𝑽𝒂 𝟐

BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN CIVIL ENGINEERING 𝒉𝒗 = 𝟐𝒈

CE 112 – HYDRAULICS 𝑽𝒂 𝒅𝑳 = 𝑸
2nd Semester, S.Y 2023 – 2024
Va = velocity of approach
MODULE 2 (PART 4)
FLUID FLOW MEASUREMENT B. Broad Crested Weirs
- They are weirs having sufficient elevation above the channel bottom to choke the flow
and it is long enough so that the overflow streamlines become parallel resulting in a
2.6 WEIRS
hydrostatic pressure distribution.
A weir is an obstruction structure placed in an open channel that causes the water to back up 𝟐
behind it and flow over it. They are built across an open channel for the purpose of measuring the 𝒅𝒄 = 𝟑 𝑯 (critical depth)
discharge or controlling the flow of water. 𝑽𝒄 = √𝒈𝒅𝒄 (critical depth)

Definition of Terms 𝟐
𝑸= 𝑪√𝟐𝒈𝑳𝑯𝟑⁄𝟐
𝟑
Nappe – the overflowing stream in a weir. 𝑪=
𝟎.𝟔𝟓
𝑯
(𝟏+ )𝟎.𝟓
𝑷

Crest of weir – the edge or top surface of a weir with which the flowing liquid comes in contact.
a. If P (height of weir plate is not known)
Contracted weir – weirs having sides sharp-edged, so that the nappe is contracted in width or having
end contractions, either one end or two ends.
𝑸 = 𝟏. 𝟕𝟏𝑳𝑯𝟑⁄𝟐
Suppressed weir or full-width weir – weirs having its length L being equal to the width of the channel
so that the nappe suffers no end contractions.

Drop-down curve – the downward curvature of the liquid surface before the weir. b. For a well-rounded upstream corner of a broad crested weir.

Head, H – the distance between the liquid surface and the crest of the weir, measured before the
drop-down curve. 𝑸 = 𝟏. 𝟔𝟕𝑳𝑯𝟑⁄𝟐

A. Sharp Crested Weirs

- Weirs are constructed from a sheet of metal or other material so that the jet or nappe
springs free as it leaves the upstream face.
C. Contracted Rectangular Weirs
Sharp crested rectangular weirs: - When the weir does not extend completely across the width of the channel.

𝟐 𝑸 = 𝟏. 𝟖𝟒𝑳′𝑯𝟑⁄𝟐
𝑸 = 𝟑 𝑪√𝟐𝒈𝑳𝑯𝟑⁄𝟐
𝟎.𝟎𝟕𝟓𝑯
𝑪 = 𝟎. 𝟔𝟔𝟏 + 𝑳′ = 𝑳 − 𝟎. 𝟐𝑯
𝑷

C = discharge coefficient
H = height of water above the crest
L = length of weir
Va = velocity of approach

Using Francis Formula: 𝑸 = 𝟏. 𝟖𝟒𝑳′𝑯𝟑⁄𝟐

a. Neglecting velocity of approach 𝑳′ = 𝑳 − 𝟎. 𝟏𝟎𝑯

𝑸 = 𝟏. 𝟖𝟒𝑳𝑯𝟑⁄𝟐
b. Considering velocity of approach
𝑸 = 𝟏. 𝟖𝟒𝑳[(𝑯 + 𝒉𝒗 )𝟑⁄𝟐 − (𝒉𝒗 )𝟑⁄𝟐 ]

ENGR. MELANIE ROSE P. PASCUA

 H. Submerged Weirs
D. Suppressed Weirs
- The length of the weir is equal to the width of the channel. 𝑸𝒔 𝑯𝟐 𝟏.𝟓
𝟎.𝟑𝟖𝟓

= [𝟏 − ( ) ]
𝑸 𝑯𝟏
Neglecting velocity of approach
𝑸 = 𝟏. 𝟖𝟒𝑳′𝑯𝟑⁄𝟐
𝑄𝑠 = discharged of the submerged weir
𝑄 = discharged of a suppressed weir under a head of 𝐻1
Considering velocity of approach
𝑸 = 𝟏. 𝟖𝟒𝑳[(𝑯 + 𝒉𝒗 )𝟑⁄𝟐 − (𝒉𝒗 )𝟑⁄𝟐 ] 𝟐
𝑸 = 𝟑 √𝟐𝒈𝑪𝒘 𝑳𝑯𝟏 𝟑⁄𝟐
For sharp crested weir
𝟎. 𝟎𝟕𝟓𝑯 Example Problems:
𝑪𝒘 = 𝟎. 𝟔𝟏𝟏 +
𝑷
1. A flow of 12 m³/s passes over a suppressed weir which is 4.90 m. long. The total depth
For broad crested weir upstream from the weir must not exceed 2.45 m. Using C=1.85.
𝟎. 𝟔𝟓 a. Compute the velocity of approach.
𝑪𝒘 =
𝑯 b. Compute the head of the weir.
(𝟏 + 𝑷 )𝟎.𝟓
c. Determine the height to which the crest should be placed to carry this flow.

Francis Formula 2. Determine the discharge of the weir having a head of 0.35 m. in liters/sec.
𝑸 = 𝟏. 𝟖𝟒𝑳𝑯𝟑⁄𝟐 a. If a 90° triangular weir is used.
b. If a trapezoidal weir with sides inclined 14.04° with the vertical and a length of crest of 2
E. Triangular Weir or V-notch Weir m.
c. If a contracted rectangular sharp crested weir 2 m. long is used.
𝟖 𝜽
𝑸 = 𝟏𝟓 𝑪√𝟐𝒈𝒕𝒂𝒏 𝟐 𝑯𝟓⁄𝟐
𝑸 = 𝟏. 𝟒𝑯𝟓⁄𝟐 3. After a heavy downpour the depth of water over the weir was 5 m. If the total discharge
when 𝜃 = 90° through the weir was 1,000,000 m³, how long did the flow over the weir last?
a. If a rectangular weir is used having a length of 200 m.
b. If a trapezoidal weir is used with its sides making an angle of 75°57’49’’ with the
horizontal and the weir has a length of 200 m.

4. A channel carries 300 liters/sec of water. Assuming 0.002 m. error is made in measuring the
Derivation of discharge of triangular weir head. Determine the percentage error in the discharge if,
𝑳 = 𝟐𝑯𝒕𝒂𝒏
𝜽 a. A 90° triangular weir is used.
𝟒
𝟐
𝜽 b. A Cipolletti weir is used with L= 4m. long
𝑸 = 𝟏𝟓 𝑪(𝟐𝑯)𝒕𝒂𝒏 𝟐 √𝟐𝒈𝑯𝟑⁄𝟐 c. A rectangular weir is used with L=5m. long.
𝟖 𝜽
𝑸 = 𝟏𝟓 𝑪√𝟐𝒈𝒕𝒂𝒏 𝟐 𝑯𝟓⁄𝟐
5. A V-notch weir is located or cut at one end of a tank having a horizontal square section
C = 0.58 for use with the water where 𝜃 varies from 22.5° to 120° (King and Brater) 10m x 10 m. If the initial head on the weir is 1.20 m and it takes 380 sec. to discharge 100
cu.m. of water and using a correction factor C=0.62.
a. Compute the vertex angle of the weir.
F. Trapezoidal Weir b. How many cu.m. of water discharges after 200 seconds?
c. Determine the time when the water surface drops by 0.80 m.

𝑸 = 𝑸𝒓𝒆𝒄𝒕𝒂𝒏𝒈𝒖𝒍𝒂𝒓 𝒘𝒆𝒊𝒓 + 𝑸𝒕𝒓𝒊𝒂𝒏𝒈𝒖𝒍𝒂𝒓 𝒘𝒆𝒊𝒓 6. A broad crested weir in a horizontal channel is 10 m. wide and 1.5 m. high. If the upstream
𝟐 𝟑⁄𝟐 𝟖 𝜽 𝟓⁄𝟐 depth is 3m.
𝑸 = 𝟑 𝑪√𝟐𝒈𝑳𝑯 + 𝟏𝟓 𝑪′√𝟐𝒈𝒕𝒂𝒏 𝟐 𝑯
a. Compute the discharged coefficient Cw for a broad crested weir.
b. Compute the value of weir coefficient C if 𝑄 = 𝐶𝐿𝐻 3⁄2 .
G. Cipolletti Weir c. Compute the discharge for a broad crested weir.
𝟏
𝒕𝒂𝒏𝜽 = 𝟒 7. A sharp crested, suppressed weir is under a head of 0.67 m. The weirs length is 3 m., and its
𝑸 = 𝟏. 𝟖𝟓𝟗𝑳𝑯𝟑⁄𝟐 height is 1.25 m.

ENGR. MELANIE ROSE P. PASCUA

 a. Determine the discharge coefficient Cw.
b. Determine the flow rate of water over the weir.
c. If the weir is submerged and the downstream water surface is 0.30 m. above the top of
weir, determine the flow rate of water over the weir.

8. A broad crested water or height 0.76 m. in a channel 1.8 m. wide has a flow over it of 0.33
m³/s
a. Compute the depth of water directly above the weir.
b. Compute the velocity of water directly above the weir.
c. Compute the water depth just upstream of the weir.

References:
1. Besavilla, V.I. (1996) Fluid Mechanics and Hydraulics, 3rd edition.,VIB Publisher
2. Gillesania, Diego Inocencio T.Fluid mechanics and hydraulics, c2003, Leyte
3. Evett, Jack B. & Liu, Cheng. (1989) Schaum’s 2500 Solved Problems in Fluid Mechanics and
Hydraulics, McGraw-Hill Inc.
4. Daugherty, R.L., Franzini, J.B., Finnemore, E.J. (2002) Fluid Mechanics with Engineering
Applications,SI Metric Edition, USA
5. King, H. W., Wisler, C. O., and Woodburn, J. G. Hydraulics, Fifth Edition, John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

ENGR. MELANIE ROSE P. PASCUA