Skip Links

USGS - science for a changing world

Open-File Report 2013–1082

Prepared in cooperation with the University of Wisconsin–Madison Discovery Farms program and the University of Wisconsin–Platteville Pioneer Farm program

Implications of Flume Slope on Discharge Estimates from 0.762-meter H Flumes Used in Edge-of-Field Monitoring

By Matthew J. Komiskey, Todd D. Stuntebeck, Amanda L. Cox, and Dennis R. Frame

Thumbnail of and link to report PDF (1.78 MB) Abstract

The effects of longitudinal slope on the estimation of discharge in a 0.762-meter (m) (depth at flume entrance) H flume were tested under controlled conditions with slopes from −8 to +8 percent and discharges from 1.2 to 323 liters per second. Compared to the stage-discharge rating for a longitudinal flume slope of zero, computed discharges were negatively biased (maximum −31 percent) when the flume was sloped downward from the front (entrance) to the back (exit), and positively biased (maximum 44 percent) when the flume was sloped upward. Biases increased with greater flume slopes and with lower discharges. A linear empirical relation was developed to compute a corrected reference stage for a 0.762‑m H flume using measured stage and flume slope. The reference stage was then used to determine a corrected discharge from the stage-discharge rating. A dimensionally homogeneous correction equation also was developed, which could theoretically be used for all standard H-flume sizes. Use of the corrected discharge computation method for a sloped H flume was determined to have errors ranging from −2.2 to 4.6 percent compared to the H-flume measured discharge at a level position. These results emphasize the importance of the measurement of and the correction for flume slope during an edge-of-field study if the most accurate discharge estimates are desired.

First posted May 24, 2013

For additional information contact:
Director, Wisconsin Water Science Center
U.S. Geological Survey
8505 Research Way
Middleton, WI 53562
http://wi.water.usgs.gov/

Part or all of this report is presented in Portable Document Format (PDF); the latest version of Adobe Reader or similar software is required to view it. Download the latest version of Adobe Reader, free of charge.


Suggested citation:

Komiskey, M.J., Stuntebeck, T.D., Cox, A.L., and Frame, D.R, 2013, Implications of flume slope on discharge estimates from 0.762-meter H flumes used in edge-of-field monitoring: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 2013–1082, 11 p., http://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2013/1082/.



Contents

Acknowledgments

Abstract

Introduction

Purpose and Scope

Methods

Results and Discussion

Conclusion

References Cited


Accessibility FOIA Privacy Policies and Notices

Take Pride in America logo USA.gov logo U.S. Department of the Interior | U.S. Geological Survey
URL: http://pubsdata.usgs.gov/pubs/of/2013/1082/index.html
Page Contact Information: GS Pubs Web Contact
Page Last Modified: Friday, 24-May-2013 13:45:52 EDT