Module 5 Flow Measurement

5.3 WEIRS
A weir is an overflow structure which are built across an open channel normal to the
direction of flow and widely used for the purpose of flow metering and control.

Classification of weirs according to their shapes:

1. Suppressed and contracted rectangular weirs
2. Triangular or V-notch weirs
3. Trapezoidal weirs
4. Circular
5. Parabolic

Classification of weirs according to the form of crest:

1. Sharp-crested – has thin upstream edge so fashioned that the passing mass of liquid
simply touches a line

2. Broad crested – may either be rounded or square upstream corner so that the liquid passing
over the crest comes in contact with a surface

The flow over a weir may be:

1. Free – when the liquid surface downstream is sufficiently below the crest
2. Submerged – if the surface downstream is above the crest but below the upstream
liquid surface

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Definition of Terms

Nappe – the overflowing stream in a weir

Crest of weir – the edge or top surface of a weir with which the flowing liquid comes in
contact
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
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
Head, H- the distance between the liquid surface and the crest of the weir measured
before the drop-down curve

Standard Weir (Suppressed Rectangular Weir)

2 3 3
𝑄= 𝐶 √2𝑔𝐿 [(𝐻 + ℎ𝑣 )2 − ℎ𝑣 2 ]
3

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Where
hv = velocity head of approach equal to v2/2g
L = length of weir

2
It is a common practice to combine 3 𝐶 √2𝑔 into a single coefficient Cw called the weir
factor. The general formula for a discharge through the rectangular weir becomes:

3 3
𝑄 = 𝐶𝑤 𝐿 [(𝐻 + ℎ𝑣 )2 − ℎ𝑣 2 ]

If the ratio H/P is sufficiently small, the velocity of approach becomes very small and
3
the term ℎ𝑣 2 may be neglected. The discharge formula becomes

3
𝑄 = 𝐶𝑤 𝐿𝐻 2

Standard Weir Factor Formulas

Various equations have been developed in finding the weir factor, Cw to be used in a
standard weir setup. Some of the mostly used are

1. Francis Formula
𝐶𝑤 = 1.84 (𝑆𝐼 𝑢𝑛𝑖𝑡𝑠)
𝐶𝑤 = 3.33 (𝐸𝑛𝑔𝑙𝑖𝑠ℎ 𝑢𝑛𝑖𝑡𝑠)

2. Rehbock and Chow Formula

SI Units
𝐻
𝐶𝑤 = 1.80 + 0.22
𝑃
English Units
𝐻
𝐶𝑤 = 3.27 + 0.40
𝑃
3. Bazin Formula
For a rectangular weirs of length from 0.5m to 2m under heads from 50mm to
600mm.

0.02161 𝐻 2
𝐶𝑤 = 0.5518 (3.248 + ) [1 + 0.55 ( ) ]
𝐻 𝑑

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Example 5.3.1
A suppressed weir 7.5m long is to discharge 10.125 m3/s of water onto an open channel.
The weir factor Cw = 1.88. To what height P may the weir be built, if the water behind
the weir must not exceed 1.80m deep?
Solution:
3 3
𝑄 = 𝐶𝑤 𝐿 [(𝐻 + ℎ𝑣 )2 − ℎ𝑣 2 ]

Solve for the unknowns, hv and H

𝑄
𝑣=
𝐴
𝑚3
10.125 𝑠
𝑣=
(7.5𝑚)(1.80𝑚)
𝑚
𝑣 = 0.75
𝑠

𝑣2
ℎ𝑣 =
2𝑔
𝑚 2
(0.75 )
ℎ𝑣 = 𝑠
𝑚
2 (9.81 2 )
𝑠
ℎ𝑣 = 0.0287𝑚 𝐴

𝑚3 3 3
10.125 = 1.88(7.5𝑚) [(𝐻 + 𝐴 )2 − 𝐴 2 ]
𝑠
𝐻 = 0.7768𝑚

𝑑 =𝐻+𝑃
1.80𝑚 = 0.7768𝑚 + 𝑃
𝑷 = 𝟏. 𝟎𝟐𝒎

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Contracted Rectangular Weir

Contracted weir with 1 end contraction

Contracted weir with 2 end contractions

When the end of the weir opening have upstream vertical edges, the effect is to reduce
the amount of flow from that which would occur over a standard weir under the same
head and with the same length.
The effective length of L of a contracted weir:
𝐿 = 𝐿′ − 0.1𝑁𝐻
Where L’- measure length of the weir
N - number of end contractions (1 or 2)
H - measured head

Example 5.3.2
A rectangular, sharp crested weir with two end contractions is 1.4m long. How high
should it be placed in a channel to maintain an upstream depth of 2.35m for a flow of
400L/s? Use Francis Formula.

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Solution:
Since there is no way to determine the velocity of approach (based on the given), we
will use the approximate formula
3
𝑄 = 𝐶𝑤 𝐿𝐻 2

𝐿 = 𝐿′ − 0.1𝑁𝐻
𝐿 = 1.4𝑚 − 0.1(2)𝐻

𝑚3 3
0.4 = 1.84(1.4𝑚 − 0.2𝐻)(𝐻)2
𝑠
𝐻 = 0.2973𝑚 𝐴

𝑑 =𝐻+𝑃

2.35𝑚 = 𝐴 + 𝑃
𝑷 = 𝟐. 𝟎𝟓𝒎

Triangular or V-notch Weir

General triangular (even if the side inclinations are unequal),

4 3
𝑄= 𝐶 √2𝑔𝐿𝐻 2
15
Triangular V-notch,
8 𝜃 5
𝑄= 𝐶 √2𝑔 (tan ) 𝐻 2
15 2
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For standard 90° weir,

5
𝑄 = 1.45𝐻 2 (𝑆𝐼 𝑢𝑛𝑖𝑡𝑠)
5
𝑄 = 2.5𝐻 2 (𝐸𝑛𝑔𝑙𝑖𝑠ℎ 𝑢𝑛𝑖𝑡𝑠)
Example 5.3.3
The head of water on a 90° V-notch weir is 22cm. Determine the flow.
Solution:
5
𝑄 = 1.45𝐻 2
5
𝑄 = 1.45(0.22𝑚)2
𝒎𝟑
𝑸 = 𝟎. 𝟎𝟑𝟐𝟗 = 𝟑𝟐. 𝟗𝑳/𝒔
𝒔

Trapezoidal Sharp Crested Weir

The discharge from a trapezoidal weir is assumed the same as that from a rectangular
weir and triangular weir in combination.
2 3 8 5
𝑄 = 𝐶 √2𝑔𝐿𝐻 2 + 𝐶 √2𝑔𝑍𝐻 2
3 15
𝑏
𝑍=
𝐻

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Example 5.3.4
A trapezoidal weir having side slope of 1H to 2V discharges 50 m3/s of water under a
constant head of 2m. Solve for the length of the weir assuming C = 0.60.
Solution:
2 3 8 5
𝑄 = 𝐶 √2𝑔𝐿𝐻 2 + 𝐶 √2𝑔𝑍𝐻 2
3 15
𝑚3 2 𝑚 3 8 𝑚 1𝑚 5
50 = (0.60)√2 (9.81 2 ) 𝐿(2𝑚)2 + (0.60)√2 (9.81 2 ) ( ) (2𝑚)2
𝑠 3 𝑠 15 𝑠 2𝑚
𝑳 = 𝟗. 𝟏𝟖𝒎
Cipolleti Weir

Cipolletti weir are trapezoidal weirs with slope of 1 horizontal to 4 vertical.

3
𝑄 = 1.859𝐿𝐻 2 (𝑆𝐼 𝑢𝑛𝑖𝑡𝑠)
3
𝑄 = 3.37𝐿𝐻 2 (𝐸𝑛𝑔𝑙𝑖𝑠ℎ 𝑢𝑛𝑖𝑡𝑠)

Example 5.3.4
A canal carries 1.8 m3/s of water. Determine the resulting head over a Cipolletti weir 1m
high and 3.6m long.
Solution:
3
𝑄 = 1.859𝐿𝐻 2
𝑚3 3
1.8 = 1.859(3.6𝑚)𝐻2
𝑠
𝑯 = 𝟎. 𝟒𝟐𝒎

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Suttro Weir or Proportional Flow Weir

Suttro or proportional weir is named as such because the discharge varies linearly with
head, H.
1
𝑄 = 𝐶𝜋𝐾 √2𝑔𝐻
2
𝐾 = 2𝑥√𝑦

Submerged Sharp Weir

The discharge over a submerged sharp-crested weir is affected not only by the head on
the upstream side H1 but by the head downstream H2.
There are 2 types of the submerged weir:
1. The plunging nappe type: when the nappe is similar to that of the free flow type
2. The surface nappe type: when the nappe remains on or near the surface leaving the
liquid below undisturbed.
The discharge for a submerged weir is related to the free or unsubmerged discharge.
Villemonte came up with the empirical formula:
𝑄 = 𝑄′(1 − 𝑆 𝑛 )0.385
where
n = 1.5 for rectangular weir and 2.5 for triangular weir
Q’ – the flow which would result when the head is H1 and the weir is not
submerged
S = H2 /H1 known as the submergence ratio

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Unsteady Flow Weir (Variable Head)

𝐻1
𝐴𝑠 𝑑𝐻
𝑡=∫
𝐻2 𝑄𝑜𝑢𝑡

If the flow is through a suppressed rectangular weir:

2𝐴𝑠 1 1
𝑡= ( − )
𝐶𝑤 𝐿 √𝐻2 √𝐻1

where
Cw – weir factor
L – crest length
As – constant water surface area of reservoir or tank
H1 – initial head
H2 – final head
Example 5.3.5
A V-notch weir is located or cut at one end of a tank having a horizontal square section
10mX10m. If the initial head on the weir is 1.20m and it take 375 seconds to discharge
100 m3 of water, what could have been the vertex angle of the weir. Use C= 0.60.
Solution:
If 100m3 of water is discharged, then the water level dropped by 1m. Then H1 = 1.2m
and H2 = 0.2m
𝐻1
𝐴𝑠 𝑑𝐻
𝑡=∫
𝐻2 𝑄𝑜𝑢𝑡

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Module 5 Flow Measurement

8 𝜃 5
𝑄𝑜𝑢𝑡 = 𝑄𝑣−𝑛𝑜𝑡𝑐ℎ = 𝐶 √2𝑔 (tan ) 𝐻 2
15 2
8 𝑚 𝜃 5
𝑄𝑜𝑢𝑡 = (0.60)√2 (9.81 2 ) (tan ) 𝐻 2
15 𝑠 2

1.2 (10 × 10)𝑑𝐻

375 = ∫
0.2 8 𝑚 𝜃 5
(0.60)√2 (9.81 2 ) (tan ) 𝐻 2
15 𝑠 2

70.5505 1.2 −5
375 = ∫ 𝐻 2 𝑑ℎ
𝜃
tan 2 0.2

𝜃 2 3 1.2
5.3153 tan = [− 𝐻 −2 ]
2 3 0.2

𝜽 = 𝟏𝟎𝟓. 𝟏𝟓°

End of Module Exercises

5. A Cipolleti weir is located or cut at one end of a tank having a horizontal square
section 10mX10m. If the initial head on the weir is 1.20m, compute the time required to
discharge 80 m3 of water.
6. A suppressed rectangular weir for a spillway controls a reservoir 5 hectares in area. If
the spillway is at an elevation of 75m and water can be drawn from an elevation of
76.5m to 75.5m in 40 minutes, what is the length of the spillway? Use Francis formula
neglecting the velocity of approach.

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