HYDRAULICS 3 LABORATORY EXPERIMENT

Part 1: Broad-Crested Weir

Part 2: Sluice Gate

Part 1: Broad-Crested Weir

Objectives
For a broad-crested weir:

to observe the flow patterns associated with such a device;

to examine the relationship between discharge and freeboard;

to measure the discharge coefficient.

Theory
H = total head (relative to the top of the weir)
h1 = depth upstream
h0 = freeboard (= h1 zb)
hweir = depth above the weir
zb = height of weir (i.e. rise in bed)
b = channel width
h1
Q = total discharge
q = discharge per unit width (Q/b)

total head line

h0

hweir

z b

WEIR

Assuming no loss of head,

V2
2g
Assuming critical flow and measuring the vertical coordinate, z, from the top of the weir:
H weir = H upstream

where

H = zs +

1/ 3

3 q2
q2
H = = h0 +
2 g
2 gh12
This can be rearranged to give an implicit equation for the discharge per unit width:
q 2 3/ 2
q = (2 / 3) 3 / 2 g (h0 +
)
2 gh12
or, in terms of total discharge (and using metre-second units):
Q2
)3/ 2
Qideal = 1.705b(h0 + ideal
2 gb 2 h12

(1)

(2)

Note that:

an iterative solution for Qideal is necessary;

this gives an ideal value for the discharge; in practice, the discharge coefficient cd is
actual discharge
Q
cd =
=
(3)
ideal discharge
Qideal

Experiment
Fix the broad-crested weir firmly at the downstream fixing point in the Armfield C4-MKII
flume. (The curved end of the weir should face upstream.)
Using the point gauge, record levels for the bed of the channel and the top of the weir
(allowing subsequent depths to be obtained by subtraction).
Adjust the flow valve in the Armfield F1-10 Hydraulics Bench to allow three or four sets of
measurements of:
h1
upstream depth (from which the freeboard h0 may be deduced)
hweir depth over the weir
Q
discharge
Depths are measured with point gauges; the depth over the weir should be measured at the
inflexion point. Discharge may be measured by timed collection in the measuring chamber of
the Hydraulics Bench. (A volume of 10 litres is suitable).
Having taken these readings, open the valve to give maximum flow and observe the effect of
placing stop logs at the downstream end of the flume to raise the tail water level. As the latter
is raised examine: (a) whether the flow over the weir is affected; and (b) how flow patterns
are changed when the broad-crested weir is undrowned or drowned.
Results (to be submitted on the results sheet supplied in the lab)
Channel width, b:
Height of weir, zb:

______ m
______ m

Measurements
h1
(m)

hweir
(m)

Q
(m s )
3 1

h0
(m)

Ideal flow
(equation (2))
Qideal
(m3 s1)

Discharge coefficient
(equation (3))
cd

Submit only the following:

your completed results table (issued in class) this should be filled in by hand;

a graph of measured discharge, Q, as a function of freeboard, h0.

Any intermediate calculations and unit conversions that you undertake to complete the
values in the tables do not need to be submitted.

For Further Consideration (but not inclusion in the report)

Is the discharge coefficient relatively constant?

Is the upstream dynamic head ( V12 / 2 g ) significant compared to h0?

Part 2: Sluice Gate

Objective
For a sluice gate:

to observe the flow patterns associated with such a device;

to determine the relationship between upstream depth, opening and discharge;

to measure the discharge coefficient.

Theory
H = total head (relative to the bed of the flume).
h1 = upstream depth
h2 = downstream depth
D = depth of gate opening
b = channel width
Q = total discharge
q = discharge per unit width (Q/b)

gate
total head line
h1
D

h2

Assuming no loss of head:

H1 = H 2

where

H = zs +

V2
2g

Then:

q2
q2
h1 +
= h2 +
(4)
2 gh12
2 gh22
This can be rearranged to give an equation for the total discharge (Q = qb) based on the
assumption of constant head and the two measured depths:
2 gh1
Qh = bh2
(5)
1 + h2 / h1
The usual ideal approximation in this case assumes that h2 is the same as the gate opening,
D, and that h2 << h1. Then,
Qideal = bD 2gh1
(6)
(Note that this is not the same as assuming constant head.)

In reality, h2 is quite a lot smaller than the gate opening (typically, about 0.6 times), h2/h1 is
small but not insignificant, and there are frictional losses. These modifications are all
absorbed into a discharge coefficient cd such that
actual discharge
Q
cd =
=
(7)
ideal discharge
Qideal

Experiment
Clamp the sluice-gate unit securely near the upstream end of the Armfield C4-MKII flume.
Vary the gate opening between about 18 and 30 mm and vary the discharge via the flow
valve in the Armfield F1-10 Hydraulics Bench. Consider at least two distinct flow rates and
two gate openings. For each combination, record values of:
h1
upstream depth
h2
downstream depth
D
gate opening
Q
discharge
Depths are measured with the point gauges. Discharge may be measured by timed collection
in the measuring chamber of the Armfield F1-10 Hydraulics Bench.
If there is time, examine the occurrence and location of a hydraulic jump when stop logs are
added at the downstream end of the flume. Also observe the effect of a channel slope.

Results (to be submitted on the results sheet supplied in the lab)

Channel width, b: ___ m
Measurements

D
(m)

h1
(m)

h2
(m)

Q
(m3 s1)

Assuming
Ideal
constant head
conditions
(equation (5)) (equation (6))
Qideal
Qh
(m3 s1)
(m3 s1)

Discharge
coefficient
(equation (7))
cd

Submit only the completed results table (issued in class).

Any intermediate calculations and unit conversions that you undertake to complete the
values in the tables do not need to be submitted.

For Further Consideration (but not inclusion in the report)

How good is the assumption of constant head? (Compare Q with Qh.)

Is h2/D relatively constant?
Is the discharge coefficient relatively constant?