Hydraulics Lecture #16

CWR 4202 page (1)

Lecture #16
Announcements:
Outline:
Read pages 203-210
• Measuring discharge in open channel
• Weirs
• Venturi flumes
• Spillway
• Sluice gate

Weirs:
Sharp crested: (page 203)
A simple device for measuring discharge is the sharp crested weir.

Q = K 2 g LH
2
3

K is a flow coefficient given as:

H
K = 0.40 + 0.05
P
Contracted Weir:
For a contracted weir (a weir that has end walls) flow will be contracted.
Q = K 2 g (L − 0.20 H

The -0.20H is
attributed to the
contraction in area of
flow.
 Hydraulics Lecture #16
CWR 4202 page (2)

Triangular (V-notch) Weir:

Usually used when flow rate is small.
8 ⎛θ ⎞ 5
Q = K 2 g tan⎜ ⎟ H 2
15 ⎝2⎠
0.57 < K < 0.6
0.2 ft < H < 2 ft

Broad Crested Weir:

Q = 0.385CL 2 g H
3
2

C can be found on page

205 figure 4-37

Venturi Flume:
Disadvantage of weir is low velocity next to weir cause sediment to accumulate in front of weir
and also head loss due to dimensionality of flow.
To avoid the impacts of a weir, use a Venturi flume of Parshall flume from CSU.
Venturi or Parshall flumes flow is contracted to create a control section used to predict head
discharge relationship. See figure 4-38 on page 206 to see an illustration of a Parshall flume.
Q = K 2 gWH u 3
2

W = width of throat of Parshall flume

Hu = head above floor level at location shown in figure 4-38
K = flow coefficient (Hu/W) in figure 4-39 on page 207
 Hydraulics Lecture #16
CWR 4202 page (3)

Spillways:
Discharge over spillway is
given as:
Q = KL 2 g H
2
3

K = flow coefficient (H/P)

H is measured from the crest
of the spillway

Sluice Gate:
Used to control and measure discharge in canals.

Conservation of energy Q2 V12

= H + − Cc y
V12 V2 2 gA22 2g
y1 + = y2 + 2
2g 2g
V12
Q = CV A2 2 g H + − Cc y
V2 Q2 2g
= , y2 = Cc y , A2 = Cc Ly
2g 2 gA2
V12
Q = CV Cc Ly 2 g H + − Cc y
Q2 V12 2g
+ C c y = H +
2 gA22 2g
Q = KLy 2 gH