The Broad Crested Weir

For additional information on broad crested weirs, including

the Crump weir, take a look here.
Before we look at the laboratory procedure, it would be
prudent to look at the principles applicable to broad crested
weirs and the following is an extract from Understanding
Hydraulics by Les Hamill.
Broad crested weirs are robust structures that are generally
constructed from reinforced concrete and which usually span
the full width of the channel. They are used to measure the
discharge of rivers, and are much more suited for this purpose
than the relatively flimsy sharp crested weirs. Additionally, by
virtue of being a critical depth meter, the broad crested weir
has the advantage that it operates effectively with higher
downstream water levels than a sharp crested weir.

Only rectangular broad crested weirs will be considered,

although there are a variety of possible shapes: triangular,
trapezoidal and round crested all being quite common. If a
standard shape is used then there is a large body of literature
available relating to their design, operation, calibration and
coefficient of discharge (see BS3680). However, if a unique
design is adopted, then it will have to be calibrated either in
the field by river gauging or by means of a scaled-down model
in the laboratory.

Head-discharge relationship
A rectangular broad crested weir is shown above. 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

(See your

notes regarding Froude No.)

Thus from the continuity equation,

Eqn. 1
However, equation 1 does not provide a very practical means
of calculating Q. It is much easier to use a stilling well located
in a gauging hut just upstream of the weir to measure the
head of water, H1, above the crest than to attempt to measure
the critical depth on the crest itself. In order to eliminate Dc
from the equation, we can use the fact that in a rectangular
channel
. Using the weir crest as the datum level, and
assuming no loss of energy, the specific energy at an upstream
section (subscript 1, Fig. above) equals that at the critical
section:

So,

and

Thus,
If you substitute this expression into Eqn 1, it gives:

Eqn 2.

The term
in the above equation is the velocity head of the
approaching flow. As with the rectangular sharp crested weir,
the problem arises that the velocity of approach, V1 cannot be
calculated until Q is known, and Q cannot be calculated until V1
is known. A way around this is to involve an iterative
procedure, but in practice it is often found that the velocity
head is so small as to be negligible. Alternatively, a coefficient
of discharge, C, can be introduced into the equation to allow
for the velocity of approach, non-parallel streamlines over the
crest, and energy losses. C varies between about 1.4 and 2.1
according to the shape of the weir and the discharge, but
frequently has a value of about 1.6. Thus:
Eqn 3.
The broad crested weir will cease to operate according to the
above equations if a backwater from further downstream
causes the weir to submerge. Equations 2 and 3 can be
applied until the head of water above the crest on the
downstream side of the weir, HD, exceeds the critical depth on
the crest. This is often expressed as the submergence ratio,
HD/H1. The weir will operate satisfactorily up to a submergence
ratio of about 0.66, that is when HD = 0.66H1. For sharp
crested weirs the head-discharge relationship becomes
inaccurate at a submergence ratio of around 0.22, so the broad
crested type has a wider operating range. Once the weir has
submerged, the downstream water level must also be
measured and the discharge calculated using a combination of
weir and orifice equations. However, this requires the

evaluation of two coefficients of discharge, which means that

the weir must be calibrated by river gauging during high flows.
This can be accomplished using a propeller type velocity
(current) meter.
Minimum height of a broad crested weir
A common mistake made by many students in design classes is
to calculate the head that will occur over a weir at a particular
discharge without considering at all the height of weir required
to obtain critical depth on the crest. For example, suppose the
depth of flow approaching the weir is 2 m. If the height, p, of
the weir crest above the bottom of the channel is only 50 mm,
the weir is so low that the flow would be totally unaffected by
it and certainly would not be induced to pass through critical
depth. Equally ridiculously, if the weir is 4 m high it would
behave as a small dam and would raise the upstream water
level very considerably and cause quite serious flooding.
So how can we work out the optimum height for the weir?
What height will give supercritical flow without unduly raising
the upstream water level?
The answer is obtained by applying the energy equation to two
sections (See diagram below). One some distance upstream of
the weir (subscript 1) and the second on the weir crest where
critical depth occurs (subscript c). In this case the bottom of
the channel is used as the datum level. Assuming that the
channel is horizontal over this relatively short distance, that
both cross-sectional areas of flow are rectangular, and that
there is no loss of energy, then:

Eqn 4.

where

and

This is usually sufficient to enable equation 4 to be solved for

p when Q and D1 are known. Alternatively, the depth, D1,
upstream of the weir can be calculated if Q and p are known.
When calculating the 'ideal' height of weir, it must be
appreciated that it is only ideal for the design discharge. The
weir cannot adjust its height to suit the flow, so at low flows it
may be too high, and at high flows it may be too low.
Consequently 'V' shaped concrete weirs are often used, or
compound crump weirs that have crests set at different levels.

Example:
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
Substitute these values into Eqn 4 and then solve for p

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.