SUMMARY
This work deals with the numerical modeling of the hydraulic jump problem in a rectangular channel by the finite element method. The determination and knowledge of the jump characteristics; position, length, height and energy dissipation, are of prime importance for the design and calculation of hydraulic structures and systems with free surface flows. Based on certain simplifying assumptions that are acceptable in practice, the Saint-Venant 1D mathematical model has been used for the dynamic computation of the shock wave. The numerical solution of the set of hyperbolic partial differential equations was obtained by the Finite Element Method and the Method of Characteristics at the boundaries. The results concerned the prediction of the dynamic water free surface profile following a downstream control of the flow rate and the stationary state of the hydraulic jump in the channel. The obtained results for this purpose show a very good agreement with experimental measurements available in literature.