1.

0 ABSTRACT
In this experiment which is flow over weirs experiment, in open channel hydraulics, weirs are
commonly used to either regulate or to measure the volumetric flow rate; they are of particular
use in large scale situations such as irrigation schemes, canals and rivers. The flow pattern over a
notch or weir is complex and there is no analytical solution to the relationship between discharge
and head so that once again a semi-empirical approach has to be used. The objectives of this
experiment are to determine the characteristics of open channel flow over, a rectangular notch
and triangular (vee) notch and to determine the values of discharge coefficients for both notches.
From first experiment which is rectangular notch, the values of discharge coefficient we obtained
from experiment are 1.13, 0.92 and 1.46 for height of weirs of 0.01m, 0.02m and 0.03m
respectively. For the second experiment which is vee notch, the value of discharge coefficient
that we obtained from the experiment is 1.14, 0.64 and 0.68 for height of weirs of 0.01m, 0.02m
and 0.03m respectively.

2.0 INTRODUCTION
A weir is a barrier across a river designed to alter its flow characteristics. In most cases, weirs
take the form of obstructions smaller than most conventional dams, which cause water to pool
behind them, while allowing water to flow steadily over their tops. Weirs are commonly used to
alter the flow of rivers to prevent flooding, measure discharge, and help render rivers navigable.
Weirs used simple method of measuring the volumetric flow rate in small to medium-sized
streams or in industrial discharge locations. Since the geometry of the top of the weir is known
and all water flows over the weir, the depth of water behind the weir can be converted to a rate of
flow. The calculation relies on the fact that fluid will pass through the critical depth of the flow
regime in the vicinity of the crest of the weir. If water is not carried away from the weir, it can
make flow measurement complicated or even impossible.
The name for a vee notch weir is very descriptive. A vee notch weir is simply a 'vee notch' in a
plate that is placed so that it obstructs an open channel flow, causing the water to flow over the
vee notch. It is used to meter flow of water in the channel, by measuring the head of water over
the vee notch crest. The vee notch weir is especially good for measuring a low flow rate, because
the flow area decreases rapidly as the head over the v notch gets small. The V-notch weir is a
triangular channel section. The upper edge of the section is always above the water level, and so
the channel is always triangular simplifying calculation of the cross-sectional area. V-notch weirs
are preferred for low discharges as the head above the weir crest is more sensitive to changes in
flow compared to rectangular weirs. Under laboratory conditions, V-notch weirs typically
achieve accuracies of 2% to 5%, while field condition accuracies from 5% to 15% may be
expected. V-notch weirs are sized between 22-1/2 and 120, with 22-1/2, 30, 45, 60, 90,
and 120 the common size increments.
While, a rectangular weir is used to meter flow in an open channel also. The head over the
rectangular weir is measured and correlated with the water flow rate through the open channel
and over the weir. A rectangular weir equation gives water flow rate as a function of head over
the rectangular weir. A sharp crested, rectangular weir is simply a flat plate obstruction in an
open channel flow path, with a straight, level opening to allow water flow over the weir. It is
used to meter flow of water over the weir and through the open channel by measuring the head of
water over the weir crest.

3.0 OBJECTIVES
1. To determine the characteristics of open channel flow over, a rectangular notch and
triangular (vee) notch.
2. To determine the values of discharge coefficients for both notches.

4.0 THEORY
In open channel hydraulics, weirs are commonly used to either regulate or to measure the
volumetric flow rate; they are of particular use in large scale situations such as irrigation
schemes, canals and rivers. For small scale applications, weirs are often referred to as notches
and invariably are sharp edged and manufactured from thin plate material.
The flow pattern over a notch or weir is complex and there is no analytical solution to the
relationship between discharge and head so that once again a semi-empirical approach has to be
used.
Flow in Open Channels
Bernoulli equation for ideal flow: (q = flow per unit width)

Energy Equation: (HT = total head)

HT = H + hv = H + v2/2g
Flow Parameters:
HT = H + v2/2g
v = (2g (HT - H)) 0.5
v = (2g H (HT/H - 1)) 0.5
= C (2g H) 0.5

Flow, Q = vA = C (2g H) 0.5 A

Weirs or notches may come in broad-crested or sharp-crested forms. For this experiment, we
only use sharp-crested weirs which are rectangular and triangular or vee notches.

Sharp-Crested Weirs

Rectangular: A = L H
V-notch:

A = H2.5 tan (/2)

Weir Equations
Q = vA

I.

The theoretical discharge foe the rectangular weir is given by:

Qtheo = (2/3) (2g)(1/2). B. H (3/2)

II.

While for vee notch is given by:

Qtheo = (8/15). (2g) (1/2). tan (/2) . H (5/2)
where B = breadth of rectangular notch
H = hight of flow over notch
= Angle of vee notch
g = Gravitational acceleration

To the contraction of the flow area downstream of the notch, the actual discharge Q is
considerably less and may be expressed as:

iii)

Qact = Cd. (2/3). (2g)(1/2).B. H(3/2)

Where Cd = the coefficient of discharge for the rectangular notch

iv)

Qact = Cd (8/15). (2g) (1/2). tan (/2) . H(5/2)

Where Cd: the coefficient of discharge for the vee notch.

5.0 APPARATUS

6.0 METHOD

7.0 RESULTS

1. Direct observation was observed as to determine the general features of the weir and flow
that passes through the weirs.
2. The height of the free surface of water above the notch base was measured and the
volume flow rates was calculated in order to find the coefficient of discharge.
3. The data used for the experiment are as followed :
Width of the rectangular notch, B = 0.03 m
Angle of vee notch, = 90 degree.

Rectangular Notch,
Volume
(L)

Height
, H (m)

Time (s)
T1 T2 T3

0.01

2
2

Average
Time
(s)

2
0
9

2
0
9

20.00

0.02

2
0
8

0.03

3.00

8.67

Flow
Rates,
Q
(m3/s)
0.0001
0
0.0002
3
0.0006
7

Cd

H
B

0.0022

1.13

0.333

-3.64

0.0038

0.92

0.667

-3.17

0.0077

1.46

1.000

Log
H

Log
Q

-2.00

-4.00

-1.69
-1.52

2
3

Vee Notch,
Volume
(L)
2
2
2

Height, H
(m)
0.01
0.02
0.03

Time (s)
T1
72
24
8

T2
74
23
8

T3
75
23
8

Average Time
(s)

Flow Rates, Q
(m3/s)

Q5

73.67
23.33
8

0.000027
0.000086
0.000250

0.037
0.059
0.091

Cd

1.14
0.64
0.68

8.0 CALCULATIONS
(Calculation of Coefficient of Discharge)
Rectangular Notch
i)

Volume flow rate, Q

= volume collected/time for collection

= 0.002 m3 / 20 s
= 0.00010 m3/s

ii)

Rectangular Notch, H3/2

= (0.01 m)3/2
= 0.001 m3/2

iii)

Coefficient of Discharge, Cd =

3Q
2B

2 g H3/2
3(0.00010 m3/s)

9.807 m/s
2
2 (0.03) (

) (0.001)

= 1.13

Triangular (Vee) Notch

i)

Volume flow rate, Qt

= volume collected/time for collection

= 0.002 m3 / 73.67 s
= 0.000027 m3/s

ii)

Vee Notch, H5/2

= (0.01 m)5/2
= 0.00001 m5/2

iii)

Coefficient of Discharge, Cd =

15Q
8 tan

2 g H5/2
15(0.00027 m3/s)

9.807 m/s 2
90
2
8 tan ( 2 )
(0.00001 m5/2)

= 1.14

9.0 DISCUSSION

Rectangular notch and V-shaped notch are classified under the term sharp-crested is an
overflow structures that let water passing through it in order to determine the coefficient of
discharge (Cd). In general sharp-crested weirs will be used where highly accurate discharge
measurement is required.
A rectangular notch, symmetrically located in a vertical thin plate which is placed
perpendicular to the sides and bottom of a straight channel, is defined as a rectangular sharpcrested weir.
After the experiment, the collected data was used to determine the coefficient of
discharge for both types of notches using the equations Q = Cd. Even though there was a
deviation in both coefficients of discharge, Cd, but the value obtained is not too far from the
theoretically value.
The flow of water, Q and the coefficient of water discharge, Cd for V-notch was
calculated using the formula stated. The angle for the V- notch was taken as 90o. The calculated
value of coefficient of water discharge is 1.14. During the experiment, a constant flow of the
fluid was favored before measuring the head on weir. It was an assumption that the distribution
of the velocities in approaching flow has definite influence on the discharge over the weir. As the
valve loosened, the head increased. This increased resulting from the change of the fluid flow.
From 0.01 to 0.03m head, the water discharged also changed from 1.14 to 1.49. Thus, an increase
in the head causes an increase in the discharge. On the other hand, the flow of water, Q and the coefficient
of water discharge, Cd for the rectangular notch was calculated as the formula stated. The water discharge of
coefficient is 1.13.
Firstly, the Cd value for rectangular notch was calculated. The theoretical value given is
0.62, however the nearest Cd value that was obtained is 1.13. Means here, there is 0.51
significantly differ from each other.
After that, the calculated value of Cd value for the V-shaped notch from the data was
obtained. The V-shaped notch Cd value deviated quite small from the theoretical value.
Theoretically the Cd value for V-shaped notch is 0.58. But according to calculations, the value of

coefficient discharge for V-shaped notch is 1.14. They are differed to each other by 0.56
significantly.
These large deviations of values are mainly because of the errors during handling the
experiment. The major errors occurred when step of taking the height and the controlled of the
flow rate of water was done.
In industry, rectangular weirs and v-notch weirs are often used in water supply, wastewater
and sewage systems. Broad-crested weirs can be observed in dam spillways where the broad
edge is beneath the water surface across the entire stream. Flow measurement installations with
broad-crested weirs will meet accuracy requirements only if they are calibrated.

10.0 CONCLUSION
From experiment and after doing some readings and analysis, we can conclude that this
experiment was handled successful. This is because the objective to determine the value of C d for
both rectangular and triangular V notches is achieved. As we have discussed earlier, the C d value
can be determine experimentally by measuring the volume flow rate for these notches and by
measuring the time needed for every collection.
In comparing these two notches, rectangular and triangular, we also see that the shape and
their characteristics play vital role in determining the coefficient of discharge. In industrial and
agriculture application, both shapes of notches are important based on their purposes and
appropriate applications. For example, we can see the application of flow over weirs in the
agriculture field where this concept is applied when a paddy field is watered

11.0 RECOMMENDATIONS
There are a few of recommendations in order for us to get the accurate reading value while doing
this experiment.

1) The experiment should be carried out at least two or three times. This can help us to

avoid

wide deviation because taking only one reading of each observation would give inconsistency in
the readings
2) Make sure that the notch setup is tight enough so that there is no holes that water can flows
through it. When this happens, we will get inaccurate results.

3) Once the data were taken, the procedure cannot be reversed to find the value of time collection
by adjusting the height. This would affect the value of height datum. The height datum should be
always constant.

4) The readings of height should be taken carefully by avoiding sight error. The time collection
should be taken appropriately.

5) The instrument carrier in this experiment is positioned the opposite way round so that the
reading of the Vernier Scale side of the apparatus can be easily read and taken.

6) Make sure that the gauge was adjusted until the pint touched the notch bottom before reading
was taken and the notch must not be damaged.

12.0 REFERENCE

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Weir

13.0 APPENDICES

GAMBO VEE AND RECTANGULAR NOTCH