Portable central baffle flume

Abstract

This paper investigated the hydraulic characteristics of the triangular central baffle (TCB) flume. Laboratory tests were carried out to determine the flume dimensions. The field applicability of the proposed portable device was examined by on-farm installa-tion. According to the laboratory tests, when the contraction ratio, r, was less than 0.39, the flow capacity was not affected by the ratio between the flume’s floor height and the throat width. The laboratory analysis also showed that there was no significant effect of installing an entrance ramp on the stage-discharge rela-tionship for r<0.39, while the entrance ramp increased the discharge capacity for r>0.39. The stage-discharge curve obtained based on the laboratory tests was verified using field data. The results revealed that the proposed portable flume could be used accurately to determine the flow through an unlined ditch. Practical suggestions were proposed to determine the distinguish-ing condition curve.