Project-Based Learning Report on

“Calibration of broad crested weir using graphical method”

Submitted by
Kartikey Bhardwaj – 2100430000017
Kartikeya Dwivedi – 2100430000018
Kaushlendra – 2100430000019
Madhav Kaushik – 2100430000020

For the award of degree of

Bachelor of Technology
in
Civil Engineering Department

BUNDELKHAND INSTITUTE OF ENGINEERING AND

TECHNOLOGY
(An Autonomous Institution)
Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh – 284128

May, 2023

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 CERTIFICATE OF DECLERATION

We hereby declare that this project-based learning report entitled “Calibration

of broad crested weir using graphical method” is an authenticated work carried
out by us under the guidance of Dr. Abhay Kumar Verma, for the partial
fulfilment of this report in the Civil Engineering Department (Second Year). This
work has not been submitted elsewhere for a similar purpose except to the
department of Civil Engineering at Bundelkhand Institute of Engineering and
Technology, Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh – 284128.

Dr. Abhay Kumar Verma

Department of Civil Engineering
Bundelkhand Institute of Engineering and Technology, Jhansi
Submitted for Semester Project-Based Learning in May, 2023

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 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

It is our great pleasure to acknowledge the assistance and contribution of the

individuals who co-operated with us to complete this assignment report
successfully. First and foremost, we wish to express our deep gratitude and thanks
to Dr. Amitabh Kumar Srivastava, Head of Department, Civil Engineering and
our project guide Dr. Abhay Kumar Verma, for their enthusiastic guidance and
encouragement throughout the work. It is for their patience, guidance and
encouragement at all time that this work has shaped up the way it is. We would
like to thank everyone who contributed their time and efforts to help in
completing the project-based learning report.

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 TABLE OF CONTENTS

1 Introduction Page 5 - 6

2 Calibration Experiment Page 7 – 8

3 Tabulation and Graphs Page 9

4 Discussion Page 10

5 Applications Pages 11

6 References Page 12

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 INTRODUCTION

A weir is a small barrier built across a stream or river to raise the water level
slightly on the upstream side; essentially a small-scale dam. Weirs allow water to
pool behind them, while allowing water to flow steadily over top of the weir.

Weirs with a finite crest width in the direction of the flow are known as broad-
crested weirs. They are also termed as weirs with finite crest width and find
extensive applications as control structures and flow measuring devices. It is
practically impossible to generalise their behaviour because a wide variety of
crest and cross-sectional shapes of the weir are used in practice.

Consider the following figure showing a broad-crested weir with free flow over
it in a rectangular channel. This weir has a sharp upstream corner which causes
the flow to separate and then reattach enclosing a separation bubble. If the width
Bw of the weir is sufficiently long, the curvature of the stream lines will be small
and the hydrostatic pressure distribution will prevail most of its width. The weir
will act like an inlet with a sub-critical flow upstream of the weir and super-
critical flow over it. A critical-depth cross section will occur at the upstream end-
probably at a location where the bubble thickness is maximum.

Assuming no loss of energy between Sections 1 and 2, and further assuming the
depth of flow at Section 2 to be critical
𝑉 3
𝐻=𝑦 + = 𝑦
2𝑔 2
2
𝑉 = 𝑔𝑦 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑦 = 𝐻
3

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The ideal discharge per unit width of the weir is
2 2
𝑞 = 𝑉𝑦 = 𝑔 𝐻 = 1.705 𝐻
3 3
Thus, we obtained a discharge equation theoretically. Now we move on to the
practical to verify the results.

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 CALIBRATION EXPERIMENT

Apparatus required:-
A channel or flume to provide a flow passage, A broad crested weir, Hook-gauge
to measure the head over the crest over the crest of weir, stop watch.

Procedure:-
1- Ensure the flume is level, with no stop logs installed at the discharge end
of the channel.
2- Measure and record the actual breath (b) and the height (P) of the broad
crested weir. Then, the weir plate was placed and fixed carefully
perpendicular to the sides and bottom of the flume and levelled on all axes
by a carpenter’s level Ensure that the weir is secured using a mounting
hook through the bed of the flume. For accurate results the gaps between
the weir and the channel should be sealed on the upstream side using
Plasticine.
3- A series of different flow rates were overtopped over the weir and the
corresponding heads above the weir crest were recorded after the zero on
the point gauge must correspond to the level of the weir crest or the apex
of the weir. Take enough care not damage the weir and the point gauge.
4- For each flow rate, wait until steady condition is attained then measure and
record the head (H) some way upstream from the weir point gauge.
5- Repeat the above procedure for different flow rates by adjusting the inlet
valve opening and tabulate the readings. For each step measure the flow
rate Q, the upstream depth of flow H and the depth of flow over the weir h
(where flow becomes parallel to the weir). The flow rate Q can be
determined using the direct reading flow meter or the volumetric tank with
a stopwatch.
6- Complete the tabulation and find the mean value of Cd.
7- Draw the necessary graphs and calibrate the notch.

Results and Calculations:-

While the flow rates passing over the weir were calculated from the flow equation
of broad crest weir.
𝑄 = ℎ ∗ 𝑏 ∗ √2𝑔(𝐻 − ℎ)
Where:
𝑄th=Theoretical flow rate,
H =upstream head of water over the weir crest,
h = depth of the flow over the weir, and
b = width of the channel.

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For each flow rate (actual discharge), measure and record the volumes in the
collecting tank and the time required to collect that volume by stopwatch.
𝑉
𝑄 =
𝑡
Where: 𝑄𝑎𝑐𝑡=actual flow rate,
V = volume of the collecting tank (litre),
t = time taken to rise volume (sec.).

The coefficient of discharge Cd is defined as the ratio of actual discharge obtained

experimentally to the theoretical discharge. i.e.,
𝑄
𝐶 =
𝑄

Where: Cd = Coefficient of discharge is a dimensionless discharge coefficient

which takes account the effects of neglecting losses and the contraction of the jet
as it passes over the notch in Qth.

So,
Breadth of the weir – b = 7.3cm = 73mm
Height of weir – P = 10cm
Theory: Qth = area * velocity
Specific gravity = 9.81 * 1000 = 9810

Qth1 = 49.1 * 73 * 2 ∗ 9810 (158 − 49.1) = 5.24 L3/sec

Qact = = = 2.36
.
.
Cd = = 0.4505
.

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 TABULATION AND GRAPHS

Let us now tabulate the data

No. Volume Time H h Qact Qth Cd

(litres/sec) (sec) (cm) (cm) (litres/sec) (litres/sec)
1 10 4.24 15.80 4.91 2.3600 5.240 0.4504
2 15 7.88 14.98 4.08 1.9040 4.360 0.4400
3 15 9.70 14.26 3.50 1.5500 4.000 0.3900
4 20 18.93 12.92 3.11 1.1000 3.150 0.3500
5 25 34.15 11.54 2.30 0.7321 2.261 0.3200

Now let us make a graph for this data.

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 DISCUSSION

The discharge coefficient (Cd) of rectangular broad-crested weir can be written as

a function of the width of the channel (b), total energy head upstream of the weir
(h), mean flow velocity in the main channel (v), length of broad-crested weir (l),
and acceleration due to gravity (g), dimensional analysis based on Buckingham’s
theorem was used to find non-dimensional variables in the present study. There
is no doubt that the theoretical results are different from actual results and this is
because in theory we neglect many factors which effect on the results and we
always take an ideal case, but in actual we saw the influence of all these factors
on our results.
In our results the Qtheoretical and Qactual were not close to each other in value, maybe
because we didn’t place the calibrated scale on the centre of the weir during taking
the value of (h), maybe we read the values of calibrated scale in a wrong way
because the scale was accurate to (mm), or maybe we were careless when taking
the time during the Weight-Time method.
In order to estimate the outflow over a rectangular broad-crested weir, the
discharge coefficient in the weir equation needs to be known.

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 APPLICATIONS

The experiment was so useful to us because by it we can find the discharge of any
stream, channel, and also it useful when we want to raise the level of the water to
make branch from dam or stream at specific discharge, and thus the importance
of this experiment had been clarified to us, and special in large hydraulic
constructions.

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 REFERENCES

Following sources were referred to for the partial completion of this study:-
1. Fluid Mechanics Lab Course by University of Duhok
2. Flow in Open Channel by K Subramanya
3. Weir explanation by Energy Education
4. Broad-Crested Weir Literature by University of Wyoming

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