Hydraulics Prof. B.S.

Thandaveswara

13.1 Measuring Flumes

Measuring flumes, on the contrary, introduce a width-wise contraction in the channel to

achieve the same objective as weirs. Sometimes a small ramp hump on the bed may

also be provided in the flume. A contracted weir of finite crest width and a measuring

flume with a hump are not essentially different. These flumes are called 'Venturi

Flumes', Sometimes these are referred to as Venturi Weirs too. For measurement of

dscharge with venturi flumes two measurements-one upstream and one at the throat

(narrowest cross-section), are required, if the flow passes in a sub critical state through

the flume. If the flumes are designed so as to pass the flow from sub critical to

supercritical state while passing through the flume, a single measurement at the throat

(which in this case becomes a critical section) is sufficient for computation of discharge.

To ensure the occurrence of critical depth at the throat, the flumes are usually designed

in such a way as to form a hydraulic jump on the downstream side of the structure.

These flumes are called 'Standing Wave Flumes'.

It should be noted that the critical depth will not occur at a particular section of the

measuring structure for all discharges. It moves upstream with increasing discharge and

downstream with increasing boundary roughness for the given discharge. In order to get

the critical depth at a predetermined section, several modifications of the venturi flume

were incorporated. The developments of Parshall Flume and cut-throat flume (Fig 1.9 d)

are the results of such studies.

Indian Institute of Technology Madras

Hydraulics Prof. B.S. Thandaveswara

X X

Throat

FLUME LENGTH

PLAN

yc

SECTION along XX
Note: Sub-Critical to Super-Critical - Single Measurement
Sub-Critical to Sub-Critical - Double Gauging
Venturi Flume with an hump in the bed

R
GAUGE WELL

Z GAUGE WELL Z

D
P W
C
THROAT

PLAN
R

M B F G

E WATER SURFACE

LEVEL FLOOR
K

SECTION ON ZZ
PARSHALL FLUME
Standard dimensions are indicated
in the figure by letters

Indian Institute of Technology Madras

Hydraulics Prof. B.S. Thandaveswara

Y Y

PLAN

yc

Throat
SECTION ON YY

STANDING WAVE FLUME

Long throated flumes

Cut throat flumes

Parshall Flumes

H- Flumes

Throatless flumes with rounded transition

Indian Institute of Technology Madras