Faculty of Engineering

KNS2591 Civil Engineering Laboratory 3

Universiti Malaysia Sarawak

INTRODUCTION

Weirs are overflow structure built across an open channel for the purpose of measuring or
controlling flow of the liquid. It serves as a barrier for the flow of water in an open channel. The
surface over which the water flows is called the crest. Weirs are commonly used to measure the
volumetric flow rate or to regulate the water as the application in using weir can be used to prevent
flooding and make rivers navigable. The reliability of weir measurements are affected by construction
and installation. However, weirs is one of the simplest and most accurate methods of measuring water
flow. This can be seen as the hydrologist and engineers treat as a simple method of measuring the rate
of flow in a small to medium sized stream or in industrial discharge locations.

Weirs are classified according to the shape of the opening, shape of the crest and the types of
weirs based on effect of the sides on the emerging nappe. The shape of the opening can be classified in
three shapes which are rectangular weir, triangular weir and trapezoidal weir. In this experiment, the
rectangular weir and triangular weir are been used to characterize the flow rate of water. The
rectangular weir has a top edge of weir that may be sharp crested or narrow crested as it is more
suitable for larger flowing channel.

Figure 1.0 The side and end view of rectangular weir

Figure 2.0 parameter of rectangular weir

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Faculty of Engineering
KNS2591 Civil Engineering Laboratory 3
Universiti Malaysia Sarawak

Elementary horizontal strip of water thickness dh and length L at a depth h from the water surface is
being considered to determine the discharge over the rectangular weir.

Area of strip = L x dh (1.0)

Theoretical velocity of water

V theoretical =√ 2 gh (2.0)

Discharged through strip

dQ = C d × L1 ∙ dh× √ 2 gh (3.0)

By integrating Equation 3.0 with limits 0 to H, the total discharge, Q can be obtained with

H
Q=∫ C d × L1 ∙ dh× √ 2 gh (4.0)
0

The discharge over the rectangular weir is

3
2
Q= C × L1 × √ 2 g × H 2 (5.0)
3 d

The coefficient discharge of rectangular weir can be obtained by using equation below

2
m 1 = C d ∙ L1 ∙ √ 2 g (6.0)
3

3
The value of m 1 can be obtained from the gradient of the Q Vs H 2 graph and L1 is the width of the

notch. We can determine the coefficient discharge of rectangular weir

3 m1
C d 1= (7.0)
2 L ∙ √2 g

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Faculty of Engineering
KNS2591 Civil Engineering Laboratory 3
Universiti Malaysia Sarawak

The triangular weir has a shape of reversed triangle that can be called as V-notch weir. V-notch weir is
typically used to measure low flows within a narrow operating range.

Figure 3.0 The side and end view of triangular weir

Figure 4.0 parameter of triangular weir

Elementary horizontal strip of water thickness dh and length L at a depth h from the water surface is
being considered to determine the discharge over the triangular weir.

θ A ∙C
Tan = (8.0)
2 H−h

The Area of strip

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Faculty of Engineering
KNS2591 Civil Engineering Laboratory 3
Universiti Malaysia Sarawak

θ
A2 = 2(H−h ¿ × tan ⁡ dh (9.0)
2

The discharge through strip

θ
dQ =C d 2 × 2( H−h) × tan dh × √ 2 gh (10.0)
2

By integrating Equation 10.0 with limits 0 to H, the total Discharge, Q can be obtained with,

H
θ
Q = ∫ C d 2 ×2(H −h)× tan dh × √ 2 gh (11.0)
0 2

The discharge over the triangular weir is

5
8 θ
Q= C d 2 × tan dh × √2 g × H 2 (12.0)
15 2

The coefficient discharge of triangular weir can be obtained by using equation below

8 θ
m 2= C ∙ √ 2 g tan (13.0)
15 d 2 2

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The value of m 2 can be obtained from the gradient of the Q Vs H 2 graph and θ is the angle of

triangular weir. Therefore, we can determine the coefficient discharge of rectangular weir

15 m2
C d 2=
θ (14.0)
8 √ 2 g tan
2

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Faculty of Engineering
KNS2591 Civil Engineering Laboratory 3
Universiti Malaysia Sarawak

METHODOLOGY

The experiment was conducted at Fluid and Hydrology Lab on 15 November 2019. Apparatus
that is needed in this experiment are the F1-13 stilling baffle, rectangular weir, triangular weir,
stopwatch, spirit level and Hydraulic bench. The type of hydraulic bench that used in this experiment
is HID Volumetric Hydraulic Bench with the SOLTEQ Model: FM12 with its tank capacity is 35
litres. The rectangular weir has the width of 0.03m, depth of 0.1m and opening angle is 180 ° while the
triangular weir has a width of 0.2m, depth of 0.1m and the opening angle is 90° .

The experiment is started by setup all the apparatus. The rectangular weir is put into the weir
plate that bonded at the free end of the moulded channel inside the upper part of the volumetric
hydraulic bench. The point gauge is checked to ensure that is connected to the point fitted. The datum
is set to 142mm and the control valve had switched on to allow the water flow. After the reading of
datum has been recorded, the point gauge is adjusted and set at 80mm. The control valve is adjusted to
regulate the flow of water until the point gauge touched to the surface of water. The drain hoe of the
volumetric hydraulic bench was then closed by using the stopper. The time taken is taken until the
water rise from 0 to 5 litre. The time taken is repeated three times to get the average reading. The table
is recorded in Table 1.0. The procedure is repeated five times and the point gauge is adjusted with
difference gap of 10mm.

Same steps is done for triangular weir. The datum is set the same as rectangular weir. The point
gauge is adjusted and set up at 60mm. The procedure is repeated for another five times similar to
rectangular weir. The results is recorded and tabulated in table 2.0. The actual discharge is calculated

V
using flow rate Q = to plot the graph of actual discharge against head for rectangular weir and
T
triangular weir. Therefore, the value for coefficient discharge can be obtained by substituted the
gradient value from the straight line into equation (7.0) for rectangular weir and (14.0) for triangular
weir to determine the theoretical discharge.

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Faculty of Engineering
KNS2591 Civil Engineering Laboratory 3
Universiti Malaysia Sarawak