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Procedia Engineering 70 (2014) 353 – 362

12th International Conference on Computing and Control for the Water Industry, CCWI2013

A broad-crested weir boundary condition in finite volume

shallow-water numerical models
L. Cozzolinoa*, R. Della Mortea, L. Cimorellib, C. Covellib, D. Pianeseb
a
Università degli Studi di Napoli Parthenope, Centro Direzionale di Napoli - Isola C4, Napoli 80143, Italy
b
Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II, Via Claudio 21, 80125 Napoli, Italy

Abstract

In the literature, the weir boundary condition is usually implemented imposing the weir formula at the boundaries, but this is
rigorous only in subcritical steady conditions, and a more general approach is required during transients. With acceptable
approximation, the non-submerged broad-crested weir behaves as a bottom step where the energy is conserved and critical
conditions are attained at the top. Taking advantage of this observation, the analytic solution of the Riemann problem for the
Shallow-water Equations over a dry bottom step is considered in this paper, and the momentum and mass fluxes of the analytic
solution of the Riemann problem are used to impose weakly the broad-crested non-submerged weir boundary condition in a
Finite Volume scheme.

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Keywords: Finite Volume Method, Boundary Conditions, Broad-crested Weir, Riemann Problem, Shallow-water Equations.

1. Introduction

In the practical applications, open channel systems are often equipped with measure and control structures such
as broad-crested weirs, sills and side-weirs, and the numerical simulation of the flow propagation should take into
account these devices. Generally, the weir boundary condition for shallow-water type numerical models is
implemented considering the classical weir discharge formula (Zhao et al. 1994): this approach is rigorous only

* Corresponding author. Tel.: +39-081-5476723; fax: +39-081-5476777.

E-mail address: luca.cozzolino@uniparthenope.it

1877-7058 © 2013 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd. Open access under CC BY-NC-ND license.
Selection and peer-review under responsibility of the CCWI2013 Committee
doi:10.1016/j.proeng.2014.02.040
354 L. Cozzolino et al. / Procedia Engineering 70 (2014) 353 – 362

when the flow upstream is steady and subcritical, while its applicability is lost when the flow is supercritical or it is
rapidly varied in space and time in proximity of the weir. If the numerical model is required to work in different
conditions which can be found during transients, a more general treatment of the boundary condition is required.
Many numerical schemes for the solution of the Shallow-water Equations, such as the Finite Volume method,
are based on the use of approximate or exact Riemann solvers for the computation of numerical fluxes between
computational cells. Similarly to what is done for inner interfaces, in these models the boundary conditions are
imposed weakly by applying numerical fluxes through the domain boundary interfaces (Toro 2001). Recently, the
solution of the Shallow-water equations with a bed step has gained great attention (LeRoux 1998, Alcrudo and
Benkhaldoun 2001, Chinnayya et al. 2004, Castro et al. 2008, LeFloch et al. 2011, Cozzolino et al. 2011, Han and
Warnecke 2012), and now general methods for the solution of the Riemann problem at the bed step with energy
conservation are available for generic flow conditions: from a physical point of view, a broad-crested weir can be
regarded as a bed step where energy is conserved, and its numerical modelling can take advantage of this
observation.
In this paper, the complete analytic solution of the special Riemann problem for the Shallow-water equations
with a bed step, where the state on the crest of the device is the dry bed state, is presented. Eight different classes of
solutions are individuated, and their fields of existence are plotted on a diagram which generalizes the diagram by
Mehrotra (1974). The analytic solution of the Riemann problem has been used to model the boundary condition
represented by a non submerged broad-crested weir, and the treatment proposed has been implemented into a Finite
Volume model for the approximate solution of one-dimensional Shallow-water equations. The approach, which can
be applied also to other type of schemes, has been demonstrated by means of schematic numerical tests, showing
its feasibility, and its promising capabilities.

2. The Shallow-water Equations with a bed step

The classic one-dimensional Shallow-water Equations are written under the hypothesis of gradually varying
flow, considering hydrostatic pressure, small bed slope, negligible vertical accelerations, and uniform velocity in
the rectangular cross-section of unit width. The following system of equations is obtained

∂u ∂f (u )
+ = s b (u ) (1)
∂t ∂x

where the effects of friction have been neglected. The meaning of the symbols in Eq. (1) is as follows:
( )
u = (h hu ) represents the vector of conserved variables; f (u ) = hu 0.5 gh 2 + hu 2 represents the vector of the
T T

fluxes; sb (u) = (0 − gh dz dx) represents the vector of the geometric source terms; T = symbol of matrix
T

transpose; x, t = space and time independent variables; h = water depth; u = vertically averaged flow velocity; g =
gravity acceleration; z = the bed elevation. These equations can develop discontinuities of the flow field, namely
rapid variations of the conserved variables water depth and the momentum, where moving bores, hydraulic jumps,
and wet-dry bed transitions are developed. When bed discontinuities are present, it is convenient to add the bed
elevation among the conserved variables. The bed-step Shallow-water Equations are then obtained adding to the
usual one-dimensional Shallow-water Equations without friction the trivial condition ∂z ∂t = 0 (LeRoux 1998):

∂U ∂F(U ) ∂U
+ + H(U ) = 0. (2)
∂t ∂x ∂x

The definitions of the vectors in Eq. (2) are

⎛h⎞ ⎛ hu ⎞ ⎛0 0 0 ⎞
⎜ ⎟ ⎜ ⎟ ⎜ ⎟
U = ⎜ hu ⎟, F(U ) = ⎜ 0.5 gh + hu ⎟, H(U ) = ⎜ 0 0 gh ⎟ .
2 2
(3)
⎜ ⎟ ⎜ ⎟ ⎜0 0 0 ⎟
⎝ z⎠ ⎝ 0 ⎠ ⎝ ⎠
 L. Cozzolino et al. / Procedia Engineering 70 (2014) 353 – 362 355

The system (2) is hyperbolic, but not strictly for every value of U, and the signal speeds are λ1 = u − gh ,
λ2 = u + gh , λ3 = 0 . The introduction of the bed elevation among the unknowns causes the appearance of the
non-conservative product H(U)∂U ∂x , which represents the product of a Dirac distribution by a Heaviside step
function at the discontinuities. The non-conservative products introduce some difficulties where the flow and the
bed are both discontinuous, because they cannot be recast in divergence form, making the definition of weak
solutions problematic.
To overcome these difficulties, we make resort to the theory by Dal Maso et al. (1995). In particular, if UL and
UR are the states at the left and at the right of a discontinuity, respectively, in the phase space (h, hu, z) we assume
a family of paths φ (s, U L , U R ), connecting UL to UR, which satisfies the following regularity properties:

φ (0, U L , U R ) = U L , φ (1, U L , U R ) = U R , φ (s, U, U) = U ∀s, U . (4)

In this case, the classic Rankine-Hugoniot condition generalizes to

F(U R ) − F(U L ) − Sφ (U L , U R ) = ξ (U R − U L ) , (5)

where the concentrated source term Sφ is defined by

∂φ
1
Sφ (U L , U R ) = −∫ H(φ (s, U L , U R )) (s, U L , U R )ds , (6)
0
∂s

and ξ is the discontinuity speed. Far from bed discontinuities, where the bed elevation varies smoothly, the source
term Sφ disappears, and the classic Rankine-Hugoniot condition is obtained again. This clarifies that, while the
definition of the paths φ (s, U L , U R ) is completely general and can be applied at every discontinuity, it is actually
required only where a bed discontinuity is present. It is easy to see that, independent by the actual definition of the
paths φ (s, U L , U R ), ξ is null at the bed step, where the Generalized Rankine-Hugoniot condition simply reduces to:

F(U R ) − F(U L ) − Sφ (U L , U R ) = 0 . (7)

For the paths φ (s, U L , U R ), we assume one of the following implicit definitions:

( )
Definition D1. The specific discharge q and the total head H = z + h + q 2 2gh2 are conserved through the bed
step, and no transition is allowed through the critical state: in these conditions, the formation of the critical state is
admitted only at the top of the bed step. This is expressed as:

⎧hL u L = hR u R = q
, (8)
⎨
( )
⎩hL + z L + q 2 ghL = hR + z R + q 2 ghR
2 2 2 2
( )
The second equation of system (8) is the Bernoulli’s Equation.

Definition D2. The specific discharge q is conserved through the bed step. There is an elevation zM, intermediate
between the left and right elevations zL and zR, where an admissible stationary jump is located and energy is lost.
The states U −M and U +M , immediately at the left and at the right of the jump, are linked to the states UL and UR by
means of two paths where the Definition 1 is applied: in these conditions, the formation of the critical state is
admitted only at the top of the bed step. This is expressed as (Baines and Whitehead 2003, Chinnayya et al. 2004,
Le Floch and Than 2011):
356 L. Cozzolino et al. / Procedia Engineering 70 (2014) 353 – 362

⎧hL u L = hM− u M− = q
⎪
( ) [ ( )]
⎪hL + z L + q 2 2 ghL2 = hM− + z M + q 2 2 g hM−
⎪ − −
2

+ +
⎪hM u M = hM u M = q
⎨ . (9)
( )− 2 −
( )
+ 2
⎪0.5 g hM + q hM = 0.5 g hM + q hM
2 2 +

⎪ + +
⎪hM u M = hR u R = q
⎪ + 2
[ ( )]
+ 2
⎩hM + z M + q 2 g hM = hR + z R + q 2 ghR
2
( 2
)
3. Solution of the Riemann problem over the dry step

Apparently, the solution of the Riemann problem for the system (2) is unique, once that a path definition is
chosen. Actually, the bed-step one-dimensional Shallow-water Equations are hyperbolic, but not strictly: this
means that the characteristics associated to two different characteristic fields can superpose (resonance), and that
the number of waves forming the self-similar solution of the Riemann problem can be greater than the number of
characteristic fields (LeFloch and Thanh 2011). As a consequence, multiple solutions can be associated to given
initial conditions, once that the family of paths for the definition of discontinuities is chosen.
In this section we consider a special Riemann problem for the bed-step one-dimensional Shallow-water
Equations, complemented by one of the definitions D1 or D2 of the family of paths through the bed discontinuities.
In particular, we solve Eq. (2) imposing the following initial conditions, which refer to the case of upward step of
height a =z R − z L ≥ 0 and right state dry:

⎧U L , x < 0
U(x,0) = ⎨ , U L = (hL 0) , U R = (0 0 a )
T T
hL u L (10)
⎩U R , x > 0

The self-similar solution of the Riemann problem defined by Eqs. (2) and (10) is characterized by the external
states UL and UR, connected by one or more intermediate waves: we are particularly interested to the states U1 and
U2, immediately at the left and at the right of the bed discontinuity, respectively. Applying the methods contained
in LeFloch and Thanh (2011) and Han and Warnecke (2012), eight classes of solutions (from R-I to R-VIII) are
obtained, and the field of validity of each regime depends only on the Froude number FL = u L ghL and the
specific height of the step a hL . The eight classes of solutions are described as follows.

Regime R-I. The left state UL moves away from the bed step, and a dry bed state U1 is generated immediately at
the left of the bed step. UL is linked by a rarefaction wave to U1: it follows immediately that h1 = 0, u1 = 0, h2 = 0,
u2 = 0. This regime is valid for FL ≤ -2.

Regime R-II. The left state UL moves away from the bed-step, and a static state U1 is generated immediately at
the left of the bed discontinuity. UL is linked by a rarefaction wave to U1. It is easy to see that, h1 = hL (1+0.5FL)2,
u1 = 0, h2 = 0, u2 = 0. This regime is valid for -2 < FL ≤ 0 and a/hL ≥ a1/hL, where a1/hL = (1+0.5FL)2.

Regime R-III. While the left state moves away from the bed-step, the state U1 at the left of the bed step is able to
overtop the bed discontinuity. For the Belanger’s principle, the discharge overtopping the step is the maximum
compatible with the flow conditions of the subcritical state U1, and then the state U2 is characterized by critical
conditions. This regime is valid for -2 < FL ≤ 0 and, a/hL < a1/hL. The state UL is linked to U1 through a rarefaction,
and U1 is linked to the state U2 by the conditions of Eq. (8). The state U1, characterized by subcritical conditions, is
found solving the system
 L. Cozzolino et al. / Procedia Engineering 70 (2014) 353 – 362 357

⎧u L + 2 ghL = u1 + 2 gh1
⎪
⎨ . (11)
⎪⎩h1 + u12 (2 g ) = a + 1.53 (h1u1 ) g
2

Since the state U2 is characterized by critical conditions, it follows that

h2 = 3 (h1u1 ) g , u2 = (h1u1 ) h2
2
(12)

In order to tackle the system (11) it is convenient to manipulate the second equation, which can be solved with
respect to u1. In this case an expression of the type u1 = f (a, h1) is obtained, where f (•) is the velocity function of
the broad-crested weir (see Appendix A.1). After the substitution, the solution of the system (11) reduces to the
solution of the equation

u L + 2 ghL = f (a, h1 ) + 2 gh1 , (13)

and this task can be accomplished using the Newton-Raphson method.

Regime R-IV. This regime is valid for 0 < FL ≤ 1 and a/hL ≤ a0/hL, where

a0 hL = 1 + 0.5FL2 − 1.5FL2 3 . (14)

In this case, the subcritical flow corresponding to the state UL moves towards the bed step with energy equal to
or greater than the energy strictly required to pass over it. The states at the left and at the right of the step can be
found using the procedure valid for the regime R-III.

Regime R-V. The supercritical flow UL passes over the bed-step remaining supercritical. This regime is valid for
1 < FL and a/hL ≤ a0/hL, where a0/hL is defined by Eq. (14). In this case, U1 = UL, and the definition D1 is used to
find the state U2 starting from the state U1 (see Appendix A.2)

Regime R-VI. This regime represents the blocking of the flow, and it is valid for 0 < FL ≤ Fbl, where

Fbl − (a hL − 1) 0.5(1 + hL a ) = 0 . (15)

It is easy to see that u1 = 0, h2 = 0, u2 = 0, while h1 can be found solving the equation (see Appendix A.3)

FL − (h1 hL − 1) 0.5(1 + hL h1 ) = 0 . (16)

Regime R-VII. In this regime, the flow has not energy sufficient to pass over the step, and it is chocked. The
state U1, characterized by subcritical conditions, is found solving the system

⎧u1 = u L − (h1 −hL ) 0.5 g (h1 + hL ) (h1hL )

⎪
⎨ . (17)
⎪⎩h1 + u12 (2 g ) = a + 1.53 (h1u1 ) g
2
358 L. Cozzolino et al. / Procedia Engineering 70 (2014) 353 – 362

The state U2 is characterized by critical conditions, and it is found from Eq. (12). Also in this case, it is
convenient to rewrite the second equation of system (17) as a velocity function (see Appendix A.1), reducing the
solution of the system to the solution of the equation

f (a, h1 ) = u L − (h1 −hL ) 0.5 g (h1 + hL ) (h1hL ) . (18)

When 1 < FL, the regime is valid for Fbl < FL and a/hL > a2/hL, where Fbl is defined by Eq. (15) while a2/hL is
defined by

3
a2 hL = 1 + 0.5FL2 − 1.5FL2 3 − ⎛⎜ 1 + 8FL2 − 3 ⎞⎟ ⎡16 ⎛⎜ 1 + 8F 2 − 1⎞⎟⎤ , (19)
⎝ ⎠ ⎢⎣ ⎝ L
⎠⎦⎥

When 0 < FL ≤ 1, the same regime is valid for Fbl < FL and a/hL > a0/hL.

Regime-VIII. The supercritical flow UL becomes subcritical passing over the bed step: a hydraulic jump forms
through the step, and this happens if a2/hL < a/hL < a0/hL. In this case, U1 = UL, and the definition D2 is used to find
the state U2 starting from the state U1.

In Figure 1, the fields of validity of the different classes of solutions are represented, generalizing the graph by
Mehrotra (1974, Figure 2), which has been discussed successively by many authors (Pratt 1983, Lawrence 1987,
Baines and Whitehead 2003). The inspection of the figure shows that these fields of validity partially superpose,
and that multiple solutions are possible starting from given initial conditions. Interestingly, while only two
different definitions of the family of paths are used (D1 and D2), up to three different solutions are compatible
with the same initial conditions, showing that the multiplicity of solutions is caused not only by the multiple choice
of the paths but also by the presence of the resonance effects.

6
R-V
R-VI
FL

R-V R-VIII
5 R-VII
R-VIII
R-V
4

3
R-VI
2
R-VII

R-IV
0
R-III
R-II
-1

-2

R-I
-3

-4
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
a/hL

Fig. 1. Generalization of the Mehrotra’s diagram to the Riemann problem with the dry bed on the step.

4. The numerical model

The numerical model used for the numerical experiments, and only briefly depicted in this section, is a first-
order accurate version of the third-order Spectral Volume scheme described in Cozzolino et al. (2012), where a
modification is introduced in order to take into account the weir boundary condition. The one-dimensional physical
 L. Cozzolino et al. / Procedia Engineering 70 (2014) 353 – 362 359

domain is partitioned into N non-overlapping finite volumes, and the Shallow-water Equations (1) are integrated in
each control volume, obtaining:

[ ]
du i dt = − g i+1 2 − g i−1 2 Δx + s b+,i−1 2 + s b−,i+1 2 , i = 1,2,..., N (20)

where Δx is the length of the generic control volume, ui = (hi hi ui )T is the vector of the conserved variables
averaged over the i-th control volume, gi+1/2 is the vector of numerical fluxes through the interface between the i-th
and the (i+1)-th finite volumes. In Eq. (20), s b+,i −1 2 and s b−,i +1 2 are the left and right contributions, respectively, of
the geometric source term in the i-th control volume. At each time step the variables are reconstructed at the
interfaces following the hydrostatic reconstruction by Audusse et al. (2004), and finally the numerical fluxes and
the source term contributions are calculated. The numerical fluxes are evaluated using the HLLE approximate
Riemann solver, while the source terms contributions are calculated following the technique by Audusse et al.
(2004). After that the fluxes and the source terms are evaluated, Eq. (20) is used to advance the solution in time: in
the present case, the explicit Euler algorithm is used.
In order to show how the solution of the broad-crested weir Riemann problem can be used to impose weakly the
weir boundary condition, we make a concrete example, and hypothesize that a broad-crested weir of height a is
present at the right boundary of the one-dimensional domain. In this case, the position U L = (u N 0)T is made,
where uN is the vector of the conserved variables averaged in the cell N, and the corresponding non-dimensional
quantities FL and a/hL are calculated. The relevant class of solutions for the Riemann problem of Eqs. (2) and (10)
is individuated from the classification diagram (Figure 1), and this allows the direct solution of the Riemann
problem: in particular, this allows the calculation of the states U1 = (u ~ 0)T and U = (u
1 2
~ a)T immediately at
2
the left and at Tthe right of the bed Tdiscontinuity, respectively. Once that the vectors of the conserved variables
u1 (
~ = h~ h~ u~ and u
1 1 1 ) 2 2 (
2 2 )
~ = h~ h~ u~ are known, the following values of the numerical flux and of the geometric
source term are imposed at the end interface of the numerical domain in Eq. (20):

g N +1 2 = f (u
~ ), s −
2 b , N +1 2 = f (u 2 ) − f (u1 )
~ ~ (21)

When multiple solutions are possible, the following criteria for the broad-crested weir are followed: 1) the
regime R-VIII is never used; 2) when both the regimes R-V and R-VI are possible, R-VI is used; 3) when both the
regimes R-V and R-VII are possible, R-V is used.

5. Numerical test

In the first numerical test, we consider a channel long L = 10 m, without friction, with a broad-crested weir a =
0.10 m high at the downstream boundary, and an open boundary upstream. The initial conditions are characterized
by h(x,0) = 4 m and u(x,0) = 3.5 m/s, and the same values of the depth and velocity are imposed upstream. The
flow in the channel is subcritical, and its energy exceeds the energy strictly required to pass over the weir (regime
R-IV): for this reason, the flow surface is depressed close to the weir, and a rarefaction wave starts to move in the
upstream direction from the weir position. In order to perform this numerical test, the computational domain is
subdivided into N = 200 uniform finite volumes, and the time step Δt = 0.002 s is used. In Figure 2 (left panel), the
analytic solution is compared with the numeric solution at time t = 3 s, with reference to the water depth h. The
inspection of the figure shows that the algorithm captures the essentials of the analytic solution: in particular, the
water depth at the weir is very accurately captured. The smoothing of the rarefaction profile can be reduced
refining the grid or resorting to higher-order algorithms.
The second numerical test is used to evaluate the convergence of the numerical scheme to a steady condition,
also when a broad-crested weir is present. In a channel, L = 25 m long, without friction, the bed elevation (see
Figure 2, right panel) is described by
360 L. Cozzolino et al. / Procedia Engineering 70 (2014) 353 – 362

⎧⎪0.2 − 0.05(x − 10)2 if 8 < x < 12

z (x ) = ⎨ (22)
⎪⎩0 otherwise

The initial conditions considered are h(x,0) = 0.5 − z(x ) and u(x,0) = 0.36 / h(x,0) . The upstream boundary
condition is defined by setting the specific discharge hu = 0.18 m2/s, while the downstream boundary condition
consists of a broad-crested weir condition with height a = 0.13 m. In order to perform this numerical test, the
computational domain is subdivided into N = 200 uniform finite volumes, and the time step Δt = 0.005 s is used. In
Figure 2 (right panel), the results of the calculations at time t = 200 s are represented, with reference to the water
surface elevation: the agreement between the numerical and the analytical solution is good. In particular, it is clear
that the procedure adopted for the incorporation of the weir boundary condition is coherent with the expected weir
behavior. Moreover, the presence of the weir is not an obstacle to the formation of steady state conditions into the
channel.

Fig. 2. Regime R-IV numerical simulation (left panel). Steady flow over a bump with broad-crested weir boundary condition (right panel)

6. Conclusions

In this paper it has been shown how the solution of the special Riemann problem for the one-dimensional
Shallow-water Equations with dry upward step can be used to impose weakly the broad-crested weir boundary
conditions in Finite Volume schemes. The complete analysis of the special Riemann problem considered shows
that eight classes of solutions are possible: the fields of existence of the different solutions can be partially
superposing, and the choice of one of the solutions is left to the modeler’s judgment, following appropriate
physical considerations. The analytic solution of the Riemann problem has been implemented in a simple Finite
Volume scheme for the solution of the one-dimensional Shallow-water Equations, showing its ability to simulate
the broad-crested weir boundary conditions both in transient and steady conditions.

Appendix A. Solution of the cubic equations

In this Appendix, the solution of the cubic equations used throughout the paper is reported.

A.1. Broad-crested weir velocity function

We impose that a subcritical flow with depth h and velocity u passes without energy losses over a bed step of
height a ≥ 0. If critical conditions are attained over the step, the conservation of energy supplies:
 L. Cozzolino et al. / Procedia Engineering 70 (2014) 353 – 362 361

h + u 2 (2 g ) = a + 1.53 (hu ) g
2
(23)

The equation can be manipulated to obtain

y3 + py + q = 0 (24)

where y = u2/3, p = -3(gh)2/3 < 0 and q = 2g(h - a) > 0 in the admissible range (h > a). The equation has three real
solutions, because the discriminant Δ = (q/2)2 + (p/3)3 is negative. Since q > 0 we define the angle θ as

(
θ = π + arctan − 2 − Δ q , ) (25)

and the solutions of Eq. (24) are

yi = 2 − p 2 cosθ i ; i = 1,2,3 (26)

where θ1 = θ/3, θ2 = (θ+2π)/3, θ3 = (θ+4π)/3. We discard the solution y1 because it supplies u2/3 < 0, which is
absurd. Similarly, we discard the solution y2 because it supplies u2 > gh, corresponding to supercritical flow.
Finally, we retain only the solution y3, which corresponds to subcritical conditions, and the velocity function of the
broad-crested weir is obtained:

u = f (a, h ) = gh (2 cosθ 3 )
32
(27)

A.2. Solution of the Bernoulli’s equation in supercritical flow conditions

We want to find the value of the flow depth which satisfies the equation

H = h + z + q 2 2gh2( ) (28)

for given value of the head H, bed elevation z and specific discharge q. If the specific energy E = H – z is greater
than the critical energy Ec = 1.53 q 2 g , there are two possible solutions, one corresponding to supercritical flow
and the other corresponding to subcritical flow. The complete solution of this equation is discussed in depth by
Valiani and Caleffi (2008), while we report here only the solution corresponding to supercritical flow.

h = (H − z )[1 3 + 2 3cos(θ 3)] (29)

where

θ = π + 2 arctan 8g (H − z )3 (27q 2 ) − 1 (30)

A.3. Depth function with blocked flow

The water depth at the bed step in blocking conditions can be found solving with respect to h the equation

FL − (h hL − 1) 0.5(1 + h h1 ) = 0 . (31)
362 L. Cozzolino et al. / Procedia Engineering 70 (2014) 353 – 362

If the position y = h/hL-1/3 is made, easy manipulations allow to rewrite Eq. (31) in the form of Eq. (24), where
p = − 4 3 − 2FL2 and q = 16 27 − 2FL2 3 . The equation obtained has three real solutions, because the discriminant
Δ = (q/2)2 + (p/3)3 is negative. Given the sign of q, the following definitions of the angle θ are valid:

⎧0 ≤ FL < 8 9 → q > 0 → θ = arctan − 2 − Δ q ( )

⎪⎪
⎨ FL = 8 9 → θ = π 2 . (32)
⎪
(
⎪⎩ FL > 8 9 → q > 0 → θ = π + arctan − 2 − Δ q )
The solutions of Eq. (31) can be again written in the form of Eq. (26), where θ1 = θ/3, θ2 = (θ+2π)/3, θ3 =
(θ+4π)/3. The direct calculations show that the solutions corresponding to y1 supply h ≤ hL, while the solutions
corresponding to y2 supply h ≤ 0. Only the solution y1 supplies h ≥ hL, as expected in the case of flow blocking, and
then the corresponding fluid depth is obtained:

h = hL ⎡1 3 + 2 3 4 + 6FL2 cosθ1 ⎤ (33)

⎢⎣ ⎥⎦

References

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