Hydraulic Structure Engineering A.

lecture Ali Hussein Jaber

Weir
Measurement of discharge in open channels is difficult because of
nonuniform channel dimensions and variations in velocities across the
channel. Weirs allow water to be routed through a structure of known
dimensions, permitting flow rates to be measured as a function of depth
of flow through the structure.(Weir is devices that can be used to measure
open channel flow)
A weir consists of timber, metal, or concrete with an opening of
fixed dimensions cut in its top edge. This opening is called the weir
notch; its bottom edge is the weir crest; and the depth of flow over the
crestis called the head (H).The sheet of water leaving the weir crest or
the V-notch is called the nappe .The weir is one of the oldest, simplest
and the most reliable device used to measure the quantity of flow of
water. The weir normally used is the rectangular or 90° V-notch type. In
case of a low flow rate, a V-notch weir may be used. Sometimes, a
trapezoidal weir is used. In some rare cases a parabolic or circular weir is
used.

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Hydraulic Structure Engineering A.lecture Ali Hussein Jaber

Types of Weirs

1- A sharp-crested weir.
2- A broad-crested weir.

1- A sharp-crested weir:-usually comprises of a thin plate

mounted perpendicular to the flow direction. These weirs may be
rectangular, triangular in shape or trapezoidal.

A- Triangular (or v-notch):-measure low discharges more accurately

than horizontal weirs. The V-notch is most commonly a 90° opening with
the sides of the notch inclined 45° with the vertical. Since the V-notch
weir has no crest length.

8
Q=C . ¿
15
-:Where
Q = Discharge over weir (m3/sec., ft3/sec)
C = Coefficient of discharge (C = 0.58 typically used
for a 90° V-notch weir)

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Hydraulic Structure Engineering A.lecture Ali Hussein Jaber

θ = Angle of notch (degrees)

g = gravity (9.81 m/s)
H = Head above bottom of notch (m, ft)

Table 1: V-Notch Weir Coefficient of Discharge

Weir Angle (degrees)
Head (feet)
120 90 60 45 30 22.5
.581 .584 .590 .596 .605 .611 0.5
.575 .576 .580 .583 .590 .593 1.0
.672 .572 .575 .578 .583 .586 1.5
.571 .571 .573 .576 .580 .583 2.0
.570 .570 .572 .574 .578 .580 2.5
.570 .570 .571 .574 .577 .579 3.0
Note: Coefficients for sharp-crested V-notched weirs vary with the
angle of the notch and with head depth

-:B- Rectangular-Notch Weir

The rectangular-notch weir is illustrated in Figure below. This is
the oldest type of weir now in use. It's simple construction makes it
.the most popular

2
Q=C . ¿
3

When the rectangular weir extends across the whole width of the
channel it is called a suppressed weir and the Rehbock formula
:can be applied to determine "C" as follows

H
C=0.602+0.083
p

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Hydraulic Structure Engineering A.lecture Ali Hussein Jaber

C- Trapezoidal(Cipoletti) Weir:-Weirs are typically installed in open

channels such as streams to determine discharge (flowrate). The basic
principle is that discharge is directly related to the water depth (H) in
the figure above; H is known as the "head." The Cipoletti (or
trapezoidal) weir has side slopes in the vertical to horizontal ratio of 4
to 1.The discharge coefficient for Cipoletti weirs is 3.367 (in English
units) and 1.84 (in S.I. units), and it does not depend on L or P like it
does for a rectangular weir.

3 /2
Q=3.367 L H U . S Unitsdischarge∈cfs
3 /2
Q=1.84 L H S . I Units discharge∈cumecs

3- A broad-crested weir: This is the simplest device for flow

measurement .It is more suitable for large discharges. The width of the weir is
taken as the width of the waterway. The discharge coefficient Cd equals 0.89.

2 2
√
Q= C d g b c h11 .5
3 3

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Hydraulic Structure Engineering A.lecture Ali Hussein Jaber

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Hydraulic Structure Engineering A.lecture Ali Hussein Jaber

EX 1: A rectangular weir in a horizontal channel is 10 m wide and 1.4 m

high. If the upstream depth is 3 m, estimate the channel discharge?
C=0.69
2
Q=C . ¿
3

0.69∗2
Q= ¿ = 41.6 m3/sec
3

EX 2 :Determine the head on a 45 V-notch weir for a discharge 225

L/sec , C=0.58
8
Q=C . ¿
15

0.58∗8
0.225= ¿
15

h=0.691 m

H.w :A rectangular weir with 1.6 m width. How high should it be placed
in a channel to maintain an upstream depth of 2.35 m for 0.4 m3/sec flow?