Critical width of a rectangular open-channel contraction ($w_c/W=\sqrt{27F/(F+2{)}^3},F=U^2/(gH)$)

For a steady slowly varying rectangular channel, mass conservation and the Bernoulli equation give $(W/w{)}^2=((F+2)/F)s^2-(2/F)s^3$, where $s=h/H$. The positive cubic has its maximum at $s=(F+2)/3$, with value $(F+2{)}^3/(27F)$. This gives the displayed minimum possible width for the prescribed upstream flux and energy. Smooth subcritical and supercritical branches connected to upstream data remain distinct unless the critical width is attained.