Manesh Bhudia, Student, UCL Civil Engineering The flow rate will be measured using three different
methods at three different positions:
Abstract - Fluid flows is important part of the natural and
technical environment that surrounds us. The understanding 1. QADV-Using the water level at position one and the
of fluid dynamics is the basis of many technological measurements from an Acoustic Doppler
processes that significantly improve the quality of life, from Velocitmeter (ADV) at position one the flow rate can
the accuracy of daily weather forecasts to pacemakers used be calculated using Q= Velocity x Height x Breadth.
to aid blood circulation. This report will look into the Appendix 1 shows the QADV for each of the 6 cases.
2. Qht-Measurement of flow at the constant head tank
fundamental principles of fluid dynamics.
using the flowmeter. Appendix 2 shows Qht values for
Keywords- Bernoullis equation, Discharge co-efficient, each 6 cases.
Flume, Velocity profile, Weir 3. Qout-Measuring the time taken for the discharge tank
to fill by 20cm. Using the known dimensions of the
1. Introduction discharge tank the volume of water can be calculated.
Then the flow rate can be calculated using
Themes Water plan to construct a structure at the Blackfriars Q= volume / time. Appendix 3 shows Qout values for
Bridge Foreshore as a part of the Themes Tideway Tunnel each 6 cases.
project. This will cause a contraction in the river Themes, this
report will assess the effects of a contraction in an open channel
on the flow rate. This report will also use Bernoullis Equation
to verify theoretical formulas for calculating flow rates through
an orifice and a sharp crested weir.
Plotting Qadv against the ideal flow rate expected through the 1
2 p+ V 2+ gh=constant , is a fundamental
d 2
flume, 2 g h , the values can be found in
4 component of fluid dynamics. It considers the conservation of
appendix 3 produces the graph shown in fig. 3. energy and illustrates a relationship between pressure, velocity
and elevation [1]. The continuity equation
V 1 A 1=V 2 A 2 , states that the rate at which a volume
v 2 A2
v 1=
A1
2 g( z 1z 2 )
The flow rate over a sharp crested weir can be calculated using
Q=C w 2 g b h1.5 v 2= A 1 2 2
the formula, w where Q is the flow (A 1 A2 )
rate over the weir, Cw is the weir discharge coefficient, g is the
acceleration due to gravity, b is the breadth of the channel at the Multiplying both sides of the equation with the area at the
weir, and hw is the height of water above the weirs edge. contraction gives the theoretical flow rate at the contraction:
Plotting Qadv against the ideal flow rate expected over the weir
2 g b h1.5
w , the values of which can be found in
4. Concluding remarks
Fig. 6 A graph to illustrate how the velocity profiles vary at different heights above the 5. References
flume bed.
Using the data collected from the impeller velocity meter, see
appendix 7, velocity profiles can be constructed as shown in
figure 6. The data from case 1 can be considered anomalous as it [1] B. Massey, "Mechanics of Fluids," in 8th edition, 2006, p.
doesnt fit the trend observed by other cases, this may be due to 117 &125.
a systematic error when measuring.
[2] C. E. a. R. W. C. Kindsvater, "Discharge characteristics of
The trend lines on figure 6 have been extrapolated in order to rectangular thin-plate weirs.," vol. 3001, American Society
find the flow velocity at the surface of the flume. The velocity at of Civil Engineers, 1959.
the bed of the flume would be 0m/sec, because the particles in
contact with the boundary will have the same velocity as the
boundary, due to viscosity. The further away from the boundary
the smaller the viscous drag becomes which is why the
velocities have a logarithmic trend line which increases with the
distance from the bed. Many of the velocities at a distance of
3cm above the bed are above the mean flow velocity. This