Abstract
This paper describes mathematical theory and laboratory experiment of the flood wave in uniform open channel. The theory is developed by the method of successive approximations with respect to a small parameter σ which is defined by σ=√-F(O)/g/S0, whree F (O) denotes the vertical accelerative rate of rising of the stage of the flood wave at the moment of passage of its crest at a cross section of the channel, g the intensity of gravity and S0 slope of the channel. The laboratory experiment was conducted primarily for the verification of the theory. Flood wave with any desired value of σ was generated in flowing water with any desired value of Froude number and specifically the rate of attenuation and the speed of propagation, both of which were related to the crest of the wave, were measured and are compared with those given by the theory.
