###### Abstract  
The present study investigated the application of support vector machine algorithms for predicting hydraulic parameters of a vertical drop equipped with horizontal screens. The study incorporated varying sizes of a rectangular channel. Horizontal screens, in addition to being able to dissipate the destructive energy of the flow, cause turbulence. The turbulence in turn supplies oxygen to the system through the promotion of air-water mixing. To achieve the objectives of the present study, 164 experiments were analyzed under the same experimental conditions using a support vector machine. The approach utilized dimensionless terms that included scenario 1: the relative energy consumption and scenario 2: the relative pool depth. The performance of the models was evaluated with statistical criteria (RMSE, R\({}^{2}\) and KGE) and the best model was introduced for each of the parameters. RMSE is the root mean square error, R\({}^{2}\) is the correlation coefficient and KGE is the Kling-Gupta criterion. The results of the support vector machine showed that for the first scenario, the third combination with R\({}^{2}\) = 0.991, RMSE = 0.00565 and KGE = 0.998 for the training mode and R\({}^{2}\) = 0.991, RMSE = 0.00489 and KGE = 0.991 for the testing mode were optimal. For the second scenario, the third combination with R\({}^{2}\) = 0.988, RMSE = 0.0395 and KGE = 0.998 for the training mode and R\({}^{2}\) = 0.988, RMSE = 0.0389 and KGE = 0.993 for the testing mode were selected. Finally, a sensitivity analysis was performed that showed that the y\({}_{\rm c}\)/H and D/H parameters are the most effective parameters for predicting relative energy dissipation and relative pool depth, respectively. [EMAIL_ADDRESS]; Tel. : +1-612-963-2169  
methods. [PERSON] and [PERSON] [1] examined the energy dissipation of vertical drops and provided a relation for determining the energy reduction. They found that the angle of the jet varies with the flow conditions and the pool depth. The effect of using square-shaped stairs attached to a drop wall was investigated by [PERSON] et al. [2]. Their results showed that compared to a simple vertical drop, the presence of a step increases the energy dissipation and that increasing its height increases the dissipation. In [PERSON] et al. [3], vertical drops were studied by considering the positive slope in the lower bed of the drop. They provided relationships for estimating the length and force on the inclination. [PERSON] et al. [4] reported that a horizontal screen significantly reduces turbulence length and residual energy. The application of horizontal screens at the brink of a drop, with and without a downstream rough bed, could be a suitable alternative for a stilling basin. [PERSON] and [PERSON] [5] used vertical screens as an energy dissipating structure; they showed that the energy dissipation generated by screens is much higher than for the classical hydraulic jump. Subsequently, [PERSON] [6] reported on the lack of an effect of screen thickness on energy dissipation. [PERSON] et al. [7] showed that vertical screens with a porosity of 40% have the greatest effect on energy dissipation. [PERSON] et al. [8] studied vertical screens with a square aperture and found that such screens increase energy dissipation. [PERSON] et al. [9] reported the effect of double screens on flow energy consumption in their study. [PERSON] et al. [10] showed that the use of blocks with vertical screens increases energy dissipation compared to the non-block mode. [PERSON] et al. [11] examined flow energy dissipation with vertical screens in an erodible bed and showed that the minimum scour depth occurred in the mesh plate with 50% porosity. A mesh plate with 40% provided greater energy dissipation than the 50% screen. [PERSON] and [PERSON] [12] numerically studied the effect of a vertical drop positioned to a downstream adverse slope. Results showed that the k-\(\epsilon\) turbulence was in better agreement with the experimental data than other turbulence models.