CE403

Hydraulics Laboratory

Experiment 5
Flow over broad crested weir


A. Introduction:

A broad-crested weir is a weir with a crest, which is sufficiently wide to

prevent the jet from springing clear at the upstream corner. There are
many different profiles in use; in the present case we consider a simple
rectangular block with a rounded upstream corner, placed in a horizontal
channel with unrestricted flow downstream. The acceleration of the water
as it flows on to the weir crest causes a reduction in surface level. Along
the crest, the fall in level continues (to an extent determined by the weir
height and breadth in relation to the water depth in the channel) until it
drops over the downstream corner. There is a region of re circulating flow
behind the drop, as indicated in Figure 1(a), before the flow settles down
to more or less uniform conditions some distance downstream of the weir.

B. Equipment

Broad-crested weir, depth gauges.

C. Procedure

1. Set the channel slope to horizontal.
2. Measure and record the height of the weir using callipers.
3. Set the broad-crested weir carefully in position such that center of the weir
will be at a station approximately 2 m from upstream of the channel.
4. Before starting the experiment observe the general characteristics of the
water surface profile, which may be produced in the flume by steadily
changing the discharge using the control valve.
5. Measure and record the discharge by using gravimetric tank.
6. Measure and record the upstream depth y1 at 20 cm from the middle of
the broad crested weir.
7. Measure and record the critical depth yc at the center of the broad
crested weir.
8. Change the discharge and repeat the steps 5-7 for seven more times for
different discharges.

D. Theory

Flow over the broad-crested weir is shown in Figure 1(a). For the purpose of a
simple analysis, the conditions illustrated in Figure 1(b) are assumed. The
motion is taken to have uniform velocity V1 in the approaching stream, and to
flow at uniform depth y and uniform velocity V along the crest.

By Dr. smail HALTA

April 7, 15

CE403

Hydraulics Laboratory

Figure 1: Flow over the broad-crested weir
The discharge Q over the weir may therefore be written as

Q = ByV

Equation 1

where B is the channel width. Making the further assumption that there are no
losses in the flow from the channel on to the crest, Bernoullis theorem gives, as
may be seen by reference to Figure 1(b),

V2
H = y+

2g

Equation 2

where H is the total head measured above the weir crest.

Eliminating V between Equations (1) and (2) and rearranging:

Q = By 2g ( H y)

Equation 3

Q will have a maximum somewhere in the range of y from zero to H, as is

illustrated graphically on the right in Figure 1(b). The maximum condition may
be found by differentiation as:

y=

2H

3

By Dr. smail HALTA

Equation 4

April 7, 15

CE403

or

V
= Fr = 1
gy

Hydraulics Laboratory

Equation 5

For a specified value of H, therefore, the discharge has a maximum value

when Equation 5 is satisfied, i.e. when the flow along the crest is critical.
This state of maximum discharge with critical flow along the crest is the
one, which would occur for the idealized conditions depicted in Figure
1(b).
In practice, the depth of flow along the crest will vary in a way such as is
shown in Figure 1(a). However, the critical condition will be encountered
at some section along the crest, and this suffices to determine the
discharge. Substituting for y and V from Equations (4) and (5) in Equation
(1) gives the ideal discharge as
3/2

!2$
Q = # & B gH 3/2
" 3%

Equation 6

and introducing the discharge coefficient C gives the final result as

3/2

!2$
Q = C # & B gH 3/2
" 3%

Equation 7

The coefficient C takes account of non-uniformities in the flow at the

upstream section and at the critical section, and of the loss between these
sections. Since these effects are small, the expected value of C is fairly close
to unity.
When used as a flow measuring device, it is more convenient to measure
the height h of the upstream water surface above the weir crest, rather
that the total head H. It is then convenient to rewrite Equation (7) with h
in place of H:

3/2

!2$
Q = C # & B gh 3/2
" 3%

Equation 8

where the coefficient C now takes account of the velocity of approach V1 as

well as the factors mentioned above. If the velocity head V 2 2g is
negligible compared with h, then H and h are effectively identical, and the
value of C in Equation (7) will be the same as that in equation (8). If,
however, the velocity head is not negligible, the value of C in Equation (7)
will be less than that in Equation (8).
Note that in 5 meter flume the channel width is B = 75 mm and the height of the

By Dr. smail HALTA

April 7, 15

CE403

Hydraulics Laboratory

broad-crested weir a = 25 mm.

E. Results

Calculate the discharge coefficient C for each discharge tested using both
Equation (7) and Equation (8). Tabulate your results as in the following Example
Table.
Table 1: Flow variables and discharge coefficient C for the tested discharges
Upstream+
Upstream+ Static+Head+above+
Discharge,+
Velocity,+V 1+
Q+(lt/s) Depth,+y 1 +(mm) Weir,+h+(mm)
(m/s)
2.01
82
57
0.327
1.82
79
54
0.307
1.69
77
52
0.293
1.34
70
45
0.255
1.12
66
41
0.226
0.90
61
36
0.197
0.71
56
31
0.169
0.53
51
26
0.139

Total+Head+
above+Weir,+H+ C+(Eq.+8) C+(Eq.+7)
(mm)
62
1.16
1.01
59
1.13
1.00
56
1.11
0.99
48
1.10
0.99
44
1.06
0.96
38
1.03
0.95
32
1.02
0.95
27
0.99
0.94

Plot the graph of Discharge Q (lt/s) vs. Total Head above Weir H (mm) and
Discharge Q (lt/s) vs. Static Head above Weir h (mm) as in the Example Figure 2.

65#

Total&Head&H&(mm)&

55#

60#

"With#Sta8c#Head"#

55#

50#

50#

45#

45#

40#

40#

35#

35#

30#

30#

25#

25#

20#
0.25#

0.75#

1.25#

1.75#

Sta$c&Head&h&(mm)&

60#

65#
"With#Total#Head"#

20#
2.25#

Discharge&Q&(lt/s)&

Figure 2: Discharge Q (lt/s) vs. Head above Weir (mm) for the broad-crested
weir

Plot the graph of Discharge Coefficient C vs. H/a (mm) and Discharge Q (lt/s) vs.
Static Head above Weir (mm) as in the Example Figure 3.

By Dr. smail HALTA

April 7, 15

CE403

Hydraulics Laboratory

h/a$
0.0#

1.0#

2.0#

3.0#

1.20#

C$

1.10#

1.00#

0.90#
With#Eq.#7#
With#Eq.#8#

0.80#
0.0#

1.0#

2.0#

3.0#

H/a$

Figure 3: Head to Weir Depth Ratio vs. Discharge Coefficient C for the broad-
crested weir


F. Discussion

How the discharge coefficient changes with increasing upstream depth and flow
discharge.
Based on Head to Weir Depth Ratio vs. Discharge Coefficient plot, how does the
importance of the velocity head on discharge coefficient calculation changes as
the ratio of head to weir height h/a increases.
The value of the coefficient C in Equation (8), which relates discharge Q to static
head h, has been found to exceed unity. Comment on this result.

By Dr. smail HALTA

April 7, 15