DESIGN OF SURPLUS WEIR

Taking moments of all restoring forces about a point at a distance 2b/3 from D we have:

1. The moment due to triangular portion of water standing on the upstream slope of weir

γH {
H 2b γH
2 3
−
3 }
2. Moment due to the rectangular portion of water above the weir crest level

γHxS {23b − γH2 }

3. Moment due to the triangular portion of the masonry upstream face

rHx
2 3 {
Hρ 2 b 2rH
−
3 }
4. Moment due to the rectangular masonry

aρH {23b −rH − a2 }

5. Moment due to the triangular portion of masonry downstream

( b−a−rH ) xρx {
H 2b
2 3
−rH −a−
b−rH−a
3 }
Adding all these items, the total moment of all restoring forces about the middle third of the
base.

=γH {
H 2b γH
2 3
−
3
+γHxS }
2 b γH
3
−
2 {
+ rHx
2 3
− }
Hρ 2 b 2rH
3
+aρH
2b
3 { a
−rH − +
2 } { }
( b−a−rH ) xρx {
H 2b
2 3
−rH −a−
b−rH−a
3 }
By simplifying the expression in a quadratic and assuming b as the variable, we get restoring
moment

1
Mr =
6
[ ρH b 2+ b { Hρ ( a−ρH ) +2 rH ( H+ 3 s )−aρH ( a+2 rh )−r 2 H 2 (H +3 s)}]
 If both upstream and downstream slopes are equal i.e., (b-a) = 2rH, the expression reduces
to

M r=
12[{[ ] }
1 2 1 1 1 2
b H ρ+1 +2 S + a ( ρH −H−S ) b− a (H +3 S)
2 2 2 ]
Design Problem:
Design the surplus of a tank forming a part of chain tanks. The combined catchment area of the
group of tanks is 25.89 sq. kilometers and the area of the catchment intercepted by the upper tanks
is 20.71 sq. kilometers.
It is decided to store water in the tank to a level of +12.00m above the M.S.L limiting the submersion
of foreshore lands up to a level of +12.75m above M.S.L. The general ground level at the proposed
site of work is +11.00m and the ground level below the proposed surplus slopes off till it reaches
+10.00m in about 6m distance.
The tank bund has a top width of 2m at a level +14.50 with 2:1side slopes on either side. The tank
bunds are designed for a saturation gradient of 4:1 with 1m clear cover.
Provision may be made to make kutcha regulating arrangements to store water up to M.W.L at
times of necessity
DESIGN STEPS
• Estimation of flood discharge entering the tank
• Length of the surplus weir
• Weir
• Crest width
• Base width
• Abutments, wings, and returns
• Section of the wing wall at C
• Level wing and return
• Downstream side wings and returns
• Downstream transition
• Downstream aprons
• Thickness of solid apron
DESIGN OF SURPLUS WEIR
Estimation of flood discharge entering the tank :
• Combined catchment area of a group of tanks= 25.89sq.kms
• Intercepted catchment area of the upper tanks= 20.71sq.kms
• Flood discharge entering the tank in question is determined by the formula Type formula here

Q=CM2/3 –cm2/3

Where C may be assumed as 9.00 and c may be assumed as 1.50

Q= 9x25.892/3 -1.50x20.172/3

Q= 67.50 m3/s

Length of the surplus weir

• Water is to be stored up to the level of 12.00m. I.E FTL of the tank is 12.00 and so, the crest level of
the surplus weir has to be kept at 12.00m
• Submersion of foreshore lands is limited to 12.75m i.e MWL of the tank is kept at 12.75m
therefore head of discharge over the weir is 12.75- 12.00= 0.75m
• Since temporary regulating arrangements are to be made on top of the weir, to store water at
times of necessity, grooved dam stones of 15cms x 15cms, will be fixed in the center of the crest at 1
meter intervals with the top at MWL
• The weir may be assumed as a broad crested weir. So the discharge per meter length of the weir is
given by
3
2
Q= C √2 g L H 2
3 d
3
2
Assuming Cd =0.6 – Discharge per unit length is Q= C d √2 g H 2
3

3
2
Q= x 0.6 √ 2 g x 0.75 2 = 1.13 m3/s/m
3
Length of weir required to discharge 67.50 m3/s
L= 67.50/1.13 = 59.73 m (say 60 m)
Since the dam stones are to be fixed on top at 1 meter clear intervals, the number of openings will
be 60. So the number of dam stones required is 59 nos.
Therefore the total length of the surplus weir = 60+59x0.15= 68.85 m say 70 m
Surplus Weir
• Crest level + 12.00 FTL
• Top of dam stone = 12.75 MWL
• Ground level =11.00
• Level where hard soil at foundations is met with 9.50
• Taking foundations about 0.50 meters deeper into hard soil, the foundation level can be fixed at
9.00. The foundation concrete may be usually 0.60m thick
• Top of the foundation concrete = 9.60

• Height of weir above foundations = 12.00 – 9.60 = 2.40m

Crest width of the weir

Generally, the crest width is assumed as equal to 0.55(√𝐻 +√ℎ).
Where H is the height of the weir and h is the head over the weir ( both H and h expressed in
meters)
a= 0.55(√𝐻 +√ℎ) = 0.55( √ 2.4 + √ 0.75)= 1.3m
Crest width of about 1.3m crest width is adopted
Base width
Check the stability of the weir such that the resultant thrust due to overturning water pressure when
water on the upstream side is up to the top of shutters and weight of masonry of the weir passes
through the middle third. In such cases the maximum overturning moment due to water thrust is
equal to

( H+ S )3
Mo=
6
ere H is the height of the weir above the foundation and S is the height of shutters. The slope of weir
on either side being the same, the restoring moment M of the weir due to the weight of masonry is
1/12[{(p+1.5)H+2.5S}b2+a(pH-H-S)b-0.5a2 (H+3S)]

12[{[ ] }
1 2 1
2
1
2
1
b H ρ+1 +2 S + a ( ρH −H−S ) b− a2 (H +3 S)
2 ]
Where p= specific gravity of masonry
H= height of the weir
a= crest of the weir = 1.30
B= base of the weir
S= height of the shutters above the weir crest. i.e 0.75 m
S= 0.75, ρ may be taken as 2.25 substituting these values b will be 2.40 meters. The weir will have a
trapezoidal profile as shown in the figure.

[{ [ ] } ]
3
(2.4 +0.75) 1 2 1 1 1 2
= b 2.4 2.25+1 +2 x 0.75 +1.30 ( 2.25 x 2.40−2.40−0.75 ) b− 1.30 (2.40+ 3 x 0.75)
6 12 2 2 2

62.511= 10.875 b2 +2.925 b-3.929

62.511=10.875b2+2.925b-66.440
=b2+0.2689b-6.109
X1= 2.340 ; x2 =-2.609
 F.T.L =+12.00

Abutments, wings, and returns

The top width of abutments, wings and returns will all be uniformly 0.50m with a front batter of 1 in
8. The length of the wing walls must be enough to completely encase the tank bund as shown in

figure Abutments
Portion AB is called the abutment. It has its top-level same as that of the tank bund at 14.50 and has
its length at the top same as that of the top width of the bund

The height of abutment above foundation concrete = 14.50 – 9.60= 4.90m. The bottom width
required is about 4.90x 0.4 = 1.96 or say 2.00m
The section is indicated in the figure.
The wall BD is called the upstream wing wall. The section of the wing wall at B is the same as the
section of the abutment.
 This wing wall start sloping down from B till it reaches about 30cms above MWL i.e level of
12.75+0.30 = 13.05 at C.
So, the portion of wing wall BC will be having its top sloping down from 14.50 to 13.05.
Section of the wing wall at C
Height of wall above top of foundation 13.05- 9.60= 3.45 meters.
base width is required 3.45x0.40= 1.38 or 1.40m adopt the section as given in figure
The top width from B to C is the same as 0.50 meters but the bottom width gets slowly reduced from
2.00 meters at section B to 1.40meters at section C.
Level wing and return
Since the level wing and return i.e portions CD and DE have to be throughout 30cms above MWL the
same section of wall at C can be adopted.
Upstream side transition
In order to give an easy approach, the upstream side wing wall may be splayed as shown. i.e
generally at 1 in 3

Downstream side wings and returns

As the water after passing over the weir goes down rapidly to normal maximum flood level (MFL) in
the watercourse, the wings and returns need not be high as those on the upstream side.

The wing wall from A to F will slope down till the top reaches the ground level at F. The section of
wing wall at A will be the same as that of the abutments.
The top wing wall at F may be fixed at 11.00 same as the ground level/ So the height of the wall
above foundation concrete is 11.00- 9.60= 1.40 m
The base width required is 1.40x0.40= 0.56meters or adopt a minimum base width of 0.60meters.
Provide a section as indicated in the figure. The same section is continued for the return FG also
Downstream transition
The downstream side wings are given a splay of 1 in 5 as shown in figure
Aprons of the weir
The ground level at the site of the weir is 11.00
Upstream Aprons
Generally, no aprons are required on the upstream side of the weir. However, it is desirable to
provide a puddle apron as shown in the figure.
It is also sometimes provided with nominal rough stone apron 30cms. Thick packed well on puddle
clay apron.

In the case where the head of the percolation is great, in order to reduce the length of aprons on the
downstream side of the weir, it is necessary to provide an upstream side solid apron. This apron is
not subject to any uplifts and hence can be nominal thickness. However, this acts in considerably
reducing the creep length and consequently reduces the lengths and thickness of aprons,
downstream of the
weir.

Downstream Apron
Since the ground level is falling down to 10.00 in a distance of about 6 meters, it is desirable to
provide a stepped apron as shown in the figure.
The stepping may be in two stages.
The aprons may be designed for a hydraulic gradient of 1 in 5 so that the residual gradient at the exit
of aprons can be limited to 1 in 5 which is safe enough and will not start undermining the structure.
Maximum uplift pressure is experienced on the downstream aprons when the water level in the tank
is up to the top of dam stone level i.e to 12.75 with no water on the downstream side.
However, assume that the downstream water elevation is ta 10.00 i.e the level of the lowest solid
apron.
Total uplift head acting= 12.75 – 10.00= 2.75meters.
If the residual uplift gradient is to be limited to 1/5, then we require aprons to accommodate a total
creep length of 2.75 x 5= 13.75meters.
The upstream water has to percolate under the foundations of the weir if it has to establish any
uplifts under the aprons. The possible path of percolation is shown in the figure. 4.7.
Assuming the puddle apron formed on the upstream of the weir to be not impervious, the water
will start percolating from A at a level of 11.00 and reach B and C . Then it will follow CD under the
foundation concrete. From here, it will follow the least path D to E under the end cut-off and then
appear at F. ie the lower solid apron. So the total length of percolation
AB+BC+CD+DE+EF = 1.40+ 0.60+ 3.00+DE+ 1.00
= DE+ 6.00
This length must not be less than 13.75 meters.
If the structure is to be safe. DE+ 6.000= 13.75 DE = 7.75meters.
The total length of solid apron from the body wall as provided in the drawing is 8 meters and this will
be enough.
At the end of the second apron retaining wall of the downstream side apron, a nominal 3 to 5-meter
length of the talus with a thickness of 50cms may be provided as a safety device