Chapter 5 Hydrology

Section 6 The Rational Method

Section 6 The Rational Method

Introduction
The Rational Method was first introduced in 1889. Although it is often considered simplistic, it still is appropriate for estimating peak discharges for small drainage areas of up to about 200 acres (80 hectares) in which no significant flood storage appears.

Assumptions of the Rational Method

The rate of runoff resulting from any constant rainfall intensity is maximum when the duration of rainfall equals the time of concentration. That is, if the rainfall intensity is constant, the entire drainage area contributes to the peak discharge when the time of concentration has elapsed. This assumption becomes less valid as the drainage area increases. For large drainage areas, the time of concentration can be so large that the assumption of constant rainfall intensities for such long periods is not valid, and shorter more intense rainfalls can produce larger peak flows. Additionally, rainfall intensities usually vary during a storm. In semi-arid and arid regions, storm cells are relatively small with extreme intensity variations. The frequency of peak discharge is the same as the frequency of the rainfall intensity for the given time of concentration. Frequencies of peak discharges depend on the following:

rainfall frequencies antecedent moisture conditions in the watershed the response characteristics of the drainage system.

For small, mostly impervious areas, rainfall frequency is the dominant factor. For larger drainage basins, the response characteristics are the primary influence on frequency. For drainage areas with few impervious surfaces (less urban development), antecedent moisture conditions usually govern, especially for rainfall events with a return period of 10 years or less. The rainfall intensity is uniformly distributed over the entire drainage area. In reality, rainfall intensity varies spatially and temporally during a storm. For small areas, the assumption of uniform distribution is reasonable. However, as the drainage area increases, it becomes more likely that the rainfall intensity will vary significantly both in space and time. The fraction (C) of rainfall that becomes runoff is independent of rainfall intensity or volume. The assumption is reasonable for impervious areas, such as streets, rooftops, and parking lots. For pervious areas, the fraction of runoff varies with rainfall intensity, accumulated volume of rainfall, and antecedent moisture conditions. Thus, the art necessary for application of the Rational
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Section 6 The Rational Method

Method involves the selection of a coefficient that is appropriate for storm, soil, and land use. By limiting the application of the Rational Method to 200 acres (80 hectares), these assumptions are more likely to be reasonable.

Applicability
Modern drainage practice often includes detention of urban storm runoff to reduce the peak rate of runoff downstream and to provide storm water quality improvement. The Rational Method severely limits the evaluation of design alternatives available in urban and, in some instances, rural drainage design because of its inability to accommodate the presence of storage in the drainage area. When accommodation of any appreciable storage features in the drainage area is required, employ runoff hydrograph methods such as the NRCS Dimensionless Unit Hydrograph method.

The Rational Method Equation

The Rational formula estimates the peak rate of runoff at any location in a watershed as a function of the drainage area, runoff coefficient, and mean rainfall intensity for a duration equal to the time of concentration (the time required for water to flow from the most remote point of the basin to the location being analyzed). The rational formula is expressed as Equation 5-3:
Q= CIA 360

Equation 5-3.
where:

Q = maximum rate of runoff (cfs or m3/s) C = runoff coefficient as outlined in Runoff Coefficient below I = average rainfall intensity (in./hr. or mm/hr.) as outlined in Rainfall Intensity below A = drainage area (ac. or ha) 360 = conversion factor for use only with metric measurements. Rainfall Intensity
The rainfall intensity (I) is the average rainfall rate in in./hr (or mm/hr) for a specific rainfall duration and a selected frequency. The duration is assumed to be equal to the time of concentration. For drainage areas in Texas, you may compute the rainfall intensity using Equation 5-4, which is known as a rainfall intensity-duration-frequency (IDF) relationship.

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Section 6 The Rational Method

(tc + d )

Equation 5-4.
where:

I = design rainfall intensity (in./hr. or mm/hr.) tc = time of concentration (min) as discussed in Section 5 e, b, d = coefficients for specific frequencies listed by county in the Rainfall Intensity-DurationFrequency Coefficients. These are based on rainfall frequency-duration data contained in the National Weather Service Technical Paper 40 (TP 40).
The general shape of a rainfall intensity-duration-frequency curve is shown in Figure 5-8. As rainfall duration tends towards zero, the rainfall intensity tends towards infinity. Because the rainfall intensity/duration relationship is accessed by assuming that the duration is equal to the time of concentration, small areas with exceedingly short times of concentration could result in design rainfall intensities that are unrealistically high. To minimize this likelihood, use a minimum time of concentration of 10 minutes when using the coefficients presented in the Hydrology document. As the duration tends to infinity, the design rainfall tends towards zero. Usually, the area limitation of 200 acres (80 hectares) should result in design rainfall intensities that are not unrealistically low. However, if the estimated time of concentration is extremely long, such as may occur in extremely flat areas, it may be necessary to consider an upper threshold of time or use a different hydrologic method.

Figure 5-8. Typical Rainfall Intensity Duration Frequency Curve

In some instances alternate methods of determining rainfall intensity may be desired, especially for coordination with other agencies. Ensure that any alternate methods are applicable.

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Section 6 The Rational Method

Runoff Coefficient
The assignment of the runoff coefficient (C) is somewhat subjective. At the time the rainfall producing runoff occurs, the coefficient varies with topography, land use, vegetal cover, soil type, and moisture content of the soil. In selecting the runoff coefficient, consider the future characteristics of the watershed. If land use varies within a watershed, you must consider watershed segments individually, and you can calculate a weighted runoff coefficient value. The following table suggests ranges of C values for various categories of ground cover. This table is typical of design guides found in civil engineering texts dealing with hydrology. You must subjectively assign a C value based on what you see or anticipate in the watershed with reference to the table.
Runoff Coefficients for Urban Watersheds Type of Drainage Area Runoff Coefficient

Business:

downtown areas neighborhood areas

0.70-0.95 0.30-0.70

Residential:

single-family areas multi-units, detached multi-units, attached suburban apartment dwelling areas

0.30-0.50 0.40-0.60 0.60-0.75 0.35-0.40 0.30-0.70

Industrial:

light areas heavy areas

0.30-0.80 0.60-0.90 0.10-0.25 0.30-0.40 0.30-0.40

Parks, cemeteries Playgrounds Railroad yards Unimproved areas:

sand or sandy loam soil, 0-3% sand or sandy loam soil, 3-5% black or loessial soil, 0-3% black or loessial soil, 3-5% black or loessial soil, >5%

0.15-0.20 0.20-0.25 0.18-0.25 0.25-0.30 0.70-0.80

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Runoff Coefficients for Urban Watersheds Type of Drainage Area

Runoff Coefficient

deep sand area steep grassed slopes

0.05-0.15 0.70

Lawns:

sandy soil, flat 2% sandy soil, average 2-7% sandy soil, steep 7% heavy soil, flat 2% heavy soil, average 2-7% heavy soil, steep 7%

0.05-0.10 0.10-0.15 0.15-0.20 0.13-0.17 0.18-0.22 0.25-0.35

Streets:

asphaltic concrete brick

0.85-0.95 0.90-0.95 0.70-0.85 0.75-0.95 0.75-0.95

Drives and walks Roofs

The following table shows an alternate, systematic approach for developing the runoff coefficient. This table applies to rural watersheds only, addressing the watershed as a series of aspects. For each of four aspects, make a systematic assignment of a runoff coefficient component. Using Equation 5-5, add the four assigned components to form an overall runoff coefficient for the specific watershed segment.

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C = Cr + Ci + Cv + Cs Equation 5-5.
Runoff Coefficient for Rural Watersheds Extreme High Normal Low

Relief - Cf

0.28-0.35 steep, rugged terrain with average slopes above 30%

0.20-0.28 hilly, with average slopes of 10-30% 0.08-0.12 slow to take up water, clay or shallow loam soils of low infiltration capacity or poorly drained

0.14-0.20 rolling, with average slopes of 5-10% 0.06-0.08 normal; well drained light or medium textured soils, sandy loams

0.08-0.14 relatively flat land, with average slopes of 0-5% 0.04-0.06 deep sand or other soil that takes up water readily, very light well drained soils 0.04-0.06 good to excellent; about 90% of drainage area in good grassland, woodland, or equivalent cover

Soil Infiltration - Ci

0.12-0.16 no effective soil cover either rock or thin soil mantle of negligble infiltration capacity 0.12-0.16 no effective plan cover, bare or very sparse cover

Vegetal Cover - Cv

0.06-0.08 0.08-0.12 fair to good; about poor to fair; clean cultivation, crops or 50% of area in good poor natural cover, grassland or woodland, not more than less than 20% of 50% of area in drainage area over culitvated crops good cover

Surface - Cs

0.10-0.12 negligible; surface depression few and shallow, drainageways steep and small, no marshes

0.04-0.06 0.08-0.10 0.06-0.08 much surface storwell defined system normal; considerage, drainage system of small drainageable surface ways, no ponds or depression storage not sharply defined; marshes lakes and ponds and large floodplain storage of large number marshes of ponds or marshes

NOTE: The total runoff coefficient based on the four runoff components is C = Cr + Ci + Cv + Cs

Runoff coefficients, listed in for urban and rural watersheds and others apply to storms of two-year, five-year, and 10-year frequencies. Higher frequency storms require modifying the runoff coefficient because infiltration and other abstractions have a proportionally smaller effect on runoff. Adjust the runoff coefficient by the factor Cf as indicated in the table titled Runoff Coefficient Adjustment Factors for Rational Method. The product of C and Cf should not exceed 1.0.
Runoff Coefficient Adjustment Factors for Rational Method Recurrence Intervals (years)

Cf

25

1.1

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Runoff Coefficient Adjustment Factors for Rational Method Recurrence Intervals (years)

Cf

50 100

1.2 1.25

The Rational formula now becomes Equation 5-6.

CC f IA 360 Equation 5-6. Q=

where: 360 = for metric calculations only

Rational Procedure
The following procedure outlines the Rational method for estimating peak discharge: 1. 2. 3. 4. Determine the watershed area in acres (hectares). Determine the time of concentration, with consideration for future characteristics of the watershed. Assure consistency with the assumptions and limitations for application of the Rational Method. Determine the rainfall IDF coefficients. Extract the Rainfall Intensity-Duration Frequency Coefficients e, b, and d values from the list in Hydrology according to the locality in Texas and the design frequency. Use Equation 5-4 to calculate the rainfall intensity in in./hr (mm/hr). Select or develop appropriate runoff coefficients for the watershed. Where the watershed comprises more than one characteristic, you must estimate C values for each area segment individually. You may then estimate a weighted C value using Equation 5-7. The runoff coefficient is dimensionless.
m

5. 6.

Cn An
C
n=1 m

An
n=1

Equation 5-7.
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where:

C = weighted runoff coefficient n = nth subarea m = number of subareas Cn = runoff coefficient for nth subarea An = nth subarea size (ha)
7. Calculate the peak discharge for the watershed for the desired frequency using Equation 5-6.

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