Hydraulic diameter

The hydraulic diameter, DH, is a commonly used term when handling flow in noncircular tubes and channels. Using this term one can calculate many things in the same way as for a round tube. It is defined as

D_H = \frac {4A}{P}

where A is the cross sectional area and P is the wetted perimeter of the cross-section.

The Manning formula contains a quantity called the hydraulic radius. Despite what the name may suggest, the hydraulic diameter is not twice the hydraulic radius, but four times.

Hydraulic diameter is mainly used for calculations involving turbulent flow. Secondary flows can be observed in non-circular ducts as a result of turbulent shear stress in the turbulent flow.

Hydraulic diameter is also used in calculation of heat transfer in internal flow problems.

List of hydraulic diameters

Geometry Figure Hydraulic diameter Comment
Circular tube D_H = \frac{4( \pi D^2 /4)}{\pi D} = D For a circular tube the hydraulic diameter is simply the diameter of the tube.
Annulus D_H = \frac{4 \cdot \pi (D_o^2 - D_i^2)/4} {\pi (D_o + D_i)} = D_o - D_i
Square duct D_H = \frac{4 a^2}{4a} = a
Rectangular duct (fully filled) D_H = \frac{4 ab}{2\left(a+b\right)} = \frac{2 ab}{a+b}
Channel of water or partial filled rectangular duct D_H = \frac{4 ab}{2a+ b} For the limiting case of a very wide duct, i.e. a slot of width a where a ≫ b, then DH = 2b

For a fully filled duct or pipe whose cross section is a regular polygon, the hydraulic diameter is equivalent to the diameter of a circle inscribed within the wetted perimeter.

See also