1.

Introduction
Fluids mechanics has develop as an analytical discipline from the
application of the classical laws of statistics, dynamics and thermodynamics,
to situations in which fluids can be treated as continuous media. The
particular laws involved are those of the conservation of mass, energy and
momentum and, in each application, these laws can be simplified in an
attempt to describe quantitatively the behavior of the fluid.
A weir is an opening in the sidewall of a tank at top. The stream of
liquid coming out the weir is known as a nappe, sheet, or vein. There is no
difference between a notch and weir except that the former is a small
structure and has sharp edges. A weir is generally an overflow structure, with
a broad crest, built across an open channel. The terms air and weirs are used
synonymously in general. The top of weir wall over which the liquid flows is
known as the sill or crest. The head under which the weir is discharging is
measured from the crest to the free surface. A weir or notch is generally
used for measuring the flow of liquids.
In this experiment, the rectangular weirs and triangular weirs are been
used. Rectangular weirs and triangular or v-notch weirs are often used in
water supply, wastewater and sewage systems. They consist of a sharp
edged plate with a rectangular, triangular or v-notch profile for the water
flow. 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.

2. Principles
With different type of notch, the method of calculating the discharge
coefficients of the fluid flow is also different. These are some theories that
discuss about the reasoning of two different notches, which are:

1. Rectangular Notch
A rectangular notch in a thin square edged weir plate installed in a weir
channel as shown in figure 1.

Figure 1: Rectangular Notch

Consider the flow in an element of height H at a depth h below the surface.
Assuming the flow is everywhere normal to the plane of the weir and that the
free surface remains horizontal up to the plane of the weir.
In practice the flow through the notch will not be parallel and therefore will
not be normal to the plane of the weir. The free surface is not horizontal and
viscosity and surface tension will have an effect. There will be a considerable
change in the shape of the nappe as it passes through the notch with
curvature of the stream lines in both vertical and horizontal planes as
indicated in Figure 2, in particular the width of the nappe is reduced by the
contractions at each end.

Figure 2: Shape of a Nappe

3

2
Qt =Cd b (2 g)H 2
3
Where;
Qt = volume flow rate ( m/s )
H = height above notch base (m)
b = width of rectangular notch ( 0.03 m)
Cd = the discharge coefficient, which has to be determined by
experiment
The discharge from a rectangular notch will be considerably less,
approximately 60%, of the theoretical analysis due to these curvature
effects. A coefficient of discharge Cd is therefore introduced so that
C d=

3
2

Qt
b (2 g)H

3
2

However, Cd is not a true constant tending towards a constant only for large
heads and a low velocity of approach in the weir channel.

2. Triangular ( vee ) Notch

Figure 4: Triangular or V Notch

Q t =Cd
tan
15
2

( ) (2 g) H

5
2

Where;
Qt = volume flow rate
H = height above notch base
B = width of rectangular notch
= angle of the Vee in the triangular notch
Cd = the discharge coefficient, which has to be determined by
experiment
Thus,
C d=

15
8

Qt

tan
2

( ) ( 2 g ) H

5
2

For a rectangular notch the rate of discharged is proportional to the liquid

depth raised to power 1.5 and for the triangular notch to a power of 2.5. A
triangular notch will therefore handle a wider range of flow rates. It can be
shown that the notch must have curved walls giving a large width to the
bottom of the notch and a comparatively small width towards the top. The
weir is frequently installed for controlling the flow within the unit itself, for
instance in a distillation column or reactor.
The actual discharge can be calculated by multiplying a discharge coefficient, cd to
theoretical discharge by

Q actual=CdQtheory

3. Objectives of the Experiment

To establish relationship between head,H and discharge, for water

flowing over a rectangular and V-shape weir.
To determine the discharge coefficients for both notches.
To compare the experiment value of discharge coefficient with the
value given by the manufacturer.

4. Apparatus and Material

Flow over weir apparatus (TQ)

Hydraulic Bench

A stop watch
5. Procedure

A rectangular weir is placed into the hydraulic bench. Then, the apparatus is
connected to the water supply system.

The water supply is opened and the level of water is make sure at the
bottom of the vee shape,as shown in figure 3 .

Measure the height ,h0 (initial)

6
The water is allowed to fill up the tank until it reaches 5
liters.

5 sets of discharge rate and head measurement is collected.

*it is recommended that the first reading is taken at the
maximum flow rate and subsequent value with roughly equal
Step 2 to step 3 is repeated by using rectangle weir.
decrements in head.

6. Results and Calculations

V-shape weir
Enclosed angle=90
Volume: 5l
Readin Time(s Flow(m3/ Head,H
g
)
s)
(m)
H0=143
mm
1
7.22
48
2
9.50
43
3
10.44
38
4
11.54
33
5
26.97
28

Log Q Log H Cd

Rectangular weir
Width of the neckline, b: 0.03m
Volume: 5l
Readin Time(s Flow(m3/ Head,H
g
)
s)
(m)
H0=145
mm
1
7.04
59
2
7.47
54
3
11.63
41
4
16.03
36
5
21.03
31

Log Q Log H Cd