Lecture Notes – Civil Engineering – Engineering Hydrology

NOTRE DAME UNIVERSITY

College of Engineering and Computer Studies
Department of Civil Engineering
Notre Dame Avenue, Cotabato City, 9600

CE 3205 – ENGINEERING HYDROLOGY

Lecture Notes

Prepared By:

ENGR. EBRAHIM A. OMAR, RMP, CE, ME-1, MSCEcand

Instructor III, Faculty of Civil Engineering
omar.ea@ndu.edu.ph
Affiliated with:
Association of Plumbing Engineers of the Philippines, Inc.
Structural Engineers Association of Davao, Inc.
Philippine Accredited Materials Engineers Association, Inc.
Philippine Society of United Master Plumbers, Inc.
Philippine Institute of Civil Engineers, Inc.
Institution of Safety Management Specialists
Lecture Notes – Civil Engineering – Engineering Hydrology

DISCLAIMER

These lecture notes are being prepared and printed for the use in training the students
and practicing engineers. No commercial use of these notes is permitted and copies of
these will not be offered for sale in any manner. Due acknowledgement has been made
in the reference sections. The readers are encouraged to provide written feedbacks for
improvement of course materials.

References:

Raghunath, H. M. (2006). Hydrology: Principle, Analysis and Design, Revised 2nd Edition.
4835/24, Ansari Road, Daryaganj, New Delhi - 110002: New Age International (P)
Ltd., Publishers.
Wanielista, M., Kersten, R., & Eaglin, R. (1997). Hydrology: Water Quantity and Quality
Control, 2nd Edition. Canada: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Lecture Notes – Civil Engineering – Engineering Hydrology

ESTIMATION OF RUNOFF

I.1. Definition
Runoff is that balance of rain water, which flows or runs over the natural ground surface
after losses by evaporation, interception and infiltration.

The yield of a catchment (usually means annual yield) is the net quantity of water
available for storage, after all losses, for the purposes of water resources utilisation and
planning, like irrigation, water supply, etc.

Maximum flood discharge. It is the discharge in times of flooding of the catchment

area, i.e., when the intensity of rainfall is greatest and the condition of the catchment
regarding humidity is also favourable for an appreciable runoff.

I.2. Runoff Estimation

The runoff from rainfall may be estimated by the following methods:
(a) Empirical Formulae, Curves, and Tables
(b) Infiltration Method
(c) Rational Method
(d) Overland Flow Hydrograph
(e) Unit Hydrograph Method
(f) Coaxial Graphical Correlation and API

(a) Empirical Formulae, Curves, and Tables

Several empirical formulae, curves, and tables relating to rainfall and runoff have been
developed as follows:

𝑅 = 𝑎𝑃 + 𝑏

𝑅 = 𝑎𝑃𝑛

Where R - runoff
P - rainfall
a, b, c - constants
Lecture Notes – Civil Engineering – Engineering Hydrology

Examples of Empirical Formulae:

C.C. Inglis’ Formula for Bombay – Deccan Catchments (Ghat Areas)

Lecture Notes – Civil Engineering – Engineering Hydrology

Lacey’s Formula for Indo-Gangetic Plain

(b) Infiltration Method

By deducting the infiltration loss, the area under the infiltration curve, from the total
precipitation or by the use of infiltration indices. These methods are largely empirical and
the derived values are applicable only when rainfall characteristics and the initial soil
moisture conditions are identical to those for which these are derived.

(c) Rational Method

A rational approach is to obtain the yield of catchment by assuming a suitable runoff
coefficient.

𝑌𝑖𝑒𝑙𝑑 = 𝐶𝐴𝑃

Where A - area of catchment

P - precipitation
C - runoff coefficient

Runoff Coefficients (C) depend upon the soil type, vegetation geology, etc and the
following values are given by Richards as a guide.

As presented by Mulvaney (1851) and used by Kuichling (1889), the rational formula is
given below:

𝑄𝑝 = 𝐶𝑖𝐴

Where Qp - peak discharge (cfs)

C - runoff coefficient (dimensionless)
i - rainfall intensity (in/hr)
Lecture Notes – Civil Engineering – Engineering Hydrology

A - watershed area (acre)

Basic assumptions for using the Rational Formula are:

(i) The rainfall intensity must be constant for a time interval at least equal to
the time of concentration (typically taken to be the average intensity over
the time period).
(ii) The runoff is a maximum when the rainfall intensity lasts as long as the
time of concentration.
(iii) The runoff coefficient is constant during the storm.
(iv) The watershed area does not change during the storm.

(d) Overland Flow Hydrograph

Overland flow occurs as a thin sheet of water over the ground surface soon after a storm
starts), joins a stream channel, and then flows in the channel to the concentration point.

Overland flow is essentially a uniform flow over the surface as developed by C.F Izzard
(1948). The Reynolds Number

𝑉𝑑 𝑞
𝑅𝑒 = =
𝑐 𝑣
Where V - velocity of flow
d - uniform depth of flow
v - kinematic viscosity of water
q - discharge per unit width
Lecture Notes – Civil Engineering – Engineering Hydrology

Re ≤ 1000 → Assumed to be laminar flow

Re > 1000 → Assumed to be turbulent flow

Izzard suggested that for rectangular drainage areas, laminar flow can be assumed if
the product 𝑖𝑛𝑒𝑡 𝑥 𝑙 𝑛𝑜𝑡 > 400 where inet is the net rainfall in cm/hr and l is the length of
overland flow in meters.

(e) Unit Hydrograph Method

The hydrograph of direct surface discharge measured at the outlet of drainage area,
which produces a unit depth of direct runoff (Pnet of 1 cm over the entire area of the
catchment) resulting from a unit storm of specified duration (called unit period) is called
a unit hydrograph of that duration.

This method was first proposed by L.K Sherman in 1932. The area under the hydrograph
represents a direct runoff of 1 cm.
Lecture Notes – Civil Engineering – Engineering Hydrology

I.3. Time of Concentration

The time of concentration is the longest travel time it takes a particle of water to reach
a discharge point in a watershed. There are three ways that waters are transported:
(i) Overland Flow
(ii) Pipe Flow (Storm Sewer)
(iii) Channel Flow, including gutter flow

a. Izzard’s Formula
As the size of the watershed decreases, overland flow becomes dominant for the
calculation of time of concentration. When using Izzard’s formula, well-defined channels
should not be evident. The time of concentration is the same as time to equilibrium
developed by Izzard and the maximum runoff values of flow is calculated using

41𝐾𝐿 1/3
𝑡𝑐 = (for i x L < 500)
𝑖 2/3

Where tc - time of concentration (min)

L - overland flow distance (ft)
i - rainfall intensity (in/hr)
Lecture Notes – Civil Engineering – Engineering Hydrology

0.0007𝑖+𝑐𝑟
𝐾= 𝑆 1/3

Where for iL < 500 in-ft/hr

S - slope (ft/ft)
Cr - retardance coefficient, given as
Very smooth asphalt 0.007
Tar and sand pavement 0.0075
Crushed-slate roof 0.0082
Concrete 0.012
Tar and gravel pavement 0.017
Closely clipped sod 0.046
Dense bluegrass 0.060

b. Kerby’s Equation
Kerby (1959) developed an equation for overland flow:

𝑡𝑐 = 𝑐(𝐿𝑛𝑠 −0.5)0.467 for L < 365m (1000 ft)

Where tc - time of concentration (min)

L - length of flow (ft) generally less than 1000 ft
s - slope (ft/ft)
c - 0.83 (when using feet) or 1.44 (when using meters)
n - retardance roughness coefficient
Smooth pavements 0.02
Poor grass, bare sod 0.30
Average grass 0.40
Dense grass 0.80

c. Kirpich’s Equation
Kirpich (1940) developed an equation that can be used for rural areas to estimate t c. It
is based on data reported by Ramser (1927) for six small agricultural watersheds near
Jackson, Tennessee. The slope of these watersheds was steep with well-drained soils.
Timber cover from zero to 56%, and watershed areas ranged from 1.2 to 112 acres.

𝐿0.77
𝑡𝑐 = 0.0078( )
𝑆 0.385

Where tc - time of concentration (min)

L - length of travel (ft)
S - slope (ft/ft)

d. Kinematic Wave
Lecture Notes – Civil Engineering – Engineering Hydrology

The kinematic wave equation (Ragan, 1971; Fleming, 1975) can be used to estimate tc
when there exists a kinematic wave (velocity not changing with distance but changing a
point). The tc equation for these conditions is

0.93(𝐿0.6 𝑁 0.6 )
𝑡𝑐 =
𝑖 0.40 𝑆 0.3

Where tc - time of concentration (min)

L - overland flow length (ft) limited to 300ft
N - Manning’s Roughness Coefficient for overland flow
i - rainfall intensity (in/hr)
S - average slope of overland flow path (ft/ft)
Lecture Notes – Civil Engineering – Engineering Hydrology

e. National Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Equation (formerly the

Soil Conservation Service)
The SCS (USDA, 1975) used two techniques which are essentially hydraulic wave
equations. The simpler of the two estimation equations relate to watershed lag

𝑡𝑐 = 1.67𝑡𝐿

Where tL - watershed lag time in hr (from the center of mass of

rainfall excess to the time of peack runoff)

0.8
(𝑆 ′ + 1)0.7
𝑡𝐿 = 𝐿
1900𝑤𝑠0.5

Where L - watershed hydraulic length (ft)

S’ - potential watershed storage (in)
Ws - average watershed slope (percentage value)

f. Bransby William Equation

Bransby Williams (1922) Equation

1
𝑡𝑐 = 21.3𝐿
𝐴0.1 𝑆 0.2
Lecture Notes – Civil Engineering – Engineering Hydrology

Where L - length of channel from divide to outlet in miles

A - watershed area in square miles
S - slope of a linear profile having the same area under it as
the actual profile of the main stream in ft/ft

g. Federal Aviation Agency Equation

The FAA (1970) developed an equation from airfield drainage data which uses the runoff
coefficient as used by the rational method.

1.8 (1.1 − 𝐶)𝐿0.50

𝑡𝑐 =
𝑆 0.33

Where C - runoff coefficient

L - maximum length of overland flow in ft
S - slope in percent of longest overland flow path

h. Manning’s Equation
In storm sewer gutters and open channels, Manning’s Equation (Chow, 1959) to calculate
average velocities is used:

1.486 2/3 1/2

𝑣= 𝑅 𝑆
𝑛

Where v - velocity (ft/sec)

R - hydraulic radius, ft = D/4 for pipes flowing full
S - slope (ft/ft)
n - roughness coefficient (see Table 5.2)
Lecture Notes – Civil Engineering – Engineering Hydrology
Lecture Notes – Civil Engineering – Engineering Hydrology

Sample Problem:
A 4-hour rain of average intensity 1 cm/hr falls over the fern leaf type catchment as
shown in Figure. The time of concentration from the lines AA, BB, CC and DD are 1, 2, 3
and 4 hours, respectively, to the site 0 where the discharge measurements are made.
The values of the runoff coefficient C are 0.5, 0.6, and 0.7 for the 1st, 2nd and 3rd hours
of rainfall respectively and attains a constant value of 0.8 after 3 hours. Determine the
discharge at site 0.

Solution:
Lecture Notes – Civil Engineering – Engineering Hydrology

Sample Problem:
Consider a watershed shown. Compute the time of concentration for the basin from points
A through D.

Solution:
From A → B

From Figure 5.7, v=2.2 ft/sec

𝑙𝑒𝑛𝑔𝑡ℎ 1000 𝑓𝑡
𝑡𝑐 = = = 455 𝑠𝑒𝑐
𝑣𝑒𝑙𝑜𝑐𝑖𝑡𝑦 2.2 𝑓𝑡/𝑠𝑒𝑐

From B → C

1.486
𝑣= 𝑅2/3 𝑆 1/2
𝑛

1.486 3
𝑣 = 0.015 (4)2/3 (0.016)1/2

𝑣 = 10 𝑓𝑡/𝑠𝑒𝑐 → usually pipe flow velocity is between 3 and 10 ft/sec

𝑙𝑒𝑛𝑔𝑡ℎ 2000 𝑓𝑡
𝑡𝑐 = 𝑣𝑒𝑙𝑜𝑐𝑖𝑡𝑦 = 10 𝑓𝑡/𝑠𝑒𝑐 = 200 𝑠𝑒𝑐

From C → D

Open Channel is Trapezoidal Shape

1
𝐴 = (2) (5 + 11)(3) = 24 𝑠𝑞. 𝑚

𝑃 = 5 + 2√32 + 32 = 5 + 2√18 = 13.485 𝑚

1.486 𝐴 24
𝑣= 𝑛
𝑅2/3 𝑆 1/2 𝑅 = 𝑃 = 13.485 = 1.78
Lecture Notes – Civil Engineering – Engineering Hydrology

1.486
𝑣 = 0.018 (1.78)2/3(0.01)1/2

𝑣 = 12.1 𝑓𝑡/𝑠𝑒𝑐

𝑙𝑒𝑛𝑔𝑡ℎ 1100 𝑓𝑡
𝑡𝑐 = = = 91 𝑠𝑒𝑐
𝑣𝑒𝑙𝑜𝑐𝑖𝑡𝑦 12.1 𝑓𝑡/𝑠𝑒𝑐

𝑇𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙 𝑡𝑐 = 455 + 200 + 91 = 𝟕𝟒𝟔 𝒔𝒆𝒄