Solutions to Problems in Hydromechanics 9

Flow Measurements

1. (F 8.1)

The total flow is obtained by numerically integrating the velocity measurements over the
cross-sectional flow area according to:

N
⎛ b −b b −b ⎞
Q = ∑ ⎜ i i −1 + i +1 i ⎟ yi ui
i =1 ⎝ 2 2 ⎠

u (0.8 yi ) + u (0.2 yi )
ui =
2

or

ui = u (0.4 yi )

depending on the number of velocity measurements over the vertical.

The calculated mean velocities for the different measurement cross sections are:

i 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

ui 0.20 0.225 0.315 0.38 0.275 0.16 0.07 0

The flow rates for the different subareas are:

⎛ 0.8 − 0 1.5 − 0.8 ⎞

Q1 = ⎜ + ⎟ ⋅ 0.3 ⋅ 0.20 = 0.045 m / s
3

⎝ 2 2 ⎠

⎛ 1.5 − 0.8 2.3 − 1.5 ⎞

Q2 = ⎜ + ⎟ ⋅1.2 ⋅ 0.225 = 0.203 m / s
3

⎝ 2 2 ⎠

⎛ 2.3 − 1.5 3.4 − 2.3 ⎞

Q3 = ⎜ + ⎟ ⋅1.75 ⋅ 0.315 = 0.524 m / s
3

⎝ 2 2 ⎠
 ⎛ 3.4 − 2.3 4.2 − 3.4 ⎞
Q4 = ⎜ + ⎟ ⋅ 2.1 ⋅ 0.38 = 0.76 m / s
3

⎝ 2 2 ⎠

⎛ 4.2 − 3.4 5.0 − 4.2 ⎞

Q5 = ⎜ + ⎟ ⋅1.5 ⋅ 0.275 = 0.33 m / s
3

⎝ 2 2 ⎠

⎛ 5.0 − 4.2 5.7 − 5.0 ⎞

Q6 = ⎜ + ⎟ ⋅ 0.75 ⋅ 0.16 = 0.090 m / s
3

⎝ 2 2 ⎠

⎛ 5.7 − 5.0 6.5 − 5.7 ⎞

Q7 = ⎜ + ⎟ ⋅ 0.3 ⋅ 0.07 = 0.016 m / s
3

⎝ 2 2 ⎠

The total flow becomes Q = 1.97 m3/s.

2. (F 8.6)

The depth upstream a weir is 0.84 m. What weir height generates a flow of 0.4 m3/s in a
1.8 m wide channel? The discharge formula for a rectangular weir is given by:

2
Q = Ce 2 g Bh3/ 2
3

b h
= 1 → Ce = 0.602 + 0.075
T P

Insert appropriate values:

⎛ h⎞2
0.40 = ⎜ 0.602 + 0.075 ⎟ 2 g 1.8h3/ 2
⎝ P⎠3

h + P = 0.84

Solving these equations give h = 0.24 m and P = 0.84 – 0.24 = 0.60 m.

3. (F 8.8)

Assume a weir identical to the one in the previous problem and a flow rate of 1.4 m3/s.
a.

Determine the depth immediately upstream the weir.

2
Q = Ce 2 g Bh3/ 2
3

⎛ h ⎞2
1.40 = ⎜ 0.602 + 0.075 ⎟ 2 g 1.8h3/ 2
⎝ 0.6 ⎠ 3

→ h = 0.54 m

→ y = 0.60 + 0.54 = 1.14 m

b.

Determine the depth of flow downstream the weir, if the rectangular channel is 1.8 m
wide, lined with concrete, and has a slope of 0.004 (uniform flow conditions).

Use the Manning formula:

1
Q= An Rn2 / 3 So1/ 2
n

2/3
1 ⎛ 1.8 yn ⎞
1.40= ⎜ ⎟ yn1.8 0.004
0.011 ⎝ 2 yn + 1.8 ⎠

→ yn = 0.34 m

Check the flow conditions:

Q 1.4
un = = = 2.29 m/s
Byn 1.8 ⋅ 0.34

un 2.29
Frn = = = 1.24 > 1 → supercritical flow
gyn 0.34 ⋅ g

No hydraulic jump is formed downstream the weir.

Skip the c problem.

4. (V&S 11.50)

Find the ratio of the manometer readings for the cases of upward and downward flow.

The flow rate is determined by the following formula:

CvCc A ⎛p p ⎞
Q= 2 g ⎜ 1 + z1 − 2 + z2 ⎟
⎛ A⎞
2
⎝ γ γ ⎠
1− C ⎜ ⎟
2
c
⎝ A1 ⎠

Manometry gives the relationship:

p1 p ⎛γ ⎞
+ z1 − 2 + z2 = Δx ⎜ HG − 1⎟
γ γ ⎝ γ ⎠

Depending on the flow direction, A1 will take on different values, which will affect Cc
(the coefficient Cv will be rather similar for the two cases). Comparing the two cases,
assuming that the flow rate is the same, the following expression is obtained:

2
⎛ A⎞
1− C ⎜ ⎟ 2
c

Δx = const ⋅ ⎝ A1 ⎠
Cc2

The coefficient Cc is estimated using the table in V&S on page 392:

2
A2 ⎛ 0.375 ⎞
Cc ,up : =⎜ ⎟ = 0.5625 → Cc ,up = 0.700
A1 ⎝ 0.5 ⎠

2
A2 ⎛ 0.375 ⎞
Cc ,down : =⎜ ⎟ = 0.25 → Cc ,down = 0.638
A1 ⎝ 0.75 ⎠

The ratio between the manometer readings become:

4 4
⎛ 0.375 ⎞ ⎛ 0.375 ⎞
1− C ⎜
2
⎟ 1 − 0.70 ⋅ ⎜
2
⎟
Δxup c ,up
⎝ 0.5 ⎠
2
Cc ,down ⎝ 0.5 ⎠ 0.6382
= = = 0.72
Δxdown Cc2,up ⎛ 0.375 ⎞
4
0.702 2 ⎛ 0.375 ⎞
4

1 − Cc ,down ⎜
2
⎟ 1 − 0.638 ⋅ ⎜ ⎟
⎝ 0.75 ⎠ ⎝ 0.75 ⎠
5. (V&S 11.68)

Calculate the flow rate downstream a sluice gate.

The discharge formula for a sluice gate is given by:

Cc Cv
q= 2 g ( y1 − y2 )
2
⎛y ⎞
1− ⎜ 2 ⎟
⎝ y1 ⎠

Q = qB

The water depth downstream the sluice gate, in vena contracta (section 2), is given by:

y2 = Cc A = 0.80 ⋅ 0.90 = 0.72 m

The water depth upstream the sluice gate (section 1) is:

y1 = 1.2 + 0.9 = 2.1 m

Inserting values in the discharge formulas yield:

0.8 ⋅ 0.9 ⋅ 0.9 ⋅1.2

Q= 2 g ( 2.1 − 0.72 ) = 4.31 m3 / s
2
⎛ 0.72 ⎞
1− ⎜ ⎟
⎝ 2.1 ⎠

6. (V&S 11.80)

Determine the water depth in a tank with a sharp-crested weir and a sharp-edged orifice.

The flow rate out from the orifice is given by,

Qo = Cv Cc Ao 2 gy

where Ao is the orifice area and y is the water depth in the tank (orifice is located at the
bottom). The coefficients are given the values Cv = 0.98 and Cc = 0.62.

The flow over the weir is given by:

 2
Qw = Ce 2 g Bh3/ 2
3

h
Ce = 0.602 + 0.075
P

The sum of the flow over the weir and out through the orifice is Qo + Qw = 0.057 m3/s.
Substituting in the above expressions for Qo and Qw yields,

⎛ y−P⎞2
2 g B ( y − P ) + Cv Cc Ao 2 gy
3/ 2
0.057 = ⎜ 0.602 + 0.075 ⎟
⎝ P ⎠3

⎛ y − 1.2 ⎞ 2 π ⋅ 0.075 2
2 g ⋅ 0.9 ⋅ ( y − P ) + 0.98 ⋅ 0.62 ⋅
3/ 2
0.057 = ⎜ 0.602 + 0.075 ⎟ 2 gy
⎝ 1.2 ⎠ 3 4

→ y = 1.29 m

where h = y – P was used.

7. (V&S 11.85)

A triangular weir discharges water into a tank with a sharp-edged orifice in the bottom
under a known head. What is the water depth in the tank?

The discharge formula for a triangular weir is:

8
Qw = Ce 2 g tan ( θ / 2 ) h5/ 2
15

For the present case Ce = 0.578 and θ = 90 deg.

Thus, the flow rate is obtained as:

8
Qw = 0.578 ⋅ 2 g tan ( 45 ) 0.155/ 2 = 0.0119 m3 / s
15

The same flow should go out through the orifice, if steady-state conditions prevail. For a
sharp-edged orifice, the discharge formula is given by:

Qo = Cv Cc Ao 2 gy
where Ao is the orifice area and y is the water depth in the tank (orifice is located at the
bottom). The coefficients are given the values Cv = 0.98 and Cc = 0.62.

Setting Qw = Qo yields:

π ⋅ 0.06252
0.0119 = 0.98 ⋅ 0.62 ⋅ 2 gy
4

→ y = 2.08 m