1.

ABSTRACT

The objective of this experiment is to determine the flow characteristics demonstration over a
rectangular notch and a (V) notch, and to determine the discharge coefficients. Based on theory,
the rectangular weir is able to measure higher flows than the v-notch weir and over a wider
operating range while V-notch weir is a notch with a V shape opening which is used to measure
low flows within a narrow operating range. In this experiment, both weirs will be test by
discharging water through it. The water will be pumped inside the tank and is allowed to flow
and discharge through the end or the weirs. Before any reading is taken, the water is stabilized
first, and the datum is set by using the Vernier Gauge. Then, the volume of water will be
collected inside the discharge tank as well as the time. By dividing both perimeters, the flow rate
can be determined and the comparison for both weirs can be made. The data obtained is then
tabulated into table, the calculation of Cd is made and the graph is plotted based on the variables.

2.0

INTRODUCTION
Weirs are structures consisting of an obstruction such as a dam or bulkhead placed across

the open channel with a specially shaped opening or notch. Weirs can be used for measuring
flow rates in open channel and rivers, which commonly in connection to water supply and
sewage plants. The weirs increase the water level, or head, which is measured upstream of the
structure. The flow rate over a weir is a function of head on the weir. The flow pattern over a
notch or weir is complex and there is no analytical situation to the relationship between
discharge and head, thus a semi-empirical approach has to be used.
Rectangular weirs and triangular or v-notch weirs are often used in water supply,
wastewater and sewage systems. They consist of a sharp edge plate with a rectangular, triangular
or v-notch profile for water flow. Broad-crested weirs can be observed in dam spillways where
the broad edge is beneath the water surface across the entire stream. Flow measurement
installations with broad-crested weirs will meet accuracy requirements only if they are
calibrated. Other available weirs are the trapezoidal weir, sutro weir and compound weirs. But, in
this experiment, the focus will be only on the rectangular weirs and v-notch weirs.

3.0

OBJECTIVES
1. To determine the flow characteristics demonstration over a rectangular notch and a (V)
notch.
2. To determine the discharge coefficients.

4.0

THEORY

Flow over Weirs

Investigations of weir flows aim at studying the relation between the discharge coefficient and
the parameters influencing the flow. Weirs are hydraulic structures consisting of an obstruction
placed across a water channel with a specially shaped opening or notch. The weir structure will
increase the water level, which will be measured. Water level-discharge relationships are
available for standard-shaped openings or notches.
Two types of weirs are widely used: Rectangular shape opening and (V) notch are used in
experiment of flow over weirs. Stilling baffle is used to ensure minimum turbulence. The stilling
baffle will act as a reservoir to collect water volume and slowly disperse the water from the
opening at the bottom of the stilling baffle.

Types of Weirs
Rectangular Weir
The rectangular weir is able to measure higher flows than the v-notch weir and over a wider
operating range.

B, 30mm
89mm

Cd

Where

2
B 2g H 2
3

Cd

= Coefficient of discharge

= Width of notch

= Head above bottom of notch

=Flow rate

V-Notch:
The V-notch weir is a notch with a V shape opening. V-notch weir typically used to measure low
flows within a narrow operating range.

90
50mm

Cd
2 g tan H 2
15
2
=

Cd

= Coefficient of discharge

= Half the enclosed angle the vee.

= Head above bottom of notch

Where

5.0

APPARATUS

Rectangular
Notch weir

Flow
Control
Valve

V-Notch
weir
Sump tank
Volumetric
tank

Hydraullic
Bench
Vernier
Gauge
Stilling
Baffle
Water
Channel

Hook

Weir
Plate

General description of apparatus

The Flow over Weirs Apparatus is to determine the water flowing over weirs. This apparatus
also are able to understanding the relationship between coefficient of discharge, width of notch,
height and flow rates. This experiment was used two types of weirs, rectangular notch weirs and
V-notch weirs. The rectangular notch weir is able to measure higher flows than the V-notch weir
and over a wider operating range, while V-notch weir used to measure low flows within a narrow
operating range.
6.0

PROCEDURE
1. The weir apparatus on the hydraulic bench had been leveled and the rectangular notch
weir was installed.
2. The hydraulic bench flow control valve was slowly opened to admit water to the channel
until the water was discharged over the weir plate. Ensured that the water level was even
with the crest of the weir.
3. The flow control valve was closed and allowed water level to stabilize.
4. The Vernier Gauge was set to a datum reading by used the top of the hook. The Gauge
was positioned about half way between the notch plate and stilling baffle.
5. Admitted water to the channel. The water flow was adjusted by sing the hydraulic bench
flow control valve to obtained heads (H).
6. Waited for water flow condition to stabilized, heads readings was took in every
increasing of about 1 cm.
7. Step 4 and 5 was repeated for different flow rate.
8. The reading of volume and time was taken using the volumetric tank to determined flow
rate.
9. After finished with rectangular notch, the notch was replaced with V-notch.
10. The results were recorded in the tables.
6

8.0

SAMPLE CALCULATION

For rectangular weir ;

average time (0 meter)
all time recorded are divided by three
flow rate, Q ,(0 meter)
1 m = 1000L
= 310 m
310 m / 1175.7s (average time) = 2.55 106 m/s
log H (0.01m)
log (0.01) = -2
log Q (0.01m)
log 7.83 105 m/s = -4.11
Q2/3(0.01m)
(7.83 105)2/3 = 1.83 103
Cd (0.01m)
Q
3
2
B 2g H 2
3

= 7.83 105 (0.0886)(1 103)

= 8.8 101

H/B (H/0.03m)
0.01 / 0.03 = 0.330

For v- notch ;
-calculations for average time(s) and flow rate(Q, m/s),are the same with rectangular weir but
with different value.
Q2/5(0.01m)
(6.70 105)2/5 = 0.021
Cd (0.01m)
Q

2 g tan H 2
15
2
5

= 6.70 105 (2.362)(1)(1 105)

= 0.10

10

9.0

DISCUSSION

Table 1 showed the fastest flow rate, Q recorded was 0.02m3/s for average time 1.5 second for
rectangular notch. This proved the relationship between the flow rate and the discharge
coefficient, Cd, where the highest Cd obtained was 0.94. The lowest flow rate obtained was 2.55
x10-6 m3/s for the average time 1175.7 second and the lowest value of Cd was 0.58.
Data from table 2 showed that the fastest flow rate for v-notch was 1.38x10-3m3/s for
average time 2.17 second, while the lowest flow rate was 2.44 x10-6 m3/s for average time 1227.7
second. The highest value of Cd was 0.92 while the lowest value was 0.10.
Based on the data from tables above, it can be seen that the average value of Cd for both
rectangular and v-notch was slightly different where the values of Cd for rectangular notch was
higher compare to the Cd values of v-notch. The most different between these two notches were
the shape of the notch which rectangular shape gives fastest flow rate which act as a barrier to
the flow of the water, therefore give higher value of Cd.

11

Rectangular Notch (questions number one until three was recorded in the table 1 and table 2)
Question 4:

Q2/3 vs H
0.018
0.016

Q 2/3

0.014
0.012
0.01

y = 2.83x - 0.00019

Q2/3

0.008
0.006

______
Linear Q2/3

0.004
0.002
0
0

0.02

0.04

0.06

0.08

0.1

The graph showed that when the height of the head above the bottom of the notch is increases,
then the Q2/3 also increasing but depends on Q which is the flow rate of the water flow. The
example of the graph showed the result by referring on the height and the flow rate of the water
which is exactly correct.

12

Log Q vs Log H
0
-2.5

-2

-1.5

-1

-0.5

-0.5

-1
-1.5
-2

y = 1.2x + 0.5

-2.5

Log Q

-3

_____
Linear
(Log Q)

-3.5
-4
-4.5

Log H

The graph above showed the Log Q against Log H for rectangular notch. It can be said that when
log H is increasing, the log Q in increasing too. Log Q value was based on the log of the flow
rate of water while log H was value the height of the head. It showed that both value were
mostly in negative signs.

Cd vs H
1.2

Cd

1
0.8

y = -2.6x - 0.9

0.6

Cd

0.4

______
Linear
(Cd)

0.2
0
0

0.02

0.04

0.06

0.08

0.1

13

The example of this graph showed the relationship between Cd value and the height of the head
for rectangular notch, which is not constant at certain point and slightly increasing. Cd value
increased from the height 0.01m to 0.02m and starting from 0.08m until 0.083m, while keep
decreased at others points. Theoretically, when the height increased, the Cd value decreased.

Question 5:
The value Cd for this rectangular notch is decreasing on the certain height. On the 0.02m, the
values of Cd is quiet height which is 1.06 compared to the others height, decreased until 0.58.
Then, after the 0.04m, the values keep on constant but only a small changes value. As
conclusion, the value of Cd is constantly throughout the experiment.
Question 6:
The average value of Cd that has been calculated in this experiment is 0.798. The conclusion for
the graph above will be a good range which is starts on 0.02m height until 0.083m.
Question 7:
Q & H is related by an empirical formula which is Q = kHn, where k is a constant and integer n is
a gradient of the graph which based on the graph log Q against log H. The value of n is 1.2
which is stated on the graph above. Based on formula, the value of k in this experiment is 0.028.
So, the fomula Q= 0.028H1.20

14

For V-Notch
Question 1 until question 2, the data is recorded in the table above.
Question 3:

Q2/5 vs H
0.08
0.07

Q2/5

0.06
0.05
0.04

y = 1.18x - 0.056

0.03

Q2/5

0.02

_______
Linear (Q2/5)

0.01
0
0

0.01

0.02

0.03

0.04

0.05

0.06

The gradient of the graph is 1.180 which referring the value of Cd in this experiment. The
average of Cd value according on the calculation is 0.623.
Question 4:
Throughout the experiment by using v-notch, the value of Cd is not constant but the values
always keep increasing as height of the head also increasing.

15

10.0

CONCLUSION

This experiment of flow over weirs has been conducted successfully where it has performed the
2 types of weir plates which are rectangular notch and V-notch weirs in order to determine the
flow rate from the volume and time reading on volumetric tank. For this experiment, the
rectangular notch that shows in Table 1 gives the fastest flow rate where Q recorded was
0.02m3/s for average time 1.5 seconds. Higher the flow rate fives higher discharge coefficient,
Cd.
The V-notch weirs showed in Table 2 gives fastest flow rate of 1.38x10-3m3/s for average time
2.17 second. The highest value of Cd was 0.92 while the lowest value was 0.10. It can be
determined that the average value of Cd for both rectangular and v-notch is slightly different
where the values of Cd for rectangular notch is higher, differ to the Cd values of v-notch. The
most different between these two notches are the shape of the notch which rectangular shape
gives fastest flow rate which act as a barrier to the flow of the water, therefore give higher value
of Cd.

11.0

RECOMMENDATIONS

1. Make sure the flow of the water is stable before measure the height.
2. Control the water control valve slowly to get the stable flow of the water.
3. Do not recorded the time taken when the water level below 0 liter.
4. Eyes must be perpendicular to the vernier gauge.

16

12.0

REFERENCES

1. http://www.engineeringtoolbox.com/weirs-flow-rate-d_592.html
2. http://www.aquatext.com/calcs/weir%20flow.html
3. http://irrigation.wsu.edu/Content/Calculators/Water-Measurements/RectangularContracted-Weir.php
4. http://www.hubbardbrook.org/w6_tour/weir-stop/weirwork.html
5. http://www.gitam.edu/eresource/environmental/murali/notches.html

13.0

APPENDICES

17