Discharge Characteristics of Tainter Gates

Although Tainter gates are widely used to control the flow of water, little has been known about their discharge characteristics. Two methods that can be used to describe these characteristics are presented. The discharge coefficients of the Tainter gate for free flow and submerged flow are shown in their relationships to parameters expressing the geometry of the gate. With the aid of a simplified theoretical analysis, the energy loss occurring during submerged flow is depicted in a similar manner. The methods that are applied to Tainter gates should be applicable to other gate shapes.