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of Triangular-notch
Thin-plate Weirs
GEOLOGICAL SURVEY WATER-SUPPLY PAPER 16I7-B
Discharge Characteristics
of Triangular-notch
Thin-plate Weirs
By JOHN SHEN
GEOLOGICAL SURVEY
Shen, John.
Discharge characteristics of triangular-notch thin-plate weirs.
in
CONTENTS
Page
Preface ________________________________________ III
Symbols_______________________________________ VII
Abstract _______________________________________ B1
Introduction _____________________________________ 1
Description of the weir ______________________________ 2
Basic equation of discharge ____________________________ 3
Dimensional analysis ________________________________ 4
Significance of the ratios in equation 3 ______________________ 5
Coefficient of discharge for one liquid _____________________ 5
Modified equations for one liquid _________________________ 6
Review of the literature ________________________________ 7
Thomson's experiments ______________________________ 7
Barr's experiments _________________________________ 8
Barr-Strickland formula ____________________________ 8
Cone's experiments _________________________________ 9
Yarnall's experiments _______________________________ 10
Greve's experiments ______________________________ 10
Lenz's experiments _______________________________ 11
Experiments of Numachi, Kurokawa, and Hutizawa _____________ 13
Other experiments _______________________________ 13
Summary ____________________________________ 15
Analysis of data ___________________________________ 16
Evaluation of kh __________________________________________________ 16
An alternative for kh ______________________________________________ 19
Evaluation of Ce _________________________________________________ 22
Influence of h/P and PIB ___________________________________________ 30
Comparison of formulas ______________________________ 30
Basis of comparison ______________________________ 30
90°-notch weir ___________________________________ 32
Other notch angles _______________________________ 32
Conclusions _____________________________________ 32
References _____________________________________ 39
Supplemental information _____________________________ 41
Requirements for precise measurements ___________________ 42
Specifications for installation _______________________ 42
Restrictions on the geometric parameters ________________ 42
Restrictions on h and P _________________________________________ 42
Effect of neglecting kh _________________________________________ 42
Effect of approach-channel conditions ___________________ 43
Measurement of 6 _____________________________________________ 44
Measurement of h _____________________________________________ 44
Determination of gage zero ________________________ 44
VI CONTENTS
ILLUSTRATIONS
Page
FIGURE 1. The triangular-notch, thin-plate weir _________________ B3
2. Evaluation of kh illustrated with Numachi, Kurokawa, and Hutizawa
data (v = 90°) _____________________________ 17
3. Evaluation of kh illustrated with Lenz data _____________ 18
4-11. Values of:
4. kh as a function of v __________________ 20
5. k as a function of v _____________________- 21
6. Ce, notch angles approximately 120° __________ 23
7. Ce, notch angles approximately 90° _________ 24
8. Ce, notch angles approximately 60° ________ 25
9. Ce, notch angles approximately 45° ______ 26
10. Ce, notch angles approximately 27° _______ 27
11. Ce, notch angles of 10° and 13° _______________ 28
12. Coefficient of discharge Ce as a function of v ___________ 29
13. Coefficient of discharge Ce as a function of h/P and P/B (v = 90 °) ___ 31
14-19. Comparisons of formulas for:
14. 90°-notch weir ________________________ 33
15. Notch angles of approximately 120° ______ 34
16. Notch angles of approximately 60° _____ 35
17. Notch angles of approximately 45° __________ 36
18. Notch angles of approximately 27° ______ 37
19. Notch angles of approximately 10° _________ 38
20. Effect of using h instead of he in equation 6 ____________ 43
TABLES
CONVERSION FACTORS
The inch-pound system of units is used throughout this report. The following factors
may be used to convert inch-pound units to International System of Units (SI):
SYMBOLS
a exponent in equation 16
b width of rectangular notch
B width of approach channel
C coefficient of discharge
Ce coefficient of discharge (based on effective head)
E relative error
g acceleration due to gravity
h piezometric head referred to vertex of notch
he effective head
j exponent in equation 9
h adjustment quantity
hh head-adjustment quantity
L a length
M coefficient in equation 12
m exponent in equation 12
N coefficient in equation 16
n exponent in equation 12
P height of weir notch above bottom of channel
Q discharge
R Reynolds number
S slope of sides of notch
W Weber number
7 specific weight
6 included angle between sides of notch
H dynamic viscosity
p density
a surface tension
STUDIES OF FLOW OF WATER OVER WEIRS AND DAMS
DISCHARGE CHARACTERISTICS OF
TRIANGULAR-NOTCH THIN-PLATE WEIRS
By JOHN SHEN
ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION
The triangular-notch,thin-plate weir is used widely for measuring the
flow of liquids in flumes and open channels. Simple in design and easily
made from readily available materials, it is inexpensive, convenient to
use, and easy to maintain. In permanent or portable form it is frequent-
ly used to measure the flow of water in laboratories and in small,
natural streams. When several forms of weirs or flumes might be used,
the triangular-notch weir is often preferred because of its greater ac-
curacy at low flows or its lesser sensitivity to approach-channel
geometry and velocity distribution. Within the range of conditions for
which verification data are adequate, and with reasonable care in its
construction, installation, and use, the triangular-notch, thin-plate weir
is a relatively precise instrument.
The triangular-notch weir has been the subject of considerable ex-
perimental research and published discussion. Unfortunately, however,
most of the laboratory investigations have been restricted to a narrow
range of notch angles and channel geometries. The 90°-notch weir has
been most extensively studied. With few exceptions, water has been
the liquid used in laboratory tests.
A large number of empirical discharge formulas have been proposed
for triangular-notch weirs. Most of these were designed to fit a par-
Bl
B2 FLOW OF WATER OVER WEIRS AND DAMS
^45°
Upstream face
of weir plate
energy loss between the measuring section and the weir is negligible. A
distance of 4 to 5 h is recommended.
BASIC EQUATION OF DISCHARGE
The traditional equation of discharge for triangular-notch weirs is
derived on the basis of an assumed analogy between the weir and the
B4 FLOW OF WATER OVER WEIRS AND DAMS
g
DISCHARGE OVER TRIANGULAR-NOTCH THIN-PLATE WEIRS B5
For one liquid over a limited temperature range, /A, a, and p can be
assumed to be constants. Under these circumstances, the effects of
viscosity and surface tension are related to the absolute magnitude of h
alone. Thus, both R and W in equation 3 can be replaced with the quan-
tity h. It follows that, for one liquid and a limited range of
temperatures,
(4)
1 Subsequent to the initial exposition of the "effective-head concept" by Kindsvater in 1956, it was applied successful-
ly to several kinds of weirs by others (Carter, 1956; Schlag, 1962a; Schlag, 1962b; John Shen, written commun., 1962;
Burgess and White, 1966, among others).
DISCHARGE OVER TRIANGULAR-NOTCH THIN-PLATE WEIRS B7
W (6)
and
BARR'S EXPERIMENTS
BARR-STRICKLAND FORMULA
CONE'S EXPERIMENTS
50.75
Cone also made a limited number of tests on the 90° notch with the
floor of the approach channel at the vertex of the notch. He concluded
that the coefficient of discharge was slightly greater for P=0 than for
P=4.5 feet. Thus, the results of tests made by Thomson, Barr, and
Cone give conflicting indications of the influence of P.
With regard to crest-surface width, Cone concluded that "thin edge"
and "sharp edge" need not imply that the weir notches are knife-edged.
He observed that the allowable width depends on the head. Ex-
periments indicated that "edges V4-inch thick showed that while water
would adhere to the notch edges with a head of 0.15 foot, there was no
adherence with heads of 0.2 foot and over." He recommended that head
measurements "be made either at a distance of at least 4/& upstream
from the notch or at a distance of at least 2h sidewise from the end of
the crest of the notch" (Cone, 1916, p. 1089-1090).
BIO FLOW OF WATER OVER WEIRS AND DAMS
YARNALL'S EXPERIMENTS
D. R. Yarnall's principal work on triangular-notch weirs was based
on research performed at the University of Pennsylvania (Yarnall,
1912, 1926). His tests were made in a channel 6 feet wide and 9 feet
long, with only 4 feet 8 inches between baffles and weir plate. The ver-
tical distance from the vertex of the notch to the floor of the approach
channel was 3.6 feet. The notch angles tested by Yarnall were 90°,
53°8', 27°, and 13°8', and the width of the weir-crest surfaces was 1/32
inch. A total of 61 tests were made on the four weirs, with a range of
heads from 0.35 to 1.26 feet.
A notable feature of Yarnall's experiments was the short channel,
which he had equipped with simple but effective baffles in order to pro-
duce a uniform velocity distribution upstream from the weir. Such
demonstrations of the practicality of short weir "boxes" led to their
widespread use as portable flow-meters in hydraulics laboratories, in-
dustrial plants, and field applications.
GREVE'S EXPERIMENTS
Range of temperature
Number (°F)
Series Notch angle of Range of head (ft)
tests From To From To
LENZ'S EXPERIMENTS
The effect of viscosity and surface tension were objectives of the ex-
periments made by Professor Arno T. Lenz at the University of
Wisconsin (Lenz, 1943). Using water and two different oils at
temperatures ranging from 51° to 102° F, Lenz's tests covered a range
of viscosities from 1 to 150 times that of water, surface tensions from 1
to 0.41 times that of water, and densities from 1 to 0.85 times that of
water. Six different weirs, with notch angles ranging from 10° to 90°,
were investigated. The tests were made in a steel tank 3.5 feet wide
and 7 feet 9 inches long from baffles to weir plate. The vertex of the
notch was 3 feet above the floor of the tank. The weir plates were made
of Vs-inch brass, sharp-edged on the upstream side and beveled on the
downstream side to form a sharp-edged crest 1/32-inch wide. Table 2
shows a summary of the scope of Lenz's tests which, for the purpose of
this report, includes only those experiments using water.
B12 FLOW OF WATER OVER WEIRS AND DAMS
/ 0 \0-09 (14)
n~ 0.165 (tan -^ ,
and
«
m- 0.170 ,1(.v
(15)
- ' 0.035
That the formula is not truly general is indicated by the fact that strict
limits of applicability were placed on R, W, C, and 6.
For water at one temperature (70° F), limits on R and W are re-
moved, and C can be computed with the equation
Notch angle, 9
Constant 90° 60° 45° 28°04' 20° 10°
OTHER EXPERIMENTS
SUMMARY
Published accounts of experimental investigations agree on very few
details of the discharge characteristics of triangular-notch weirs. Some
of the disagreements are doubtless the result of differences in equip-
ment and technique. More significantly, however, conclusions drawn
from the experiments are believed to differ because of certain inade-
quacies in traditional methods of analyzing the data.
It is reasonable to assume that experimental equipment was ade-
quate and that the work was done with skill and care. Nevertheless,
there are indications that some of the weirs were neither sharp-edged,
thin-crested, nor smooth-faced. Crude equipment and technique in
other instances resulted in systematic errors related to the measure-
ment of Q, h, and 6. The effect of these deviations cannot be determined
from the information available.
There is some agreement that weirs with notch angles less than
about 20° or greater than about 100° exhibit characteristics of in-
stability which are related to the intermittent clinging of the nappe to
the surface of the crest. Similar behavior was observed at extremely
low heads on all notch angles.
Most investigators found that C varied with notch angle. This is a
clear indication of a shortcoming in the traditional, so-called theoretical
equation of discharge (eq 1). Only one of the many investigations (by F.
Numachi and others) included a systematic study of the influence of
weir placement and channel geometry. However, this study was made
with only one notch angle and one liquid. Several investigators
demonstrated the practicality of using short approach channels if they
are effectively equipped with baffles. No comprehensive studies have
been made of the influence of velocity distribution and turbulence in the
approach channel.
Few investigators attempted to isolate and evaluate the influence of
the physical properties of the liquid, although several attempted to
determine the effect of temperature on the discharge of one liquid
(water). Their conclusions are remarkable for their disagreement. Lenz
made considerable progress in isolating the separate effects of viscosity
and surface tension, but the range of conditions covered in the in-
vestigation was quite limited. For this reason, his proposed general for-
mulas are restricted in applicability. They are also inconvenient to use.
B16 FLOW OF WATER OVER WEIRS AND DAMS
ANALYSIS OF DATA
EVALUATION OF kh
U.DJ
0.62
0.61
\ A
0.60
*; £-- A
Li
r*- A A
-A
0.59 ^ ~~^ A
~x
|
^ 4
L_ _ -x -x.
__ x ~x Q
zir
X
p= -X-A
^ eM^i-c >o^
0.58
0.57
A C as a functk>n of /j /P
EXPLANATION
0.63 Symbol Head, in feet
A O.K h <0.3
0.62 X 0.3< h <0.5
0 0.5< /? <0.7
0.61
Notes: fi=3.87 ft, */7=0.003 ft,
P=0.64-2.16 ft
0.60
0.59
A
A ^ ^^ A f
T38^6^>^< r-o- ^T
0.58 A- -x x .^x^
a»
A x X
0.57
VALUE OF h/P
0.64
0.63
0.62
0.61
0.60
0.59
0.58
0.57
EXPLANATION
Symbol 0 (degrees) k^ feet
0.63
0 89°53' 0.003
0.62 X 59°5V 0.004
A 44°40' 0.005
0.61
Notes: P=3.0 ft, P/B=0.86
0.60
0.59
0.58 -*-&-*
0.57
B Ce as a function of h/P
0.56
0 0.02 0.04 0.06 0.08 0.10 0.12 0.14 0.16 0.18 0.20 0.22 0.24 0.26
VALUE OF h/P
FIGURE 3.-Evaluation of kh illustrated with Lenz data.
DISCHARGE OVER TRIANGULAR-NOTCH THIN-PLATE WEIRS B19
different notch angles. Values of the notch angles are shown in the
legend. In the top part of figure 3, C is plotted as a function of hIP, but
because P is constant for each weir, the separation and curvature of the
lines drawn through the plotted points show the influence related to h
and 6.
The lower part of figure 3 shows Ce plotted as a function of hIP for
the Lenz data. In this instance, different values of k^ were derived for
each value of 6, as shown in the legend. Here again the effectiveness of
kh in eliminating h as an independent variable is demonstrated by the
fact that curves drawn through the points are essentially horizontal.
Coincidentally, a single curve fits the three sets of points reasonably
well, showing that 6 has a minimal effect on Ce for notch angles be-
tween 45° and 90°. Values of PIB and h/P represented by the tests
shown in figures 2 and 3 are in the range in which these variables also
have negligible influence on Ce. This fact is demonstrated subsequently.
Values of k^ for values of 6 between 10° and 120° were determined
from the tests made by Barr, Cone, Yarnall, Greve, Lenz, and Numachi
and others. The results are shown on figure 4. Values of k^ for those
few tests which were made for very small or very large notch angles
are not well defined. Deviations from the smooth curve drawn through
the points can be attributed to differences in physical characteristics of
weirs and test channels.
AN ALTERNATIVE FOR kh
fc-Afcsin-!-- (22)
z
Values of k were computed for the data shown in figure 4 to determine
whether k might be constant for all notch angles. The results are shown
in figure 5. The figure shows that a value of k= 0.002 foot could be used
for values of 0 between 40° and 90°. Somewhat smaller values of k are
indicated for values of 6 less than 40°. The quantity k is not well defined
for values of 6 greater than 90°.
w
CO
o
0.024
s
o
Sd
so
w ^.
in
HI C4H
DC °
O C!
ill O
O -«
UJ *0
i 3
< 13
l
8 U3
H
05
O
» To <o
E .- c > N
CO 1= fc P C
31- -s
D O
(23)
sn
EVALUATION OF Ce
a
o o
u_ 0.60
O
HI o
D o
t
o
X + 1 Pet.
0.59 o0 x0 o- K
X X X
.588 (avg)
o o o o
O <B> O| 0 -1 Pet.
0 0 O1
X 1 O
^
8o 1 0 f
0.58
0
0.57
r
o 7
c .J £
? .
Is
** o
o o o
000
o o o
i
+ L
in
1 S! ^- CO
o
Oq in in co
S o oo
1
1 a
^ 0 o o o
1
1 a
Q3 - 1
O
_ <D 0 oo r^ J- o
o
o
o
o
in
o
1
CO
z-g § CO O> O>
in in in 1
0
^ **> 1
CL
1
UJ x a
^ a
E *
(0 £
(0
C
^
0)
>
(33
N
c
i
^ s
z c > (D ^ I in
CM
o
1 « 100 °
"o 1
n 1
E X n o <l ! - a. 'I£
<
to ii a
a
Ll- Q,
ffj o
I O ^. t O - CM O Pu
1 < O UJ (D
\
1 i <i
! -
1 a a?i -ft
i § §F 1 a
in
1 x
-
1 < < o
\
\
1
<« * '
X
1
1*^1 c Y/\ 2
11 o
r **
ii < 4
X 44
1 * in
o
o"
O | O o °Q 0-
1 1
jo amvA
w
to
O
O 3
0.60 O
EXPLANATION ^
0.57
0.05 0.10 0.15 0.20 0.25 0.30
VALUE OF h/P
FIGURE 9.-Value of Ce, notch angle approximately 45°.
DISCHARGE OVER TRIANGULAR-NOTCH THIN-PLATE WEIRS B27
If to 1 0
£ °£
*
coo;
0 0
o
0
d
o
0
d
c
'
3 - !
5 1
QQ LO c LO CD E 1
^
w
d o
O>
d
CO
d 2 i8
T- eD
n
c
Q-
t-
i
|
' o
j_ 1 1 CO
z £ * c> b LO 1 0
2 8* g S=
I- § S E
) CO
LO
LO
?^ 1
5 w <N c\ CM CN
z * 1
X
^ a 1 .
a. <D t i <D 1
x J°1 So £«3
m i_ 0) a | LO
z o >- 0 -J i
1
CM
X O
"5 1
«3 1
E x c1 0 < 1
> X |
w 4 ^ i
1
o °oo
o ^* ^ 5^ I
O
CM i
I O
e o X** 1
£
O .2
"ho
0 5 *> !
D 1 ui i
3 _e
X
i LO
«a-1-1 i
i 0
O
*^
o
X *" a>
I 13
«3« i i
X
a i
O OC) 0 1 0
o < a
1 o
< fc ^
1
1
x
1
o oO O O |
LO
1 - 0
o
x
o o o oj o
o
CO
o 6
ao do
EX PLAN AT ON
8
0.62 Symbol Name degr ees P/B kh (ft)
0.61
0 ° 0
O O + 1 Pet.
0.60 0 ^o 0 o o <o>
0 o o o a> o
0.597 (avg)
a a
o a
cb -1 Pet. Q
a
0.59
0.58
0. 05 0.10 0.15 0.20 0.25 0.30 0.35 Q.i
VALUE OF hIP
FIGURE 11.-Value of Ce, notch angles of 10° and 13°.
DISCHARGE OVER TRIANGULAR-NOTCH THIN-PLATE WEIRS B29
s
T3
O
O
I
cj
T I
a
M
g
B30 FLOW OF WATER OVER WEIRS AND DAMS
COMPARISON OF FORMULAS
BASIS OF COMPARISON
I&
I
o
I
o
8 S 5 CO
6 c> o d d
dO 3niVA
B32 FLOW OF WATER OVER WEIRS AND DAMS
gO'-NOTCH WEIR
The most frequently used triangular-notch weir is one with a notch
angle of 90° . Some of the classic formulas are intended for use with this
weir alone. Figure 14 shows a comparison of values of C computed
from the well-known formulas of Thomson, Barr-Strickland (eq 8),
Cone (eq 9, 10), Greve (eq 11), Lenz (eq 16), and King (eq 18) and the
formula determined from equation 25 in combination with figures 12
and 4. The Thomson "formula" is actually just C= 0.593, because Thom-
son did not propose a correlation with h.
It is emphasized that figure 14 is a comparison of formulas, whereas
figure 7 is a comparison of the data from which the formulas were
derived. Thus, the disagreement shown in figure 14, especially at small
values of h, is to a large degree evidence of inadequacies of the for-
mulas as representations of the data on which they were based. Figure
7 shows that the source data for all the formulas agree remarkably well
in defining Ce for use in equation 6.
OTHER NOTCH ANGLES
Figures 15 through 19 show comparisons of well-known formulas for
weirs with 120°, 60°, 45°, 27°, and 10° notch angles. The solid line in
each figure was computed from equation 25, with values of Ce and k^
from figures 12 and 4, respectively. The corresponding comparisons of
experimental data are shown in figures 6 and 8 through 11. It is
demonstrated again that the solution derived from the effective-head
concept is substantiated by the experimental data, whereas the classic
formulas show justifiable differences at small values of h.
CONCLUSIONS
The triangular-notch, thin-plate weir is potentially an accurate, con-
venient means of measuring the flow of liquids. Classic discharge for-
mulas are inadequate, however, because they fail to recognize the full
significance of the pertinent variables. Although the triangular-notch
weir is not subject to a completely analytical solution, available ex-
perimental data are sufficient to substantiate a practical solution which
is based on dimensional analysis and experimental coefficients. Limita-
tions of the data restrict the use of the solution to water.
The equation of discharge proposed in this report is
^5/2 (6)
z
in which he, the effective head, is defined by the equation
(5)
and values of k^ are shown in figure 4.
DISCHARGE OVER TRIANQULAR-NOTCH THIN-PLATE WEIRS B33
do amvA
0.64
EXPLANATION
Thomson formula
0.63 Cone formula (eqs 9, 10)
Greve formula (eq 11)
Hertzler formula (eq 21)
Equation 25
0.56
1.0 1.2 1.4
VALUE OF h, IN FEET
FIGURE 15. -Comparison of formulas for notch angles of approximately 120°.
0.64
EXPLANATION
Cone formula (eqs 9, 10)
0.63 King formula (eq 19)
Greve formula (eq 11)
Lenz formula (eq 16)
Equation 25
0.62
0,57
1.0 1.2 1.4 1.6 1.8 2.0 2.2 2.4
VALUE OF h, IN FEET
FIGURE 16.-Comparison of formulas for notch angles of approximately 60 CO
Cn
0.64
EXPLANATION
Cone formula (eqs 9, 10)
0.63 - Greve formula (eq 11)
- Lenz formula (eq 16)
Equation 25
0.57
1.0 1.2 1.4
VALUE OF h, IN FEET
FIGURE 17. -Comparison of formulas for notch angles of approximately 45°.
0.65
EXPLANATION
Cone formula (eqs 9, 10)
0.64 - - Greve formula (eq 11)
Lenz formula (eq 16)
Equation 25
0.58
0.57
0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1.0 1.2 1.4 1.6 1.8 2.0 2.2 2.4 to
CO
VALUE OF h, IN FEET
W
FIGURE 18. -Comparison of formulas for notch angles of approximately 27°. co
0.68
0.61
0.60
0.2 0.4 1.0 1.2 .1.4 1.6 1.8 2.0 2.2 2.4
VALUE OF h, IN FEET
REFERENCES
Allerton, R. W., 1932, Flow of water over triangular weirs: Princeton University, Thesis
(mech. eng.), 56 p. 29 figs.
Barr, James, 1910, Experiments upon the flow of water over triangular notches: Engi-
neering (London), v. 89, (April 8 and 15), p. 435 ff.
Burgess, J. S., and White, W. R., 1966, The triangular-profile (Crump) weir-two-dimen-
sional study of discharge characteristics, Hydraulics Research Station (Wallingford,
U.K.), HRS Report INT 52.
Carter, R. W., 1956, A comprehensive discharge equation for rectangular-notch weirs,
Master's thesis, Georgia Institute of Technology.
Cone, V. M., 1916, Flow through weir notches with thin edges and full contractions:
U.S. Department of Agriculture, Journal of Agricultural Research, v. V, no. 23
(March 6), p. 1051.
Cozzens, H. A., Jr., 1915, Flow over V-notch weirs: Power, v. 42, no. 21 (November 23),
p. 714.
Greve, F. W., 1932, Flow of water through circular, parabolic, and triangular vertical-
notch weirs: (Purdue Univ., Eng. Bull., v. XVI, no. 2, Research Series No. 40 (March),
84 p., 15 figs.
Hertzler, R. A., 1938, Determination of a formula for the 120° V-notch weir: Civil Eng.
(November), p. 756.
Ho, Chitty, and Wu, S. L., 1931, The flow of water over sharp crested weir notches-
rectangular, trapezoidal, and triangular: Cornell Univ., Master's thesis, 155 p., 78
figs.
International Standards Organization, 1975, Liquid flow measurement in open channels
using thin-plate weirs and venturi flumes (ISO 1438-1975).
Kindsvater, C. E., and Carter, R. W., 1959, Discharge characteristics of rectangular
thin-plate weirs: Am. Soc., Civil Engineers Trans., v. 124, p. 772.
Kindsvater, Carl E., 1964, Discharge characteristics of embankment-shaped weirs: U.S.
Geol. Survey Water-Supply Paper 1617-A, 114 p., 57 figs.
King, H. W., 1916, Flow of water over right-angled V-notch weir: Univ., Michigan
Technic, v. 29, no. 3 (October), p. 189.
1954, Handbook of Hydraulics (Revised by Ernest F. Brater): New York,
McGraw-Hill Book Co., 567 p., 165 figs.
Lenz, A. T., 1943, Viscosity and surface tension effects on V-notch weir coefficients:
Am. Soc. Civil Engineers Trans., v. 108, p. 759.
Mawson, Humbert, 1927, Applications of the principles of dimensional and dynamical
similarity to the flow of liquids through orifices, notches and weirs: Inst. Mech.
Engineers, Proc., v. 1, p. 1033.
Numachi, F., Kurokawa, T., and Hutizawa, S., 1940, Uber den Uberfallbeiwert eines
rechtwinkelig-dreieckigen Messwehrs: Soc. Mech. Engineeers (Japan) Trans., v. 6,
no. 22, (February), p. 110.
B40 FLOW OF WATER OVER WEIRS AND DAMS
Values of v less than 20° or greater than 100° are not recommended
for precise measurements. Experimental data for weirs outside this
range are limited. Furthermore, the data available indicate that weirs
with very small and very large notch angles exhibit characteristics of
instability which result from the fact that the nappe intermittently
clings to the upper surfaces of the crest.
Practical restrictions on hIP and PIE are suggested by the observa-
tion that head-measurement difficulties and errors result from surges
and waves which occur in the approach channel when the velocity of ap-
proach is large in comparison with the depth of flow. The available data
are not adequate to establish the limiting values of hIP and PIB which
are associated with this condition. Therefore, the user himself must
determine practical limits which are consistent with the required ac-
curacy for head measurements. These limits are separate from restric-
tions on the use of figure 12, which is applicable only when the effects of
hIP and PIB are negligible.
RESTRICTIONS ON h AND P
EFFECT OF NEGLECTING kk
MEASUREMENT OF v
MEASUREMENT OF h
The head is measured with a hook gage, point gage, or precise ma-
nometer. Hook and point gages preferably are used in a stilling well.
However, if approach velocities and surface disturbances in the ap-
proach channel are negligible, the gages can be mounted over the head-
water surfaces. Stilling wells and manometers are connected to
piezometers located in the floor or walls of the channel. To prevent er-
rors due to excessive head losses or surface drawdown, the piezometnc
section is located upstream from the weir a distance equal to from four
to five times the maximum head. Gages are mounted as close to the
weir as possible in order to avoid errors in the gage zero due to deflec-
tion or movement under different water loads.
GEOLOGICAL SURVEY