Module 8

Weirs are overflow structures which are built across an open channel for the purpose of measuring or
controlling the flow of fluids. Weirs have been commonly used to measure the flow of water, but is
now being adopted to measure the flow of other liquids.
The flow over a weir may either be free or submerged. If the water surface downstream from the weir is
lower than the crest, the flow is free, but is the downstream surface is higher than the crest, the flow is
submerged.
➢ Nappe – the overflowing stream in a weir.
➢ Crest of weir – the edge or top surface of a weir with which the flowing liquid comes in
contact.
➢ Contracted weir – weirs having sides sharp-edged, so that the nappe is contracted in
width or having end contractions, either one end or two ends.
➢ Suppressed weir – weir having its length L being equal to the width of the channel so
that the nappe suffers no end contractions.
➢ Drop-down curve – the downward curvature of the liquid surface before the weir.
➢ Head, H – the distance between the liquid surface and the crest of the weir, measured
before the drop down curve.
➢ Nappe – the overflowing stream in a weir.
➢ Crest of weir – the edge or top surface of a weir with which the flowing liquid comes in
contact.
➢ Contracted weir – weirs having sides sharp-edged, so that the nappe is contracted in
width or having end contractions, either one end or two ends.
➢ Suppressed weir – weir having its length L being equal to the width of the channel so
that the nappe suffers no end contractions.
➢ Rectangular Weir
➢ Triangular Weir
➢ Trapezoidal Weir
➢ Cipolletti Weir
➢ Sutro Weir or Proportional Flow Weir
➢ Submerged Sharp Weir
➢ Unsteady Flow Weir (Variable Head)
• General Formula:
3
2
𝑄= 𝐶 2𝑔 𝐿𝐻 2
3
Where:
L = crest length
H = head of flow over the weir

• Considering the velocity of approach :

3 3
2 𝑣𝑎 2
𝑄= 3
𝐶 2𝑔𝐿 𝐻 + ℎ𝑣 ) 2 − ℎ𝑣 2 ; ℎ𝑣 = 2𝑔
Where:
ℎ𝑣 = velocity of approach
For Contracted Weir:

N=1 N=2

The effective length L is : The effective length L is :

𝐿′ = 𝐿 − 0.1𝑁𝐻 𝐿′ = 𝐿 − 0.1𝑁𝐻
Where: Where:
𝐿′ = length of crest 𝐿′ = length of crest
N = number of end contractions N = number of end contractions
H = head H = head
At very low heads, the nappe of a rectangular weir has a tendency to adhere to its
downstream face. A weir opening under such condition will give a very inaccurate result.

• General Formula:
5
8 𝜃
𝑄= 𝐶 2𝑔 tan 𝐻 2
15 2

• For a standard V-notch Weir (θ = 90º):

5
𝑄 = 1.4𝐻 ( SI Units )
2

5
𝑄 = 2.5𝐻 ( English Units )
2
The discharge from a trapezoidal weir is assumed the same as that from a rectangular weir
and a triangular weir in combination.

General Formula:
3 5
2 8 𝜃
𝑄= 𝐶 2𝑔 𝐿𝐻 +
2 𝐶 2𝑔 tan 𝐻 2
3 15 2
Cipolletti weirs are trapezoidal weirs with side slope of 1 horizontal to 4 vertical. The
additional area at the sides adds approximately enough effective width of the stream to
offset the side contractions.

Formula:
3
𝑄 = 1.859𝐿𝐻 ( SI Units )
2
3
𝑄 = 3.37𝐿𝐻 ( English Units )
2
It may be noted that in a rectangular weir, discharge varies with 3/2 power of H, and in a
triangular weir, with 5/2 power of H. There exists a shape for which discharge varies
linearly with the head. It is called the proportional flow, or Rettger weir, also known as
Sutro weir.

Formula:
1
𝑄 = 𝐶𝜋𝐾 2𝑔 𝐻
2
𝐾 = 2𝑥 𝑦
The discharge over a submerged sharp-crested weir is affected not only by the head on the
upstream side 𝐻1, but by the head downstream 𝐻2 . The discharge for a submerged weir is
related to the free or unsubmerged discharge.

Formula:
0.385
𝑄𝑠 𝐻2 𝑛
= 1 −
𝑄 𝐻1
Where:
n = 3/2 (for rectangular weir)
n = 5/2 (for triangular weir)
• General Formula:
𝐻 𝐴𝑠 𝑑𝐻
𝑡 = ‫ 𝐻׬‬1
2 𝑄
• If the flow is through a suppressed rectangular weir:
2𝐴𝑠 1 1
𝑡= −
𝐶𝑤 𝐿 𝐻2 𝐻1
Where:
𝐶𝑤 = weir factor
L = crest length
𝐴𝑠 = constant water surface area of reservoir or tank
𝐻1 = initial head
𝐻2 = final head
Numerous equations have been developed for finding the discharge coefficient 𝐶𝑤 to
be used in the equations. Here are some of the formulas for the coefficients used in
finding the discharge of weirs.
➢ Francis Formula
➢ Rehbock and Chow Formula
➢ Bazin Formula
• Based upon experiments on the rectangular weirs from 1.07 m (3.5 ft) to 5.18 m (17 ft)
long under heads from 180mm to 490 mm.
𝐻 2
𝐶𝑤 = 1.84 (1 + 0.26
𝑑

• For H/P < 0.4, the following value of 𝐶𝑤 may be used.

𝐶𝑤 = 1.84 ( SI Units )
𝐶𝑤 = 3.33 ( English Units )
Formula:
𝐻
𝐶𝑤 = 1.8 + 0.40 ( SI Units )
𝑃
𝐻
𝐶𝑤 = 3.27 + 0.40 ( English Units )
𝑃
For rectangular weirs of length from 0.5 m to 2.0 m under heads from 50 mm to 600
mm.

2
0.02161 𝐻
𝐶𝑤 = 0.5518 3.248 + 1 + 0.55
𝐻 𝑑
Problem 1: A weir of 8m long is to be built across a rectangular channel to discharge a flow of 9 𝑚3 /𝑠.
What should be the height of the flow? Adopt C = 0.62.
Problem 2:
During a test on a 2.4m
suppressed weir 900mm
high, the head was
maintained constant at
300mm. In 38 seconds,
28,800 liters of water were
collected. What is the weir
factor 𝐶𝑤 ?
Problem 3:
A sharp-crested, contracted
triangular weir with a weir
angle of 60º carries water
under the head of 1.23 ft.
Determine the flow rate of
water over the weir. C =0.60.
Problem 4: A trapezoidal weir having side slope of 1H to 2V discharges 50 𝑚3 /𝑠 under a constant
head of 2m. Find the length of the weir assuming C = 0.60.
Problem 5:
The discharge over a
trapezoidal weir is 1.315
𝑚3 /𝑠. The crest length is
2m and the sides are inclined
at 75º 57’ 49” with the
horizontal. Find the head on
the weir in meters.
Problem 6:
A rectangular suppressed
weir of length 1m is
constructed or cut at the top
of a tall rectangular tank
having a horizontal section
20 m by 20 m. If the initial
head over the weir is 1m,
compute the time required to
discharge 72 cu.m. of water.
Use Francis formula.
.
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