Hydraulic Characteristics of Flow over Sinusoidal Sharp-Crested Weirs

Abstract

Sharp-crested weirs are widely applied in agricultural and hydraulic engineering for measuring and regulating flow. The various shapes of weirs give rise to their special characteristics. This study introduces a novel sharp-crested weir design with a sinusoidal notch, and investigates physical models of sinusoidal sharp-crested weirs of different widths and heights. The analysis aims to establish the head-discharge relationship and to inspect the three-dimensional velocity distribution and the hydrodynamic characteristics of flow in the vicinity of the weir plate. The hydraulic behavior of sinusoidal weirs is also compared with that of rectangular sharp-crested weirs. The results show that the secondary currents and the turbulence intensity in the vicinity of the sinusoidal weirs are stronger than those of rectangular weirs. Therefore, this type of weir can provide an efficient passage for floating debris and sediment.