WEIRS

ENGR. KAREN GRACE T. SUGUE, MSCE

Department of Civil Engineering
School of Engineering, Architecture &
Information Technology
kgsugue@smu.edu.ph
Weirs
Notches and Weirs are regular obstructions placed across open streams over which the flow takes place.

In General, the discharge over a weir can be written as:

𝐐 = 𝐊𝐇 𝐧

Where K and n depends on the geometry of the notch.

Different Shapes
What is a Weir
Discharge over a Weir
Rectangular, Sharp-crested,
Full width Weirs
𝑆𝑡𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑚 𝑆𝑢𝑟𝑓𝑎𝑐𝑒
𝟏. 𝐅𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐢𝐬 𝐅𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐮𝐥𝐚
∗ 𝑊𝑖𝑡ℎ𝑜𝑢𝑡 𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑠𝑖𝑑𝑒𝑟𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑣𝑒𝑙𝑜𝑐𝑖𝑡𝑦 𝑜𝑓 𝑎𝑝𝑝𝑟𝑜𝑎𝑐ℎ
𝐇
𝐐 = 𝟏. 𝟖𝟒𝐋𝐇 𝟑/𝟐 → 𝑀𝑒𝑡𝑟𝑖𝑐 𝑈𝑛𝑖𝑡𝑠
𝐶𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑡
𝐏

∗ 𝐶𝑜𝑛𝑠𝑖𝑑𝑒𝑟𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑣𝑒𝑙𝑜𝑐𝑖𝑡𝑦 𝑜𝑓 𝑎𝑝𝑝𝑟𝑜𝑎𝑐ℎ

𝐐 = 𝟏. 𝟖𝟒𝐋[(𝐇 + 𝐡𝐯)𝟑/𝟐 −(𝐡𝐯)𝟑/𝟐 ] → 𝑀𝑒𝑡𝑟𝑖𝑐 𝑈𝑛𝑖𝑡𝑠

𝐋
Cross Section
(va)2
where: hv = ; va = mean velocity of approach
2g

𝟐. 𝐑𝐞𝐡𝐛𝐨𝐜𝐤 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐂𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐅𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐮𝐥𝐚:

𝐇
𝐐 = 𝟏. 𝟖 + 𝟎. 𝟐𝟐 𝐋𝐇 𝟑/𝟐 → 𝑀𝑒𝑡𝑟𝑖𝑐 𝑈𝑛𝑖𝑡𝑠
𝐏

𝟑. 𝐁𝐚𝐳𝐢𝐧 𝐅𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐮𝐥𝐚:
𝟐
𝟎. 𝟎𝟐𝟏𝟔𝟏 𝐇
𝐐 = 𝟎. 𝟓𝟓𝟏𝟖 𝟑. 𝟐𝟒𝟖 + 𝟏 + 𝟎. 𝟓𝟓 𝐋𝐇 𝟑/𝟐 → 𝑀𝑒𝑡𝑟𝑖𝑐 𝑈𝑛𝑖𝑡𝑠
𝐇 𝐇+𝐏
EXAMPLE 2. A rectangular suppressed weir 135cm high having a head of
50cm is built across a rectangular flume 13m wide. Compute
1. Determine the discharge if a rectangular suppressed for the weir factor using the different formulas.
weir 1.5m high extends across a rectangular channel 3m 𝑆𝑡𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑚 𝑆𝑢𝑟𝑓𝑎𝑐𝑒
wide. Measured head is 50cm. Use Francis Formula. Solution:
𝑆𝑡𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑚 𝑆𝑢𝑟𝑓𝑎𝑐𝑒
Solution: 𝐇 = 𝟎. 𝟓𝐦

𝐶𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑡 𝐝 = 𝟏. 𝟖𝟓𝐦
𝐇 = 𝟎. 𝟓𝐦
𝐏 = 𝟏. 𝟑𝟓𝐦
𝐝
𝐶𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑡
𝐏 = 𝟏. 𝟓𝐦
𝐋 = 𝟏𝟑𝐦
H
𝐋 = 𝟑𝐦 ∗Using Francis Formula ; When < 0.40, Cw may be taken as 1.84
P
Cross Section
∗Using Francis Formula H 0.50
= = 0.37 < 0.40, 𝐂𝐰 = 𝟏. 𝟖𝟒
Cw = weir factor P 1.35
2
H ∗Using Rehbock and Chow Formula
Cw = 1.84 1 + 0.26 H 0.5
d Cw = 1.8 + 0.22 ; Cw = 1.8 + 0.22 = 𝟏. 𝟖𝟖
H P 1.35
When < 0.40, Cw may be taken as 1.84
P ∗Using Bazin Formula
2
H 0.50 0.02161 H
= = 0.33 < 0.40, Cw = 1.84 Cw = 0.5518 3.248 + 1 + 0.55
P 1.50 H H+P
2
𝟑/𝟐 0.02161 0.5
𝐐 = 𝐂𝐰𝐋𝐇 →𝐐= 𝟏. 𝟖𝟒𝐋𝐇 𝟑/𝟐 Cw = 0.5518 3.248 + 1 + 0.55
3 0.5 0.5 + 1.35
Q= 1.84(3)(0.50)2 = 𝟏. 𝟗𝟓𝟐𝐦𝟑 /𝐬 𝐂𝐰 = 𝟏. 𝟗𝟎
Rectangular, Contracted
Weirs
𝑆𝑡𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑚 𝑆𝑢𝑟𝑓𝑎𝑐𝑒
𝟏. 𝐅𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐢𝐬 𝐅𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐮𝐥𝐚
∗ 𝑊𝑖𝑡ℎ𝑜𝑢𝑡 𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑠𝑖𝑑𝑒𝑟𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑣𝑒𝑙𝑜𝑐𝑖𝑡𝑦 𝑜𝑓 𝑎𝑝𝑝𝑟𝑜𝑎𝑐ℎ
𝐇
𝐐 = 𝟏. 𝟖𝟒𝐋′𝐇 𝟑/𝟐 → 𝑀𝑒𝑡𝑟𝑖𝑐 𝑈𝑛𝑖𝑡𝑠
𝐝
𝐋′ 𝐏
𝐋
∗ 𝐶𝑜𝑛𝑠𝑖𝑑𝑒𝑟𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑣𝑒𝑙𝑜𝑐𝑖𝑡𝑦 𝑜𝑓 𝑎𝑝𝑝𝑟𝑜𝑎𝑐ℎ

𝐐 = 𝟏. 𝟖𝟒𝐋′[(𝐇 + 𝐡𝐯)𝟑/𝟐 −(𝐡𝐯)𝟑/𝟐 ] → 𝑀𝑒𝑡𝑟𝑖𝑐 𝑈𝑛𝑖𝑡𝑠

𝐖
Cross Section
(va)2
where: hv = ; va = mean velocity of approach
2g

Effective Weir Length: L′ = L − 0.1nH

n = 0 standard weir
n = 1 one end contraction
n = 2 two end contraction
EXAMPLE 2. A rectangular contracted weir 5m long in the center of a
rectangular channel 10m wide. How high is the weir if the
1. A contracted weir 3m long discharges water under a depth of water upstream is 1.2m when the discharge is
head of 0.60m. Compute the discharge using the Francis 2.5m3/s?
Correction.
Solution: 𝑆𝑡𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑚 𝑆𝑢𝑟𝑓𝑎𝑐𝑒
Solution: 𝑆𝑡𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑚 𝑆𝑢𝑟𝑓𝑎𝑐𝑒

𝐇 = 𝟎. 𝟔 𝐝 = 𝟏. 𝟐𝐦
𝐝 𝐋′ 𝐏
𝐋 = 𝟓𝐦
𝐋′ 𝐏
𝐋 = 𝟑𝐦
𝐖 = 𝟏𝟎𝐦
Cross Section
𝐖
Effective Weir Length: L′ = L − 0.1nH
Cross Section
n = 2 two end contraction
′
Effective Weir Length: L = L − 0.1nH
L′ = 5 − 0.1 2 H = 5 − 0.2H
n = 2 two end contraction
Q = 1.84L′H3/2
L′ = 3 − 0.1(2) 0.6 = 2.88m
2.5 m3/s = 1.84(5 − 0.2H)(H)3/2
Q = 1.84L′H3/2 𝐇 = 𝟎. 𝟒𝟐𝐦
Q = 1.84(2.88)(0.6)3/2 d= H+P
𝐐 = 𝟐. 𝟒𝟔𝐦𝟑 /𝐬 P = 1.2 − 0.42
𝐏 = 𝟎. 𝟕𝟖𝐦
Triangular Weirs

𝟒 𝟖 𝛉
𝐐𝐓 = 𝟐𝐠 𝐋𝐇 𝟑/𝟐 = 𝟐𝐠 𝐭𝐚𝐧 𝐇 𝟓/𝟐 𝐋
𝟏𝟓 𝟏𝟓 𝟐

Q = CwQT
𝜽 𝐇
𝟖 𝛉
𝐐 = 𝐂𝐰 𝟐𝐠 𝐭𝐚𝐧 𝐇 𝟓/𝟐
𝟏𝟓 𝟐
∗ For θ between 22.5 and 120, use C = 0.58 (𝐾𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝐵𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟) Cross Section

∗ For θ = 90° and C = 0.60

𝐐 = 𝟏. 𝟒𝐇 𝟓/𝟐 → 𝑀𝑒𝑡𝑟𝑖𝑐 𝑈𝑛𝑖𝑡𝑠
EXAMPLE 2. The discharge of water a 90° triangular weir is 100
liters/s. What is the head? C=0.60
1. Determine the discharge of water at over 60° triangular
weir if the measured head is 35cm. Solution:
𝐋
Solution:
𝐋 Q = 0.10m3 /s
𝜽 = 𝟗𝟎°°
𝐇

𝜽 = 𝟔𝟎°° 𝐇 =. 𝟑𝟓𝐦

Cross Section
∗ For θ = 90° and C = 0.60
Cross Section
Q = 1.4H 5/2
8 θ
Q = Cw 2g tan H 5/2 0.10m3 /s = 1.4H 5/2
15 2
𝐇 = 𝟎. 𝟑𝟓𝐦
∗ For 22.5 ≤ θ ≤ 120, use Cw = 0.58 (𝐾𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝐵𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟)

8 60
Q = (0.58) 2(9.81) tan (0.35)5/2
15 2
𝐐 = 𝟎. 𝟎𝟓𝟕𝐦𝟑 /𝐬
Trapezoidal Weirs
∗ Combination of Suppressed Rectangular Weir and a Triangular Weir.

∗Rectangular Weir
𝟐
𝐐 = 𝐂𝟏 𝟐𝐠 𝐋𝐇 𝟑/𝟐
𝟑 𝐇
∗Triangular Weir
𝟖 𝛉
𝐐 = 𝐂𝟐 𝟐𝐠 𝐭𝐚𝐧 𝐇 𝟓/𝟐
𝟏𝟓 𝟐 𝐋
Cross Section
∗Total Discharge in a Trapezoidal Weir

𝟐 𝟖 𝛉
𝐐 = 𝐂𝟏 𝟐𝐠 𝐋𝐇 𝟑/𝟐 + 𝐂𝟐 𝟐𝐠 𝐭𝐚𝐧 𝐇 𝟓/𝟐
𝟑 𝟏𝟓 𝟐
Cipolletti Weirs
∗ A special type of a trapezoidal weir with 14° side slopes 1H: 4V .

𝐐 = 𝟏. 𝟖𝟓𝟗𝐋𝐇 𝟑/𝟐
EXAMPLE
1. Compute the discharge of a Cipolletti Weir 2.5m long
under a head of 62cm.

4V 𝐇 = 𝟎. 𝟔𝟐𝐦
1H

𝐋 = 𝟐. 𝟓𝐦

Q = 1.859LH 3/2
Q = 1.859(2.5)(0.62)3/2
𝐐 = 𝟐. 𝟐𝟕𝐦𝟑 /𝐬