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Improved calibration of Cutthroat flumes

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Abstract

An analysis of laboratory data for a 0.914-m (3-ft) length Cutthroat flume with four different throat widths is presented. Significant differences with previously published calibration parameters were found. Special attention was given to non-hydrostatic pressures at the upstream and downstream piezometer taps, and the variations are presented in a series of three-dimensional plots. Variation in relative pressure at different tap heights was observed and was concluded to represent a shift from a concave to a convex flow profile between the 0.305- and 0.203-m throat widths. This significant alteration in the flow profile correlates with a sharp change in the n f calibration parameter, describing a non-linear relationship with flume throat width. Alternative equation forms were explored in an attempt to increase the predictive accuracy of the calculated flow rates for free- and submerged-flow regimes. The alternative equations showed a decrease in the percent error, in the submerged-flow regime, by more than 50%. Transition submergence was observed to vary not only due to flume size, but also to flow rate. An empirically fitted equation was developed to calculate the transition submergence as a function of throat width and flow rate. In addition, a separate calibration for free-flow parameters was defined based on measurements from an upstream point gauge. The flow measurement accuracy of existing Cutthroat flumes can be significantly increased, especially for submerged-flow regimes.

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Abbreviations

A :

cross-sectional flow area (m2)

A t :

cross-sectional flow area of the Cutthroat flume throat (m2)

B :

Cutthroat flume inlet and outlet width (m)

C d :

coefficient of discharge

C f :

free-flow coefficient (m3−nf/s)

C s :

submerged-flow coefficient (m3−nf/s)

E d :

specific energy at downstream taps (m)

E u :

specific energy at upstream taps (m)

g :

ratio of weight to mass (9.81 m/s2)

h :

water depth (m)

h d :

piezometric head at the downstream taps (m)

h u :

piezometric head at the upstream taps (m)

L :

length (m)

n f :

free-flow exponent

n s :

submerged-flow exponent

n s1 :

submerged-flow numerator exponent

n s2 :

submerged-flow denominator exponent

Q :

flow rate (m3/s)

Q f :

free-flow rate (m3/s)

Q s :

submerged-flow rate (m3/s)

r :

radius of curvature (m)

S :

submergence (h d/h u)

S E :

submergence using specific energy (modular limit)

S t :

transition submergence

V :

velocity (m/s)

W :

Cutthroat throat width (m)

References

  • Bennett RS (1972) Cutthroat flume discharge relations. In: Water management technical report no. 16, College of Engineering, Colorado State University, Fort Collins

  • Keller RJ (1984) Cut-throat flume characteristics. J Hydrul Eng ASCE 110(9):1248–1263

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Skogerboe GV, Hyatt ML, Anderson RK, Eggleston KO (1967) Design and calibration of submerged open channel flow measurement structures: part 3, Cutthroat flumes. In: Report WG31-4, Utah Water Research Laboratory, College of Engineering, Utah State University, Logan, Utah

  • Skogerboe GV, Ren L, Yang D (1993) Cutthroat flume discharge ratings, size selection and installation. In: International Irrigation Center, Department of Biological and Irrigation Engineering, Utah State University, Logan, Utah

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Acknowledgments

Prof. G.V. Skogerboe died in April 2005. He was the original developer of the Cutthroat measurement flume and contributed greatly to the field of irrigation engineering through a long and illustrious professional career. It was our privilege, as coauthors, to have known and worked with Prof. Skogerboe. The authors would also like to thank the support from the Utah Agricultural Experiment Station, Project 788, and the Utah Water Research Laboratory.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. East Columbia Basin Irrigation District, 54 North 8th, Othello, WA, 99344, USA

    R. C. Weber

  2. BIE Department, Utah State University, Logan, UT, 84322-4105, USA

    G. P. Merkley, G. V. Skogerboe & A. F. Torres

Authors
  1. R. C. Weber
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  2. G. P. Merkley
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  3. G. V. Skogerboe
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  4. A. F. Torres
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to G. P. Merkley.

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Weber, R.C., Merkley, G.P., Skogerboe, G.V. et al. Improved calibration of Cutthroat flumes. Irrig Sci 25, 361–373 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00271-006-0052-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00271-006-0052-x

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