Gene expression programming to predict the discharge coefficient in rectangular side weirs

• Gene expression programming (GEP) is used as a new method for estimating side weir discharge coefficient.
• Two sets of experimental data were used to evaluate the models.
• New equation proposed by GEP can be used for estimating discharge coefficient in rectangular sharp-crested side weirs.

In this study, gene expression programming (GEP) is employed as a new method for estimating the side weir discharge coefficient. The accuracy of existing equations in evaluating the side weir discharge coefficient is first examined. Afterward, taking into consideration the dimensionless parameters that affect the estimation of this parameter and sensitivity analysis, five different models are presented. Coefficient determination (R2), root mean square error (RMSE), mean absolute relative error (MARE), scatter index (SI) and BIAS are used for measuring the models’ performance. Two sets of experimental data are applied to evaluate the models. According to the results obtained indicate that the model with Froude number (F1), dimensionless weir length (b/B), ratio of weir length to depth of upstream flow (b/y1), and ratio of weir height to its length (p/y1) parameters of R2 = 0.947, MARE = 0.05, RMSE = 0.037, BIAS = 0.01 and SI = 0.067, performed the best. Accordingly, this new equation proposed through GEP can be utilized for estimating the discharge coefficient in rectangular sharp-crested side weirs.

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