Weirs

Weir is a barrier in an open channel, over which

water flows . A weir with a sharp upstream corner
or edge such that the water springs clear of the
crest is a “sharp crested weir” and all other are
classified as “weirs not sharp crested”
 Objectives of Weirs in Irrigation Canals

• Proper distribution of water carried by a main

canal among the branch canals depending
upon it
 Objectives of Weirs in Irrigation Canals

• Reducing the hydraulic slope (gradient) in a

canal (if canal water slope is greater than the
allowable water slope)
 Objectives of Weirs in Irrigation Canals

• Collecting sediments at US of structures (sand

strap)
Sediments
Classification of
Weirs According
to Geometrical
Shape
 Classification
According to
Position in Plan
 Classification
According to
Position in Plan
Circular Weir is used to measure
open channel flow in partially full
pipes.
 Classification according to Dimensions of
Cross Section

Sharp
• The basic formula for calculating discharge
through a weir is

Where
• Q is the discharge over weir,
• C is the coefficient dependent on the nature
of crest and approach conditions,
• L is the length of crest, H is the head of crest,
• m is an exponent depending upon the weir
opening.
 Broad crested weirs
• They are robust structures that are generally
constructed from reinforced concrete and
which usually span the full width of the
channel.
• A weir has a horizontal or nearly horizontal
crest sufficiently long in the direction of the
flow so that the nappe will be supported and
hydrostatic pressures will be fully developed
for at least a short distance.
• Broad crested weirs are recommended to
overcome the difficulty of maintaining the
sharp edge of weirs under field conditions for
longer periods. Its discharge depends upon
the shape of the weir and the crest, which
define the nappe characteristics
• The following equations represent the general
formula for determination of maximum
discharge considering the velocity approach
and without velocity approach respectively

considering
the velocity
Where of approach.
Qmax is the maximum discharge over the weir
Cd is the coefficient of discharge,
L is the length of the weir,
H is the head of water above the crest,
Hv is the velocity head,
H1 is the total head (H1= H+ Hv) and V is the velocity of flow over the weir.
 Head-discharge relationship
• A rectangular broad crested weir is shown below. When the
length, L, of the crest is greater than about three times the upstream
head, the weir is broad enough for the flow to pass through critical
depth somewhere near to its downstream edge.
• Consequently this makes the calculation of the discharge relatively
straightforward. Applying the continuity equation to the section on
the weir crest where the flow is at critical depth gives:
• Q = Ac Vc.
• Now assuming that the breadth of the weir (b) spans the full
width (B) of the channel and that the cross-sectional area of flow is
rectangular, then:
• Ac = b x Dc and Vc = (g x Dc)1/2
• Example 1: Determine the maximum discharge over a broad-
crested weir 60 m long having 0.6 m height of water above its
crest. Take coefficient of discharge as 0.595. Also determine
the new discharge over the weir, considering the velocity of
approach. The channel at the upstream side of the weir has a
cross-sectional area of 45 sq. m. ?
Minimum Height of a Broad Crested Weir
 • Example 2 : Water flows along a rectangular channel at a
depth 1.3 m when the discharge is 8.74 m3/s. The channel
width (B) is 5.5 m, the same as the weir (b). Ignoring energy
losses, what is the minimum height (p) of a broad crested weir
if it is to function with critical depth on the crest?

V1 = Q/A = 8.74 / (1.3 x 5.5) = 1.222 m/s

= ((8.74)2/(9.81 x 5.52))1/3
= 0.636 m
= (9.81 x 0.636)1/2
= 2.498 m/s
1.2222/19.62 + 1.300 = 2.4982/19.62 + 0.636 + p
0.0761 + 1.300 = 0.318 + 0.636 + p
p = 0.422 m
Thus the weir should have a height of 0.422 m measured from the bed level.