Study of flow over side weirs under supercritical conditions

The present study focuses on the application of momentum principle to the analysis of spatially varied flow under supercritical conditions. Experimental studies were conducted on rectangular side weirs of different lengths and sill heights fitted in the test section of a rectangular aluminium channel that was built in a tilting flume. Measurements of discharges in the main channel and through the side weir were done separately. A pitot tube with direction finder was used to determine the velocities and angle of spill flow with the side weir. Depths of flow were measured both in longitudinal and transverse directions at regular intervals and their profiles were studied. Experiments were conducted with different test plates and flow conditions in the main channel. Coefficients of discharge were computed using momentum principle for different Froude numbers (between 1.5 and 3). The variation of discharge coefficient of the side weir as a function of Froude number was found to exhibit a non-linear relationship. Discharges over side weirs were computed using the computed coefficients of discharge for different Froude numbers and it was verified with the observed discharges. Coefficients of discharge were also computed using energy principle for different Froude numbers. Chi-square test was done between observed discharges over side weirs and discharges computed using momentum and energy principles, it was found that momentum principle is fitting better. Variation of the ratios of longitudinal components of velocity vector of spill flow to the mean velocity of the main channel flow at upstream end of the side weir with Froude number was found to exhibit a non-linear relationship. Variation of the discharge ratios of spill flow and main channel discharges with Froude number was also studied.