WEIRS AND DROP STRUCTURES

CIVE 401 FALL 2015

KACY WILLIAMS AND KARLA YOUNG
10/22/2015
 WHAT IS A WEIR?
AN OVERFLOW STRUCTURE DESIGNED TO MEASURE THE DISCHARGE OF WATER IN A RIVER OR OPEN
CHANNEL
PLACED PERPENDICULAR TO THE FLOW OF THE WATER

IS ALSO USED TO PREVENT FLOODING OR TO MAKE A RIVER MORE NAVIGABLE

TWO MAIN TYPES: BROAD CRESTED & SHARP CRESTED
 CALCULATING FLOW RATE
=
Q = VOLUMETRIC FLOW RATE OF FLUID
C = DISCHARGE COEFFICIENT, VARIES FOR
DIFFERENT WEIR STRUCTURES
B = WIDTH OF THE CREST
H = HEIGHT OF THE HEAD OF WATER OVER
CREST
N = VARIES WITH DIFFERENT WEIR
STRUCTURES
ASTM Standards for calculating flow rate:
Common Weir Terms
ASTM D 5242 - Thin Plate Weirs Crest = Area of weir where water flows over
ASTM D 5614 - Broad Crested Weirs Nappe = Sheet of water flowing over weir
ASTM D 5640 - Guide for selection of weirs/flumes Notch = Opening where water flows in
Source: different types of weir structures
http://ocw.usu.edu/Biological_and_Irrigation_Engineering/Irrigation___Conveyance_Control_
Systems/6300__Weirs_for_Flow_Measurement_Lecture_Notes.pdf
 BROAD CRESTED WEIR

FLAT TOPPED, EXTENDS ENTIRE WIDTH OF

WATER CHANNEL
USUALLY USED FOR LARGE CHANNELS OR
RIVERS
USED ALMOST EXCLUSIVELY FOR MEASURING
WATER DISCHARGE
ABLE TO WORK EFFECTIVELY WITH HIGHER
DOWNSTREAM WATER LEVELS COMPARED TO
OTHER WEIRS
Q = C B H 3/2
- WHERE C = 2/33/2 G1/2
- G = GRAVITY

Source: http://ponce.sdsu.edu/onlinechannel14.php
 SHARP CRESTED WEIR

HAS A SHARP UPSTREAM EDGE AT THE CREST, WHERE WATER WILL FALL AWAY FROM
THE WEIR
USUALLY UTILIZED IN SMALLER RIVERS OR IN LABORATORY SESSIONS
DESIGNED WITH SMOOTH THIN PLATES
CAN BE VERY ACCURATE, +/- 2%
3 MAIN TYPES OF SHARP CRESTED WEIR:
V-NOTCH OR TRIANGULAR
RECTANGULAR
TRAPEZOIDAL OR CIPOLLETTI

Source: http://content.alterra.wur.nl/Internet/webdocs/ilri-publicaties/publicaties/Pub20/pub20-h5.0.pdf
 V-NOTCH (TRIANGULAR) WEIR
MOST ACCURATE OF THE SHARP CRESTED WEIRS, BUT THE MOST DELICATE
CAN ONLY BE USED IN CHANNELS WITH SMALL DISCHARGE
DESIGNED FOR THE WATER TO NOT SPILL OVER THE CREST OF THE WEIR, BUT TO STAY WITHIN
TRIANGULAR PORTION OF WEIR
FOR A 90 DEGREE V-NOTCH WEIR THE EQUATION FOR DISCHARGE IS: = 2.49 2.48

Source: http://www.jfccivilengineer.com/sharp_crested_weir_2.htm
 CIPOLLETTI (TRAPEZOIDAL) WEIR
SIMILAR TO A RECTANGULAR WEIR, EXCEPT THE SIDES ARE ANGLED
LESS ACCURATE THAN RECTANGULAR AND V-NOTCH WEIRS, BUT MORE STABLE
CIPOLLETTI WEIR EQUATION FOR DISCHARGE: Q = 3.367 B H 3/2 (B IS THE MEASURED
BOTTOM WIDTH)

http://web.deu.edu.tr/atiksu/ana52/2-2.gif

Source: http://www.lmnoeng.com/Weirs/cipoletti.php
 DROP STRUCTURES CAN BE.
Purely functional, dissipating energy and reducing Aesthetically pleasing in addition to
the velocity in the channel. functional, for public places.

Source: Urban Drainage & Flood Control District: Drainage Criteria V.2
 Primary Drop Structure

COLORADO GUIDELINES FOR

DROP STRUCTURE DESIGN
PRIMARY DROP STRUCTURE
GENERAL V SHAPE POINTING UPSTREAM
DOWNSTREAM ANGLE BETWEEN 120 AND 180
UPSTREAM POINT LOWERED 4 TO 18 INCHES Typical Spacing:
TO CONCENTRATE FLOW
0.3W to 0.6W
TO PROTECT FROM BANK EROSION

BACK WATER CONTROL STRUCTURE

OFTEN STRAIGHT ACROSS THE CHANNEL, BUT CAN BE
CONSTRUCTED BETWEEN 135 AND 180
TO MAINTAIN A PLUNGE POOL BETWEEN STRUCTURES
FURTHER DISSIPATE KINETIC ENERGY Backwater Control Structure
TO MINIMIZE SCOUR ON THE DOWNSTREAM SIDE OF THE
PRIMARY DROP STRUCTURE
SPACING IS TYPICALLY BETWEEN 0.3 AND 0.6 TIMES THE
WIDTH OF THE CHANNEL

SOURCE: COLORADO FLOODPLAIN AND STORMWATER CRITERIA MANUAL BY COLORADO WATER CONSERVATION BOARD
 DROP STRUCTURES IN BOATABLE CHANNELS
SPECIAL DESIGN CONSIDERATIONS SHOULD BE TAKEN, WITH REGARD
TO PUBLIC SAFETY, FOR BOATABLE CHANNELS
THE DESIGNER SHOULD NOT SET THE STAGE FOR HAZARDOUS HYDRAULICS
THAT WOULD TRAP A BOATER, SUCH AS AT A DROP STRUCTURE HAVING A
REVERSE ROLLER THAT MAY DEVELOP AS THE HYDRAULIC JUMP BECOMES
SUBMERGED.
HYDRAULIC STRUCTURES ON BOATABLE CHANNELS SHOULD NOT CREATE
OBSTRUCTIONS THAT WOULD PIN A CANOE, RAFT OR KAYAK, AND SHARP
EDGES SHOULD BE AVOIDED.
DROP STRUCTURES OR LOW-HEAD DAMS IN BOATABLE CHANNELS SHOULD
INCORPORATE A BOAT CHUTE DESIGNED IN ACCORDANCE WITH CAREFULLY
PLANNED COMPONENTS THAT ARE CONSISTENT WITH RECREATIONAL
REQUIREMENTS FOR BOATER SAFETY

Source: Urban Drainage & Flood Control District: Drainage Criteria V.2
 STRAIGHT DROP STRUCTURE DESIGN EXAMPLE
FIND THE DIMENSIONS FOR A STRAIGHT DROP STRUCTURE WITH A RECTANGULAR WEIR USED TO REDUCE
CHANNEL SLOPE.
GIVEN:
Q = 250 FT3/S
H = 6.0 FT.
WO = 10.0 FT.
(UPSTREAM AND DOWNSTREAM CHANNEL -TRAPEZOIDAL)

B = 10.0 FT.
Z = 1V:3H
SO = 0.002 FT./FT. (AFTER PROVIDING FOR DROP)
N = 0.030

Source: U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration: Hydraulic Engineering Circular No. 14, Third Edition
 SOLUTION
Step 1. Estimate the required approach and tailwater channel elevation difference, h. This is estimated and given above as 6.0 ft. This drop
forces the slope of the upstream and downstream channel to 0.002 ft./ft., as given.

Step 2. Calculate normal flow conditions approaching the drop to verify subcritical conditions. By trial and error,

yo = 3.36 ft., vo = 3.71 ft/s, Fro = 0.36; therefore, flow is subcritical. Proceed to step three.

Step 3. Calculate the critical depth over the weir into the drop structure. Calculate the vertical dimensions of the stilling basin. Start by finding
the critical depth over the weir based on the unit discharge, q = Q/B = 250/10 = 25ft. 2/s
1 1
2 3 2 3
q 25
yc = = = 2.69 ft.
g 32.2

Next calculate the required tailwater depth above the floor of the stilling basin:
y3 = 2.15yc = 2.15 2.69 = 5.77ft.

Now the distance from the crest down to the tailwater needs to be calculated:

h2 = -(h-yo) = -(6.0-3.36) = -2.64 ft. (negative indicates elevation below the crest)

Finally, calculate the total drop from the crest to the stilling basin floor:
ho = h2 y3 = 2.64 5.77 = 8.41 ft. (round to 8.4 ft. )

Since the nominal drop, h, is 6.0 ft., the floor must be depressed by 2.4 ft.

Source: U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration: Hydraulic Engineering Circular No. 14, Third Edition
 SOLUTION (CONT.)
Step 4. Estimate the basin length.

ho 8.41
Lf = 0.406 + 3.195 4.368 y = 0.406 + 3.195 4.368 2.69 = 9.94 ft.
yc c 2.69

h2 2.64
Lt = 0.406 + 3.195 4.368 y = 0.406 + 3.195 4.368 2.69 = 6.26 ft.
yc c 2.69

2
ho
0.691 + 0.228 yc 6.26 2
8.41
yc 0.691 + 0.228 2.69
2.69 2.69
Ls = = = 10.89
6.26
0.185 + 0.456 0.185 + 0.456
2.69

Lf + Ls 9.94 + 10.89
L1 = = = 10.4 ft.
2 2
L2 = 0.8yc = 0.8 2.69 = 2.2 ft.
L3 > 1.75yc = 1.75 2.69 = 4.7ft.
LB = L1 + L2 + L3 = 10.4 + 2.2 + 4.7 = 17.3ft.

The total basin length required is 17.3 feet

Source: U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration: Hydraulic Engineering Circular No. 14, Third Edition
 SOLUTION (CONT.)
Step 5. Design the basin floor blocks and end sill.
Block height = 0.8yc = 0.8(2.69) = 2.1ft.

Block width = Block spacing = 0.4yc = 0.4(2.69) = 1.1ft.

End sill height = 0.4yc = 0.4(2.69) = 1.1ft.
Step 6. Design the basin exit and entrance transitions.

Sidewall height above tailwater elevation = 0.85yc = 0.85(2.69) =2.3 ft.

Armour approach channel above headwall length = 3yc = 3(2.69) = 8.1ft.

Source: U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration: Hydraulic Engineering Circular No. 14, Third Edition
 CONCLUSIONS
WEIRS AND DROP STRUCTURES ARE BOTH IMPORTANT TO RIVER MECHANICS
WEIRS ARE USED TO CALCULATE THE DISCHARGE IN A RIVER, AND SUBSEQUENTLY VELOCITY
DROP STRUCTURES ARE PUT IN PLACE WHEN THE VELOCITY IS TOO HIGH TO PREVENT EXCESS
EROSION AND SCOUR
WEIRS ARE USED IN LABORATORY ENVIRONMENTS AS WELL AS REAL WORLD SITUATIONS,
SUCH AS RIVERS
THERE ARE A MULTITUDE OF DESIGNS FOR BOTH WEIRS AND DROP STRUCTURES. THE DESIGN
OF EACH IS SPECIFIC TO THE FLOW CHANNEL IN WHICH IT WILL FUNCTION.