Experimental study of crump weir for sediment transport and flow measurement in sediment-laden rivers

This study addresses the challenge of accurately measuring flow in sediment-laden rivers, particularly in low-flow conditions and during flood events in arid and semi-arid regions. Traditional methods, such as Crump weirs, struggle in these conditions due to their inability to handle sediment transport and non-modular flow. To bridge this gap, we propose a compound Crump weir-flume structure designed to improve flow measurement and sediment transport analysis. Experimental results show that the compound structure significantly alters flow patterns. Scour depth increased by 36%, and scour length increased by 56% as discharge rates increased. Discharge coefficients increased with higher flow rates and weir crest heights. In submerged flow conditions, flow depth was consistently 2-5 times greater on one side of the flume compared to the other. Additionally, finer sediment beds were more prone to transport than coarser beds. The compound structure proved effective in handling non-modular flow and sediment-rich environments, providing a durable solution for real-time flow measurement in seasonal rivers. This study fills a critical gap by improving measurement accuracy under challenging flow and sediment conditions, offering a robust tool for river management in flood-prone regions. This study fills a critical gap by enhancing measurement accuracy under challenging flow and sediment conditions, providing a robust tool for managing river systems in flood-prone regions.