University of Duhok - Duhok

College of Engineering
Water Resources Department
Secound Year
Group(A)

FLUID MECHANIC (PRACTICAL)

Name of experiment :Discharge over a broad crested weir

Experiment NO: 2
Submitted by: Eman hamdi
Date of experiment: //2017
Data of submitting: //2017
INTRODUCTION
The broad crested: is an open channel flow measurement
device which combines hydraulic characteristics of both weirs
and flumes.
Sometimes the name ’ramp flume’ is used in referring to
broad crested weirs.
Broad crested weirs are robust structures that are generally
constructed from reinforced concrete and which usually span
the full width of the channel. They are used to measure the
discharge of rivers, and are much more suited for this
purpose than the relatively flimsy sharp crested weirs.
Additionally, by virtue of being a critical depth meter, the
broad crested weir has the advantage that it operates
effectively with higher downstream water levels than a sharp
crested weir.
The flow depth upstream of the measurement structure must
always be higher than it would be in the absence of the
structure because there is always some head loss.
One of the important advantages of the broad crested weir is
that it can be accurately calibrated according to theoretical
(Qth= h*b* √(H − h) ∗ 2g )and empirical(Qact = V/t)
If the upstream channel is not stable, the calibration may
change significantly, and sediment can accumulate rapidly at
the structure, also affecting the calibration.
OBJECTIVE
The objectives of the Experiment are:

a. To show the measurement of flow rate.

b. To determine the relationship between upstream
head and flow rate for water flowing over a Broad
crested weir.
c. To calculate the discharge coefficient Cd.

MATERIALS AND APPARATUS

1. Broad crested weir Apparatus.

2. Water.
DESCRIPTION OF EQUIPMEN
PROCEDURE
1. First we must be ensure the flume is level, with no stop
logs installed at the discharge end of the channel, but in
laboratory we don’t have this part of apparatus it maybe
not leveled so we get some error in reading.
2. Then we measure and record the actual breath (b) and
the height (p) of the broad crested weir, (b, in this
experiment we determine b=7.3cm), and measure the
height (p, in this experiment we determine p=10cm).
Then, the weir plate was placed and fixed carefully
perpendicular to the sides and bottom of the flume and
leveled on all axes by a carpenter’s level. We ensure that
the weir is secured using a mounting hook through the
bed of the flume. For accurate results the gaps between
the weir and the channel should be sealed on the
upstream side using Plasticine.
3. A series of different flow rates were overtopped over
the weir and the corresponding heads above the weir
crest were recorded after the zero on the point gauge
must correspond to the level of the weir crest or the
apex of the weir. So we take enough care not damage
the weir and the point gauge.

4. For each rate, we wait until steady condition is attained

then measure and record the (H) some way upstream
from the weir point gauge it is height of water before
crested weir, and (h) it is height over crested weir.
 5. For each flow rate (actual discharge), measure and
record the volumes in the collecting tank and the time
required to collect that volume by stopwatch.
Qact = V/t
Where:Qact= actual flow rate
V = volume of the collecting
t = time taken to rise volume (liter).

6. The theoretical flow rates passing over the weir were

calculated from the flow equation of V-Notch plate weir.
Qth= h*b* √(H − h) ∗ 2g
Where:Qth = Theoretical flow rate,
g = acceleration due to gravity (9.81 m/sec2),
H =upstream head of water before the weir crest.
h = upstream head of water over the weir crest.

7.
The coefficient of discharge Cd is the ratio of actual
discharge obtained experimentally to the theoretical
discharge. Cd = Qact/ Qth where Cd = coefficient of
discharge is a dimensionless discharge coefficient which
takes account the effects of neglecting losses and the
contraction of the jet as it passes over the notch on Qth.
8.
We repeat this procedure for different flow rates by
adjusting the inlet valve opening and tabulate the
readings. For each step measure the flow rate Q, the
 upstream depth of flow H and the depth of flow over
the weir h (where flow becomes parallel to the weir).
The flow rate Q can be determined using the direct
reading flow meter or the volumetric tank with a
stopwatch.
9.
We complete tabulation and find mean value of Cd.
10.
We draw chart between Qactand H in log-log paper.
CALCULATION
Qth= h*b*√(H − h) ∗ 2g
Qth= Theoretical flow rate,
g = acceleration due to gravity (9.81 m/sec2)
H= upstream head of water before the crest weir
h = upstream head of water over the weir crest.
Qact = V/t
Qact= actual flow rate
V = volume of the collecting
t = time taken to rise volume (liter).
Cd = Qact/ Qth Cd = Coefficient of discharge
Volume = 10 lt , time= 3.46 sec, H = 9.7 cm, h = 4.76 cm
Qact= V/t = 10*10-3/3.46=2.89*10-3(m3/s)

Qth= h*b* √(H − h) ∗ 2g

= 4.76*10-2*7.3*10-2√(9.7 − 4.76) ∗ 10−2 ∗ 2 ∗ 9.81 =

3.42*10-3 m3/s
Cd = Qact/ Qth = 2.89*10-3/ 3.42*10-3= 0.845
Volume Time Rota H h Qact Qth Cd
(1/sec) ( sec) meter(1/sec) (1/sec) (1/sec)
(cm) (cm)

10 3.46 2.5 9.7 4.76 2.89*10-3 3.42*10-3 0.845

5 6.84 2.3 9.65 4.54 0.73*10-3 3.32*10-3 0.220
20 9.49 2.27 9.32 4.21 2.11*10-3 3.08*10-3 0.685
25 13.20 2.08 8.87 3.98 1.89*10-3 2.84*10-3 0.667
30 19.87 2 8.08 3.30 1.51*10-3 2.33*10-3 0.648

Chart
RESULT AND DISCUSSION
In this test we know how to determine discharge over a
broad crested weir, we show the weir plate was placed and
fixed carefully perpendicular to the sides and bottom of the
flume and leveled to determine true value, and we note
when we determine the discharge we start in zero we can’t
start in large number to zero, we will be wait until steady
flow when we record H and h to determine true value. We
note the actual discharge is less than theoretical discharge
because in actual it have head loss so Coefficientof discharge
always less than 1 because it is ratio between actual to
theoretical discharge. When we make chart between H and
actual discharge or H and Coefficient of discharge the
relationship is when H increase actual discharge and
Coefficient of discharge will increase.
The pattern of the water as it passes over the weir it is not
linear because we make this process to make small sped of
water so when water come to block of crested weir the
pattern of water will change. The length of crested weir
increase actual discharge will decrease because head loss will
increase so the coefficient of discharge will decrease.
The effect of drowning the weir, the benefits of downstream
ramp are more significant in large broad crested weir (more
than 1 m height).

CONCLUSION
Finally if we want to determine the discharge actually or
theoretically over broad crested weir,broad crested weir
support the flow in the longitudinal direction of flow, first we
know the weir is an open channel used when it is increasing
in water depth, increasing in flow rate over weir is increasing
in depth of flow and the height of water above weir.
And we note when we determine the discharge we start in
zero we can’t start in large number to zero. We get balance
of apparatus if the upstream channel is not stable, the
calibration may change significantly, and sediment can
accumulate rapidly at the structure, also affecting the
calibration.
We open key and water come in slow sped then we open all
key water come in large sped we wait until steady flow and
we read Head before block and head above block and in this
time we record volume and time, by this value we determine
actually (Qact = V/t) and theoretically (Qth= h*b*
√(H − h) ∗ 2g)discharge we return this process 5 time and
record all data to full the table of calculation to determine
coefficient of discharge.
We show the coefficient less than 1 because it is ratio
between actual and theoretical discharge and we know the
actual is less than theoretical by effect of head loss. We make
some chart to determine relationship between Head before
block and actual discharge and relation between Head before
block and coefficient of discharge the relation is when one of
this increase another will increase too. When the length of
crested weir increase actual discharge will decrease because
head loss will increase so the coefficient of discharge will
decrease.