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SLOPE OF HORIZONTAL DRAINAGE PIPING

Horizontal drains are designated to flow at half full capacity under uniform flow conditions so as to prevent the generation of
positive pressure fluctuations. A minimum of 1/4 per foot should be provided for 3 pipe and smaller, 1/8 per foot for 4
through 6, and 1/16 per foot for 8 and larger. These minimum slopes are required to maintain a velocity of flow greater
than 2 feet per second for scouring action. Table 41 gives the approximate velocities and discharge rated for given slopes
and diameters of horizontal drains based on modified Manning Formula for 1/2 full pipe and n = 0.015. The valves for R, R
2/3, A, S, S 1/2 and n are from Tables 38, 39 & 40.
Q = A x 1.486
x R 2/3 x S
n
Where:

Q = Flow in GPM
A = Cross sectional area, sq. ft.
n = Manning coefficient

Table 38
PIPE
SIZE
(IN.)

R=

D
4

FEET

2/3

1/2

(7.48x60)

R = Hydraulic radius of pipe

S = Hydraulic gradient

A - CROSS-SECTIONAL
AREA FOR FULL FLOW
SQ. FT.

A - CROSS-SECTIONAL
AREA FOR HALF FULL FLOW
SQ. FT.

0.0335

0.1040

0.01412

0.00706

0.0417

0.1200

0.02180

0.01090

2-1/2

0.0521

0.1396

0.03408

0.01704

0.0625

0.1570

0.04910

0.02455

0.0833

0.1910

0.08730

0.04365

0.1040

0.2210

0.13640

0.06820

0.1250

0.2500

0.19640

0.09820

0.1670

0.3030

0.34920

0.17460

10

0.2080

0.3510

0.54540

0.27270

12

0.2500

0.3970

0.78540

0.39270

14

0.3125

0.4610

1.22700

0.61350

1/2

Table 39 VALUES OF S AND S

SLOPE
INCHES
PER FOOT

Table 40 VALUES OF n.

S
FOOT PER FOOT

THERMOPLASTIC ENGINEERING

1-1/2

1/2

1/8

0.0104

0.102

1/4

0.0208

0.144

1/2

0.0416

0.204

PIPE SIZE

1-1/2

0.012

2 through 3

0.013

0.014

5 and 6

0.015

8 and larger

0.016

Table 41 APPROXIMATE DISCHARGE RATES AND VELOCITIES IN SLOPING DRAINS

FLOWING HALF FULL DISCHARGE RATE AND VELOCITY
1/16 IN./FT.
SLOPE

1/8 IN./FT.
SLOPE

1/2 IN./FT.
SLOPE

1/4 IN./FT.
SLOPE

ACTUAL INSIDE
DIAMETER
OF PIPE
INCHES

DISCHARGE
GPM

VELOCITY
FPS

DISCHARGE
GPM

VELOCITY
FPS

1-1/4

3.40

1.78

1-3/8

3.13

1.34

4.44

1.90

1-1/2

3.91

1.42

5.53

2.01

1-5/8

4.81

1.50

6.80

2.12

8.42

1.72

11.9

2.43

1.99

21.6

2.82

2-1/2

DISCHARGE
GPM

10.8

1.41

15.3

VELOCITY
FPS

DISCHARGE VELOCITY
GPM
FPS

17.6

1.59

24.8

2.25

35.1

3.19

26.70

1.36

37.8

1.93

53.4

2.73

75.5

3.86

48.3

1.58

68.3

2.23

96.6

3.16

137.

4.47

78.5

1.78

111.

2.52

157.

3.57

222.

5.04

170.

2.17

240.

3.07

340.

4.34

480.

6.13

10

308.

2.52

436.

3.56

616.

5.04

872.

7.12

12

500.

2.83

707.

4.01

999.

5.67

1413.

8.02