Name: Pasco, Jewel Mae G.

________
Course & Year: BSCE-4
Class Schedule: Monday 1:30-4:30PM

Rating:
Engr. Alex H.
Melchor
CE411BL INSTRUCTOR

EXPERIMENT NO. 10
DISCHARGE MEASUREMENT WITH DIFFERENT TYPES OF WEIRS
1. Objectives:
To determine the coefficient of discharge of the different types of
weirs.
2. Equipment/Apparatus:
The Cussons weir tank
Hydraulic Bench
Graduated cylinder
Stopwatch
Bucket
Description of Cussons weir tank
The Cussons weir tank is used in conjunction with the hydraulics
bench to examine the variation of water flow over weirs of different
shapes and with different heads of water.
The weir tank is manufactured from stainless steel and has an
internal tank size of 203 mm by 559 mm by 152 mm high. Bolted
inside the tank are a set of stainless steel baffles which form a stilling
compartment to damp out turbulence from the feed. Cut in the end of
the tank is a spillway unto which a series of plastic weir gates can be
mounted using small brass screws and nuts. The set of gates consists
of a rectangular weir and two V-notch weirs, one of 60 and one of 90.
A hook-type gauge with a vernier measuring system is provided
to allow the height of the water surface to be accurately measured.
The measuring gauge fits on an aluminum bar of substantial section,
which rests across the top of the weir tank. The water supply to the
tank is provided by inserting the flexible water hose from the
hydraulics bench into the stilling compartment.

Schematic Diagram of Cussons Weir Tank

3. Theory
A weir is a standard device for the measurement of water in an open
channel. The water flows over the top of a plate and the rate of flow can be
determined by measuring the height H, relative to the crest, at a distance
upstream from the crest at least four times the maximum head that is to be
employed.
Flow through a Rectangular Notch
Consider a liquid flowing through the rectangular notch as shown below,

y
dy

A differential element with are, (L)(dy), is considered which is located a

distance y from the liquids surface. The velocity through this element is
v 2 gy
.

Therefore the theoretical discharge through the differential element is

dQ 2 gyLdy

(1)

Integrating equation (1), we obtain

H

Q 2 gyLdy
0

2
2 g LH 3/2
3

(2)

The result is equation 2 is theoretical discharge. The actual discharge is

calculated by multiplying the theoretical discharge by the coefficient of
discharge, Cd, that is,
Qa Cd Q

(3)

The discharge coefficient can be obtained by rewriting equation 3 into

Cd

Qa
Q

(4)

Flow through a Triangular Notch

The derivation of the formula to determine the discharge of liquid
through a triangular notch is to consider a differential element located y
distance from the liquids surface as shown in the figure.

y
x

H
H-y

dy

, x tan H y .
2 Hy
2

Solving for x,
The velocity through the element
v 2 gy
is equal to
. The discharge through the differential element is the
tan

v 2 gy
product of the differential area, dA = (2x)(dy) and the velocity,
. But
x = (tan /2)(H-Y), therefore the discharge through the element is
dQ 2 tan H y dy

2 gy

. The total discharge is

H
1

2 g H y y 2 dy.
0
2
3

2 5
2
Qt 2 tan
2 g H H 2 H 2
2
5
3

5
8

Qt tan
2g H 2
15
2
(5)

Qt 2 tan

The actual discharge,

discharge.

Qa Cd

5
8
tan 2 g H 2 .
15
Where Cd is the coefficient of

4. Measurements to be Made
The following information is essential for analysis.
weir type
actual flow rate
head of water above sill
5. Experimental Procedure
1. Thewire mesh was placed in front of the outlet of the weir channel to
allow laminar flow and the hosewas attached from the pump to the inlet
connection into the hydraulic bench.
2. The rectangular weir plate was placed which was to be tested first and
was fastened to the weir channel. It was ensured that the square edge of
the weir faces upstream.
3. The pump was started and hydraulic bench was slowly opened until the
water level reached the crest of the weir and the water level was
measuredto determine the datum level H.
4. Three trials were made for each weir and the valve was adjusted to give
different flow rates. The flow rates were then measured after wards.
5. The regulating valve was closed and the pump was stopped and then
replaced with the next weir to be tested. The procedure was repeated for
the next weir to be tested.

6. Presentation of the Results/Calculations:

Weir

Rectangul
ar

Triangular

Triangular

Trial
No.

Volume
Collecte
d (liters)

Time
to
Collec
t (sec)

0.66

2.03

1.2

1.03

0.8

0.65

1.26

1.44

1.6

4.19

1.58

1.97

0.9

2.41

1.4

1.87

1.6

1.29

Actual
Discharge,
Qa (m3/sec)

3.25x104
1.165x1
0-3
1.23x103
8.75
x10-4
3.81
x10-4
8.02
x10-4
3.73
x10-4
7.49
x10-4
1.24x103

Width
of
Weir,
L (cm)

(degrees
)

3.49
7.37
5

8.24

7.00

60

5.00

60

6.23
3.82
5

60

90

5.01

90

6.04

90

Head,
H (cm)

Sample Computations:
Rectangular weir trial 1

3.25 x 104 m3/sec

2
5.776 x 104 m3
Qt= 29.810.030.03493 /2=
3
s

Qa = 0.66/2.03 = 0.325 L/s =

Cd = Qa/Qt

3.25 x 104
= 0.562
5.78 x 104

Ave Cd =(0.562+0.658+0.586)/3= 0.602

Theoretical
Discharge,
Qt (

m3

/sec)

5.78x10
-4
1.77x10
-3
2.10x10
-3
1.77x10
-3
7.61x10
-4
1.32x10
-3
6.76x10
-4
1.33x10
-3
2.12x10
-3

Coefficie
nt of
Discharg
e, Cd

Averag
e Cd

0.562
0.658

0.60
2

0.586
0.494
0.500

0.53
4

0.608
0.552
0.563
0.585

0.56
7

Triangular (60 degrees) weir trial 1

4

m3/sec
8.75 x 10
3 3
8
60
1.77 x 10 m
Qt= tan ( ) 29.810.075 /2=
15
2
s
4
8.75 x 10
Cd = Qa/Qt =
= 0.494
1.77 x 103
Qa = 1.26/1.44 = 0.875 L/s =

Ave Cd =(0.494+0.500+0.608)/3= 0.534

7. Discussion of Results

After the experiment we then obtained the value for each weir with
different degrees following the right equation to be used. Based on the
experiment, 90- degree triangular weir has the highest average coefficient
of discharge with a value of 0.567. Also, we noticed that the theoretical
discharges have higher values than the actual discharges. This may be due
to error of measuring the volume of discharge and time.
8. Conclusion
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. Thus, this experiment is very vital in the field of civil engineering.
From the experiment we were able to determine the coefficient of discharge
of the different types of weirs. Coefficient of discharges were obtained by
dividing the actual discharges with the theoretical discharges. Error of
measuring the volume of discharge and time which is not done coordinately
was then realized since the actual discharges were smaller than the
theoretical discharges.

DOCUMENTATION: