Application of Bernoullis Equation (continued)

Flow Over Notches and Weirs

A notch is an opening in the side of a tank or reservoir which extends
above the surface of the liquid. It is usually a device for measuring
discharge. A weir is a notch on a larger scale - usually found in rivers. It
may be sharp crested but also may have a substantial width in the
direction of flow - it is used as both a flow measuring device and a
device to raise water levels.
Weirs have the following applications:
Serving as emergency spillways for regulating high-return event
flows overtopping dams and detention ponds
Regulating the flow in channels
Approximating the flow over roadways acting as broad-crested weirs
when flow exceeds a culverts capacity
Approximating the flow allowed through an unsubmerged culvert
operating under inlet control.

Application of Bernoullis Equation (continued)

Culvert
Measuring flow

Application of Bernoullis Equation (continued)

The lowest point of structure surface or edge over which water flows is
called the crest, whereas the stream of water that exits over the weir is
called the nappe. Depending on the weir design, flow may contract as it
exits over the top of the weir, and, as with orifices, the point of
maximum contraction is called the vena contracta.

A common weir

Application of Bernoullis Equation (continued)

Types of weir
Weir can be identified by:
1. the shape of their opening or notch;
2. the edge of the opening- can be either sharp- or broad crested or of
other geometry.
Example of some
common weirs based
on their cross section
(edge of the opening):

Application of Bernoullis Equation (continued)

Weir Assumptions
We will assume that the velocity of the fluid approaching the weir is
small so that kinetic energy can be neglected. We will also assume that
the velocity through any elemental strip depends only on the depth below
the free surface. These are acceptable assumptions for tanks with notches
or reservoirs with weirs, but for flows where the velocity approaching the
weir is substantial the kinetic energy must be taken into account (e.g. a
fast moving river).

A General Weir Equation

To determine an expression for the theoretical flow through a notch we
will consider a horizontal strip of width b and depth h below the free
surface, as shown in the figure below.

Application of Bernoullis Equation (continued)

Elemental strip of flow through a notch

integrating from the free surface,

, to the weir crest,
expression for the total theoretical discharge

gives the

Application of Bernoullis Equation (continued)

This will be different for every differently shaped weir or notch. To

make further use of this equation we need an expression relating the
width of flow across the weir to the depth below the free surface.

Application of Bernoullis Equation (continued)

Rectangular Weir

For a rectangular weir the width does not change with depth so there is
no relationship between b and depth h. We have the equation,

Application of Bernoullis Equation (continued)

A rectangular weir
Substituting this into the general weir equation gives

To calculate the actual discharge we introduce a coefficient of discharge,

, which accounts for losses at the edges of the weir and contractions in
the area of flow, giving

Application of Bernoullis Equation (continued)

Coefficient of Discharge for Rectangular Weir:

Coefficient of discharge for rectangular weir, given by Rehbock is,

Where P is the height of weir crest in meter.

H is the head over crest in meter.

Application of Bernoullis Equation (continued)

The above equation is valid for P from 0.1 to 1.0 m and H from 0.024 to
0.6 m.

'V' Notch

Application of Bernoullis Equation (continued)

For the "V" notch weir, the relationship between width and depth is
dependent on the angle of the "V".

"V" notch, or triangular, weir geometry.

If the angle of the "V" is
surface is

So the discharge is

then the width, b, a depth h from the free

Application of Bernoullis Equation (continued)

And again, the actual discharge is obtained by introducing a coefficient

of discharge

Application of Bernoullis Equation (continued)

Trapezoidal weir

Application of Bernoullis Equation (continued)

The equation for flow through trapezoidal notch is obtained from the
equations for rectangular and V-notches.

Application of Bernoullis Equation (continued)

In the forgoing theory, it has been assumed that the velocity of the liquid
approaching the notch is very small so that its kinetic energy can be
neglected; it can also be assumed that the velocity through any
horizontal element across the notch will depend only on its depth below
the free surface.
This is a satisfactory assumption for flow over a notch or weir in the
side of a large reservoir, but, is the notch or weir is placed at the end of
a narrow channel, the velocity of approach to the weir will be
substantial and the head h producing flow will be increased by the
kinetic energy of the approaching liquid to a value
x = h + v12/(2g),
where v1 is the mean velocity of the liquid in the approach channel.
Note that the value of v1 is obtained by dividing the discharge by the full
cross sectional area of the channel itself, not that of the notch. As a
result, the discharge through the strip will be

Application of Bernoullis Equation (continued)

dQ = b dh(2gx).

Application of Bernoullis Equation (continued)

Examples
1. Deduce an expression for the discharge of water over a right-angled
sharp edged V-notch, given that the coefficient of discharge is 0.61.
A rectangular tank 16m by 6m has the same notch in one of its short
vertical sides. Determine the time taken for the head, measured from the
bottom of the notch, to fall from 15cm to 7.5cm.
Answer:
From your notes you can derive:

Application of Bernoullis Equation (continued)

For this weir the equation simplifies to

Write the equation for the discharge in terms of the surface height
change:

Application of Bernoullis Equation (continued)

Integrating between h1 and h2, to give the time to change surface level

h1 = 0.15m, h2 = 0.075m

Application of Bernoullis Equation (continued)

2. Develop a formula for the discharge over a 900 V-notch weir in terms
of
head
above
the
bottom
of
the
V.
A channel conveys 300 litres/sec of water. At the outlet end there is a 90
V-notch weir for which the coefficient of discharge is 0.58. At what
distance above the bottom of the channel should the weir be placed in
order to make the depth in the channel 1.30m? With the weir in this
position what is the depth of water in the channel when the flow is 200
litres/sec?
Answer:
Derive this formula from the notes:

Application of Bernoullis Equation (continued)

From the question:

= 90 Cd 0.58 Q = 0.3 m3/s, depth of water,

giving the weir equation:

a) As H is the height above the bottom of the V, the depth of water = Z =

D + H, where D is the height of the bottom of the V from the base of the
channel. So

Application of Bernoullis Equation (continued)

1. Find Z when Q = 0.2 m3/s