Sessional on Numerical Analysis and Computer Programming CE 2208

Example 6.1: The recession limb of a flood hydrograph is given below. The time is indicated from the
arrival of the pea. Assuming the interflow component to be negligible, estimate the base flow and surface
flow recession flow recession coefficient. Also, estimating the storage at the end of day 3.
Time from peak Discharge Time from peak Discharge
(Day) (m3/s) (Day) (m3/s)
0.0 90 3.5 5.0
0.5 66 4.0 3.8
1.0 34 4.5 3.0
1.5 20 5.0 2.6
2.0 13 5.5 2.2
2.5 9.0 6.0 1.8
3.0 6.7 6.5 1.6
7.0 1.5

Solution:
The data are plotted on a log paper with discharge on the log scale. The data points from t= 4.5 days to
7.0 days are seen to lie on straight line (line AB in Fig: 6.4). This indicates that the surface flow terminates
at t=4.5 days. The best fitting exponential curve for this straight-line portion(obtained by use of MS Excel)
is Qt =11.033 0.29 with r2 = 0.9805.
The base flow recession coefficient is obtained as
ln = -0.29 and as such = -0.748.
The base flow recession curve is extended till t1 day as shown by the line ABM Fig. 6.4 The surface
runoff depletion is obtained by subtracting the base flow from the given recession limb of the flood
hydrograph. The computations are shown in the Table given below.
The surface flow values are plotted against time as shown in fig. 6.4. It is been that these points lie on a
straight line on a straight line, XY. The best fitting exponential curve for this straight-line portion
XY(obtained by use of MS Excel) is
Qt = 109.9 1.38 with r2 =0.9938
The surface flow recession coefficient k rs = -1.38 and such krs = 0.252.
The storage available at the end of day-3 is sum of the storages in surface flow and groundwater
recession modes and is given by
3 3
St3 =( + )
ln ln

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Name: Mijanur rahman juwel ; Roll: 1401085
 Sessional on Numerical Analysis and Computer Programming CE 2208

Table:

Time from peak (day) Discharge (m3/s) Base flow Surface runoff (m3/s)

0.0 90.00
0.5 66.00 9.541 56.459
1.0 34.00 8.253 25.747
1.5 20.00 7.139 12.861
2.0 13.00 6.176 6.824
2.5 9.00 5.342 3.658
3.0 6.70 4.621 2.079
3.5 5.00 3.997 1.003
4.0 3.80 3.458 0.342
4.5 3.00 2.991
5.0 2.60 2.587
5.5 2.20 2.238
6.0 1.80 1.936
6.5 1.60 1.675
7.0 1.50 1.449

100.00
Discharge (m3/s)

10.00 y = 11.033e-0.293x
R = 0.9805

1.00
y = 109.92e-1.382x
R = 0.9938

0.10
0.1 1.1 2.1 3.1 4.1 5.1 6.1 7.1
Time (Day)

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Name: Mijanur rahman juwel ; Roll: 1401085
 Sessional on Numerical Analysis and Computer Programming CE 2208

For the surface flow recession using the best fit equation:
Qs3 = 109.9 1.383 = 1.75; -ln =1.38
3 1.75
= =1.27 cumec-days
ln 1.38

Similarly for the base flow recession:

Qb3=11.033 0.2933 =4.58; -ln =-0.293
3 4.58
= =15.634 cumec-days
ln 0.293

Hence, total storage at the end of 3 days = St3= 1.27 + 15.634= 16.9917 cumec-days=1.5 Mm3

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Name: Mijanur rahman juwel ; Roll: 1401085