MANNING'S CHEAT SHEET FOR CIRCULAR PIPE - full flow conditions

Pipe Material
Lucite
glass
pvc, asphalted cmp
concrete - trowel, smooth
Welded steel, smooth HDPE
clay drainage tiles
rcp,vcp,cmp-helical
clean uncoated cast iron
brick lined w/mortar, Corrugated
HDPE with smooth liner
riveted steel, rough asphalt
unfinished concrete, poor joints

dirty tuberculated c.i.

cmp -2 2/3 by 1/2" annular correg.
6 by 1" corregations
cmp - 3" by 1" in correg.
9 by 2 1/2 inch structural plate

1
material
roughness
n

Area
(sf)

R2/3
(ft)

AR2/3

1.49 / n

Diameter
(inches)

7
Addnl.
Q
capacity

Vel
(ft/s)

Qd
(cfs)

0.008
0.009
0.010
0.012
0.012
0.012
0.013
0.014

186.25
165.56
149.00
124.17
124.17
124.17
114.62
106.43

1
2
4
6
8
10
12
15

0.005
0.022
0.087
0.196
0.349
0.545
0.785
1.227

0.076
0.120
0.191
0.250
0.303
0.351
0.397
0.461

0.00041
0.00262
0.01665
0.04909
0.106
0.192
0.312
0.565

-535%
535%
195%
115%
81%
63%
81%

1.84
2.92
4.64
6.08
7.36
8.54
9.65
11.20

0.010
0.064
0.405
1.194
2.570
4.661
7.58
13.74

0.015
0.016
0.017
0.018
0.019
0.020
0.023
0.024
0.025
0.027
0.028
0.030
0.035
0.060

99.33
93.13
87.65
82.78
78.42
74.50
64.78
62.08
59.60
55.19
53.21
49.67
42.57
24.83

18
21
24
27
30
36
42
48
54
60
66
72
84

1.767
2.405
3.142
3.976
4.909
7.069
9.621
12.566
15.904
19.635
23.758
28.274
38.485

0.520
0.576
0.630
0.681
0.731
0.825
0.915
1.000
1.082
1.160
1.237
1.310
1.452

0.919
1.386
1.979
2.709
3.588
5.835
8.802
12.566
17.204
22.784
29.378
37.050
55.887

63%
51%
43%
37%
32%
63%
51%
43%
37%
32%
29%
26%
51%

12.64
14.01
15.32
16.57
17.77
20.07
22.24
24.31
26.30
28.21
30.07
31.86
35.31

22.34
33.70
48.12
65.88
87.25
141.88
214.01
305.55
418.30
553.99
714.31
900.85
1358.87

The Manning's equation determines the maximum gravity flow capacity of a pipe or conveyance. Maximum capacity is a function of a pipe's roughness
(n), size (diameter or surface area), hydraulic radius (area/wetted perimeter) and slope. To use this calculator, enter the constant multiplier from the
list above and choose the pipe's slope. The calculator will perform the remaining calculations.

1.49 / n
Slope
114.62
0.045
Vel = Pipe Velocity, Q = Max Pipe Discharge
Vel = 1.49/nR2/3 S0.5 ; Q = VA, A = (Pi/4)D2

Vel = col 2 x col 5 x S^.5 = fps

Q = col 2 x col 6 x S^.5 = cfs
D theor = 16{Qn/S^.5} ^.375
D (inches), Q(cfs), S(ft/ft)
Hydraulic radius: R = A / wetted perimeter (pi x D) which reduces to D/4 for circular pipe

Applicability - Although the Manning's equation is only applicable where flow is steady and uniform, (and discharge does vary during the
passage of a flood wave), during the specific time around the peak, the flow is essentially steady.
Hint: When comparing pipes of similar material installed at the same slope, it is only necessary to compare the product of each pipe's (Area x Hydraulic
Radius) to compare capacities. Columns 6 and 7 gives the "carrying capacity" when comparing pipes that differ only by size. Cxample #1: A two-inch
pipe can carry 535% more flow than a one-inch pipe (of the same material, installed at same slope) Example #2: If a 15 inch pipe is installed in a

basin that requires an 18 inch pipe, as much as 37% (1-63%) of the drainage basin's flows won't be conveyed by the underdesigned 15" system.

FLOW TYPE

material
roughness
n

PIPE & CHANNEL FLOW - concentrated

cmp - completely asphalted
pvc, abs plastic
smooth concrete
hdpe, welded steel
rcp,vcp,cmp-helical
concrete - avg. value
curb
concrete - float finish
street gutter or paved channel
brick, riveted steel

0.010
0.010
0.011
0.012
0.013
0.013
0.014
0.015
0.015
0.016

unfinished conc.
concrete - poor joints, rough walls
smooth earth
dirty tuberculated cast iron
firm gravel
cmp - 2 2/3 by 1/2 in annular correg.
cmp - 6 by 1 in correg.
earth- straight & uniform
cmp - 3 by 1 in correg.

0.017
0.017
0.018
0.020
0.023
0.024
0.025
0.027
0.028

FLOW TYPE
Channels, Swales
4" stone lined channel
grass, sod, grouted rip-rap
9" stone lined channel
ungrouted rip-rap
channels w/stones & weeds
18" stone lined channel
very poor natural channel
Unmaintained brushy channel
OVERLAND FLOW - thin sheet flow
Smooth surfaces (concrete, asphalt,
bare soil, gravel)
Fallow
Smooth surfaces - very shallow
Prairie grass - short
Lawns
Pasture
Dense Growth/Light underbrush
Dense Underbrush

Underdrain pipes for bioretention etc.

4 and 6" single-wall corrugarted plastic
4 and 6" smooth-wall plastic
8" single-wall corrugated plastic

.014 - .015
.01 - .011
.015 - .016

has larger corrugations thus rougher

material
roughness
n
0.028
0.030
0.032
0.035
0.035
0.036
0.060
0.080

0.011
0.05
.10 - .15
.10 - .20
.20 - .30
.30 - .40
.40 - .50
0.8

Drainage Area #1
C
I
runoff coeff (in/hr)
0.98
8.5

Drainage Area #2

A
(acres)
4

Contrib.
Discharge
Qi
(cfs)
33.32

Drainage Area #5

A
(acres)
4.5

Contrib.
Discharge
Qi
(cfs)
14.85

Drainage Area #4
C
I
runoff coeff (in/hr)
0.55
6

roofs/drive/patio
lawn
trees
businesses
streets

ft
3500

acres
0.08

0.08

C
I
runoff coeff (in/hr)
0.55
6

C
I
runoff coeff (in/hr)
0.55
6

% total
1

1.00

C
0.98
0.98
0.22
0.7
0.98

Drainage Area #3

A
(acres)
4.5

Contrib.
Discharge
Qi
(cfs)
14.85

Drainage Area #6

A
(acres)
4.5

Contrib.
Discharge
Qi
(cfs)
14.85

Cw
0.98
0
0
0
0

C
runoff coeff
0.55

C
runoff coeff
0.55

I
(in/hr)
6

I
(in/hr)
6

A
(acres)
4.5

Contrib.
Discharge
Qi
(cfs)
14.85

A
(acres)
4.5

Contrib.
Discharge
Qi
(cfs)
14.85