QUANTITATIVE HYDROLOGY

Synthetic Unit Hydrograph

Storage routing
Computer simulation

Synthetic Unit Hydrograph

.
=
Where:
= is in hour (hr.).
= basin length measured along the water course from the basin divide to the
gauging station in km.
= distance along the main water course from the gauging station to a point
opposite the watershed centroid in km.
= a regional constant representing watershed slope and storage.

Note: The value of Ct in Synders study ranged from 1.35 to 1.65. The value of Ct
ranging from 0.3 to 6.0.

The corresponding effective rainfall can be obtained by the formula:

=
.
Where:
= corresponding rainfall
 = time peak in hrs.

For the peak discharge:

= .

Where:
= is the peak discharge cfs.
= is coefficient retention and storage.

Note: Usually vary between 0.4 0.8.

The hydrograph time base given as:

= +
Where:
tp can be computed as:
= tp +

New time peak:

= +
Storage Routing
Reservoir routing
River routing

Basic Equations

=
Where:
I = Upstream Inflow
O = Downstream Outflow
S =Storage

River Routing
Routing is a technique used to predict the changes in shape of a
hydrograph as water moves through a river channel or a reservoir.
Muskingum Method
= +
Where:
K= constant value of storage time
x = weighing factor

Simplified Muskingum Equation

= + +

Where:
0.5t Kx
C =
D
Kx + 0.5t
C =
D
K Kx 0.5t
C =
D
D = K Kx + 0.5t

To check:
C +C +C =1

Reservoir routing
Reservoir routing involves the application of the continuity equation to a
storage facility in which the storage volume for a particular geometry is a
dependant only on the outflow.

= s
Weir
Rectangular Weir:

= +

Francis Formula:

= . + .

Cipolletti Weir:

= . - S.I Unit

= . - English Unit

Orifice
Theoretical:

Where:

Q = discharge, cfs
h = height of water above the weir crest, ft, OR distance from the center of the
orifice to upstream free water surface
A = cross-sectional area, sq. ft.
C = coefficient
L = weir length, feet
g = gravitational constant = 32.2 ft/sec2

Computer Simulation

Also known as Computer model, which is a computer program that

attempts to simulate an abstract model of a particular system

Computer programs for hydrologic modeling:

TR-20 ("Technical Release No.20")

Computes direct runoff from a rainstorm
Generates flood hydrographs from surface runoff.

TR-55 ("Technical Release No.55")

Calculate
Storm runoff volume
Peak rate of discharge
hydrographs
storage volumes