Define prismatic channel

Short answer

A prismatic channel has constant cross-sectional shape, size, and bed slope along its length, so area depends only on depth. Example: long straight concrete canal.

Define prismatic channel.

A prismatic channel is an open channel whose cross-sectional shape and size and bed slope do not change along its length. Its area is a function of depth only, $A=f(y)$ .

Examples: a long straight rectangular or trapezoidal concrete canal, and a circular culvert of constant diameter and slope.

 same section along the whole length
 ____________________________________
 |  []   |   []   |   []   |   []   |   (constant section, constant slope)

Most theoretical open channel formulas (uniform flow, GVF, critical depth computation) are derived for prismatic channels.

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