Trapezoidal Channels

This spreadsheet calculates the uniform and critical flow depths for trapezoidal channels.
Enter values in blue. Results automatically update after any new entry.
Q=
n=
S=
b=
z=

40.0
1.000
0.0004
17.0
0.50

cfs
ft/ft
ft
ft/ft

Flow Rate
Manning's n
Downstream Slope
Base Width
Side Slope

Yasir Iqbal

Uniform Flow Depth

A=
P=
R=
K=
err =
yn =

#VALUE!
#VALUE!
#VALUE!
#VALUE!
#VALUE!

Critical Flow Depth

ft2
ft
ft
cfs
cfs

#VALUE! ft

Flow Area
Wetted Perimeter
Hydraulic Radius
Manning's Conveyance
Manning's Q - Given Q

A=
P=
R=
T=
err =
yc =

Uniform Flow Depth

#VALUE!
#VALUE!
#VALUE!
#VALUE!
#VALUE!

ft2
ft
ft
ft
ft5

#VALUE! ft

Note: Assign b = 0 for triangular channels or z = 0 for rectangular channels.

1
z

Yasir Iqbal

Flow Area
Wetted Perimeter
Hydraulic Radius
Top Width
Q2/g - A3/T
Critical Flow Depth

#VALUE!

Circular Channels
This spreadsheet calculates the uniform and critical flow depths
for circular channels. Enter values in blue.
Escritt =

1
Q=
n=
S=
d=

30.0 cfs
0.025
0.6000 ft/ft
3.00 ft

Flow Rate
Manning's n
Downstream Slope
Conduit Diameter

Notes:
None
None

Uniform Flow Depth

=
A=
P=
T=
R=
K=
err =
yn =
Alt yn =

#VALUE!
#VALUE!
#VALUE!
#VALUE!
#VALUE!
#VALUE!
#VALUE!
#VALUE!

Critical Flow Depth

rad
ft2
ft
ft
cfs
cfs
ft

None ft

=
A=
P=
R=
T=
err =

Angle with Center

Flow Area
Wetted Perimeter
Hydraulic Radius
Top Width
Manning's Conveyance
Manning's Q - Given Q
Uniform Flow Depth

#VALUE!
#VALUE!
#VALUE!
#VALUE!
#VALUE!
#VALUE!

yc =

rad
ft2
ft
ft
ft
cfs

Angle with Center

Flow Area
Wetted Perimeter
Hydraulic Radius
Top Width
Q2/g - A3/T

#VALUE! ft

Critical Flow Depth

Alternate Uniform Flow Depth

Maximum possible flow rate in a

pipe of this diameter:
y @ Qmax =
2.91 ft
=
5.60 rad
A=
7.01 ft2
P=
8.91 ft
T=
1.00
R=
0.79 ft
K=
355.3 cfs
Qmax =
275.2 cfs
Qfull =
268.7 cfs

There may be cases where any three of the following values have been observed, and the fourth value is to be
calculated. This is not the uniform or critical flow depth, but is simply a solution to the relationship between
flow geometry, flow rate and velocity.
Know diameter, flow depth and flow rate, what is the velocity? (d must be greater than y)
d=
y=
Q=

1.00 ft
0.50 ft
1.00 cfs

=
A=
V=

3.14
0.39 ft2
2.55 ft/sec

Know diameter, flow depth and velocity, what is the flow rate? (d must be greater than y)
d=
y=
V=

6.50 ft
1.45 ft
3.07 ft/sec

=
A=
Q=

1.97
5.52 ft2
16.95 cfs

Know diameter, velocity and flow rate, what is the flow depth? (area of full pipe must be greater than Q/V)
d=
V=
Q=

6.50 ft
3.07 ft/sec
17.00 cfs

= #VALUE!
A=
5.54 ft2
y = #VALUE! ft