IN THE NAME OF ALLAH THE MOST

BENEFICENT, THE MOST MERCIFUL.

Hydraulics & Hydrology
Lab
(CE-432 L)

Dr. Ateeq-ur-Rauf

Department of Civil Engineering,

U.E.T Peshawar (Bannu Campus)
Lecture # 4

Velocity & Streamflow

Measurement
Discharge Lecture # 4

Measurement
Experiment # 5
To measure stream flow velocity and discharge in a
straight rectangular channel using Float method.
Apparatus: Stop watch, Measuring tape, Point gauge.

Theory:
Flow Velocity: Distance travelled by the flow of water in
certain time period is called its velocity.

Discharge: Area of the channel at a section multiply by

the velocity of flow is called as discharge at that
section.
Department of Civil Engineering
Engr.Ateeq-ur-Rauf U.E.T Peshawar (Bannu Campus) 01/24/25 4
Discharge Lecture # 4

Measurement
• Stream flow is represented in terms of discharge “Q” ,
Q = AV
Where
Q = discharge ;
A = x-sectional area
V= velocity

Water Stage
Elevation of water level in a stream above some
arbitrary zero datum atof Civil
Department some specified
Engineering, U.E.T, station.
Engr.Ateeq-ur-Rauf Peshawar 5
Discharge Lecture # 4

Use of Water
Measurement Stages
• For measurement of discharge in open channels

• Difficult to make a direct, continuous measurement of

the rate of flow in a stream but relatively simple to
obtain a continuous record of stage.

• The primary field data gathered at most stream flow

measurement stations are “River Stage”

• Satisfactory only if there is an adequate correction

between stage Department
and discharge.( e.g - Rating Curve)
of Civil Engineering, U.E.T,
Engr.Ateeq-ur-Rauf Peshawar 6
 Discharge Lecture # 4

Measurement
Water Stage Measuring Gauges
. Non- Recording Gauges

. Recording Gauges
1. Non- Recording Gauges

a) Vertical Staff Gauge

b) Inclined Staff Gauge

c) Section Staff Gauge

d) Wire- Weight Gauge

Department of Civil Engineering, U.E.T,
Engr.Ateeq-ur-Rauf Peshawar 7
Discharge Lecture # 4

Measurement
a) Vertical Staff Gauge
• Used for Narrow sections

Department of Civil Engineering, U.E.T,

Engr.Ateeq-ur-Rauf Peshawar 8
Discharge Lecture # 4

Measurement
b). Inclined Staff Gauges
• Graduated in such a way that it

directly gives the vertical stage.

Department of Civil Engineering, U.E.T,

Engr.Ateeq-ur-Rauf Peshawar 9
Discharge Lecture # 4

Measurement
c). Section Staff Gauge
Used where there is no
structure available which is
accessible to all stages.

Department of Civil Engineering, U.E.T,

Engr.Ateeq-ur-Rauf Peshawar 10
Discharge Lecture # 4

Measurement
d). Wire- Weight Gauge
• Number of revolutions of the drum are counted whose
circumference is known (30 cm).

Department of Civil Engineering, U.E.T,

Engr.Ateeq-ur-Rauf Peshawar 11
Discharge Lecture # 4

2. Recording Type Gauges

Measurement
• Gives continuous record of stage at every instant of
time.
• A float is used to known about stilling well level of
water.

Float

Department of Civil Engineering, U.E.T,

Engr.Ateeq-ur-Rauf Peshawar 12
Discharge Lecture # 4

Measurement
Site Selection for Gauge
Factors to be considered

• Section must be accessible.

• It has hydrological importance.

• Control section (Bridge).

• To get current reading for flood warning

Department of Civil Engineering, U.E.T,

Engr.Ateeq-ur-Rauf Peshawar 13
Discharge Lecture # 4

Measurement
Measurement of Discharge
• Need of Flow measurements
Floodplain management
Flood forecasting & analysis
Reservoir operations
Low flows – water quality concerns
Design structures – culverts, bridges, storm water
systems
Evaluate changes in land use on watersheds and/or
changes in climatic regimes
Department of Civil Engineering, U.E.T,
Engr.Ateeq-ur-Rauf Peshawar 14
Discharge Lecture # 4

Measurement
Procedure:

Discharge in the stream or channel can be measured

with or without a discharge measuring structure.

i) Floating Method
Its quick and cheep but not accurate & have error of
at least 10%

Ateeq ur Rauf Department of Civil Engineering, UET,

Peshawar(Bannu Campus) 15
Discharge Lecture # 4

Measurement

Ateeq ur Rauf Department of Civil Engineering, UET,

01/24/25 Peshawar(Bannu Campus) 16
Discharge Lecture # 4

Measurement
• The amount of water passing a point on the stream

channel during a given time is a function of velocity

and cross-sectional area of the flowing water.

Q = AV
• where Q is stream discharge (volume/time), A is

cross-sectional area, and V is flow velocity

Ateeq ur Rauf Department of Civil Engineering, UET,
Peshawar(Bannu Campus) 17
Discharge Lecture # 4

Measurement
You need:
• Tape measure.

• Stop-watch rod, yard or meter stick to measure depth.

• At least three highly visible buoyant objects such as a

drifting branches or logs, pine cone, coffee stir sticks,
half filled bottles, or oranges (objects buoyant enough
not to be effected by the wind).

• Stakes for anchoring tape measure to stream banks

• Waders
Ateeq ur Rauf Department of Civil Engineering, UET,
Peshawar(Bannu Campus) 18
Discharge Lecture # 4

Measurement
This method measures surface velocity. Mean
velocity is obtained using a correction factor. The basic
idea is to measure the time that it takes the object to
float a specified distance downstream.
Vsurface = travel distance/ travel time = L/t

Because surface velocities are typically higher than

mean or average velocities
V mean = k Vsurface

where k is a coefficient that generally ranges from

0.8 for rough beds to 0.9 for smooth beds (0.85 is a
commonly used value)
Ateeq ur Rauf Department of Civil Engineering, UET,
Peshawar(Bannu Campus) 19
Discharge Measurement Lecture # 4

Procedure

T1
Q = AV
L
T2
A = x-sectional area
V = velocity ,L / T, m/sec Q

• Empty plastic bottle is dropped at point 1 and time

noted and when it reaches point 2 time of reach is
noted for length L.
Department of Civil Engineering, U.E.T,
Engr.Ateeq-ur-Rauf Peshawar 20
Discharge Lecture # 4

Step 1. Choose a suitable straight reach with minimum

Measurement
turbulence (ideally at least 3 channel widths long).

Step 2. Mark the start and end point of your reach.

Step 3. If possible, travel time should exceed 20 seconds.

Step 4. Drop your object into the stream upstream of your

upstream marker.
Step 5. Start the watch when the object crosses the upstream
marker and stop the watch when it crosses the downstream
marker.
Step 6. You should repeat the measurement at least 3 times and
use the average in further calculations.
Ateeq ur Rauf Department of Civil Engineering, UET,
Peshawar(Bannu Campus) 21
Discharge Lecture # 4

Measurement
Calculating the area of the wetted cross-section
A Trapezoidal & Rectangular Section

For Trapezoidal section

b1
X-sectional Wetted Area ;

A = (b+b1)/2 x d

For Rectangular Section

X-sectional wetted area ;

A=bxd

Ateeq ur Rauf Department of Civil Engineering, UET,

Peshawar(Bannu Campus) 22
Discharge Lecture # 4

Measurement
•https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4uS9oOTa4PI

•https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W1lUdxE5BGU

•https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4uS9oOTa4PI

•https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M1Tb7HsEtOM

Department of Civil Engineering, U.E.T,

Engr.Ateeq-ur-Rauf Peshawar 23
THE END
 Department of Civil Engineering, U.E.T,
Engr.Ateeq-ur-Rauf Peshawar 25