Knowra Hydraulic head Hydraulic head Hydraulic head is the mechanical energy of water per unit weight, expressed as an equivalent height. It combines elevation, pressure, and velocity contributions at a location.
Elevation head : The height of a point above a chosen reference datum, expressed as a contribution to fluid energy per unit weight. It captures the gravitational energy of water above the reference level.
Darcy's law : An empirical law relating fluid flow through a porous medium to hydraulic gradient, conductivity, and area. It uses head change over distance to predict groundwater flow.
Hydrostatic pressure : The pressure exerted by a fluid at rest because of the weight of fluid above it. Pressure is one contribution to head, not the full energy-per-weight quantity.
Specific weight : The weight of a substance per unit volume, commonly denoted by the Greek letter gamma. Dividing pressure or energy density by specific weight yields a length-valued head.
Pressure head : The pressure of a fluid divided by its specific weight, expressed as the height of an equivalent fluid column. It converts water pressure into the height contribution used in total head.
Hydraulic gradient : The change in hydraulic head per unit distance in a specified direction. It expresses the spatial head difference that drives flow through porous materials.
Total pressure : The sum of static and dynamic pressure in a flowing fluid, under the conditions where that decomposition applies. Unlike hydraulic head, pressure is not expressed as energy per unit weight or height.
Gravitational potential energy : Energy an object has because of its position in a gravitational field. Elevation head represents this energy per unit weight.
Velocity head : The kinetic energy of flowing fluid per unit weight, equal to velocity squared divided by twice gravitational acceleration. It accounts for energy carried by water’s motion.
Piezometer : An instrument that measures fluid pressure or the pressure head at a point in a system. Its water level indicates pressure head and, with elevation, hydraulic head.
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