LAB REPORT ON COMPUTER APPLICATIONS IN

WATER RESOURCES ENGINEERING -I

(SOFTWARE: HEC-HMS)

NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY

ROURKELA
DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING

SUBMITTED BY
Group no:1

217CE4068
Chandini Beher Dolai
SIMULATION IN A DENDRITIC WATERSHED

Aim:
To simulate the Precipitation Runoff process in a dendritic watershed system using the
HEC-HMS software.

Introduction:
HEC-HMS
The Hydrologic Modelling System (HEC-HMS) is designed to simulate the complete
hydrologic processes of dendritic watershed systems. The software includes many
traditional hydrologic analysis procedures such as event infiltration, unit hydrographs, and
hydrologic routing. HEC-HMS also includes procedures necessary for continuous simulation
including evapo-transpiration, snowmelt, and soil moisture accounting. Supplemental
analysis tools are provided for model optimization, forecasting streamflow, depth-area
reduction, assessing model uncertainty, erosion and sediment transport, and water quality.
The software features a completely integrated work environment including a database, data
entry utilities, computation engine, and results reporting tools. A graphical user interface
allows the user seamless movement between the different parts of the software. Simulation
results are stored in HEC-DSS (Data Storage System) and can be used in conjunction with
other software for studies of water availability, urban drainage, flow forecasting, future
urbanization impact, reservoir spillway design, flood damage reduction, floodplain
regulation, and systems operation.
Rainfall Runoff Relationship
When rainfall exceeds the infiltration rate at the surface, excess water begins to accumulate
as surface storage in small depressions. As depression storage begins to fill, overland flow or
sheet flow may begin to occur and this flow is called as Surface runoff.
Runoff mainly depends on: Amount of rainfall, soil type, evaporation capacity and land use.

Amount of rainfall: The runoff is in direct proportion with the rainfall. i.e.as the
rainfall increases, the chance of increase in runoff will alsoincreases.
Soil type: Infiltration rate depends mainly on the soil type. If the soil is having more
void space (porosity), than the infiltration rate will be more causing less surface
runoff (eg. Laterite soil)
Evaporation capacity: If the evaporation capacity is more, surface runoff will be
reduced.
Model components are used to simulate the hydrologic response in a watershed. The
primary model components are basin models, meteorologicalmodels and control
specifications. There are also input data components. A simulation calculates the
precipitation runoff response in a given watershed from the given data. The control
specifications define the time period and time step of the simulation run. Input data
components such as time-series data, paired data and gridded data are often required as
parameter or boundary condition in meteorological models for simulation of the runoff.

Problem statement:
A watershed has the following specifications:

Basin A area = 250 Km2 ; CN= 70 ; Imperviousness = 75% ; Lag time = 15 Minutes.
Basin B area = 300 Km2 ; CN= 80 ; Imperviousness = 82% ; Lag time = 30 Minutes.
K = 1.5 Hour and X = 0.3 (Reach parameters).
24 Hours rainfall over the entire basin.
Calculate Peak discharge and volume of runoff through the basin.

PROCEDURE
1.Create a new project by clicking on File New. A pop up window opens up. Fill the details such as
name of the project and storage location. Set the unit system to Metric.

2. Create a new basin model by clicking on Components Basin model manager. Then
select the basin model and go to sub-basin creation tool.
3. Go to the created basin and click on sub basin creation tool. Click anywhere on the white
space. Then enter the name of the sub basin. Create two sub basins with different names.

4. Then click on sink creation tool. Click anywhere in the white space. Then enter the name
of the sink.

5. Click on reach creation tool.Drag the reach from sub basin A to the sink.
6. Then click on Sub Basin A and enter the data as provided. Select downstream as reach 1
for sub basin A and downstream as Sink 1 for sub basin B. Select the loss method as SCS
method. Input the unit hydrograph as SCS unit hydrograph. Then select the base flow
method as none.

7. Then go to loss and enter the values of curve numbers and the imperviousness.

8. Then go to transform and input the lag time. Select the graph as Standard (PRF484).
9.Click on Reach 1 and select the routing method as Muskingum routing. Enter the values of
K and X from the given data.

10. Go to component Time series and create a new gage.

11.Click on the gage and enter the units as Incremental millimetres and entry type as
manual. Select the interval time as required.
12. Enter the dates in the rainfall gage tables. The values of the incremental rainfall are to
be input. The graph is obtained after entering the values.
13. Now go to components Meteorological Model manager. And enter the data as
specified hyetograph. Go to basins and include the sub basins.

14. Click on specified hyetograph. Then change the gages to gage -1 for both the sub basins.

15. Go to components Control specifications manager and create a new one .Enter the
same dates as provided in the hyetograph.
16. Go to Compute Create compute Simulation Run.

17. Click on the above option to get the results. Create the run and execute the run.

RESULTS:
Click on the results Simulation run. Then click on the Global summary table.
Then click in basin 1 and go to results. Select to display graph, summary table and outflow.
Repeat the same steps for the basin B
Go to reach graph and also select time series table.
Go to Sink graph and also select time series table.
CONCLUSION
From the above analysis, we have obtained the runoff through the given watershed. The
rainfall runoff simulation was carried out using the HEC-HMS software. The obtained runoff
values were calculated using the SCS curve number method. The Routing method used was
Muskingum method with the given Muskingum parameters.
From the results, it is evident that the amount of runoff decreases as the value of rainfall
also decreases. The Hydrograph obtained at the Outlet sink of the catchment shows that the
resultant runoff is the sum of individual run off from the sub basins.
If the base flow is included, then the shape of the hydrograph obtained may be different
depending upon the method used to calculate the base flow.