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

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
material Addnl.
Pipe Material roughness Diameter Area R2/3 AR2/3 Q Vel Qd
n 1.49 / n (inches) (sf) (ft) capacity (ft/s) (cfs)

Lucite 0.008 186.25 1 0.005 0.076 0.00041 -- 1.84 0.010

glass 0.009 165.56 2 0.022 0.120 0.00262 535% 2.92 0.064
pvc, asphalted cmp 0.010 149.00 4 0.087 0.191 0.01665 535% 4.64 0.405
concrete - trowel, smooth 0.012 124.17 6 0.196 0.250 0.04909 195% 6.08 1.194
Welded steel, smooth HDPE 0.012 124.17 8 0.349 0.303 0.106 115% 7.36 2.570
clay drainage tiles 0.012 124.17 10 0.545 0.351 0.192 81% 8.54 4.661
rcp,vcp,cmp-helical 0.013 114.62 12 0.785 0.397 0.312 63% 9.65 7.58
clean uncoated cast iron 0.014 106.43 15 1.227 0.461 0.565 81% 11.20 13.74
brick lined w/mortar, Corrugated
HDPE with smooth liner 0.015 99.33 18 1.767 0.520 0.919 63% 12.64 22.34
riveted steel, rough asphalt 0.016 93.13 21 2.405 0.576 1.386 51% 14.01 33.70
unfinished concrete, poor joints 0.017 87.65 24 3.142 0.630 1.979 43% 15.32 48.12
0.018 82.78 27 3.976 0.681 2.709 37% 16.57 65.88
0.019 78.42 30 4.909 0.731 3.588 32% 17.77 87.25
dirty tuberculated c.i. 0.020 74.50 36 7.069 0.825 5.835 63% 20.07 141.88
0.023 64.78 42 9.621 0.915 8.802 51% 22.24 214.01
cmp -2 2/3 by 1/2" annular correg. 0.024 62.08 48 12.566 1.000 12.566 43% 24.31 305.55
6 by 1" corregations 0.025 59.60 54 15.904 1.082 17.204 37% 26.30 418.30
0.027 55.19 60 19.635 1.160 22.784 32% 28.21 553.99
cmp - 3" by 1" in correg. 0.028 53.21 66 23.758 1.237 29.378 29% 30.07 714.31
0.030 49.67 72 28.274 1.310 37.050 26% 31.86 900.85
9 by 2 1/2 inch structural plate 0.035 42.57 84 38.485 1.452 55.887 51% 35.31 1358.87
0.060 24.83

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 = col 2 x col 5 x S^.5 = fps Q = col 2 x col 6 x S^.5 = cfs
Vel = Pipe Velocity, Q = Max Pipe Discharge D theor = 16{Qn/S^.5} ^.375 D (inches), Q(cfs), S(ft/ft)
Vel = 1.49/nR2/3 S0.5 ; Q = VA, A = (Pi/4)D2 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.
 material material
FLOW TYPE roughness FLOW TYPE roughness
n n
PIPE & CHANNEL FLOW - concentrated Channels, Swales…
cmp - completely asphalted 0.010 4" stone lined channel 0.028
pvc, abs plastic 0.010 grass, sod, grouted rip-rap 0.030
smooth concrete 0.011 9" stone lined channel 0.032
hdpe, welded steel 0.012 ungrouted rip-rap 0.035
rcp,vcp,cmp-helical 0.013 channels w/stones & weeds 0.035
concrete - avg. value 0.013 18" stone lined channel 0.036
curb 0.014 very poor natural channel 0.060
concrete - float finish 0.015 Unmaintained brushy channel 0.080
street gutter or paved channel 0.015
brick, riveted steel 0.016 OVERLAND FLOW - thin sheet flow
Smooth surfaces (concrete, asphalt,
unfinished conc. 0.017 bare soil, gravel) 0.011
concrete - poor joints, rough walls 0.017 Fallow 0.05
smooth earth 0.018 Smooth surfaces - very shallow .10 - .15
dirty tuberculated cast iron 0.020 Prairie grass - short .10 - .20
firm gravel 0.023 Lawns .20 - .30
cmp - 2 2/3 by 1/2 in annular correg. 0.024 Pasture .30 - .40
cmp - 6 by 1 in correg. 0.025 Dense Growth/Light underbrush .40 - .50
earth- straight & uniform 0.027 Dense Underbrush 0.8
cmp - 3 by 1 in correg. 0.028

Underdrain pipes for bioretention etc.

4 and 6" single-wall corrugarted plastic .014 - .015
4 and 6" smooth-wall plastic .01 - .011
8" single-wall corrugated plastic .015 - .016 has larger corrugations thus rougher
Drainage Area #1 Contrib. Drainage Area #2 Contrib. Drainage Area #3 Contrib.
Discharge Discharge Discharge
C I A Qi C I A Qi C I A Qi
runoff coeff (in/hr) (acres) (cfs) runoff coeff (in/hr) (acres) (cfs) runoff coeff (in/hr) (acres) (cfs)
0.98 8.5 4 33.32 0.55 6 4.5 14.85 0.55 6 4.5 14.85

Drainage Area #4 Contrib. Drainage Area #5 Contrib. Drainage Area #6 Contrib.

Discharge Discharge Discharge
C I A Qi C I A Qi C I A Qi
runoff coeff (in/hr) (acres) (cfs) runoff coeff (in/hr) (acres) (cfs) runoff coeff (in/hr) (acres) (cfs)
0.55 6 4.5 14.85 0.55 6 4.5 14.85 0.55 6 4.5 14.85

ft2 acres % total C Cw

roofs/drive/patio 3500 0.08 1 0.98 0.98
lawn 0.98 0
trees 0.22 0
businesses 0.7 0
streets 0.98 0
0.08 1.00