Sewer Hydraulics
Gravity flow: full flow
L
HGL
H GL
HGL
R = Af/Pf = D/4
R =Ap/Pp
Manning equation
Many formulas are used to solve the flow parameters in sewers were discussed in the
hydraulic course. The most used formula for sanitary sewers is Manning equation:
1
V =
R
n
2
3
1
2
. ...(1)
0 . 312
Q =
n
1
2
...(2)
1
S2
.. ..(3 )
2
1
Vp = Rp 3 S 2 .. .(4 )
n
Note: Equations 3 and 4 are the same as Equation 1, but they are written using the
subscript () and (P), to indicate flowing full and partially full, respectively:
In sanitary sewers the flow is not constant; consequently the depth of flow is varying
as mentioned above. In this case it is difficult to find the hydraulic radius to apply
Mannings equation. For partially full pipe the following relations are applied:
d
1
=
1 cos
(5)
D
2
2
=
360
Ap
Af
Sin
(6)
..(7)
360 Sin
= 1
2
Rp
Rf
R
=
R
p
f
A pV
=
A V
f
2
3
(8)
p
f
.(9)
D
d
Example 1
Find the diameter of the pipe required to carry a design flow of 0.186 m3/s when
flowing partially, d/D = 0.67, slope = 0.4%, n = 0.013 use the relations of partial
flow.
Solution
= 1
Rp
Rf
=
360
Ap
Af
R
=
R
p
f
A pV
=
A V
f
Sin
=
360
2
2
3
= (1.167)2/3 = 1.1088
p
f
= 0.712*1.1088 = 0.789
1.167
0.712
D
d
3. Calculate Q:
Q
Q =
0 . 312
D
n
8
3
1
2
0 . 312
D
0 . 013
8
3
(0 . 004 )
1
2
= 0.2355
1 2
1 0.497 3
V = R 3 S2 = V =
f 0.013 4
f n f
Q
(0.004)
1
2
0.2355
D2
2
A =
A =
f V = 1.203 = 0.196 m (or f
4
f
f
= 1.203 m/s
It is noticed that it is
quite long procedure to
go through the above
calculations for each
pipe in the system of
large numbers of pipes.
The alternative
procedure is to use the
nomographs of
Mannings equation and
the partial flow curves.
Example 2
Find the diameter of the pipe required to carry a design flow of 0.186 m3/s when
flowing partially, d/D = 0.67, slope = 0.4%, n = 0.013 using the nomographs
and partial flow curves .
Solution
P = 1 . 12 .
V
f
Q
P = 0 . 186 = 0 . 238 m3/s
Calculate Q : Q f =
0 . 78
0 . 78
d/D
d/D
Qp/Qf
Vp/Vf
D
d
d/D
1.1 2