer CAD model. Glass panels, frame, pump and point gauges are visual; no pump curve, pipe network, turbulent flow, manometer or transient stabilization solver is included. Manually entered observations do not alter the predicted 3D water surface.

Check the book’s sample arithmetic

Page 11, row 1: b=0.30 m and ȳ=0.058 m imply P=0.416 m and R≈0.04183 m. The printed P=0.0348 m and R=0.5000 m do not follow the stated formulas.

This loads the printed raw measurements, then recalculates all derived columns. The manual’s Q=kA√(2gΔh) requires an instrument area/calibration not fully specified here, so this module uses prescribed Q instead of inventing manometer readings.

Experiment 1 · Determine n and C

Measure → calculate → compare

Observation & calculation sheet