TABLE OF CONTENTS A basic hydraulic formula developed by Chezy for determining the flow of water particularly in open channels is written as follows:
| where Q = | discharge, cubic feet per second |
| A = | cross-sectional area of flow in square feet, at right angles to the direction of flow |
| V = | mean velocity of flow, cubic feet per second |
| c = | a coefficient of roughness whose value depends upon the character of surface over which water is flowing |
| R = | hydraulic radius in feet = A/ WP |
| WP = | wetted perimeter or length, in feet, of wetted contact between a stream or water and its containing channel measured at right angles to the direction of flow |
| S = | slope, or grade, in ft/ft |
This fundamental formula is the basis of most capacity formulas.
This subsection courtesy of American Iron and Steel Institute.
