The Islamic University of Gaza- Civil Engineering Department

Sanitary Engineering- ECIV 4325

L2. Sewer Hydraulics

Based on Dr. Fahid Rabah lecture notes

Sewer Hydraulics
Gravity flow: full flow

Gravity flow: Partial flow

Pressure flow: full flow

L
HGL

H GL
HGL

S= HGL = slope of the

sewer

S= HGL = slope of the

sewer

R = Af/Pf = D/4

R =Ap/Pp

S= h/L = slope of the HGL

R=D/4

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)

R = Hydraulic radius (Area/ wetted parameter)

S = slope.
n = manning coefficient.
D = pipe diameter.
Q = flow rate.
2
1
V = R 3
f n f

1
S2

Note: Equation 1 is used for calculating

the velocity in pipes either flowing full or
partially full. Equation 2 same for flow
rate.

.. ..(3 )

velocity flowing full = V

velocity flowing partially = PV

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 = partial flow depth.

R = Hydraulic radius (P = partial, = full)
= flow angle in degrees.
Maximum capacity of the pipe when d/D = 0.95
A = Flow area.
Maximum velocity in the pipe occurs at d/D=0.81

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. Find the flow angle : ?

d
1

=
= 0.67
1 cos
D
2
2

From this relation ? = 219.75o

2. Find Qp/Q :
360 Sin

= 1

Rp
Rf

=
360

Ap
Af

R
=
R

p
f

A pV
=
A V
f

Sin

360 Sin 219 . 75

1
2 (219 . 75 )

219 .75 Sin 219 . 75

=
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 =

P = 0 . 186 = 0.2355 m3/s

0 . 789
0 . 789

4. Find the diameter of the pipe (D):

Q

0 . 312
D
n

8
3

1
2

0 . 312
D
0 . 013

8
3

(0 . 004 )

1
2

= 0.2355

D = (0.15517)3/8 = 0.497 ? 0.50m ? 20" (design pipe diameter)

5. Find the partial flow velocity (VP ):
1

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

Ap = A *0.712 = 0.196* 0.712 = 0.139 m2

Vp = V *1.109 = 1.203*1.109= 1.33 m/s

= 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

From partial flow curves:

d
= 0 . 67 , and draw a
D
horizontal line until you intersect the Q curve (for n = constant,
the dashed line), then draw a vertical line to intersect the XQ
axis at P = 0 . 78 .
Q
f
Extend the horizontal line until it intersects the velocity curve,
then draw a vertical line to intersect the X-axis (for n =
Start from the Y-axis with

P = 1 . 12 .
V
f
Q
P = 0 . 186 = 0 . 238 m3/s
Calculate Q : Q f =
0 . 78
0 . 78

constant, the dashed line) at

Use the nomographs for pipes flowing full to find D:

Locate the slope ( 0.004) on the S axis.
Locate the manning coefficient n ( 0.013) on the n axis.
Draw a line connecting S and n and extended it until it intersects
the Turning Line.
Locate the Q ( 0.238 m3/s) on the Q axis.
Draw a line connecting Q and the point of intersection on the
Turning Line and find the diameter D by reading the value that this
line intersect the D axis at. D = 500 mm = 20.
find the Velocity V by reading the value that this line intersect the V
axis at. V = 1.2 m/s.
Calculate Vp = V * 1.12 = 1.2*1.12= 1.34 m/s.

Partial Flow Curves

d/D

d/D

Qp/Qf

Vp/Vf

D
d

Partial Flow Curves Q &V

d/D

1.1 2