Flow Over Notches and Weirs
Flow Over Notches and Weirs
Flow Over Notches and Weirs
Culvert
Measuring flow
The lowest point of structure surface or edge over which water flows is
called the crest, whereas the stream of water that exits over the weir is
called the nappe. Depending on the weir design, flow may contract as it
exits over the top of the weir, and, as with orifices, the point of
maximum contraction is called the vena contracta.
A common weir
Types of weir
Weir can be identified by:
1. the shape of their opening or notch;
2. the edge of the opening- can be either sharp- or broad crested or of
other geometry.
Example of some
common weirs based
on their cross section
(edge of the opening):
Weir Assumptions
We will assume that the velocity of the fluid approaching the weir is
small so that kinetic energy can be neglected. We will also assume that
the velocity through any elemental strip depends only on the depth below
the free surface. These are acceptable assumptions for tanks with notches
or reservoirs with weirs, but for flows where the velocity approaching the
weir is substantial the kinetic energy must be taken into account (e.g. a
fast moving river).
gives the
Rectangular Weir
For a rectangular weir the width does not change with depth so there is
no relationship between b and depth h. We have the equation,
A rectangular weir
Substituting this into the general weir equation gives
The above equation is valid for P from 0.1 to 1.0 m and H from 0.024 to
0.6 m.
'V' Notch
For the "V" notch weir, the relationship between width and depth is
dependent on the angle of the "V".
So the discharge is
Trapezoidal weir
The equation for flow through trapezoidal notch is obtained from the
equations for rectangular and V-notches.
In the forgoing theory, it has been assumed that the velocity of the liquid
approaching the notch is very small so that its kinetic energy can be
neglected; it can also be assumed that the velocity through any
horizontal element across the notch will depend only on its depth below
the free surface.
This is a satisfactory assumption for flow over a notch or weir in the
side of a large reservoir, but, is the notch or weir is placed at the end of
a narrow channel, the velocity of approach to the weir will be
substantial and the head h producing flow will be increased by the
kinetic energy of the approaching liquid to a value
x = h + v12/(2g),
where v1 is the mean velocity of the liquid in the approach channel.
Note that the value of v1 is obtained by dividing the discharge by the full
cross sectional area of the channel itself, not that of the notch. As a
result, the discharge through the strip will be
dQ = b dh(2gx).
Examples
1. Deduce an expression for the discharge of water over a right-angled
sharp edged V-notch, given that the coefficient of discharge is 0.61.
A rectangular tank 16m by 6m has the same notch in one of its short
vertical sides. Determine the time taken for the head, measured from the
bottom of the notch, to fall from 15cm to 7.5cm.
Answer:
From your notes you can derive:
Write the equation for the discharge in terms of the surface height
change:
Integrating between h1 and h2, to give the time to change surface level
h1 = 0.15m, h2 = 0.075m
2. Develop a formula for the discharge over a 900 V-notch weir in terms
of
head
above
the
bottom
of
the
V.
A channel conveys 300 litres/sec of water. At the outlet end there is a 90
V-notch weir for which the coefficient of discharge is 0.58. At what
distance above the bottom of the channel should the weir be placed in
order to make the depth in the channel 1.30m? With the weir in this
position what is the depth of water in the channel when the flow is 200
litres/sec?
Answer:
Derive this formula from the notes: