ECW 437

HYDRAULIC
LABORATORY
FLOW OVER BROAD-CRESTED WEIR
(LEVEL 1)
 INTRODUCTION

The need for an open-ended laboratory activity is

emphasized in enhancing independent learning
activities and inculcating creativity and innovation of
students. It is now a required element in an
accreditation exercise as stipulated in the EAC Manual
2012.
 OBJECTIVES

• To study the behaviour of non-uniform flow and the

use of a broad-crested weir to measure the discharge
in a rectangular open channel.
 LEARNING OUTCOMES

At the end of the laboratory activities, students would be able to:

1) Measure discharge over the broad-crested weir.
2) Understand the verification of broad-crested weir as the limiting
factor in designing of a channel.
 THEORETICAL
BACKGROUND
Whenever an obstruction such as a broad-crested weir is placed in the channel, flow is disrupted and the
flow is no longer uniform. If the flow is subcritical, the water will flow over the weir and a drop in the weir
level occurs over the weir. If the weir height exceeds the critical value of E – Emin. Where E and Emin are the
specific energy and minimum specific energy in the channel respectively, the flow over the weir becomes
critical flow and the depth is equal to the critical depth, yc.

The critical depth, yc for a rectangular channel of width, B discharging at a rate, Q can be obtained from the
equation:
Rearranging the equation yields the discharge in the channel as:

But the relationship between Emin and yc for a rectangular channel is given by:

Hence combining (ii) and (iii) yields:

Upon simplifying Eq. (iv):

This can be further approximated by:

Where H is the depth of water behind weir, measure from the top of the weir.
If the height of the weir is known and the depth just upstream of the weir is measured, the discharge in the channel is easily
determined by Eq. (v).
The broad-crested weir can be used to measure the discharge in an open channel and can also be used to raise the depth of flow in
a small stream.
 PROBLEM STATEMENT
Students are required to set up the broad-crested weir in the flume placed in the Hydraulics
Laboratory. The rounded top edge of the weir should be placed upstream of the flow. This is to
avoid the separation losses which would occur at a sharp edge. By ensuring that the flow is
subcritical over the range of flow rates for the experiment and that the resultant flow conditions
result in choking (water level rises upstream of the weir), measurement of the depths at upstream
of the weir and verification of the broad-crested equation for flow rate can be conducted. Then
students should carry out findings on the application of this situation in real life cases.
 APPARATUS

Point gauge for

Open channel flume measuring depth
(Hydraulic Laboratory)

Broad-crested weir
 PROCEDURES
1. Record the width of the channel, B.
2. Adjust the channel slope to a mild slope.
3. Measure the height, pw and length, Lw of
the broad-crested weir.
B
4. Install the broad-crested weir with the
rounded top edge upstream.
5. Let the water flow over the weir.
6. Ensure that choking occurs and the water
behind the weir increases in depth.
7. Record the flow rate in the channel using
the flow meter or any other method.
8. Measure the depth behind the weir and
deduce the value of H. pw
9. Repeat for different flow rates. Take Lw
another nine (9) different flow rates, Q and
depths, H. The proper depths H should be
between the range of Lw/12 and Lw/2
 RESULTS

The group will be required to prepare the technical report of the laboratory
results highlighting the procedures of the experiments, data taken and
recommendations to be adopted in order to obtain good results. Show at
least one sample calculation. Submit your report after one week or before
the next experiment started.
 Width of channel, B (m) 0.080  
Height of the broad-crested weir, Pw (m) 0.106  
Length of the broad-crested weir, Lw (m) 0.355      

EXPERIMENT DATA NO Volume , ml Time, s Upstream depth,y1 (m)

1   5.2 0.183
2   6.8 0.177
3   7.3 0.175
GROUP 1 4   7.5 0.172

RAW DATA
5   8.0 0.169
6 15000 8.4 0.166
7   8.9 0.163
8   9.3 0.16

EC220 3A5A
9   10.4 0.157
10   11.5 0.155

EXPERIMENT DATA NO Volume , ml Time, s Upstream depth,y1 (m)

1   9.2 0.169
2   9.6 0.171
3   7.0 0.183
GROUP 2 4   6.8 0.184
5   8.2 0.170
6 18000 8.4 0.169
7   6.2 0.185
8   9.3 0.168
9   6.2 0.184
10   8.0 0.179

EXPERIMENT DATA NO Volume , ml Time, s Upstream depth,y1 (m)

1   12.3 0.171
2   10.8 0.177
3   10.0 0.180
GROUP 3 4   11.4 0.174
5   9.8 0.181
6 25000 9.0 0.182
7   8.4 0.184
8   10.2 0.176
9   14.0 0.167
10   16.6 0.160
Additional information
https://youtu.be/VDkoWcD5RYM
https://youtu.be/dkY0A9XJAg4