AASTU-DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING

Chapter 2_2 Surface Flow Analysis

AASTU-DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING
Design of Weir – Surface Flow Analysis
B. Surface flow Analysis:
• It involves determination of flow conditions u/s and d/s of the
weir at different flow rates (Qmax, 2/3Qmax, 1/3Qmax, Qmin) and
to size the different parts of the structure accordingly.
• This requires finding water profiles around the weir location
and identify the critical situation for which the structure
should be designed.
AASTU-DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING
Design of Weir – Surface Flow Analysis
Conditions required to be seen:
First condition:
• The maximum uplift pressure normally occurs when the pond is
full and there is no water flowing down the weir.
(The effects of subsurface flow on the stability of a
hydraulic structure already seen in the previous lecture)
Second condition:
• But when flood water passes over the weir, entirely new
conditions are superimposed.
 When a certain discharge is passing over the weir a hydraulic
jump will be formed on a trough downstream.

 Thus, the seepage head is the difference of the water level

of u/s and d/s which is generally much smaller than that in
case there is no flow.
AASTU-DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING
Design of Weir – Surface Flow Analysis
• Since the point of jump formation is likely to shift with
variation in discharge passing over the weir, the entire glacis
may have to be designed for the second condition; while most
of the remaining floor may have to be designed for the first
condition.
AASTU-DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING
Design of Weir – Surface Flow Analysis
Weir/Barrage Design Considerations:
• Data required for the design of a weir/barrage:
 High flood levels for the river at the weir site
 High flood or maximum flood discharge for the river at the
weir site
 River cross section at the weir site.

• Parameters to be decided while designing a weir or a barrage

are:
1. Crest levels
2. Afflux
3. Waterway (Length of the weir) and Discharge per meter
4. Shape of the Weir
5. Pond level
AASTU-DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING
Design of Weir – Surface Flow Analysis
1. Crest Levels:
• Generally crest elevation affects water profile in two ways:
 it affects the discharge coefficient, water head above the
weir and the back water curve
 shape and location of hydraulic jump, and the design of
basin.
• The under sluice section is normally kept at a lower level to
provide deep calm river pocket near the canal head regulator.
Its crest is, therefore, kept lower than the weir crest.
 The under sluice crest is generally kept as near the bed
level in the existing deepest channel, as is practically
possible.
 The crest level of weir is generally kept 1.0 to 1.5m higher
than the crest level of the under sluices.
AASTU-DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING
Design of Weir – Surface Flow Analysis
Points to consider in deciding crest elevation:
 water head required to deliver the design discharge to the
intake.

 if the entire flow of river at low flows is diverted, the crest

elevation must be set at river water level so that the ponded
water gives the required head to supply to the intake with
design flow.

 if the minimum flow in the river exceeds the design discharge

of the intake, the crest level of the weir can be set lower than
the river water level, to allow for d/s water rights.

 the minimum free board at the maximum design discharge must

not be less than 0.5m.
AASTU-DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING
Design of Weir – Surface Flow Analysis
For Vertical Upstream weir
• Discharge over the weir for the common vertical upstream and
sloped downstream weir is given by:
Q = CLHe3/2
where,
He = Hd+V2/2g

• When piers are placed on the crest

Q = C(Lo-kNHe)He3/2
Where,
Lo = gross length of the weir
N = number of pier contractions=2* number of piers
k = pier contraction coefficient (k may be assumed 0.05)
C is related to He/Hd and varies according to weir type
AASTU-DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING
Design of Weir – Surface Flow Analysis
Determination of coefficient C:
• There are two conditions for which value of C is determined
i. if h/Hd > 1.33 ,

Where,
h= height of weir
Hd= design head, velocity head is neglected
For this case C = 2.225

ii. If h/ Hd < 1.33, the velocity head should not be neglected.

C is determined from the experimental curves

AASTU-DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING
Design of Weir – Surface Flow Analysis
Design Procedure:
• Determine He/Hd and h/Hd
• From relevant curve determine C/Cd

 The discharge coefficient for a vertical u/s face is

C= C/Cd (from graph) x 2.225

 If the u/s face is not vertical, correct the value of C

calculated above, multiply it by the correction factor
for the given h/Hd value.
AASTU-DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING
Design of Weir – Surface Flow Analysis
AASTU-DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING
Design of Weir – Surface Flow Analysis
EXAMPLE 1. Design a weir to accommodate a high flood discharge
of 300m3/s over a weir length of 25m so that the water level does
not exceed 105.00m at a location where the bottom level of the
river is 100.00m.
AASTU-DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING
Design of Weir – Surface Flow Analysis
Solution:
i. First assume that Hv can be neglected, and therefore C=
2.225.
2/3 2/3
 Q   30 
He       3.075m
 CL   2.225 25 
• Approach velocity:
Q 300
Va    2 .4 m / s
A 25  5
H d  H e  H v  3.075  0.294  2.781m

h  5  H d  5  2.781  2.219m

h / H d  0.8  1.33

• Therefore, the velocity head should not be neglected.

AASTU-DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING
Design of Weir – Surface Flow Analysis
Solution:
ii. For h/Hd =0.8 and He/Hd=1.106 from the curve, C/Cd = 0.98,
C = 0.98x2.225 = 2.18

• Repeat the Procedure, and you will find Hd = 2.824m

• Therefore, the crest level should be at:

105-2.824 = 102.176m

• The crest height is: h = 2.176m

AASTU-DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING
Design of Weir – Surface Flow Analysis
2. Afflux
• It is the rise in the maximum flood level of the river u/s of the
weir after construction.

• Afflux is confined only to a short reach (equal to the back

water curve).
• The amount of afflux will determine the top levels of guide
banks and marginal bunds.
• It will also govern the dynamic action (depth and location of
the hydraulic jump) d/s.

• It is therefore, always desirable to limit the afflux to a safe

value of 1 to 1.2m, more commonly 1.0m.

Permissible Afflux actually denotes loss of head and its magnitude is

represented by the difference in total energy level on upstream and
the downstream of the works.
AASTU-DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING
Design of Weir – Surface Flow Analysis
3. Water way (Length of the weir) and discharge per meter:
• Water way depends on the physical features of the given site.
• A weir with long crest gives small discharge per unit length and
hence required energy dissipation per meter of the crest is
smaller.

• Constructing a weir longer than a river width causes formation

of islands at u/s of weir, reduces effective length of the crest

• General rule – the crest length should be taken as the average

wetted width during the flood. Here, the u/s and d/s of the
proposed location should be examined and the width at a stable
location measured.
AASTU-DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING
Design of Weir – Surface Flow Analysis
• The other likely figure for the water way is obtained by
Lacey’s wetted perimeter formula:

P = 4.75Q1/2 (P = 4.83Q1/2)
Where,
P= Lacey's wetted perimeter, and
Q= Maximum flood discharge.

• In boulder reaches of the river it would be economical to

reduce the waterway to about (0.6 - 0.8)P.
• In plains, it is generally economical to keep the waterway (1.0
- 1.2) P.
• Generally the shorter waterway is preferable.
AASTU-DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING
Design of Weir – Surface Flow Analysis
4. Pond level –
• It is the minimum water level required in the under sluice
pocket u/s of the canal head regulator so as to feed the canal
with its full supply.

• The pond level is generally obtained by adding 1 to 1.2m to

the canal FSL.

• Water in the under sluice pocket has to be maintained at pond

level, even during dry weather flow.

Note
Discharge Capacity of undersluices is provided of the
following:
• i. Qu = 2 (Qmax.)offtake
• ii. Qu = 20% (Qmax.)flood
AASTU-DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING
Design of Weir – Surface Flow Analysis
5. Shape of the weir:
• Two important factors need to be considered
 The practicality, and
 The economy of the structure
• Shape should be constructed easily
• The common type of weir in small schemes is concrete weir
with vertical upstream and slopped d/s.
• In larger schemes, Glacis type of concrete weir is common.
AASTU-DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING
Design of Weir – Surface Flow Analysis
5. Shape of the weir:
• For vertical upstream face, the formula of the weir geometry
on the slopped face is given by:

X n  Ko H dn1Y  X 1.85  2H d0.85Y

Where,
X= the distance from the vertical end
Hd = head of flow above the crest
Y = vertical distance from the crest level

Slope of U/S face Ko n

Vertical 2.000 1.850
3 on 1 1.936 1.836
3 on 2 1.939 1.810
3 on 3 1.873 1.776
AASTU-DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING
Design of Weir – Surface Flow Analysis
EXAMPLE 2: For the above problem, find the shape of the weir.

X 1.85  2H d0.85Y
• The shape can be determined by assigning different values to
X and calculating their corresponding coordinates Y. The
calculation then should be continued to the point where the
line of the base is at depth h (the height of the weir).

• The toe of the weir should be connected to the base by a

circular curve.

• For Hd = 2.824,
X 1.85
X 1.85  4.83Y  Y 
4.83
AASTU-DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING
Design of Weir – Surface Flow Analysis
• Based on the equation:

X 1.85
X 1.85
 4.83Y  Y 
4.83

Assignment:
Draw the geometry of the weir.
AASTU-DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING
Design of Weir – Surface Flow Analysis
Water Profile at the Weir Site:
• Once the crest level is decided, it is required to draw the water
profile upstream and downstream of the weir.
AASTU-DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING
Design of Weir – Surface Flow Analysis
• Water profile u/s of the weir is required to:
 to determine the height/safe level of the river banks u/s of
the weir (backwater curve).
 to find out whether the water surface is high enough to
deliver the required discharge to the off taking canal.

• Water profile d/s of the weir is required to:

 Carry out the stability analysis of the weir
 Design the weir structurally
 Design the d/s wing wall, and protection works d/s of the
apron
AASTU-DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING
Design of Weir – Surface Flow Analysis
A) Water Profile u/s of the weir:
• Water profile u/s of the weir may be estimated by the
Approximate method
• This is good for preliminary design and uses the following
equation

Y
 XS  2 o 
2

4 o

Where,
Y= water rise, at distance X u/s of the weir, above normal water
depth
X= distance from the crest to the point where y is required to
be determined
S=slope of the river bed
Δo =rise of water above the normal depth (at the weir site where X=0)
AASTU-DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING
Design of Weir – Surface Flow Analysis
• Example: Draw the back water curve for a weir when the
discharge is 2.5m3/s/m, and has a crest level 2.5m above the
river bed. The river bed slope is estimated to be 0.002, and the
normal water depth for given discharge is 2.20m.
AASTU-DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING
Design of Weir – Surface Flow Analysis
Solution:

• Now, by trial and error:

Assume,Hd Determine,v v2/2g He=Hd + v 2/2g

1.00 0.71 0.026 1.026

1.20 0.68 0.023 1.22

1.27 0.66 0.022 1.292
AASTU-DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING
Design of Weir – Surface Flow Analysis

Hence, Hd=1.27,
Δo=(2.5+1.27)-2.20=1.57

Using Y=(XS-2Δo)2/4Δo, the back water curve

is determined as is shown in the table.
AASTU-DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING
Design of Weir – Surface Flow Analysis
B) Water Profile d/s of the weir:
• Due to construction of the weir, the total energy line u/s of
the structure elevated, so is the difference between the u/s
and d/s energy grade line.

• Therefore, this energy must be dissipated before it reaches

natural river course. Otherwise, damages d/s banks and
apron.

• The energy is normally dissipated through a hydraulic jump

created d/s of the weir.

• To control the location of the jump, the apron and stilling

basin are designed to suit a range of discharges.
AASTU-DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING
Design of Weir – Surface Flow Analysis
• Analysis of the hydraulic jump:
i) On horizontal apron d/s of a weir,

1  8F12  1 D1  2q 2 1 2 1 
D2  D1  D2   D1 
2 
2  gD1 4 2 

Where,
D1 = depth of water d/s before the jump,
D2 = depth of water d/s after the jump,
q = discharge per meter width of the channel,
V
F1 = Froude number, which is calculated by: F1  1
gD1

Velocity V1 at the jump is:

V1  q / D1
AASTU-DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING
Design of Weir – Surface Flow Analysis
AASTU-DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING
Design of Weir – Surface Flow Analysis
B) Water Profile d/s of the weir:
• The head loss or dissipated energy as a result of the jump is
given by:

HL 
 D2  D1 
3

4 D1 D2

• And the critical depth is given by:

q2
dc 
g

Note: D1 must be less than dc (Why?)

• To determine the water depths, apply Bernoulli’s equation:

AASTU-DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING
Design of Weir – Surface Flow Analysis
AASTU-DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING
Design of Weir – Surface Flow Analysis
B) Water Profile d/s of the weir:
• When the equation is applied to section 0 and 1 (on the left of
the jump):

• Therefore, when the equation is applied between two points 1

and 2,
AASTU-DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING
Design of Weir – Surface Flow Analysis
Example 1: A weir of 1.5m high and 20m long carries a discharge
of 120m3/s. Determine the sequent depths, D1 and D2 and the
water profile.
AASTU-DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING
Design of Weir – Surface Flow Analysis
Solution:
• From the discharge equation,

• Apply Bernoulli’s equation between 0 and 1

AASTU-DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING
Design of Weir – Surface Flow Analysis
Solution:
• Applying the continuity equation, Q= VA

• Substituting in the previous equation for V1,

• The critical depth, dc :

AASTU-DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING
Design of Weir – Surface Flow Analysis
Solution:
• D1 must be less than dc because the flow before the jump is
super critical.

• Solution to the equation leads to three values. But the right

solution is D1 = 0.78 (Why?)
AASTU-DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING
Design of Weir – Surface Flow Analysis
Solution:
• Now,

• Therefore , the head loss is:

AASTU-DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING
Design of Weir – Surface Flow Analysis
Alternatively, D1 and D2 from permissible afflux:
• To fix the crest level, it's necessary to check that the maximum
flood discharge passes down the works without exceeding the
permissible afflux.
• The following discharge formulas may be used for this purpose:
a)For broad crested weir:
Q  1.705L  0.1nH H 3 / 2

b) For sharp crested weir:

Q  1.84L  0.1nH H 3 / 2
Where,
L= total clear waterway (m)
n= number of end contractions
H= the head over crest in (m)
AASTU-DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING
Design of Weir – Surface Flow Analysis
• Determine head loss (HL) for different flow condition.

HL = afflux (if there is no retrogression)*

• If allowance for retrogression is taken in d/s bed level then,

HL = afflux + retrogression,

 Retrogression is lowering d/s bed caused by water scour.

 As a result of construction of weir across a river, the d/s bed
levels will be lowered due to degradation (or, retrogression)
and hence the d/s HFL will also be lowered.
 It is usually, 0.5m retrogression will be sufficient in most cases.
AASTU-DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING
Design of Weir – Surface Flow Analysis
• For known values of q and HL, find Ef2 from blench curve.

• From energy equation:

Ef1 = Ef2 + HL
• Knowing Ef1 , Ef2 & q read values of D1 and D2 from energy of
flow curves.

Where:
• Ef2 = down stream specific energy
• D2 = post jump corresponding to Ef2
• Ef1 = Upstream specific energy.
• D1 = per jump depth corresponding to Ef1
AASTU-DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING
Design of Weir – Surface Flow Analysis
Location of the Hydraulic jump
• There are three alternatives that allow a hydraulic jump to
form at the d/s of a weir.

Case 1. The tail water depth D3 is equal to the sequent depth D2

 Jump occurs on the apron.
 Ideal for scouring protection
 Practically hardly fulfilled
AASTU-DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING
Design of Weir – Surface Flow Analysis
Case 2. The tail water depth D3 < D2
 Jump will recede downstream to a point where the flow
condition allow the jump to occur.
 Must be avoided case as the jump moves away from the
scouring resisting apron and results in severe erosion.
 Needs to provide some control structure for jump to occur
within the apron.
AASTU-DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING
Design of Weir – Surface Flow Analysis
Case 3. The tail water depth D3 is greater than the sequent depth
D2
 Jump will be forced to occur upstream, becoming a
submerged jump
 Jump occurs on sloping surfaces
 It is the most stable one of all.
AASTU-DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING
Design of Weir – Surface Flow Analysis
• Thus, when a weir is designed, the effect of different flow
rates on D3 and D2 have to be considered.

• General Procedure for locating the jump:

1. Determine the jump depth D1
2. Determine height of energy line above the horizontal
floor by D1+V12/2g
3. Determine D2
4. If D2 = D3, jump occurs at the toe of the weir
5. If D2>D3, the jump recede d/s and its location depends
on the slope and condition of the flow
6. If D2<D3, jump occurs on the weir face and become
submerged.
AASTU-DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING
Design of Weir – Surface Flow Analysis
Example: A weir is 10m wide and its d/s side is inclined at an
angle 1:4(v:h). The water depth just before the jump is 0.25m
and the tail water is 1.8m. If Q=20m3/s, where will the hydraulic
jump occur?

Solution:
• Area of water at D1 = 10x0.25 = 2.5m2

Since D2 < D3, the jump occurs on the sloping surface.

AASTU-DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING
Design of Weir – Surface Flow Analysis
Length of Pucca concrete Floor:
• The total length is governed by the exit gradient
considerations.

• For a safe exit gradient and a depth of d/s cutoff suitable

from scour considerations, the length of the horizontal floor b
can be worked out as: b = d
AASTU-DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING
Design of Weir – Surface Flow Analysis
• The depths of u/s sheet pile and d/s sheet pile to be provided
are:
 Depth of u.s. sheet pile =(1–1.25)R
 Depth of d.s. sheet pile =(1.25–1.5)R

• Where, R is the Lacey’s normal scour depth which is given by:

R=1.35(q2/f)1/3 ,

In which,
q is discharge density, and
f is Lacey’s silt factor which is given by f =1.75√d, d is mean
diameter of bed material(mm)
AASTU-DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING
Design of Weir – Surface Flow Analysis
• For given exit gradient, GE, calculate  from:
H 1
GE 
d  

• From computed value of , find  from:

1 1  2
   2  12  1
2

• From known value of , the total floor length is computed as:

b
  b  d
d

Note: The recommended values of safe GE are ¼ to 1/5 for shingles; 1/5
to 1/6 for coarse sand; 1/6 to 1/7 for fine sand.
AASTU-DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING
Design of Weir – Surface Flow Analysis
• But again, the main turbulence of a hydraulic jump is generally
confined to a length equal to five times the jump height.

• Hence, a pucca floor (Cistern length) of 5 to 6(D2-D1) is

required to be provided after the lowest point of jump
formation.
AASTU-DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING
Design of Weir – Surface Flow Analysis
In the glacis type of weir,
• The glacis should be sloped down at a slope of 3:1 to 5:1 for
maximum dissipation of energy.
• Glacis length = 3 to 5 times (crest level – cistern level)
• The top width of the crest is generally kept as 2 to 3m
• The u/s slope to the crest is kept as 1:1 to 3:1

• The length of u/s floor is adjusted so as to provide the

necessary total floor length b.
AASTU-DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING
Design of Weir – Surface Flow Analysis
Design of protection works:
• Protection works are required on the u/s as well as on the d/s
of the concrete apron in order to prevent the possibility of
scour hole travelling close to the concrete floor of the weir
and to relieve any residual uplift pressure through the filter.

• The arrangement consists of inverted filter and launching

apron.
AASTU-DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING
Design of Weir – Surface Flow Analysis
A. Down stream protections
i) Inverted filters:
• After the end of concrete block, an inverted filter is provided.
• The purpose of inverted filter is to reduce piping and allows
free flow seepage water without allowing the foundation soils
to be lifted upward.
• The filter is, therefore, layers of materials of increasing
permeability from bottom to top.
AASTU-DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING
Design of Weir – Surface Flow Analysis
i) Inverted filters:
• The filter to be provided is 1.5D to 2D long.
• D is the depth of scour below the original river bed.
AASTU-DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING
Design of Weir – Surface Flow Analysis
• D is given by:
D = xR-y
Where,
R = Lacey’s normal scour
depth
y = water depth above bed
x = coefficient of scour

• Total scour below HFL is taken as xR

• Value of x is usually 1.5 for design of d/s protection work and
1.25 for the design of u/s protection work
AASTU-DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING
Design of Weir – Surface Flow Analysis
• The depth of inverted filter is kept equal to the depth of d/s
launching apron.

• It generally consists of 1 to 1.2m deep concrete blocks with

open joints (usually with gaps of 75mm width) laid over 0.6m
thick graded filter material.
AASTU-DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING
Design of Weir – Surface Flow Analysis
ii) Launching Apron:
• After the inverted filter, launching apron/loose stones is
provided.
• This layer of boulders are expected to fall below at an angle ,
or launch, when the riverbed down stream starts getting
scoured at the commencement of a heavy flood [Figure (b)].
AASTU-DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING
Design of Weir – Surface Flow Analysis
ii) Launching Apron:
• The apron generally launches to a slope of 2:1.
• If t is the thickness of the apron in the launched position,
length being 5 D, the volume of stone per meter width is
given by
5 D*t = 2.25 *D*t. t is the thickness of apron.
AASTU-DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING
Design of Weir – Surface Flow Analysis
B. Upstream protection:
i) Block protection:
• Just upstream of the concrete floor of the weir, block
protection is provided.
• It generally consists of concrete blocks (usually1.5m x 1.5m x
0.9m) laid over packed stone, for a length equal to D.
D = xR-y,
Where, x = 1.0 to 1.5, generally taken as 1.25.
AASTU-DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING
Design of Weir – Surface Flow Analysis
ii) Launching Apron:
• Launching apron is provided in the same way as D/s apron
except that proper value of t should be chosen.
• Toe walls are generally constructed in b/n the protection and
the apron.
AASTU-DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING
Design of Weir – Surface Flow Analysis
AASTU-DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING
Design of Weir – Surface Flow Analysis
Example:
For the following data related to a canal headwork, design the
profile of the weir section
• Flood discharge =3000m3/s
• Maximum winter flood discharge = 300m3/s
• HFL before construction of weir = 255.5m
• RL of river bed = 249.5m
• Pond level = 254.5m
• Lacey’s silt factor (for the river bed material) = 0.90
• Permissible afflux = 1.0m
• Bed retrogression = 0.50m
• Off-taking canal discharge = 200m3/s
• Concentration factor = 1.2
• The stage-discharge curve of the river is shown below.
AASTU-DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING
Design of Weir – Surface Flow Analysis

See solution on
Irrigation and Water
Resource Engg. book
pp. 448 to 452
AASTU-DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING
Design of Weir – Surface Flow Analysis
Assignment 1:
A barrage is to be constructed across a river having high flood
discharge of 8500 cumecs. The relevant data are as follows:
• Average bed level of river 100 m
• High flood level 105.75 m
• Normal pond level 103.5 m
• Permissible afflux 1 m
• Lacey silt factor 1 m
• Safe exit gradient for bed material 1/6
• Concentration 20٪
• Bed retrogression 0.5
• Pier contraction coefficient 0.1 m
AASTU-DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING
Design of Weir – Surface Flow Analysis
Structural Analysis:
• It is to keep the structure stable against any forces or loadings
acting on it.
• The various forces acting on the weir includes:
 Static water pressure of the surface water on u/s and d/s
 Uplift water pressure
 Weight of the weir
 Weight of the water wedges
 Soil reaction at the weir base
 Friction forces at the base which are developed to balance the
horizontal forces
• The stability against the acting loadings are checked by
analyzing its
 Safety against overturning
 Safety against sliding
 Safety against tension (stress/material failure)
AASTU-DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING
Design of Weir – Surface Flow Analysis
AASTU-DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING
Design of Weir – Surface Flow Analysis
i. Safety against overturning:
• The summation of all moments about a point must be equal to
zero. i.e. the moments which tends to topple must be equal to
the moments which balances it.

• But unpredictable situation likely to occur and cause the

toppling moment to exceed the balancing one and hence the
structure fails. Thus, usually a safety factor of about 1.5 to 2
is applied.

SF 
 M b
 1.5 to 2
M t
AASTU-DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING
Design of Weir – Surface Flow Analysis
ii. Safety against Sliding:
• The structure may slide in the flow direction if there is no
enough friction between the base and the foundation. To
prevent this, the following condition should be fulfilled.

H f
 f
V f

Where,
Hf = horizontal external forces
Vf = vertical external forces
f is the friction factor between the base and the
foundation and is a function of the materials used in the
construction and nature of the foundation.

USBR suggests 0.35 for concrete structures on common soils.

AASTU-DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING
Design of Weir – Surface Flow Analysis
iii. Safety against tension:
• In order to avoid lifting up the structure’s heel and tension
occurrence at the base, the forces acting on the structure must
pass through the middle third of the structures. That is,

B B
Eccentricity, e  X 
2 6

Where,
X = distance of the resultant of the forces from the toe X
= M/Vf
M = summation of all moments about the structure toe
Vf = summation of all vertical forces excluding the base
reaction
B = width of the weir base
AASTU-DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING
Design of Weir – Surface Flow Analysis
Two cases to be considered in structural analysis:

1) Weirs constructed non-monolithically

• The weir structure and the apron are of two different
materials and act as two independent units.
• The structure is built-on rock foundation without apron.
• The base of the weir is not sealed i.e. water seeps from the
u/s to d/s under the base freely
• In this case, stability analysis becomes important.
2) Weirs constructed monolithically
• The weir structure is built monolithically with apron.
• In this case, the structure is more stable and it would not
fail as a result of unbalanced moments
AASTU-DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING
Design of Weir – Surface Flow Analysis
b
Weirs constructed
non-monolithically
W4
Water W1
Pressure 1 H
1
Sl
Fw Sr
W3
W2
H/3

wH Ff
B
Up
B/3 2B/3
Uplift
Pressure wH

R2
R1
B/2 B/3
Weir base Contact
Pressure P2
P1
AASTU-DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING
Design of Weir – Surface Flow Analysis
Force Moment: about (a) (t. m/m)
A. Vertical Forces
1. W1  bH c  W1 HS r  b / 2,  c is unit weight of the weir
2. W2   c S t H 2 / 2  W2 23 HS r
3. W3   c Sl H 2 / 2  W3 B  23 Sl H ,  w is unit weight of the weir
4. W4   w S l H 2 / 2  W4 B  Sl H / 3
5. Up1   w HB / 2  Up1 23 B
6. R1  P1  P2 B / 2  R1B / 3
7. R2  P2 B  R2 B / 2
B. Horizontal Forces
8. Fw   w H 2 / 2  Fw H / 3
9. Ff  f W  Up   Ff 0  0

M a   items 1  2  3  4
M a   items 5  8 the sum of all positive moments w / o moments of the base reaction
AASTU-DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING
Design of Weir – Surface Flow Analysis
Steps for Structural stability-Weirs constructed non-
monolithically
1. Compute the toppling moments Ma+ = sum of all positive
moments without moments of the base reaction.

2. Compute the balancing moments Ma- = sum of all

anticlockwise (+ve and –ve signs are arbitrarily assumed)

3. Evaluate the safety factor against overturning by:

SF 
 M a 
M a 

if the safety factor is acceptable, proceed to the next step

otherwise revise dimensions of the structures.
AASTU-DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING
Design of Weir – Surface Flow Analysis
4. Determine the eccentricity, e
Net moment, M n   M   M 
a a

Mn
X
V f
Where, Vf = summation of all vertical forces excluding the
foundation reaction
B
e X
2
If e<B/6 proceed to the next step. Otherwise revise the dimensions of
the weir and repeat the procedure from step 1.

5. Check the safety against tension by:

H f
 f
V f

Where, f is friction factor for the foundation material.

AASTU-DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING
Design of Weir – Surface Flow Analysis
6. Determine the contact pressure on the foundation.
It results material failure as compressive stress is more than
the allowable stresses. Moment about
Pmax, Pmin = Direct stress Bending stress the neutral
axis/second


 V f

e V f

 V f

1  6e


moment of Area

1 / 6  D  W f 
P1 , P2
A 2
Wf  W 
 f 
Where,
A = Area of the base, usually one meter across is considered.
i.e. A = width of the base x 1.00m
Wf = width of the weir at floor level
D = cross dimension of the weir = 1.0m

Width
River
D=1.0m

Wf (Base Width)
AASTU-DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING
Design of Weir – Surface Flow Analysis
The largest of P1 and P2 must not exceed the bearing capacity of
the foundation material, otherwise the geometry of the base
should be changed.

P1 and P2 can also be determined by applying the stability

equations given above and solving simultaneously. i.e.

W f P1  P2 D
V f  P2  W f  D 
2
0

Wf Wf D Wf
P2  W f  D  P1  P2   Ma   0
2 2 3
AASTU-DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING
Design of Weir – Surface Flow Analysis

Example: Applying the equations given above, determine the

following for the given weir.

0.8
a) safety against overturning
b) Safety against sliding
c) Safety against tension 1 2.5
0.5
d) Contact pressure on the foundation
c=2.25t/m3
See solution on Design of
Ff
Diversion Weirs book
pp. 183 to 184 2.05
AASTU-DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING
Design of Weir – Surface Flow Analysis
Weirs constructed monolithically with the foundation:
• Mostly weirs constructed as one integrated unit with the
apron.
• The structure is more stable and it won’t fail as a result of
unbalanced moments.
• Structural analysis is, however, the same as above.
b

Fig. A Typical weir with

W7
apron
W1 1
Fwu H W8
S
W2
Fwd
h
W4 W5
W3 W6
Ff
Lu B Ld
AASTU-DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING

Fig. Monolithically built

weir with various forces
acting on it
AASTU-DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING

Thank you!
AASTU-DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING
Design of Weir – Surface Flow Analysis
AASTU-DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING

Energy Flow Curve

AASTU-DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING