DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING

COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING
HYDROLOGY AND HYDRAULIC ENGINEERING LABORATORY CEWB221
Experiment 1: Flow Over A Notch
Section

:1

Group members

1)
2)
3)
4)
5)

Andy Ngiew Qi Ying

Pang Wen Bin
Ammar Taqi
Tariq Adi Satria Ahmat Adam
Fadzlihadi Bin Fadzil

CE091739
CE091731
CE092280
CE093982
CE091555

Date of lab session

: 10 November 2014

Lecturer

: Miss Hidayah Bte Basri

INTRODUCTION:
Flow over a Notch is equipment for use together with Hydraulic Bench to measure flow rate
against height of liquid (water) over a rectangular notch or a v-notch.
In open channel hydraulic, weirs are commonly used to either regulate or to measure the
volumetric flow rate. They are of particular use in large scale situation such as irrigation
schemes, canals and rivers. For small scale applications, weirs are often referred to as notches
and invariably are sharp edged and manufactured from thin plate material.
OBJECTIVES:
The objective of this experiment is to demonstrate the characteristics of flow over weirs and to
determine the Coefficient of Discharge for each type of weir.
LEARNING OUTCOMES:
By doing this experiment, the student will have the ability to conduct setup and conduct
experiment and collect data from coefficient of discharge. The student will also able to interpret
data from the coefficient of discharge and determine the characteristics of coefficient of
discharge.
PROBLEM STATEMENT:
In open channel hydraulics, weirs are commonly used to either regulate or to measure the
volumetric flow rate. They are of particular use in large scale situations such as irrigation
schemes, canals and rivers. For small scale applications, weirs are often referred to as notches
and invariably are sharp edged and manufactured from thin plate material.

APPARATUS:

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.

Hydraulic Bench
Weir channel
(V) Vee notch weir
Hook and point gauge
Basket of glass spheres
Volumetric measuring tank
Rectangular weir
Hook gauge and scale

THEORY:
Flow of water between 2 points over a notch follows Bernoullis equation.

Point 1 - A point at distance upstream from the notch (usually 4 times the height from the

Notch bottom) (Refer Fig. 2).

Point 2 - A point above of the notch (Refer Fig. 2).

Assume no energy loss between Point 1 and 2.

v 1 p1
v p
+ + z1 = 2 + 2 + z2 ( 1 )
2g
2g
v

Velocity

m/sec

Pressure

Newton/m2

Elevation

Specific gravity

kg.f (m3)

Acceleration due to gravity

9.81 m/ sec2

Height of water above point 2

Height of water

Since the hydraulic bench channel is much wider than the notch width, we can assume V1 is very
slow.
Thus v1 = 0
p1
Total head at point 1 = Ht = 0+ + z 1

(2)

Where Ht = H = Height of water above notch lowest point

v 2 p2
+ + z 2=H t=H
2g

Hence

(3)

At point 2 P2 = Atmosphere pressure = 0

v2
+ z =H
2g 2

Thus

(4)

v2
=H z2=h
2g
Thus v 2= 2 gh

(5)

Consider dh = A thin of slap water at the point of measurement.

Rectangular Notch
b

width of the notch

dQ

2 gh

2
2 g b H 3 /2
3

bdh

#for ESSOM HB 013 : b = 30 mm or 50 mm.

V-Notch
Width of the thin slap is 2 (H h) tan
dQ

2 2 gh ( H h ) tan dH

V-notch angle
H

2 2 gh ( Hh ) tan dH

8
2 g H 5/ 2 tan
15

#for ESSOM HB 013 : 2 = 90 or 60

In actual flow, the cross section of water after passing the notch will be slightly reduced (vena
contracta), thus the actual flow will be slightly below that of theory.
Qrectangular notch =C D

Thus
QV notch(90 )=C D

8
2 g tan 45 H 5/ 2
15

QV notch(60 )=C D

8
2 g tan 30 H 5 /2
15

Where CD

2
2 g b H 3 /2
3

Coefficient of discharge

In practice, calculations may be made through logarithm.

For rectangular notch,

2
log Q=log K 1 + log H
, K1 = constant.
3

For V-notch,

5
log Q=log K 2 + log H
, K2 = constant.
2

EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURE:
1. The flow stilling basket of glass spheres is placed into the left end of the weir channel
and the hose is attached from the bench regulating valve to the inlet connection into the
stilling basket.
2. The specific weir plate which is to be tested first is placed and it is held by using the five
thumb nuts. The square edge to the weir is ensured to face upstream.
3. The pump is started and the bench regulating valve is opened slowly until the water level
reaches the crest of the weir and the water level is measured to determine the datum level
Hzero.
4. The bench regulating valve is adjusted to give the first required head level of
approximately 10mm. The flow rate is measured using the volumetric tank or the
rotameter. The shape of the nappe is observed.
5. The flow is increased by opening the bench regulating valve to set up heads above the
datum level in steps of approximately 10 mm until the regulating valve is fully open. At
each condition the flow rate is measured and the shape of the nappe is observed.
6. The regulating valve is closed, the pump is stop and then the weir is replaced with the
next weir to be tested. The test procedure is repeated.

RESULT:
Water level at lowest point of
a) Rectangular notch
b) V-notch 90
c) V-notch 60

Flow
rate in
flow
meter
(L/min

Leve
Volume
of
Measurin
g Tank

)
Rectangul
ar notch
weir 5cm
wide

V-notch
90

V-notch
60

= 6.206 cm
= 9.022 cm
= 6.528 cm

(L)

Tim
e
(sec
)

Flow

Rate,

abov

e the

(L/min notch
)

(cm)

log

(L/min

H1

(cm)

Cd
Qtheory

=
Q/QTheor
y

, H1
(cm)

10

6.13

39.15

3.804

20

3.44

69.77

5.050

30

3.37

71.22

5.522

10

5.22

45.98

4.472

20

3.63

66.12

5.274

30

2.91

82.47

5.606

10

5.87

40.89

5.502

20

3.40

70.59

6.510

30

2.84

84.51

7.008

Examples of calculation:
Q

log Q

Volume of Measuring Tank

Time

10.01
0
11.25
6
11.72
8
13.49
4
14.29
6
14.62
8
12.03
0
13.03
8
13.53
6

1.593
1.844
1.853
1.663
1.820
1.916
1.612
1.849
1.927

0.58
0
0.70

65.7
100.

3
0.74

5
115.

2
0.65

1
0.72
2
0.74
9
0.74
1
0.81
4
0.84
6

0.596
0.694
0.619

59.9

0.768

90.5

0.731

105.
5

0.782

58.1

0.704

88.5

0.798

106.
4

0.794

4
6.13

0.6525

L/sec

39.15

L/min

For Rectangular Notch,

Qtheo

2
2 g b H 3 /2
3

2
2(9.81)(5 102)(3.804 102)3 /2

0.001095

m3/s

65.7

L/min

For V-notch,
Qtheo

8
2 g H 5/ 2 tan
15

8
2(9.81)( 4.472 102)5 /2 tan 45

15

9.991 m3/s

59.9

L/min

Q
Cd

Q Theory

39.15
65.7

0.596

Graph of log Q vs log H (Rectangular notch)

1.9
1.85

f(x) = 1.71x + 0.61

R = 0.96

1.8
1.75
1.7
log Q (L/min)

1.65
1.6
1.55
1.5
1.45
0.56

0.58

0.6

0.62

0.64

0.66

0.68

0.7

0.72

0.74

0.76

log H (cm)

Graph of log Q vs log H (V-notch 90 notch)

1.95
1.9
1.85
1.8

f(x) = 2.51x + 0.03

R = 0.99

1.75
log Q (L/min)

1.7
1.65
1.6
1.55
1.5
0.64

0.66

0.68

0.7

log H (cm)

0.72

0.74

0.76

Graph of log Q vs log H (V-notch 60 notch)

2
1.9

f(x) = 3.04x - 0.64

R = 1

1.8
log Q (L/min)

1.7
1.6
1.5
1.4
0.72

0.74

0.76

0.78
log H (cm)

0.8

0.82

0.84

0.86

From the graph of rectangular notch,

log K 1=0.6092
K 1=4.066
2
C 2(9.81 102 60) ( 5 )=4.066
3 d
C d=0.00356

From the graph of 90 V-notch,

log K 1=0.0268
K 1=1.064
8
Cd 2( 9.8110 2 60) ( tan 45 ) =1.064
15
C d=0.00581

From the graph of 60 V-notch,

K 1= 0.639
log
K 1=0.2296
8
2
Cd 2( 9.8110 60) ( tan 30 )=0.2296
15
C d=0.00217

DISCUSSION:
In this experiment, the coefficient of discharge is calculated for three types of the weirs, which
are rectangular weir, 90 V-notch weir and 60 V-notch weir. For the rectangular weir, the
coefficient of discharge obtained is 0.00356. For the 90 V-notch weir, the coefficient of
discharge is 0.00581 and 0.00217 is obtained for the coefficient of discharge for the 60 V-notch
weir. By theory, the index is approximately 1.5 for the rectangular weir and 2.5 for the V-notch
weir from the slope of the graphs of log Q versus log H for the three types of the weirs. From the
graph plotted, the slope of the rectangular weir graph is 1.7099 which is approximately 1.5 from
the theory. For the 90 and 60 V-notch weir, the slopes of the graphs are 2.5064 and 3.0425
respectively. These values are approximately 2.5 which mentioned in the theory.
Errors may occur during conducting the experiment and will cause the result become
inaccurate. When the weir is screwed on the tank, there are some leakages of water from the
sides of the weir. This may affect the flow of the water and the accuracy of the result. Besides,
parallax errors when taking the reading from the scale will also affect the result.

The nappe of rectangular notch was clinging. The end

contraction of the flow was big. The width of the flow becomes smaller compared to the width of
the notch.

The nappe of the 90 v-notch was sprung clear and the end
contraction was small. The width of the flow changed not much compared to the notch.

The nappe of the 60 v-notch was sprung clear and the end
contraction was small but bigger than the 90 v-notch. The width of the flow changed a little but
the changing was more than 90 v-notch.

CONCLUSION:
In the experiment, the coefficient of discharge (Cd) was determined for the three types of weir,
which are rectangular weir, 60 and 90 v-notch weir. From the result, the average of Cd obtained
of rectangular weir is about 0.636. The average of Cd obtained is about 0.760 for the 60 and 90
v-notch weir. The characteristics of the water flow over weirs are observed. From the
observation, the nappe of flow over rectangular weir is clinging while the nappe of flow over vnotch weir is sprung clear. The objectives of the experiment are met.
REFERRENCE:
1. Ms. Hidayah Bt. Basri, CEWB 221 Hydrology & Hydraulic Engineering 1 Laboratory Manual,
Department of Civil Engineering, Universiti Tenaga Nasional