Name: Golo, John Emerald D.

Rating:
Course & Year: BSCE – 4
Laboratory Schedule: W1:30 – 4:30 PM
Date Performed: September 20, 2017
Date of Report Submitted: September 27, 2017 Instructor: Engr. Alex H. Melchor

EXPERIMENT NO. 8
DISCHARGE MEASUREMENT WITH DIFFERENT TYPES OF WEIRS
I. Objectives: To determine the coefficient of discharge of the different types of weirs.

II. Equipment/Apparatus:
 Cussons Weir Tank
 Hydraulic Bench
 Bucket
 Graduated cylinder
 Stop watch
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.

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III. 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,

A differential element with are, (L)(dy), is considered which is located a distance y from the
liquid’s surface. The velocity through this element is v = √2𝑔𝑦.
Therefore, the theoretical discharge through the differential element is

dQ = √2𝑔𝑦Ldy (1)
Integrating equation (1), we obtain
𝐻
𝑄 = ∫ √2𝑔𝑦 𝐿𝑑𝑦
0

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 2
𝑄= 3
√2𝑔 𝐿𝐻 3/2 (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 = CdQ (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 liquid’s surface as shown
in the figure.

𝜃 𝑥 𝜃
Solving for x, 𝑡𝑎𝑛 2 = , 𝑥 = (𝑡𝑎𝑛 2) (𝐻 − 𝑦). The velocity through the element is equal to
𝐻−𝑦
√2𝑔𝑦 .The discharge through the differential element is the product of the differential area, dA =
𝜃
(2x)(dy) and the velocity, v = √2𝑔𝑦 . But x = (𝑡𝑎𝑛 2) (𝐻 − 𝑦), therefore the discharge through
the element is dQ = 2(𝑡𝑎𝑛𝜃)(𝐻 − 𝑦)(𝑑𝑦)(√2𝑔𝑦). The total discharge is
𝜃 𝐻
Qt = 2𝑡𝑎𝑛 ∫0 (𝐻 − 𝑦)√𝑦 𝑑𝑦
2

𝜃 2 3 2 5
= 2𝑡𝑎𝑛 √2𝑔 [ 𝐻 × 𝐻 2 − 𝐻 2 ]
2 3 5
5
8 𝜃
Qt = 15 𝑡𝑎𝑛 2 √2𝑔 𝐻 2 (5)
5
8 𝜃
The actual discharge, Qa = Cd 15 𝑡𝑎𝑛 2 √2𝑔 𝐻 2 . Where Cd is the coefficient of discharge.

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IV. Experimental Procedure

The professor suggested using a simplified version of the Cussons weir tank using the
hydraulic bench because the Cussons weir tank has lacking parts. The essential parts of the weir
tank were in the alternative apparatus, such as the weir, and a screen to remove eddies in the
flow. A rectangular weir was attached to the hydraulic bench and the hook-type gauge was
positioned so that the needle was levelled with the sill of the weir. The hook was locked at zero
reading and the water pump was turned on. The hook-type gauge was repositioned at the center
between the weir and the screen, where the flow was assumed to be uniform. With the hook
locked, the vernier was moved so that the hook was located on the water surface. The distance
was then recorded as the head of flow at the top of the sill. Using the installed gauge for the
volume of fluid flowing, the discharge was obtained by collecting the time for the volume of
fluid to increase. For the rectangular weir, the width was obtained using a vernier caliper. With
the raw data, the theoretical discharge was computed using Equation (2). The coefficient of
discharge was computed using Equation (4). The process was done with three discharges for a
rectangular and a triangular weir, with the theoretical discharge of the triangular weird computed
using Equation (5).

V. Results/Calculations
Table 8.1
Actual and Theoretical Discharge and the Coefficient of Discharge
Width
Volume Time to Actual
Trial Head, of Θ
Weir Collected Collect Discharge,
No. H (cm) Weir, L (deg)
(liters) (sec) Qa (m3/sec)
(cm)
−4
1 4 6.42 6.23𝑥10 4.875 3 ---
Rectangular 2 3 2.5 −3 7.251 3 ---
1.20𝑥10
3 3 8.87 3.38𝑥10−4 3.36 3 ---
1 3 6.76 −4 4.755 --- 60
4.44𝑥10
Triangular 2 3 2.48 −3 6.96 --- 60
1.21𝑥10
3 3 5.54 5.42𝑥10−4 5.0892 --- 60

Theoretical Discharge, Coefficient of Discharge,

Average Cd
Qt (m3/sec) Cd
9.54𝑥10−4 0.65
1.73𝑥10−3 0.69 0.66
5.46𝑥10−4 0.62
6.72𝑥10−4 0.66
1.74𝑥10−3 0.69 0.68
7.97𝑥10−4 0.68
Sample Computations:

Actual Discharge1 (Qa) = Volume Collected/ Time to Collect

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Actual Discharge1 (Qa)
Theoretical Discharge (Qt)
Discharge of Rectangular Weir
= (4/1000)/ 6.42
= 0.000623 m3/sec
2
= 3 √2𝑔 𝐿𝐻 3/2
2 4.875
= 3 √2 × 9.81 × ( 100 )3/2

Rectangular Theoretical Discharge1 (Qt) = 0.000954 m3/sec

5
8 𝜃
Discharge of Triangular Weir = 15 𝑡𝑎𝑛 2 √2𝑔 𝐻 2
8 60 4.755 5
= 15 𝑡𝑎𝑛 √2 × 9.81 ( 100 )2
2

Triangular Theoretical Discharge1 (Qt) = 0.000672 m3/sec

Rectangular Coefficient of Discharge1 (Cd) = Qa/Qt
= 0.000623/ 0.000954
Rectangular Coefficient of Discharge1 (Cd) = 0.65

VI. Discussion of Results

Based from the data gathered, the theoretical discharge is much greater than the actual
discharge since there is a head loss as the flow passes the weir. That’s why the coefficient of
discharge, actual divided by theoretical discharge, is always less than 1 and is dimensionless.
It has been observed that the coefficient of discharge from the triangular-shaped notch is
much larger (0.68) than the rectangular weir (0.66). Thus, we can say that since it is much
closer to 1, it is much more accurate to use in discharge measurements.

VII. Conclusion
The theoretical flow of a weir is valid for assumptions such as the streamlines are
straight and parallel (no head loss), the velocity distribution upstream from the weir is
uniform and the influence of viscosity, turbulence and surface tension are negligible. Because
real flows do not meet all the assumptions, the actual flow will generally be less than the
theoretically predicted flow, making the coefficient of discharge always less than 1.
The experiment has been accurate in determining the coefficient of discharge in
different types of weirs in which with a calibrated weir, a single measurement of the weir
head allows the determination of the flow rate in a channel. Some errors could still be present
as we performed the experiment such as in reading the vernier caliper which could result in
an error in measuring the actual head of flow; and also an error in coinciding the base of the
weir and the tip of the hook for measuring its height. However, the values obtained were
reasonable and accurate making the experiment a success.

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VIII. Documentation

Figure 8.1 Determination of Discharge via Figure 8.3 Flow of a Rectangular Weir
Volumetric Method

Figure 8.2 Positioning of the hook horizontal Figure 8.4 Flow of a Triangular Weir
to the sill

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