Page:Lowell Hydraulic Experiments, 4th edition.djvu/97

5, 6, and 7, plate V., were provided for the purpose of shortening or subdividing the weir. They were made of wood, faced on part of one side with plates of sheet-iron ${\textstyle a}$, 3/16 of an inch in thickness; the width ${\textstyle bc}$ was about 1.5 feet; the iron plate was two inches less. One side of the timber ${\textstyle P}$, figure 2, was in the same vertical plane as the upstream edge of the weir ${\textstyle H}$. When the partitions were placed upon the weir, the top of them was supported by the timber ${\textstyle P}$, and the bottom by the plate of iron ${\textstyle a}$, which rested against the weir. Flashboards, represented by figures 8, 9, and 10, plate V., were also provided to close up portions of the weir; these, together with the partitions, were maintained in their respective positions, simply by the pressure of the water against them. Wherever leaks appeared at the joints of the partitions or flashboards, they were stopped with great ease and effect, by a little dough made of unbolted Indian meal, a handful of which was drawn over the upstream side of the joints; of course the orifices closed in this manner were very minute. In plate X., all the modifications of the weir produced by changing the partitions and flashboards, are represented; the several figures are referred to in column 8, table X. In the greater number of the experiments, two or more spaces were used at the same time; they were always of very nearly equal length, so that the length of each may be obtained by dividing the whole length of the weir given in column 6 by half the number of end contractions given in column 7.

The brackets ${\textstyle N}$, figures 1 and 2, plate V., were placed on the downstream side of the weir, to support a board on which to stand for the purpose of adjusting the partitions and flashboards. The top of the board was about 9.5 inches below the top of the weir. In some of the experiments, a part of the sheet of water fell upon this board; in experiment 50 it was moved nearer to the weir, so that the entire sheet of water fell upon it, but without producing any sensible effect upon the discharge. In experiment 51, a three inch plank was placed on the top of the board, as is represented by the dotted lines at ${\textstyle O}$, figure 2, plate V.; the effect of this obstruction, as indicated by the increased depth on the weir as measured by the hook gauge, was, to diminish the discharge, with the same depth on the weir, about 1/1000.

It is to be regretted that the casting forming the sill of the weir, was not planed on its whole height on the side ${\textstyle HQ}$, figure 4, plate V. When the weir was erected no thought was entertained of using it for these experiments, requiring, as they do, to be of value, to be free from all disturbing causes. The disturbance caused by the projection at ${\textstyle I}$, can, however, have been scarcely sensible.

128. The data furnished by observation, together with the necessary reductions, and the results deduced from them, are contained in table X. Most of