Calculate the slope of the water table or the loss of pressure per unit length in a pipe.
Measurement Points
m
m
m
Gradient Results
Enter head values and distance to calculate gradient
About this calculator
Quick Reference
h1, h2Hydraulic Head levels
LFlow path length
iHydraulic Gradient
Overview
Hydraulic gradient (i) is the change in hydraulic head per unit of distance in the direction of maximum rate of decrease of head. It's the 'driving force' that causes fluid to flow.
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Pro Tips
Head (h) is usually measured in meters (m) and represents the total energy per unit weight of fluid.
The gradient is dimensionless (m/m), but often expressed as a percentage or fraction.
Fluid flows from regions of higher head to regions of lower head.
In pipes, the hydraulic gradient represents the energy loss due to friction.
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Fun Facts
"A gradient of 0 means the fluid is static (no flow)."
"In ground water, gradients are usually very small (0.01 to 0.0001)."
"During a flood, hydraulic gradients in rivers increase significantly, leading to higher velocities and erosion."
