AbstractDischarge measurement and control structures are widely employed in hydraulic engineering applications. The objective of this study is to numerically investigate the modelling of two different structures, namely sharp‐crested weirs as Problem 1 and combined weir and gate systems as Problem 2. The research methodology herein is based on the comparison of results of numerical simulations with experimental data for both problems separately. For the purpose of performing numerical simulations, the Reynolds‐averaged Navier–Stokes (RANS) equations are solved by finite volume formulation using commercially available Flow‐3D software. Assessment of empirical data and numerical findings for both problems reveals that discharge rates agree reasonably well. In addition, using the capabilities of numerical modelling, weir and gate discharge coefficients in the combined system are calculated separately which were not easy to obtain in experimental studies. It is seen that gate and weir discharge coefficients of the combined system are different and higher than the corresponding coefficients of the individual systems. © 2020 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.