HYDRAULICS LABORATORY EXPERIMENT NO.

6
Name: Group 1______________
Schedule: WTH 4:10PM-6:10PM
Date: November 17, 2022____
RATING
TRIANGULAR WEIR

I. Specific objectives:

To determine the coefficient of discharge, Cd of a triangular weir.

II. Apparatus:

Flume Volumetric tank

Meter stick Weighing scale
Stopwatch Vernier caliper
Protractor

III. Theory
The theoretical discharge through a triangular notch or weir is given by the general formula,

(1)

where Qt - theoretical discharge

θ - angle between vertical to side of V – notch
H - head over the sill

 
H

The value of Qt given by the equation (1) is too high because no account has been taken of energy lost
and also because there will be a substantial reduction in the width and depth of the weir cross-section
because the curve path lines of the liquid.

The actual discharge will be equal to the theoretical discharge multiplied by the coefficient of discharge,
Cd.

(2)

(3)
IV. Procedure

1. Fill up the source tank with water for at least three-fifth (3/5) of its height.
2. Before putting the rectangular notch into place, measure carefully the width using vernier caliper.

flume triangular
weir/notch

approx level of water

pump
source tank
floor line

3. Switch on the pump and allow water to flow until the depth of flow is higher than the sill.

H
d, depth of flow sill
P

4. Start with a head, H of at least 10 mm. While the flow is in progress, the rate of flow (actual
discharge) can be measured by collecting water in the volumetric tank. Record the time of
collection.

Mwater = Mvolumetric tank + water – Mvolumetric tank

Vwater = Mwater / mass densitywater

5. Similar reading must be taken at series of increasing the head, H at about five (5) readings,
roughly spread in the range of 10 mm to 50 mm.

6. Tabulate all data accordingly.

General Data:
Table 1. Experiment result using triangular weir.
mass of volum Actual theoretical
No.
water e discharge, discharge Qt
of head, H (kg) time Qa
of (m3/s) Cd
Trial (m) (sec) (m3/s)
water
s
(kg)
1 0.04081 10 0.01 23.81 0.00042 0.000459 0.9150
2 0.03581 9.9 0.0099 34.89 0.0002837 0.000331 0.8571
3 0.03081 9.9 0.0099 41.70 0.0002374 0.000227 1.0458
4 0.02581 9.7 0.0097 70.01 0.0001386 0.000146 0.9493
5 0.02081 9.6 0.0096 114.85 0.00008359 0.0000852 0.9811
V. Computations
Data:
H1 = 188 mm
H2 = 183 mm Time1 = 23.81 s
H3 = 178 mm Time2 = 34.89 s
H4 = 173 mm Time3 = 41.70 s
H5 = 168 mm Time4 = 70.01 s
Time5 = 114.85 s
Mass of Water + Volumetric tank1 = 15.5 kg
Mass of Water + Volumetric tank2 = 15.4 kg P = 147.188mm
Mass of Water + Volumetric tank3 = 15.4 kg
Mass of Water + Volumetric tank4 = 15.2 kg ( 1m
1000 mm )
=0.147188 m≈ 0.1472 m
Mass of Water + Volumetric tank5 = 15.1 kg

Table 1. Experiment result using triangular weir.

Head = H-P
188 mm−147.188 mm Mass of Water (kg) = Mass of Water +
Trial 1: =0.04081m
1000 Volumetric tank – Volumetric Tank
183 mm−147.188 mm Trial 1: 15.5 kg – 5.5 kg = 10 kg
Trial 2: =0.03581m
1000 Trial 2: 15.4 kg – 5.5 kg = 9.9 kg
178 mm−147.188 mm Trial 3: 15.4 kg – 5.5 kg = 9.9 kg
Trial 3: =0.03081m
1000 Trial 4: 15.2 kg – 5.5 kg = 9.7 kg
173 mm−147.188 mm Trial 5: 15.1 kg – 5.5 kg = 9.6 kg
Trial 4: =0.02581m
1000
168 mm−147.188 mm
Trial 5: =0.02081m
1000
Mass water
Volume of Water (m3) =
Density of water Vw
10 kg Actual Discharge, Qa (m3/s) =
=0.01m
3 t
Trial 1: kg 0.01 m
3
m
3
1000 3 Trial 1: =0.00042
m 23.81 s s
9.9 kg 3 0.0099 m
3
m
3
=0.0099 m Trial 2: =0.0002837
Trial 2: kg 34.89 s s
1000 3
m 0.0099 m
3
m
3

9.9 kg Trial 3: =0.0002374

=0.0099 m
3 41.70 s s
Trial 3: kg 0.0097 m
3
m
3
1000 3 Trial 4: =0.0001386
m 70.01 s s
9.7 kg 3
0.0096 m
3
m
3
=0.0097 m Trial 5: =0.00008359
Trial 4: kg 114.85 s s
1000 3
m
9.6 kg 3
=0.0096 m
Trial 5: kg
1000 3
m
5
8
Theoretical Discharge, Qt (m3/s) = √ 2 g tan ∅ H 2
15
5
8 m3
Trial 1:
15
√ 2(9.81) tan 30(0.04081) =0.000459 s
2

5
8 m3
Trial 2:
15
√ 2(9.81) tan 30(0.03581) 2 =0.000331
s
5
8 m3
Trial 3:
15
√ 2
2 ( 9.81 ) tan 30 ( 0.03081 ) =0.000227
s
5
8 m3
Trial 4:
15
√ 2(9.81) tan 30(0.02581) 2 =0.000146
s
5
8 m3
Trial 5:
15
√ 2(9.81) tan 30(0.02081) 2 =0.0000852
s
 Qa
Coefficient of Discharge, Cd =
Qt
3 3
m m
0.00042 0.0001386
s s
Trial 1: 3
=0. 9150 Trial 4: 3
=0.9493
m m
0. 000459 0. 000146
s s
m3 m3
0.0002837 0.00008359
s s
Trial 2: =0.8571 Trial 5: =0.9811
m3 m3
0. 000331 0. 0000852
s s
m
3
.9150+.8571+1.0458+.9493+.9811
0.0002374 Cd ave. =
s 5
Trial 3: =1.0458 0.9497
m
3 Cd ave. =
0. 000227
s
VI. Graphs :

Graph 1. Variation of height of water, H with actual discharge, Qa.

0.045 Head, H with Actual Discharge, Qa

0.04081
0.04

0.03581
0.035

0.03081
0.03
Head, H (m)

0.02581
0.025

0.02081
0.02

0.015

0.01

0.005

0
0.00042 0.0002837 0.0002374 0.0001386 0.00008359
Actual Discharge, Qa (m3/s)

Graph 2. Variation of coefficient of discharge, Cd with actual discharge, Qa.

1.2
Coefficient of Discharge, Cd with Actual Discharge, Qa

1.0458

1 0.9811
0.9493
0.915
0.8571
Coefficient Discharge, Cd

0.8

0.6

0.4

0.2

0
0.00042 0.0002837 0.0002374 0.0001386 0.00008359
Actual Discharge, Qa (m3/s)
VII. Documentation
Set Up
Hydraulic Bench
Meter Stick Flume

Triangular Weir

Stopwatch

Volumetric Tank

Weighing scale

Vernier Caliper
Measurement of the Triangular Weir
(147.188 mm)
Mass of Water + Volumetric tank1 = 15.5 kg Mass of Water + Volumetric tank2 = 15.4 kg

Mass of Water + Volumetric tank3 = 15.4 kg Mass of Water + Volumetric tank4 = 15.2 kg

Mass of Water + Volumetric tank5 = 15.1 kg

Head1 in mm (188mm) Head2 in mm (183mm)

Head3 in mm (178mm) Head4 in mm (173mm)

Head5 in mm (168mm)
VIII. Question for further discussion

1. Explain the way in which the theoretical discharge over a V-notch may be modified to give the
actual discharge and give reasons why the theoretical discharge does not agree with the actual
discharge.
The coefficient of discharge enables the determination of actual discharge from theoretical
discharge. It thus allows a calibrated V-notch (whose Cd has been established) to be used to
measure actual discharge. The value of actual discharge is smaller than the theoretical discharge
due to head losses. These head losses include the following:
 Head losses due to friction. This is the leading cause of head losses in the V-notch
experiment.
 Head losses due to contraction due to the geometry of the V-notch.
 Head losses due to variation of pressure and velocity, with the V-notch being a barrier to
flow.

2. A 90o (total angle) V-notch has a coefficient of discharge of 0.60. Calculate the discharge when the
observed head is 0.65 m above the bottom of the V.
h = 0.65 m
90 °

90
∅= =45 °
2
5
8
Qt = √ 2 g tan ( ∅ ) h 2
15
5
8
Qt = √ 2 ( 9.81 ) tan ( 45 ° )( 0.65 )
2
15
3
m
Q t =0.8047
s
5
8
Q a= C √ 2 g tan ( ∅ ) h 2 =C d x Qt
15 d
3
m
Q a=0.60 x 0.807
s
3
m
Qa=0.4828
s

3. Find the flow if the measure head is 0.375 m, θ being 45o and Cd being 0.60. If this flow is wanted
within an accuracy of 2 percent, what are the limiting values of the head?

Given: 45 °
H = 0.375 m H = 0.375 m
∅ =45 °
Cd = 0.60
5
8
Q a= C √ 2 g tan ( ∅ ) h 2
15 d
5
8
Q a= ( 0.60 ) √2 ( 9.81 ) tan ( 45 ° )( 0.375 )2
15
 3
m
Q a=0.12206
s
IX. Conclusion

The smooth flow to and over the weir is essential to the determination of accurate rates off low
since the distribution of velocities on the approach flow has a definite influence on the discharge over
the weir. As the flow rate increases, the discharge coefficient becomes more accurate to the theoretical
value. When the flow rate is too low it clings to the notch and flows down it. This changes the
coefficient of discharge because now the water is not only being affected by gravity it is having to resist
viscosity and the friction of the surface of the notch.

After performing the laboratory works, we successfully determine the coefficient of

discharge (Cd ) of a triangular weir using the data gathered after the five trials. We therefore
conclude that based on the calculations for Cd values of V-notch, the Cd values gain decreases as
the flow rate decreases. Besides, as the head above bottom notch increases, the Cd values gain
also decreases. This shows that, the Cd values is dependent on the value of flow rate, Q, and the
value of the head above the notch, H.