for the discharge q in m3/s per metre width, with negligible approach velocity, is presented in Table 5.5.

The accuracy of the discharge coefficient for a well maintained Cipoletti weir is reasonable for field conditions. The eiror in the product CdCV expected to be less is than 5%. The method by which this coefficient error is to be combined with other sources of error is shown in Annex 2.

5.3.3

Limits of application

The limits of application of the (fully contracted) Cipoletti weir are: a. The height of the weir crest above the bottom of the approach channel should be at least twice the head over the crest with a minimum of 0.30 m; b. The distance from the sides of the trapezodal control section to the sides of the approach channel should be at least twice the head over the crest with a minimum of 0.30 m; c. The upstream head over the weir crest h, should not be less than 0.06 m nor more than 0.60 m; d. The ratio h,/b, should be equal to or less than 0.50. e. To enable aeration of the nappe, the tailwater level should be at least 0.05 m below crest level. Provided the Cipoletti weir conforms to the above limits of application, it may be placed in a non-rectangular approach channel.
Table 5.5 Discharge of the standard Cipoletti weir in m3/s.m
~

~____________

Head metre

Discharge m3/s.m

Head metre

Discharge m3/s.m

Head metre

Discharge

m3/s.m

0.06 0.07 0.08 0.09 0.10 0.11 0.12 0.13 0.14 0.15 0.16 0.17 0.18 0.19 0.20 0.21 0.22 0.23 0.24 0.25

0.0273 0.0344 0.0421 0.0502 0.0588 0.0678 0.0773 0.0871 0.0974 O. 108 0.119 0.130 0.142 0.154 0.166 0.179 0.192 0.205 0.219 0.232

0.26 0.27 0.28 0.29 0.30 0.3 1 0.32 0.33 0.34 0.35 0.36 0.37 0.38 0.39 0.40 0.41 0.42 0.43 0.44 0.45

0.247 0.261 0.275 0.290 0.306 0.321 0.337 0.352 0.369 0.385 0.402 0.418 0.435 0.453 0.470 0.488 0.506 0.524 0.543 0.561

0.46 0.47 0.48 0.49 0.50 0.51 0.52 0.53 0.54 0.55 0.56 0.57 0.58 0.59 0.60

0.580 0.599 0.618 0.638 0.657

0.677 0.697 0.717 0.738 0.758 0.779 0.800 0.821 0.843 0.864

NOTE: The approach velocity has been neglected (C, Y 1 .OO)

166

5.4
5.4.1

Circular weir
Description

1
~

A circular control section located in a vertical thin (metal) plate, which is placed perpendicular to the sides and bottom of a straight approach channel, is defined as a circular thin plate weir. These weirs have the advantage that the crest can be turned and bevelled with precision in a lathe, and more particularly that they do not have to be levelled. Circular sharp-crested weirs, in practice, are fully contracted so that the bed and sides of the approach channel should be sufficiently remote from the control section to have no influence on the development of the nappe (Figure 5.12). The fully contracted weir may be placed in a non-rectangular approach channel provided that the general installation conditions comply with those laid down in Section 5.4.3.

5.4.2

Determination of discharge

According to Equation 1-93, the basic head-discharge equation for a circular sharpcrested weir reads

C, O -J2g dc2.5 Ce$i dc2. =

4 15

(5-7)

4 o where o is a function of the filling ratio h,/dc = k2. Values of o and $i = 15 are shown in Table 5.6. For water at ordinary temperatures, the discharge coefficient is a function of the filling ratio h,/dc.Staus (1 93 1 ) determined experimental values of C, for various weir diameters. Average values of Ce as a function of h,/d, are shown in Table 5.7.

\
\

Figure 5.12 Circular weir dimensions

167

Table 5.6 Values of o and 4 as a function of the filling ratio hl/d, hlldc
o @i dimensionm'/l/s less

k2 of a circular sharp-crested weir

h,/dc
o +i dimensionless m'hls

hi/dc

o dimension-

4
m%/s ,4076 ,4291 ,451 1 ,4735 .4965 ,5199 ,5437 .568 I ,5929 .6182 ,6439 ,6700 .6965 ,7233 ,7506 .7782 ,8062 ,8344 ,8630 ,8920 .9212 ,9509 .9809 1.0111 1.0416 1.0724 1.1035 1.1349 1.1666 1.1986

less
0.36 .37 .38 .39 .40 .4 I .42 .43 ,345I ,3633 ,3819 .4009 .4203
,4401 ,4603 ,4809 ,5019 ,5233

0.01 .o2 .O3 .O4 .O5

0.0004 .O013 .O027 ,0046 .O07 1 ,0102 ,0139 .O182 .O231 ,0286 ,0346 ,0412 ,0483 ,0560 ,0642 ,0728 ,0819 ,0914 .IO14 .I119 ,1229 ,1344 .1464 ,1589 ,1719 ,1854 ,1994 .2139 ,2289 ,2443 ,2601 ,2763 ,2929 ,3099 ,3273

0.00047 .O0I54 ,003 I9 .O0543 ,00839 ,0120 .O I64 .o2 15 ,0273 ,0338 ,0409 ,0487 ,0571 ,0661 ,0758 ,0860 ,0967 ,1080 ,1198 .I322 ,1452
,1588

0.71 .72 .73 .74 .75 .76 .77 .78 .79 .80 .8 1 .82 .83 34 35 .86 37 .88 39 .90 .91 .92 .93 .94 .95 .96 .97 .98 .99

1.1804 1.2085 1,2368 1.2653 1.2939 1.3226 1.3514 1.3802 1.409I 1.4380 1.4670 1.4960 1.5250 1.5540 1.5830 1.6120 1.6410 1.6699 1.6988 ' 1.7276 1.7561 1.7844 1.8125 1.8403 1.8678 1.8950 1.9219 1.9484 1.9744 2.000
Ce E

1.3943 1.4275 1.4609 1.4946 1.5284 1.5623 1.5963 1.6303 1.6644 1.6986 1.7328 1.7671 1.8013 1.8356 1.8699 1.9041 1.9384 1.9725 2.0066 2.0407 2.0743 2.1077 2.1409 2.1738 2.2063 2.2384 2.2702 2.3015 2.3322 -

.O6 .O7 .O8 .O9 .IO

.44
.45

.I1 .I2 .13 .I4 .I5

.I6 .I7 .I8 .I9 .20 .21 .22 .23 .24 .25 .26 .27 .28 .29 .30 .31 .32 .33 .34 .35

.46 .47 .48 .49

so

,545 1 ,5672 ,5896 ,6123 ,6354 ,6588 ,6825 ,7064 ,7306 .7551 ,7799 ,8050 ,8304 ,8560 ,8818 .9079 ,9342 ,9608 ,9876 1.0147 1.0420 1.0694 1.0969 1.1246 1.1524

.51 .52 .53 .54 .55 .56 .57 .58 .59 .60
.61 .62 .63 .64

,1729 ,1877 ,2030 ,2190 ,2355 ,2527 ,2704 ,2886 ,3072 ,3264 ,3460 ,3660 ,3866

'

.65
.66 .67 .68 .69 .70

I .o0

1.2632 1.2957 i.3254 1.3612

Q
or

f i o d2.5

Ce +i dc2.5

Values o f o from Stevens 1957

So far as is practicable, circular weirs should be installed and maintained so as to make the approach velocity negligible (HI 2: hl). The error in the effective discharge coefficients for a well maintained circular sharpcrested weir, as presented in Table 5.7, may be expected to be less than 2%. The method by which this error is to be combined with other sources of error is shown in Annex 2. 168

Table 5.7 Average discharge coefficient for circular sharp-crested weirs

1.o0 0.95 0.90 0.85 0.80 0.75 0.70

0.606 0.604 0.602 0.600 0.599 0.597 0.596

0.65 0.60 0.55 0.50 0.45 0.40 0.35

0.595 0.594 0.593 0.593 0.594 0.595 0.597

0.30 0.2s 0.20

0.15

0.10 0.05 O

0.600 0.604 0.610 0.623 0.650 0.75

-

The lower quarter of a circular weir is sometimes described as a parabola of which the focal distance equals the radius of the circle. According to Equation 1-80, the head-discharge relationship then reads Q
=

C e t J m h,-O

(5-8)

where the effective discharge coefficient differs less than 3% from those presented in Table 5.7, provided that hl/dc < about 0.25.

5.4.3

Limits of application

The limits of application of the circular sharp-crested weir are: a. The height of the crest above the bed of the approach channel should not be less than the radius of the control section with a minimum of O. I O m; b. The sides (boundary of the rectangular, trapezodal, or circular approach channel) should not be nearer than the radius rc to the weir notch; c. The ratio HJdCshould be equal to or more than O. 10; d. The practical lower limit of H , is 0.03 m; e. To enable aeration of the nappe the tailwater level should be at least 0.05 m below crest level. If only the lower half of the circular control section is used, the same limits of application should be observed.

5.5
5.5.1

Proportional weir
Description

The proportional or Sutro weir is defined as a weir in which the discharge is linearly proportional to the head over an arbitrary reference level which, for the Sutro weir, has been selected at a distance of one-third of the height (a) of the rectangular section above the weir crest. The Sutro weir consists of a rectangular portion joined to a curved portion which, according to Equation 1-103, has as a profile law (see Section 1.13.7)

169

c
c

D
bc

weir discharge

symmetrical and unsymmetrical pmportional-flow sutm weir and a typical head-discharge curve.

i
I

Figure 5.13 Sutro weir dimensions

Table 5.8 Values of z/a and x/bc related by Equation 5-9 z/a x/b,
0.805 0.732 0.68 I 0.641 0.608 0.580 0.556 0.536 0.517 0.500

z/a
I .o 2.0 3.0 4.0 5.0 6.0 7.0 8.0 9.0 10.0

x/bc
0.500 0.392 0.333 0.295 0.268 0.247 0.230 0.216 0.205 0.195

z/a
IO 12 14 16 18 20 25 30

xlbc
0.195 O. 179 O. 166 O. 156 0.147 0.140 0.126 0.115

o. 1
0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.7 0.8 0.9
1 .o

in which the symmetrical weir profile has been superimposed directly on the bottom of the approach channel to prevent the accumulation of sediments upstream of the weir plate. With all three types, the weir crest should be truly horizontal and perpendicular to the flow. Weirs with a linear head-discharge relationship are particularly suitable for use as downstream control on rectangular canals with constant flow velocity, as controls for float regulated chemical dosing or sampling devices, or as a flow meter whereby the average discharge over any period is a direct function of the average recorded head.

5.5.2

Evaluation of discharge

As shown in Section I . 13.7, the basic head-discharge equation for a linearly proportional weir is

Q = c d b c J2ga(h, - a/3)

(5-10)

where the discharge coefficient C is mainly determined by the geometrical proportions d of the control section, which, according to Equation 5-9, is governed by the values of a and bc. The values of C, for symmetrical and unsymmetrical weirs are presented in Tables 5.9 and 5.10 respectively.
171

Table 5.9 Discharge coefficients of symmetrical Sutro weirs as a function of a and b, (after Soucek, Howe and Mavis 1936)
a (metres) b, (metres)

0.15 0.006 0.015 0.030 0.046 0.061 0.076 0.091 0.608 0.606 0.603 0.601 0.599 0.598 0.597

0.23 0.613 0.61 1 0.608 0.6055 0.604 0.6025 0.602

0.30 0.617 0.615 0.612 0.610 0.608 0.6065 0.606

0.38 0.6185 0.617 0.6135 0.6115 0.6095 0.608 0.6075

0.46 0.619 0.6175 0.614 0.612 0.610 0.6085 0.608

Table 5.10 Discharge coefficients of unsymmetrical Sutro weirs as a function of a and b, (after Soucek, Howe and Mavis 1936)

a (metres)
0.006 0.015 0.030 0.046 0.061 0.076 0.091

b, (metres)
0.15

0.23 0.619 0.617 0.614 0.61 15 0.610 0.6085 0.608

0.30 0.623 0.621 0.618 0.616 0.614 0.6125 0.612

0.38 0.6245 0.623 0.6195 0.6175 0.6155 0.614 0.6135

0.46
0.625 0.6235 0.620 0.618 0.616 0.6145 0.614

0.614 0.612 0.609 0.607 0.605 0.604 0.603

The coefficients given in Tables 5.9 and 5.10 can be expected to have an accuracy of the order of 2%, provided the control is constructed and installed with reasonable care and skill. To maintain this coefficient accuracy, the weir should be cleaned frequently. The method by which this error is to be combined with other sources of error is shown in Annex 2. If contraction is fully suppressed along the weir crest, contraction along the curved edges of the weir will increase to such an extent that the wetted area of the jet at the vena contracta remains about constant (see orifices Section I . 12). Experimental results obtained by Singer and Lewis (1966) showed that the coefficient values in Tables 5.9 and 5.10 may be used for crestless weirs provided that the weir breadth b, is not less than O. 15 m.
5.5.3

Limits of application

The weir discharge is linearly proportional to the head provided that the head is greater than about 1.2a. However, to obtain a sensibly constant discharge coefficient, it is advised to use h, = 2a as a lower limit. In addition, h, has a practical lower limit which is related to the magnitude of the influence of fluid properties and the accuracy 172

with which h, can be determined. The recommended lower limit is 0.03 m. The maximum value of h, is related to the magnitude of the influence of fluid properties. Further, h, - a = z' is restricted to a value whereby the value of x, as computed by Equation 5-9, is not less than 0.005 m. For similar reasons, the height of the rectangular portion (a) should not be less than 0.005 m. The breadth (b,) of the weir crest should not be less than 0.15 m to allow the use of the standard discharge coefficient. To achieve a fully contracted weir, the ratio b,/p, should be equal to or greater than 1.O and the ratio B,/b, not less than 3.0. Linearly proportional weirs that do not comply with the limits on the breadth of the crest can be employed satisfactorily provided that such weirs are first calibrated to obtain the proper coefficient value. Due to lack of experimental data, no standard C,-values are given for b, < O. 15 m. To allow sufficient aeration of the nappe, tailwater-level should be at least 0.05 m below crest level.

5.6

'

Selected list of references

Banks, W.H.H., C.R. Burch, and T.L. Shaw 1968. The design of proportional and logarithmic thin-plate weirs. J. of Hydraulic Research, Delft. Vol. 6. No. 2, pp. 75-106. Bos, M.G. 1985. Long-throated flumes and broad-crested weirs. Nijhoff Publishers, Dordrecht. p. 141. Bss, P. 1929. Berechnung der Abflussmengen und der Wasserspiegellage bei Abstiirzen und Schwellen unter besonderer Bercksichtigung der dabei auftretenden Zusatzspannungen. Wasserkraft u. Wasserwirtschaft, Vol. 22. pp. 13-33. British Standards Institution. 1965. Methods of measurement of liquid flow in open channels. BS 3680, Part 4A: Thin-plate weirs and venturi flumes. London. Cipoletti, C. 1886. Modulo per la dispensa delle acque atramazzo libero di forma trapezia e coeffciente di contrazione constante. Esperimenti e formole per grandi stramazzi a soglia inclinata e orizontale. Milano, Hocpli. 88 p. Franke, P.G. 1962. Messiiberfalle. Das Gas- und Wasserflche, 103 Jahrg. Nr. 40, pp. 1072-1075. Nr. 42, pp. 1137-1140 and Nr. 44, pp. 1178-1181. Kindsvater, C.E. and R.W.C. Carter. 1957. Discharge characteristics of rectangular thin-plate weirs. Journal of the Hydraulics Division of the ASCE, Vol. 83, No. HY 6. Paper 1453. L'Association Francaise de Normalisation. 1971. Mesure de dbit de l'eau dans les chenaux au moyen dedvcrsoireenminceparoi. X 10-311.ISO/TC 113/GT2(France-10), 152. Pratt, E.A. 1914,'Another proportional-flow weir. Sutro weir. Engineering News, Vol. 72, No. 9, p. 462. Rehbock, Th. 1909. Die Ausbildung der Uberflle beim Abfluss von Wasser ber Wehre nebst Beschreibung der Anlage zur Beobachtung von Uberfallen im Flusslaboratorium zu Karlsruhe, Karlsruhe. Festschrift der Grossherzoglichen Technischen Hochschule Fridericjana. Rehbock, Th. 1929. Wassermessung mit scharfkantigen Uberfallwehren. Z. des Vereines Deutscher Ingenieure. 73 No. 24, pp. 817-823, Berlin. Singer, J. and D.C.G. Lewis 1966. Proportional-flow weirs for automatic sampling or dosing. Water & Water Engineering. V. 70, No. 841, pp. 105-1I I . Soucek, H.E. Howe and F.T. Mavis. 1936. Sutro weir investigations furnish discharge coefficients. Engineering News-Record. New York. I17.,,no.20. pp. 679-680. Staus, A. 1931. Der Beiwert kreisrunder Uberfalle. Wasserkraft u. Wasserwirtschaft. p. 42, No. 4. Stevens, J.C. 1957. Flow through circular weirs. J. of the Hydraulics Div. of the ASCE, Vol. 83, No. HY 6. Paper 1455. Thomson, J. 1859. On experiments on the measurement of water by triangular notches in weir-boards. Report of the 28th meeting British Ass. for Advancement of Science, held at Leeds, London. Sept. 1858, pp. 181-185. United States Bureau of Reclamation 197I . Water measurement manual. Second edition, Denver, Col.

173

Wells, J.R.1954. Discharge characteristics of rectangular notch weirs in rectangular channels. MSc. Thesis presented to the Georgia Institute of Technol. Atlanta, Ga.

174