NOVATEUR PUBLICATIONS INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF INNOVATIONS IN ENGINEERING RESEARCH AND TECHNOLOGY [IJIERT] ISSN: 2394-3696 VOLUME 3, ISSUE 11, Nov.-2016 27 | Page STUDY OF BOUNDARY LAYER GROWTH IN STRAIGHT OPEN RECTANGULAR CHANNEL SANDEEP SAMANTARAY Department of Civil Engineering, VSS Universityof Technology, Burla768018, Odisha samantaraysandeep963@gmail.com ABINASH SAHOO Department of Civil Engineering, VSS Universityof Technology, Burla768018, Odisha bablusahoo1992@gmail.com ASHUTOSH RATH Department of Civil Engineering, VSS Universityof Technology, Burla768018, Odisha erashutoshrath@gmail.com PROF PRAKASH CHANDRA SWAIN Department of Civil Engineering, VSSUniversityof Technology, Burla768018, Odisha pcswain.vssut@hotmail.com ABSTRACT Open channel flow, a branch of fluvial hydraulics, fluid flow within a conduit having free surface is an example of such flow.Whereasthe other type of flow within a closed conduit, is termed as pipe flow. Pipe flow is due to external pressure which is replaced by gravity force in open-channel flow. If we consider the open channel flow it is essential to make a study of velocity and its others characteristics is very essential for knowing various aspects of flow. Boundary layer is expressed as the fluid layer alongside to the surface of solid boundary where the effect of viscous forces is prevalent. This paper presents, the variation of boundary layer alongside the centerline of the rectangular straight channel which extends up to the free surface of a flow having aspect ratio b/h ≥ 3, measured along and across the direction of flow of the straight simple rectangular channel and has been methodically analyzed at different test sections of the channel. The investigation is done thoroughly to encounter changes in the shape of the velocity profile all through the simple straight path, which helps in studying the thickness of boundary layer along the channel as well as across the channel. Velocity profile can be further used for identifying the growth of boundary layer, change in flow direction, accelerated or decelerated flow description. Using a pitot tube along with U-tube manometer, longitudinal velocities are measured in different cross section which is used to signify the development of completely developed open channel flow as per the variation in boundary layer thickness. KEYWORDS: India, Boundary Layer; Velocity Profile; fully developed zone. INTRODUCTION Based on the velocity distribution the primitive difference between turbulent and laminar flow is that the maximum velocity is found at some distance lower to the surface of water for turbulent flows, but in case of laminar flows it occurs at the water surface. The presence of secondary flow cells plays important role behind this concept of velocity distribution. Velocity distribution study helps to know about the magnitude of velocity at each point