Comparing the Darcy Weisbach equation with the Manning Equation

August 20, 2007

Introduction

The darcy weisbach equation relates the head loss for uid in a pipe to properties of the pipe and the velocity, U, as follows: (1) where L is the length of pipe, D is the diameter, g is acceleration due to gravity, and f is a friction factor. The Manning equation relates the velocity of a uid in an open channel, to properties of the open channel as follows: 1 U = n R2/3 S 1/2 (2) Where R is the hydraulic radius (cross sectional area divided by wetted Perimeter), S is the slope of the channel, and n is known as Manning's Roughness Coecient. When I studied hydraulics these were two of the important equations, but they were kept in separate contexts, one for pipe ow and one for open channels. So rstly, why is it that the Darcy Weisbach equation is restricted to ow in pipes? Secondly where does the manning equation come from? Up until recently, according to Gioia and Bombardelli (2002) the Manning equation has been viewed as a strictly empirical equation, but surely since it describes a condition for a stream, where gravitational forces are equalled by friction forces, so that velocity is constant, if we can quantify both types of forces, then we can derive the Manning equation from the principle of equilibrium. In fact that is precisely what Geoi et al. do. They focus on quantifying the friction component using a theory of turbulence which describes uid interaction with a surface at a microscopic layer. Here a dierent approach will be demonstrated based on our comparison of equations 1 and 2. Firstly I will quantify the gravitational component precisely, in terms of S, the slope, and g, the free fall acceleration due to gravity, and secondly I will use
H =
1 L U2 f D 2g

the Darcy Weisbach equation for open channels to nd the friction force, and by equating these two terms, a version of Manning's equation will be derived.

Darcy Weisbach equation for open channels

At rst glance it seems the only thing we would have to change in Darcy Weisbach equation to make it work with open channels would be the D factor in the equation. So how could we replace D with a parameter which we can measure for open channels, which is equal to D in the special case of a pipe with full ow?
R=
A P

in the case of a circular pipe at full ow:

R=
d2 4

1 d

d 4

Hence if we substitute 4*R for D, in 1, we have an equation we could apply to open channels. Of course, if we were not so concerned about preserving the Darcy Weisbach equation, we could write:
L H = f2 R U (3) 2g
2

Where we require that if the old friction factor is used, it must be multiplied by 4, ie.
f2 = 4 f .

Derivation of Manning equation

Manning's equation describes Velocity of uid in an open channel as a constant based on slope, shape of cross section and material of the channel surface. So by the principle of equilibrium net force on the uid and hence acceleration must be zero. The only relevant forces here are Gravitational force G and friction force F, so:
F = G

3.1 Eective Gravitational acceleration on a particle on a slope

Figure 1: Two components of gravitational force Considering the diagram above, it can be seen the component of the gravitational force parallel to the slope can be given by:
gs = gx =
g
1 s2

+1

3.2 Friction force based on Darcy Weisbach equation for open channels
The Darcy Weisbach equation provides an expression for head loss, so if we can convert this to the equivalent energy loss, then dividing by the distance will give us the force. To get the energy loss, we simply multiple by density, , and the acceleration due to gravity, g, so 1 becomes:
L E = gH = f2 R U (4) 2
2

Then dividing by L, yields the magnitude of the friction force:

1 |F | = f2 R U 2
2

3.3 Conclusion
Finally by equating the magnitude of the gravitational force per unit volume uid, and the friction force per unit uid, we can derive an expression for velocity.
|F | = |G|
1 f2 R U = 2 1 U=
2

g
1 s2

+1

(2Rg)1/2

f2

( s12 +1) s

1/4

For s>0 and s<0.5

1

( s12 +1)

1/4

Hence we can write:

f2

1 U = (2Rg)1/2 s

If the reasoning which derives this equation is correct but the standard Manning equation is more accurate, then it would follow that R factor in the darcy weisbach equation should have an exponent of 4/3. Then our reasoning would lead us to derive the following, which is closer to the standard Manning equation.
1 U = (2g)1/2 R2/3 s
f2

And we would predict that the relationship between the Darcy Weisbach friction factor, f, and Mannings roughness coecient n, is:
1 n

= 1

4f

g 2g = 2

Under the previous assumption, then Darcy Weisbach equation might be more accurate if written as:
H = 4 f
L U2 R4/3 2g

References

Gioia.G and Bombardelli, F.A, Scaling and Similarity in Rough Channel Flows, Physical Review Letters Volume 88, Number 1, 7th January 2002