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Wetted Surface Area Formula:
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The wetted surface area of a parabola refers to the total area of the outer surface that is in contact with the surrounding water in a parabolic channel section. This measurement is crucial in hydraulic engineering for determining flow characteristics and channel efficiency.
The calculator uses the parabolic wetted area formula:
Where:
Explanation: The formula calculates the area of a parabolic segment where the top width and depth of flow define the dimensions of the wetted perimeter in contact with water.
Details: Accurate calculation of wetted surface area is essential for determining hydraulic radius, flow resistance, and energy loss in open channel flow systems. It helps in designing efficient water conveyance structures.
Tips: Enter top width and depth of flow in meters. Both values must be positive numbers greater than zero for accurate calculation.
Q1: What is the difference between wetted area and wetted perimeter?
A: Wetted area refers to the surface area in contact with water, while wetted perimeter is the length of the channel boundary that is in contact with water.
Q2: Can this formula be used for all parabolic channels?
A: This formula applies to perfect parabolic sections. For irregular or modified parabolic shapes, additional calculations may be required.
Q3: How does wetted area affect flow velocity?
A: Larger wetted areas typically result in lower flow velocities due to increased frictional resistance along the channel boundaries.
Q4: What units should be used for input values?
A: The calculator uses meters for both top width and depth of flow, resulting in square meters for the wetted area output.
Q5: Is this calculation applicable to pressurized flow?
A: No, this formula specifically applies to open channel flow with a free water surface in parabolic sections.