FACULTY OF CIVIL ENGINEERING DIPLOMA IN CIVIL ENGINEERING

UNIVERSITI TEKNOLOGI MARA LABORATORY MANUAL

COURSE WATER ENGINEERING LABORATORY

COURSE CODE ECW341
LEVEL OF OPENNESS 1
CATEGORY PARTIALLY OPEN
DEGREE OF OPEN
33%
ENDED
PERIOD OF ACTIVITY 1 WEEK
LAB NO 3.3
TITLE MEASUREMENT OF FLOW OVER SHARP CRESTED WEIR.

INTRODUCTION

In this laboratory activity, the students will be exposed with the apparatus to
determine and measure the discharge in an open channel using weirs. Weirs are
commonly used for discharge measurements for an open channel. It is a device
placed in the channel in order to force the flow through an opening. The opening
can be designed in many shapes, for example, rectangular notch and triangular
notch.

OBJECTIVES

1. To determine the coefficient of discharge for open channel using

rectangular and triangular notches.

LEARNING OUTCOMES

At the end of the lesson, students should be able to:

1. Conduct the measurement of flow over broad crested/sharp crested weir

PREAMBLE laboratory experiment. (CO1 – PO4)
2. Analyze and interpret the data based on obtained data. (CO2 – PO6)

THEORITICAL BACKGROUND

Theoretically, the discharge passing through a rectangular and triangular notch is

given by the following equations:

A. Rectangular Notch

B. Triangular V Notch

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 FACULTY OF CIVIL ENGINEERING DIPLOMA IN CIVIL ENGINEERING
UNIVERSITI TEKNOLOGI MARA LABORATORY MANUAL

However, theoretical results alone will not give better representation on the flow
behavior in the channel. The actual discharge is given by the following equation:

The discharge coefficient Cd should be determined earlier before we can

measure the actual discharge in a channel.

Equation 1 and 2 can be written in a general form as follows:

Alternatively, in logarithmic form:

By having several data for the discharge Q, as well as the water level H, we can
plot a graph and do a linear regression analysis with respect to the logarithmic
form as shown in equation 5. The slope of the regression line is represented by n.
The variable c can be determined by obtaining the value at the point where the
line intercepts -axis when log =0. Based on equation 1, 2 and 3, the intercept is
represented by (for rectangular notch):

For a triangular V notch,

Therefore, by rearranging equations 10.4, 10.6 and 10.7, the discharge

coefficient can be determined by the following equations

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 FACULTY OF CIVIL ENGINEERING DIPLOMA IN CIVIL ENGINEERING
UNIVERSITI TEKNOLOGI MARA LABORATORY MANUAL

(for rectangular notch):

For a triangular V notch,

Each group will be given two (2) types of weir notches. The first notch is the
PROBLEM rectangular and the second notch is a triangular V notch. A scale will be provided
STATEMENTS to measure the height of multiple water levels. Based on the given apparatus,
determine the coefficient discharge for both notches.

APPARATUS

The diagrams of the apparatus to be used are shown in Figures 1 and 2 below.

APPARATUS
WAYS AND MEANS
(Refer to Standard
Methods for the
Examination of Water and
Wastewater

Figure 1 Apparatus for Triangular V Notch

PROCEDURE/METHOD

i) Observe and record the general features of the flow.

ii) To take an accurate height reading, use the fine adjustment to lower the
gauge until the point just touches its reflection in the surface; (to achieve
this, you will need to have your eye level just above the surface).
iii) Ensure that the flow rate is large enough to prevent the outflow from the
notch “clinging” to the notch plate; it should project clear of the plate.
iv) Determine the volume flow rate by measuring the time required to collect
a known volume in the volumetric tank. This measurement should be

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UNIVERSITI TEKNOLOGI MARA LABORATORY MANUAL

repeated twice, to check consistency. Remember to open valve again at

the end of the measurement.
v) Repeat this procedure having opened the bench valve further, to produce
an increase depth approximately 10mm; check that the level has
stabilized before taking readings.
vi) Continue to take readings with increasing flow rate until the level reaches
the top of the notch. Take care not to allow spillage to occur over the
plate top adjacent to the notch.
vii) Before starting this test, check that there is sufficient water in the bench
main tank to allow pump to operate without drawing in air at the
maximum flow rate (i.e maximum height above the notch).
viii) Replace the rectangular notch plate with the V-notch plate and repeat the
above procedure. Note, however, that this notch you will need to work
with height increments of 5-6 mm.

Figure 2 Apparatus for Rectangular Notch

Students are asked to find coefficient discharge. The height of water level above
notch will be measured for various discharge.

The group is required to submit the technical report of the laboratory result
RESULT, ANALYSIS highlighting the apparatus used, the procedures undertaken for the test, data,
CONCLUSION acquisition process, analysis carried out, and the relevancy of the set out output
to address the given problem.

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