Measuring Flow in Open Channels (Weirs) : Broad-Crested and Sharp-Crested Weirs

The 20th week
Measuring flow in open channels (weirs)

Broad-Crested and Sharp-Crested Weirs
Weirs are overflow structures that alter the flow so that:
1. Volumetric flow rate can be calculated,
2. Flooding can be prevented, or
3. Make a body of water more navigable
Types of Weirs:
Main Types of Weirs
1. Sharp-Crested
a. Rectangular
b. Triangular
c. Trapezoidal
2. Broad-Crested
a. Rectangular
Sharp- vs. Broad-Crested Weirs
SHARP-CRESTED WEIR BROAD-CRESTED WEIR
Critical depth (yc) occurs off the Critical depth (yc) occurs at the
crest of the weir crest of the weir
Usually used to: Usually used to:
1. Measure the discharge of 1. Measure the discharge of
smaller rivers and canals larger rivers and canals
2. Change water elevation of 2. Change water elevation of
smaller rivers and canals larger rivers and canals
Sharp-Crested Weir
There are three main types of sharp-crested weirs:
1.Rectangular—Measure Discharge and Change Water Elevations
2.Triangular—Measure Discharge
3.Trapezoidal—Measure Discharge and Change Water Elevations with

Large Head
Sharp-crested weirs are usually used for smaller rivers and canals.
Sharp crested weirs differ from broad crested weirs due to the detached
water surface falling away from the downstream edge of the structure,
known as a free-falling nappe
The flow surfaces at the top and bottom of the nappe are exposed to the
air and at atmospheric pressure
A nappe that clings to the weir must be avoided in order to improve the
accuracy of the weir discharge calculation
Sharp-Crested Weir Rectangular/Suppressed
Discharge
Rectangular and suppressed weirs have the same general
discharge equation (below), but differing weir lengths that the
water flows over
√
 𝐷=0.602+0.083 /𝑃
 Where:
 Q (m³/s) is the volumetric flow rate over the weir
 𝐷is the discharge coefficient usually ranging from 0.60 to 0.62
 H (m) is the head over the weir(from the weir crest to the upstream
water surface )
 P (m) is the height of the weir plate
 B (m) is the width of the contracted notch (rectangular), or the width of

the channel (suppressed)
g is the acceleration of gravity (9.81 m/s²)
Sharp-Crested Weir V-Notch (Triangular)

Used in cases of small
discharge
 Best weir to measure

discharge in an open
channel
Highest accuracy when

measuring flow rate
(usually +/-2%)
Sharp-Crested Weir V-Notch (Triangular)
Discharge
Calculating discharge across a V-Notch weir is more complicated:
Where:
 Q (m³/s) is flow
over V-Notch weir
 𝑒, can be found
using the graphs to
the right
 H(m) is the head
flowing through the
notch
 θ(degrees) is the notch angle
 g is the acceleration of gravity(9.81 m/s²)
Sharp-Crested Weir (Trapezoidal)

 These weirs are trapezoidal shaped with notch side slopes of 4:1
(vertical:horizontal)
 Combination of a rectangular and triangular weir
 These weirs are commonly used for irrigation
 Used when discharge is too great for a rectangular weir
 Discharge for a trapezoidal Weir is calculated as follows:
=3.367𝐿 3/2
 Contractions in the free-flowing nappe occur in non-suppressed

weirs because water travelling along the faces of the weir cannot
instantaneously “turn” around the corners of the weir plate
 A weir is fully contracted if B>4H and partially contracted if

0<B<4H
 The presence of contractions requires a discharge correction factor,

but trapezoidal weirs are designed so that no correction is required
Broad-Crested Weir
 Typically sturdier than sharp-crested weirs
 Used in medium to large size rivers and canals (sturdier)
 Used as a flow measurement and water level regulator
 Necessary for flow to be in subcritical range—ensures smooth

water surface
Broad-Crested Weir Discharge
Flow over a broad-crested weir is highly dependent on the weir’s

geometry.
Simply discharge can be calculated as follows
Q= C L Hn
Where:
Q = Volumetric flow rate
C = Constant for the specific weir structure
L = Width of the weir
H = Height of water head upstream in relation to the weir’s crest
n = structure variant (usually 3/2 for a horizontal weir)
The equation above can also be used for sharp-crested weirs if the design
constants are known
Ex. 1
Ex.2
It is proposed to use a notch for measuring the water flow from a

reservoir. It is estimated that the error in measuring the head above the
bottom of the notch could be 1.5mm. For a discharge of 0.3m3 /s,
determine the percentage error, which may occur, using a right-angled
triangular notch with coefficient of discharge of 0.6.
For a V-notch,
Taking ,
When
Now
Or,
Example 3
A rectangular channel 6m wide carries 168 lits/min at a depth of 0.9m. What height of a
rectangular weir must be installed to double the depth? Discharge coefficient of weir may
be taken as 0.85.
Solution :
The discharge for a broad crested weir is given by,
Here, ; ;
Then,
The depth of the flow required =

The velocity of approach is given by,
Height of the broad crested weir = 1.8 – 0.4666 = 1.3334m.
Ex. 3
A rectangular weir 0.75 m high and 1.5 m long is to be used for

discharging water from a tank under a head of 0.5 m. Estimate the
discharge (i) when it is used as a suppressed weir (ii) when it is used
as a contract weir. Use Rehbock equation for estimating Cd in both
cases.
Data:
Weir height (P) = 0.75 m
Width of weir (B) = 1.5 m
Head (H) = 0.5 m
Formulae:
H and P in meter
Suppressed weir
Contracted weir
Where n = number of contractions
Q = flow rate
Calculations:
i. Suppressed weir:
Cd = 0.605 + 1 / (1000 x 0.5) + 0.08 x 0.5 / 0.75 = 0.66
Q = 0.66 x (2/3) x 1.5 x (2 x 9.812)0.5 x 0.53/2 = 1.034 m3/sec
ii. Contracted weir
Q = 0.66 x (2/3) x (1.5 - 0.1 x 2 x 0.5) x (2 x 9.812)0.5 x 0.53/2 = 0.965

m3/sec
Example - Discharge Over A Rectangular Weir

Problem
A weir of 8m long is to be built across a rectangular channel to discharge
a flow of 9m3 /s. If the maximum depth of water on the upstream side of
weir is to be 2m, what should be the height of the weir ? Adopt Cd = 0.62.
Given,
 L=8m
 Q = 9 m3 /s
 Depth of water = 2m
 Cd = 0.62
Let, H = Height of water above the sill of the weir.

So, the discharge over the weir,
Therefore height of weir should be = 2.0 - 0.72 = 1.28 m
Height of weir = 1.28 m
Example - Discharge Over A trapezoidal Weir

Water is flowing over a trapezoida weir of 4 meters long under a head of
1 meter. Compute the discharge, if the coefficient of discharge for the
weir is 0.6.
 Given,
 L = 4m
 H = 1m
 Cd = 0.62
We know that the discharge over the Cippoletti weir,
Solution
Discharge = 7.32 m3 /s
Example - Discharge Over A Narrow Crested Weir
Problem
A narrow-crested weir of 10 meters long is discharging water under a
constant head of 400 mm. Find discharge over the weir in liters/s.
Assume coefficient of discharge as 0.623.
Workings
Given,
 L = 10 m
 H = 400 m = 0.4 m
 Cd = 0.623
We know, the discharge over the weir,
Example - Discharge Over A Broad Crested Weir

Determine the maximum discharge over a broad-crested weir 60 meters
long having 0.6 m height of water above its crest. Take coefficient of
discharge as 0.595. Also determine the new discharge over the weir,
considering the velocity of approach. The channel at the upstream side of
the weir has a cross-sectional area of 45 sq meters.
 Given,
 L = 60 m
 H = 0.6 m
 Cd = 0.595
 A = 45 m2

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The 20th week

Measuring flow in open channels (weirs)

1. Volumetric flow rate can be calculated,

2. Flooding can be prevented, or

3. Make a body of water more navigable

Main Types of Weirs

Sharp- vs. Broad-Crested Weirs

SHARP-CRESTED WEIR BROAD-CRESTED WEIR

1.Rectangular—Measure Discharge and Change Water Elevations

3.Trapezoidal—Measure Discharge and Change Water Elevations with

 Q (m³/s) is the volumetric flow rate over the weir

 𝐷is the discharge coefficient usually ranging from 0.60 to 0.62

 P (m) is the height of the weir plate

 B (m) is the width of the contracted notch (rectangular), or the width of

Sharp-Crested Weir V-Notch (Triangular)

 Best weir to measure

Highest accuracy when

Sharp-Crested Weir (Trapezoidal)

 Contractions in the free-flowing nappe occur in non-suppressed

 A weir is fully contracted if B>4H and partially contracted if

 The presence of contractions requires a discharge correction factor,

 Typically sturdier than sharp-crested weirs

 Used in medium to large size rivers and canals (sturdier)

 Used as a flow measurement and water level regulator

 Necessary for flow to be in subcritical range—ensures smooth

Flow over a broad-crested weir is highly dependent on the weir’s

C = Constant for the specific weir structure

L = Width of the weir

H = Height of water head upstream in relation to the weir’s crest

n = structure variant (usually 3/2 for a horizontal weir)

It is proposed to use a notch for measuring the water flow from a

The discharge for a broad crested weir is given by,

The depth of the flow required =

Height of the broad crested weir = 1.8 – 0.4666 = 1.3334m.

A rectangular weir 0.75 m high and 1.5 m long is to be used for

Weir height (P) = 0.75 m

Width of weir (B) = 1.5 m

Head (H) = 0.5 m

Where n = number of contractions

Cd = 0.605 + 1 / (1000 x 0.5) + 0.08 x 0.5 / 0.75 = 0.66

Q = 0.66 x (2/3) x 1.5 x (2 x 9.812)0.5 x 0.53/2 = 1.034 m3/sec

ii. Contracted weir

Q = 0.66 x (2/3) x (1.5 - 0.1 x 2 x 0.5) x (2 x 9.812)0.5 x 0.53/2 = 0.965

Example - Discharge Over A Rectangular Weir

Let, H = Height of water above the sill of the weir.

Therefore height of weir should be = 2.0 - 0.72 = 1.28 m

Height of weir = 1.28 m

Example - Discharge Over A trapezoidal Weir

We know that the discharge over the Cippoletti weir,

We know, the discharge over the weir,

Example - Discharge Over A Broad Crested Weir

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