GARWARE-WALL ROPES LTD

Geosynthetics Division

PROJECT: Jerosite Containment Pond at Binanipuram

DEFINITION OF HYDRAULIC GRADIENT

Introduction

Hydraulic gradient between to points is defined as the ratio of the difference in total head
between the two points to the length of the flow path between the two points. We can
consider two different cases

 Flow under pressure in conduits where flow is driven by difference in pressure

(e.g. flow through pipes)
 Free surface flows where flow is driven by gravity (e.g. flow in open channels)

Flow Under Pressure

The various terms involved are defined in Figure 1 below.

Hydraulic gradient line

hw1
θ
1

β
2 hw2
Pipe
z1
z2
Arbitrary datum line

Figure 1: Definition of Hydraulic Gradient for flow through conduits under

pressure

Total head at any point may be given with respect an arbitrary datum as the sum of
elevation head, pressure head and velocity head.
Elevation head (z) = height of the point above the datum (m)

Pressure head (hw) = p/γw (m)

Where
p = Pressure at the point (kN/m2)
γw = Unit weight of water (kN/m3)

Velocity head = V2/2g (m)

Where
V = Velocity of flow in m/s
g = Accelaration due to gravity in m/s2

Normally in flow through porous media, the velocity head is small compared to pressure
head and elevation head and is normally ignored.

Hence total head (H) at any point is

H = z + hw

Now referring to the figure, considering two points 1 and 2

H1 = z1 + hw1

H2 = z2 + hw2

Difference in head (ΔH) is calculated as below

ΔH = H1 – H2 = (z1 + hw1 ) – (z2 + hw2 )

The length of flow path = L' = L / Cosβ

(assuming flow is parallel to the pipe, i.e inclined at an angle β to the horizontal)

Hence hydraulic gradient (i) =

However ΔH / L = tanθ

However, for small values of β, Cosβ ≈ 1

Hydraulic gradient ≈ tanθ

i.e. Hydraulic gradient is equal to the slope of the hydraulic gradient line (for small
values of θ). Hydraulic gradient line represents the variation of total head along the
conduit. If a piezometer is inserted into the pipe at any point water will rise up to the
hydraulic gradient line.
Free Surface Flow

The same principles apply to free surface flows also. Various terms are illustrated in
Figure 2

1 Water surface

θ 2
L'
z1 β

z2
Channel bottom

Figure 2: Definition of Hydraulic Gradient for free surface flows

Consider two points 1 and 2 on the free surface. Since these two points are on the free
surface, the pressure is atmospheric, i.e pressure head at both points is zero.
Hydraulic gradient = ΔH / L' = ΔH / (L/ cosθ) =
Where
ΔH = z1 – z2

Now ΔH/L = tanθ

Hence, hydraulic gradient = tanθ cosθ = = sinθ

For small values of θ, sinθ ≈ tanθ, hence hydraulic gradient ≈ tanθ
Thus in the case of free surface flows where the slopes are small, hydraulic gradient is the
slope of the free surface of water.

In case of uniform flow, where depth of water is constant along the length of the channel,
θ = β and hence hydraulic gradient is equal to the slope of the channel bottom.

Hydraulic Gradient - ΔH / L' or Physical Slope?

By definition of hydraulic gradient is ΔH / L'. This definition is valid for all flows –
whether flow under pressure in pipes or free surface flow in open channels.

However in the case of uniform free surface flows with relatively small slopes, where the
depth of flow is constant, hydraulic gradient is equal to the slope of the channel bottom or
the slope of the drainage layer.

It should be noted that this is true only for small slopes. i.e. for small values of β,
hydraulic gradient = tan β. However for relatively large values of β, this expression will
result in considerable error. In this case, hydraulic gradient = sin β

What Does Hydraulic Gradient of 1 Mean ?

Hydraulic gradient = 1, implies that sin β = 1, i.e. β = 90º

(Again it should be remembered that for large values of β, i = sin β and not tan β)

This means that hydraulic gradient of 1 is applicable to vertical free surface flows. This is
illustrated in Figure 3.

Here since both points 1 and 2 are on the free surface, the pressure acting at these points
is the atmospheric pressure. This means that pressure head at these points are zero.

hw1 = hw2 = 0

ΔH = z1 – z2

L' = z1 – z2

Hydraulic gradient = ΔH / L' = 1

Water surface

1
 β = 90º θ = 90º
z1

z2
Datum

Figure 3: Hydraulic gradient for vertical flow with a free surface

Binanipuram Jerosite Containment Pond

Here the situation is similar to a free surface flow (see Figure 4). For analysis, normal
practice is to assume that depth of fluid is constant along the length of the geonet. Hence
in this case the hydraulic gradient is equal to the slope of the drainage layer.

Hence for design purpose, the applicable hydraulic gradient will be the slope of the
drainage net (in this case 1 in 200, i.e. 0.005)

Geotextile Geonet

Figure 4: Hydraulic gradient for drainage geonet

Geomembrane