Hydrology Chapter 5
Hydrology Chapter 5
Hydrology Chapter 5
Krishna Khadka
Unit 5
Hydrograph Analysis
Storm Hydrograph
The graphical representation of the instantaneous rate of discharge (Q) of a
stream plotted with respect to time (t) is known as hydrograph.
It is a response of a catchment to the rainfall input or it is the result of
physiographic and hydro-meteorological effects of the watershed.
It consists of flow in all three phases of runoff, viz, surface runoff, interflow
and base flow, and embodies in itself the integrated effects of a wide variety of
catchment and rainfall parameters having complex interactions.
Thus two different storms in a given catchment produce hydrographs differing
from each other.
Similarly, identical storms in two catchments produce different hydrographs.
The interactions of various storms and catchments are in general extremely
complex.
They are used to plan for flood situations and times of drought. They show
the river discharge that occurs as a result of precipitation from an earlier storm.
A. Physiographic factors
1. Shape of the basin
2. Size of the basin
3. Slope of the basin
4. Drainage density
5. Landuse
6. Elevation of catchment
7. Geological condition and soil type
B. Climatic factors
1. Intensity of rainfall
2. Duration of rainfall
3. Movement of storm
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1. Physiographic factors
1. Shape of the basin
The shape of the basin influences the time taken for water from the remote
parts of the catchment to arrive at the outlet.
Thus, the occurrence of the peak and hence the shape of the hydrograph are
affected by the basin shape.
Fan-shaped, i.e. nearly semicircular shaped catchments give high peak and
narrow hydrographs
Elongated catchments give broad and low-peaked hydrographs.
2. Climatic factors
1. Intensity of rainfall
The intensity of the rainfall in a given duration decides the volume of the
hydrograph, its peak value, time to peak and slope of the rising limb.
For a given duration, the peak and volume of the surface runoff are
essentially proportional to the intensity of rainfall.
2. Duration of rainfall
The duration of the storm of given intensity is directly proportional to the
volume of the hydrograph/ direct runoff.
It affects the rising limb and peak of the hydrograph.
3. Movement of storm
If the storm moves from upstream towards downstream of the catchment, the
concentration of the flow at basin outlet will be quicker resulting a peaked
hydrograph with steeper rising limb and smaller time base.
Conversely, if the storm moves towards upstream of the catchment, the
resulting hydrograph will have a lower peak and longer time base.
This effect is further accentuated by the shape of the catchment—the
hydrograph is sensitive to direction of storm movement especially in long
and narrow catchment.
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The point A represents the beginning of direct runoff and is easy to find. The
point A can be well noticed by sharp change/increase of discharge/runoff
rate.
The point B represents the end of direct runoff. Point B is rather difficult to
locate. So empirical formula (Linsey’s equation) is used.
𝑁 = 0.83𝐴 0.2
Where, N = time interval (days) from peak to point B (end of direct runoff)
A = basin area in km 2
Finally point B is located in graph and point A and point B are joined by a
straight line which separates base flow from direct runoff.
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Excess Rainfall
Excess rainfall (also known as Effective rainfall) (ER) is that part of the rainfall
that becomes direct runoff at the outlet of the watershed.
It is the rainfall minus infiltration and initial losses.
The resulting hyetograph is known as effective rainfall hyetograph (ERH).
The excess rainfall is determined by the infiltration indices (as φ- index and W-
index) as the infiltration indices are the average infiltration rate in the
hyetograph above which the rainfall is the excess or effective rainfall
The volume of effective rainfall is equal to the surface runoff volume.
Direct runoff hydrograph (DRH) is the hydrograph generated due to excess
rainfall.
The surface runoff hydrograph obtained after the base flow separation is also
known as direct runoff hydrograph (DRH).
Both ERH and DRH represent the same total quantity but in different units.
Since ERH is usually in cm/h plotted against time, the area of ERH multiplied
by the catchment area gives the total volume of direct runoff which is the same
as area of DRH.
Unit Hydrograph
There is various method of estimating maximum probable rate of runoff like
frequency analysis, Empirical formulae, and flood routing and unit hydrograph
method.
A unit hydrograph (UH) is defined as direct runoff hydrograph (DRH) resulting
from one unit depth (1 cm) of rainfall excess occurring uniformly over the basin
and at a uniform rate for a specified duration (D hours).
The unit hydrograph represents the lumped response of the catchment to a unit
rainfall excess of D-hour duration to produce a direct runoff hydrograph. It
relates only the direct runoff to the rainfall excess.
Hence, the volume of water contained in the unit hydrograph must be equal to
the rainfall excess. As 1 cm depth of rainfall excess is considered the area of the
unit hydrograph is equal to a volume given by 1 cm over the catchment.
The rainfall is considered to have an average intensity of excess rainfall of
1
𝑐𝑚/ℎ for the duration of D-h of the storm.
𝐷
The distribution of the storm is considered to be uniform over the entire
catchment.
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a. Base width (T): The period of direct surface runoff (due to a unit storm) of
the unit hydrograph is called the time base or the base width.
b. Unit storm: The storm of unit duration (i.e., duration of the unit hydrograph)
regardless of its intensity is called unit storm.
c. Unit period: The time duration of the unit storm (i.e., the duration of the unit
hydrograph) is called unit period.
d. Lag time (t p): The time from the center of a unit storm to the peak discharge
of the corresponding unit hydrograph is called lag time.
e. Recession time (T r): The duration of the direct surface runoff after the end of
the excess or net rainfall, is called recession time in hydrograph analysis.
2. Proportional Ordinates
For unit storms of different intensities, the ordinates of the hydrograph at
any given time are in the same proportion as the rainfall intensities as shown
in above figure.
3. Linear Response
The direct-runoff response to the rainfall excess is assumed to be linear.
This is the most important assumption of the unit-hydrograph theory.
Linear response means that if an input x 1 (t) causes an output y 1 (t) and an
input x2 (t) causes an output y2 (t), then an input x1 (t) + x2 (t) gives an
output y1 (t) + y2 (t).
Consequently, x 2 (t) = rx2 (t), then y 2 (t) = ry1 (t)
Thus, if the rainfall excess in a duration D is r times the unit depth, the
resulting DRH will have ordinates bearing ratio r to those of the
corresponding D-h unit hydrograph.
This assumption enables the method of superposition to derive DRHs
If two rainfall excess of D-h duration each occur consecutively, their
combined effect is obtained by superposing the respective DRHs with due
care being taken to account for the proper sequence of events.
Steps:
1. Select the single peak isolated hydrograph from past records.
2. Let Q1, Q2, Q3, Q4….. be the ordinates of isolated hydrograph. let bQ be the
base flow.
3. From the ordinate of the total runoff hydrograph at the regular time interval,
subtract the corresponding ordinate of base flow to obtain the ordinates of the
direct runoff (Let O 1, O2, O3, O4….. be ordinates of DRH).
Then, O1 = Q 1 – Qb
O2 = Q 2 – Q b
O3 = Q 3 – Q b
O4 = Q 4 – Q b
4. Similarly obtain excess rainfall (R e) by deducting all the infiltration losses from
total ERH. we will get ERH.
5. Compute volume of direct runoff using DRH ordinates,
Volume of runoff (V d) = Σ O t ×Δt
𝑣𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝑑𝑖𝑟𝑒𝑐𝑡 𝑟𝑢𝑛𝑜𝑓𝑓
6. Depth of runoff from DRH is calculated as 𝑟𝑑 =
𝐴𝑟𝑒𝑎 𝑜𝑓 𝑐𝑎𝑡𝑐ℎ𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡
Numerical
1. A 14- h storm over a catchment of 5.0Km2 produced a mass curve as
follows.
Time from start of rainfall (h) 0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14
Accumulated rainfall (cm) 0 0.6 2.8 5.2 6.6 7.5 9.2 9.6
If ф-index for the catchment is 0.4 cm/h, determine the effective rainfall
hyetograph and the volume of direct runoff from the catchment due to the
storm.
Time from Accumulated Time interval Depth of Losses Effective Intensity of effective
start (h) rainfall (cm) Δt (h) rainfall (cm) Δt × ϕ rainfall (cm) rainfall (cm/h)
(1) (2) (3) (4) (5) = (3)×0.4 (6) = (4) – (5) (7) = (6) ÷ (3)
0 0 - - - - -
2 0.6 2-0 = 2 0.6-0 = 0.6 0.8 - -
4 2.8 4-2 = 2 2.8-0.6 = 2.2 0.8 1.4 0.7
6 5.2 6-4 = 2 5.2-2.8 = 2.4 0.8 1.6 0.8
8 6.6 8-6 = 2 6.6-5.2 = 1.4 0.8 0.6 0.3
10 7.5 10-8 = 2 7.5-6.6 = 0.9 0.8 0.1 0.05
12 9.2 12-10 = 2 9.2-7.5 = 1.7 0.8 0.9 0.45
14 9.6 14-12 = 2 9.6-9.2 = 0.4 0.8 - -
Σ ER = 4.6
Solution:
Volume of direct runoff = volume of Effective rainfall
= Area × effective rainfall
4.6
= 5 × 106 × = 231 × 10 4 𝑚 3
100
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2. The peak of a flood hydrograph due to a storm is 470 m 3/ sec. The mean
depth of rainfall is 8 cm. Assume the average infiltration loss of 0.25 cm/hr
3
and a constant base flow of 15 m /sec. Estimate the peak discharge of a
6hr-unit hydrograph for this catchment.
Solution:
Given,
Peak discharge (Q) = 470 m 3/sec
Base flow (Q b) = 15 m3/sec
Then peak ordinate of DRH (Q d) = 470 – 15 = 455 m 3/sec
Rainfall (P) = 8 cm
Loss in 6hr (due to infiltration) = 0.25 ×6 = 1.5 cm
Then effective rainfall (R e) = P - I = 8 - 1.5 = 6.5 cm
Now
𝑃𝑒𝑎𝑘 𝑂𝑟𝑑𝑖𝑛𝑎𝑡𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝐷𝑅𝐻 455
Peak of 6-hr Uh = = = 70 𝑚 3 /𝑠
𝑅𝑒 6.5
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3. The following are the ordinates of the hydrograph of the flow from a
catchment area of 770 km 2 due to 6-hr rainfall. Derive the ordinate of 6hr-
unit hydrograph. Make suitable assumption regarding base flow.
Time (hr) 0 6 12 18 24 30 36 42 48 54 60 66 72
3
Discharge (m /sec) 40 65 215 360 400 350 270 205 145 100 70 50 42
Solution:
Area of catchment (A) = 770 km 2 = 770 × 10 6 m2
Assume base flow (Q b) = 40 m3/sec
Direct runoff (Q d) = total discharge – base flow = Q - Q b
𝑜𝑟𝑑𝑖𝑛𝑎𝑡𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝐷𝑅𝐻 (𝑂)
Ordinates of unit hydrograph (𝑈𝐻𝑜 ) =
𝑒𝑥𝑐𝑒𝑠𝑠 𝑟𝑎𝑖𝑛𝑓𝑎𝑙𝑙
3
Time (hr) Discharge (m /sec) Base flow DRH ordinate UH ordinate
(Q) (Qb) Qd = Q - Q b (m3/sec)
0 40 40 0 0
6 65 40 25 5
12 215 40 175 35
18 360 40 320 64
24 400 40 360 72
30 350 40 310 62
36 270 40 230 46
42 205 40 165 33
48 145 40 105 21
54 100 40 60 12
60 70 40 30 6
66 50 40 10 2
72 42 40 2 0.4
ΣQd = 1792
Depth of runoff
𝑣𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝑑𝑖𝑟𝑒𝑐𝑡 𝑟𝑢𝑛𝑜𝑓𝑓 38707200
𝑟𝑑 = =
𝐴𝑟𝑒𝑎 𝑜𝑓 𝑐𝑎𝑡𝑐ℎ𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡 770×10 6
= 0.05𝑚 = 5 𝑐𝑚
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4. Given below are the ordinates of a 6-hr unit hydrograph for a catchment.
Calculate the ordinate of DRH due to rainfall excess of 3.5 cm occurring in
6hr.
Time (hr) 0 3 6 9 12 15 18 24 30 36 42 48 54 60 69
UH ordinate (m3/sec) 0 25 50 85 125 160 185 160 110 60 36 25 16 8 0
Solution:
Rainfall excess (R e) = 3.5 cm
𝑜𝑟𝑑𝑖𝑛𝑎𝑡𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝐷𝑅𝐻 (𝑂)
We know that, (𝑈𝐻𝑜 ) =
𝑒𝑥𝑐𝑒𝑠𝑠 𝑟𝑎𝑖𝑛𝑓𝑎𝑙𝑙
Or, ordinate of DRH (O) = UH o × Excess rainfall (R e) = UHo × 3.5
Time (hr) UH ordinate (m 3/sec) Ordinate of DRH (O)
0 0 0
3 25 87.5
6 50 175
9 85 297.5
12 125 437.5
15 160 560
18 185 647.5
24 160 560
30 110 385
36 60 210
42 36 126
48 25 87.5
54 16 56
60 8 28
69 0 0
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Ordinate of DRH
Ordinate of Flood hydrograph - base flow
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When suitable simple isolated storms are not available, data from complex
storms of long duration will have to be used in unit-hydrograph derivation.
The stream flow hydrograph may be due to more than one storm.
These types of hydrograph consist of several peaks.
The problem is to decompose a measured composite flood hydrograph into its
component DRHs and base flow.
Multiple storms are relatively long and varying intensities of rainfall. The
storms are divided into number of equal periods and fairly constant rate of
rainfall for each period.
So we have to separate the effect of each storm. This is called composite
hydrograph separation.
The principle of superposition is used in its derivation.
Steps:
1. First of all, a common unit hydrograph of appropriate duration is assumed to
exist.
2. Let, U1, U2, U3, U4….. be the ordinates of unit hydrograph.
3. Consider a rainfall excess made up of three consecutive durations of D-h and
ER values of R 1, R2 and R3.
4. Ordinate of direct runoff hydrograph due to composite storm is given by:
O1 = R 1U1
O2 = R 1U2 + R2U1
O2 = R 1U3 + R2U2 + R3U1
O2 = R 1U4 + R2U3 + R3U2+ R4U1 ……………………… (i) And so on.
From equation (i) the values of U 1, U2, U3…… can be determine.
[Note: Matrix methods with optimization schemes are available for solving
Equation (i) in a digital computer.]
Disadvantage of this method – Errors propagate and increase as computation
proceeds.
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Example
The following table gives the ordinates of a direct runoff hydrograph (DRH)
resulting from two successive 3-h duration of rainfall excess values of 2 cm
and 4 cm respectively. Derive 3-h unit hydrograph for the catchment.
Time (hr) 0 3 6 9 12 15 18 21 24 27 30
3
Discharge (m /s) 0 120 480 660 460 260 160 100 50 20 0
Solution:
Time 3-h UH DRH due to DRH due to 4 cm ER Assumed Given composite Composite
(hr) assumed 2 cm ER (lag by 3hr) composite DRH DRH 3-h UH
(1) (2) (3) = (2) × 2cm (4) = (2) × 4 cm (5) = (3) + (4) (6) (7)
0 0 0 - 0 - 0 0
3 U1 2U1 0 2U1 O1 120 60
6 U2 2U2 4U1 2U2 + 4U1 O2 480 120
9 U3 2U3 4U2 2U3 + 4U2 O3 660 90
12 U4 2U4 4U3 2U4 + 4U3 O4 460 50
15 U5 2U5 4U4 2U5 + 4U4 O5 260 30
18 U6 2U6 4U5 2U6 + 4U5 O6 160 20
21 U7 2U7 4U6 2U7 + 4U6 O7 100 10
24 U8 2U8 4U7 2U8 + 4U7 O8 50 5
27 U9 2U9 4U8 2U9 + 4U8 O9 20 0
30 0 0 4U9 4U9 O10 0 0
33 0 0 0 0 O11 0 0
Calculation: for 7 th column
1. 2U1 = 120 𝑂1
𝑈1 =
or, U1 = 120 ÷ 2 𝑅1
or, U1 = 60
2. 2U2 + 4U 1 = 480
or, 2U2 + 4 × 60 = 480
𝑂2 − 𝑅2 × 𝑈1
or, 2U2 = 480 – 4 × 60 𝑈2 =
𝑅1
or, U2 = 240 ÷2
or, U2 = 120
3. 2U3 + 4U 2 = 660 𝑂3 − 𝑅2 × 𝑈2
𝑈3 =
or, 2U3 + 4 × 120 = 660 𝑅1
or, 2U3 = 660 – 4 × 120
Similarly for U n we get
or, U3 = 180 ÷2
or, U3 = 90 𝑂𝑛 − 𝑅2 × 𝑈𝑛−1
𝑈𝑛 =
𝑅1
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5. Two 6-h storms with rainfall excess of 3.0 cm and 2.0 cm occurs
successively in a catchment whose 6-h unit hydrograph is given. Calculate
the DRH resulting from combined effect of these two storms.
Time (hr) 0 3 6 9 12 15 18 24 30 36 42 48 54 60 66
UH ordinate (m3/sec) 0 25 50 85 125 160 185 160 110 60 36 25 16 8 0
Solution:
Rainfall excess (R 1) = 3.0 cm and Rainfall excess (R 2) = 2.0 cm
We know that
𝑜𝑟𝑑𝑖𝑛𝑎𝑡𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝐷𝑅𝐻 (𝑂)
(𝑈𝐻𝑜 ) =
𝑒𝑥𝑐𝑒𝑠𝑠 𝑟𝑎𝑖𝑛𝑓𝑎𝑙𝑙
Or, ordinate of DRH (O) = UH o × Excess rainfall (R e)
Calculation table
Time (hr) 6-h UH (m3/sec) Ordinate of 3 Ordinate of 2 cm Ordinate of
composite cm DRH DRH combined DRH (O)
(1) (2) (3) = (2) × 3cm (4) = (2) × 2 cm (5) = (3) + (4)
0 0 0 - 0
3 25 75 - 75
6 50 150 0 150
9 85 255 25×2=50 305
12 125 375 50×2=100 475
15 160 480 85×2=170 650
18 185 555 125×2=250 805
24 160 480 160×2=320 800
30 110 330 185×2=370 700
36 60 180 160×2=320 500
42 36 108 110×2=220 328
48 25 75 60×2=120 195
54 16 48 36×2=72 120
60 8 24 25×2=50 74
66 0 0 16×2=32 32
8×2=16 16
0 0
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6. The ordinates of 6-h storm hydrograph for a catchment area of 423 km2
are given. Derive 6-h unit hydrograph for the catchment.
Time (hr) 0 3 6 9 12 15 18 24 30 36 42 48 54 60 66
UH ordinate (m3/sec) 0 25 50 85 125 160 185 160 110 60 36 25 16 8 0
Derive the flood in the catchment due to the storm given below:
Time from start of storm (h) 0 6 12 18
Accumulated rainfall (cm) 0 3.5 11 16.5
The storm loss rate (ϕ-index) for the catchment is estimated as 0.25 cm/ hr.
the base flow can be assumed to be 15 m 3/s at the beginning and increasing
by 2.0 m3/s for every 12 hours till the end of the direct runoff hydrograph.
Solution:
Firstly calculate effective rainfall (cm) for three storms from the above given
information.
Time from start of storm (h) 0-6 6-12 12-18
Accumulated rainfall (cm) 3.5 11 16.5
Rainfall depth for time 3.5 11-3.5 = 7.5 16.5 -11 = 5.5
interval of 6 h (cm)
Loss @0.25 cm/hr for every 0.25 × 6 = 1.5 0.25 × 6 = 1.5 0.25 × 6 = 1.5
6 hr (cm)
Effective rainfall (cm) 3.5 – 1.5 = 2 7.5 – 1.5 = 6 5.5 – 1.5 = 4
For calculation of flood hydrograph due to ERH is tabulated below:
Rows shown red are interpolated. Cells showing blue start new time
interval/sequence.
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Time 6h-UH DRH due DRH due DRH due Ordinates of Base FH
(h) to 2 cm to 6 cm to 4 cm Final DRH Flow
(1) (2) (3) = (2) ×2 (4) = (2) × 6 (5) = (2) × 4 (6) = (3)+(4)+(5) (7) (8)=(6)+(7)
0 0 0 - - 0 15 15
3 25 50 - - 50 15 65
6 50 100 0 - 100 15 115
9 85 170 150 - 320 15 335
12 125 250 300 0 550 17 567
15 160 320 510 100 930 17 947
18 185 370 750 200 1320 17 1337
24 160 320 960 340 1620 19 1639
30 110 220 1110 500 1830 19 1849
36 60 120 960 640 1720 21 1741
42 36 72 660 740 1472 21 1493
48 25 50 360 640 1050 23 1073
54 16 32 216 440 688 23 711
60 8 16 150 240 406 25 431
66 0 0 96 144 240 25 265
72 0 48 100 148 27 175
78 0 0 64 64 27 91
84 0 0 32 32 29 61
90 0 0 0 0 29 29
0 0 0 0 31 31
0 0 0 0 0
0 0 0 0 0
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A. Method of superposition
If a D-h unit hydrograph is available and it is desired to develop a unit
hydrograph of nD-h, where n is an integer then superposition method is applied.
Figure shows three 4-h unit hydrograph A, B and C.
Curve B begins 4-h after A and C begins 4-h after B.
Thus combination of these three curves results DRH of 3 cm due to ER of 12-h
duration.
If the ordinates of this DRH are divided by 3, we obtain a 12-h Unit
hydrograph.
Examples:
7. Given the ordinates of a 4-h UH, derive the ordinates of 12-h UH for the
same catchment.
Time (h) 0 4 8 12 16 20 24 28 32 36 40 44
3
4-h UH ( m /s) 0 10 60 100 120 100 80 46 24 12 4 0
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Solution:
Time 4-h UH 4-h UH 4-h UH DRH of 3 cm Ordinate of
(h) lagged by 4-h lagged by 4-h in 12 -h 12-h UH
(1) (2) (3) (4) (5) = 2 + 3 + 4 (6) = (5) ÷ 3cm
0 0 0 0.00
4 10 0 10 3.33
8 60 10 0 70 23.33
12 100 60 10 170 56.67
16 120 100 60 280 93.33
20 100 120 100 320 106.67
24 80 100 120 300 100.00
28 46 80 100 226 75.33
32 24 46 80 150 50.00
36 12 24 46 82 27.33
40 4 12 24 40 13.33
44 0 4 12 16 5.33
0 4 4 1.33
0 0 0.00
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Figure shows such a series of D-h hydrograph arranged with their starting point
D-h apart.
At any given time, the ordinates of the various curves occurring at that time co-
ordinates are summed up to obtain ordinates of the S-curve.
A smooth curve through these ordinates result in a S-shaped curve called as S-
curve.
This S-curve has an initial steep portion and reaches a maximum equilibrium
discharges at a time equal to the time base of the first unit hydrograph.
The average intensity of ER producing the S-curve is 1/D cm/h and the
equilibrium discharge is
𝐴 2.778 × 𝐴 3
𝑄𝑠 = × 104 𝑚3 /ℎ 𝑜𝑟 𝑚 /𝑠𝑒𝑐
𝐷 𝐷
Where, A = area of the catchment in km 2 and D = duration in hours of ER of the
unit hydrograph used in deriving the S-curve.
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Example
Derive the S-curve from the 4hr UH given below.
Time (hr) 0 4 8 12 16 20 24 28
UH ordinate (m3/sec) 0 10 30 25 18 10 5 0
Solution:
Time 4-h Lag Lag Lag by Lag by Lag by Lag by Lag by 4-hr S-
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8. The ordinate of 4-h unit hydrograph are given below. Obtain the ordinate
of 2-h unit hydrograph and hence obtain 2-h storm hydrograph if rainfall
excess of 25 mm results from a storm.
Time (hr) 0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 22
UH ordinate (m3/sec) 0 12.5 62.5 130 175 180 140 90 50 25 13 0
Solution:
Given,
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26 437.5 437.5
28 440.5
Time 4-h Lag Lag Lag by Lag by Lag by Lag by Lag by 4-hr S-
(h) UH by 4-h by 8-h 12-h 16-h 20-h 24-h 28-h curve
0 0 - - - - - - - 0
2 12.5 - - - - - - - 12.5
4 62.5 0 - - - - - - 62.5
6 130 12.5 - - - - - - 142.5
8 175 62.5 0 - - - - - 237.5
10 180 130 12.5 - - - - - 322.5
12 140 175 62.5 0 - - - - 377.5
14 90 180 130 12.5 - - - - 412.5
16 50 140 175 62.5 0 - - - 427.5
18 25 90 160 130 12.5 - - - 437.5
20 13 50 140 175 62.5 0 - - 440.5
22 0 25 90 160 130 12.5 - - 437.5
24 0 13 50 140 175 62.5 0 - 440.5
26 0 25 90 160 130 12.5 - 437.5
28 0 13 50 140 175 62.5 0 440.5
0 25 90 160 130 12.5
0 13 50 140 175 62.5
0 25 90 160 130
0 13 50 140 175
0 25 90 160
0 13 50 140
0 25 90
0 13 50
0 25
0 13
0
0
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Prepared By: Er. Krishna Khadka
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Prepared By: Er. Krishna Khadka
1. Flood Prediction: The unit hydrograph is commonly used to predict flood peaks
and estimate the magnitude and timing of peak flows in rivers and streams. By
convolving the UH with the rainfall hyetograph for a specific storm event, the
resulting hydrograph can be used to forecast the expected flow rates and flood
volumes.
2. Floodplain Mapping: Unit hydrographs are employed to delineate floodplains
and identify areas that are prone to flooding. By simulating the response of a
watershed to different rainfall scenarios using unit hydrographs, flood extents
can be predicted, aiding in land use planning and flood risk management.
3. Storm water Management: Unit hydrographs are crucial in designing storm
water management systems, such as detention basins and storm water ponds. By
estimating the hydrological response of a watershed to different storm events
using unit hydrographs, engineers can determine the required storage capacity
and design parameters for storm water infrastructure.
4. Watershed Modeling: The UH serves as a fundamental component in the
hydrological modeling of watersheds. It can be used to simulate the response of
a watershed to different rainfall inputs, allowing for the assessment of water
availability, water balance, and the effects of land use changes on the
hydrological system.
5. River and Reservoir Operations: Unit hydrographs are valuable in water
resources management, particularly in optimizing river and reservoir operations.
By utilizing unit hydrographs to predict inflows, water managers can make
informed decisions regarding reservoir releases, flood control measures, and
water allocation.
6. Bridge and Culvert Design: Unit hydrographs aid in designing hydraulic
structures, such as bridges and culverts, by estimating flow rates during storm
events. These estimates are crucial for ensuring that the hydraulic capacity of the
structures is adequate to handle the expected runoff.
7. Environmental Impact Assessment: The UH can be used to assess the
potential impacts of land development or land use changes on a watershed’s
hydrology. By comparing the unit hydrographs before and after the proposed
changes, the effects on peak flows, runoff volumes, and water quality can be
evaluated.
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