TxDOT PROJECT 0-6070:

USE OF THE RATIONAL AND

MODIFIED RATIONAL METHOD FOR
HYDRAULIC DESIGN
Presentation by:

Matthew Wingfield P.E., CFM

TxDOT San Angelo District
District Hydraulic Engineer
Presentation Outline

1. Background / Objectives
- Why was this research project important to TxDOT?
2. Procedure / Results
- The Rational Method
- The Modified Rational Method
- The proposed Unified Rational Method for Texas
3. Example Problem
4. Summary / Conclusions
Background

• Each year, TxDOT spends billions of dollars on new

construction.
• TxDOT is responsible for roadway drainage and
conveyance of cross-highway stream flow.
• A component of the design of these drainage systems
requires the designer to estimate peak discharge for a
selected frequency (probability).
• The Rational and Modified Rational Methods are 2 of
several techniques commonly used calculate runoff
properties.
Objectives

1. Evaluate the appropriateness of both the rational

and modified rational methods,
2. Evaluate the tabulated values of the runoff
coefficient (C ), and
3. Construct guidelines for TxDOT designers for
selection of appropriate parameter values for
Texas watershed conditions (Specifically C and tc).
Procedure

The Rational method

Q = CiA
Where, Q = maximum rate of runoff (cfs),
C = Runoff coefficient,
i = avg. rainfall intensity (in/hr), and
A = Drainage area (acres).
Procedure Rational Method

Assumptions of the Rational method…

Q = CiA
1. Watershed area is limited to 200 acres or less.
2. The frequency of peak discharge is the same as the
frequency of the rainfall intensity.
25 year rainfall
Flow

25 year
peak runoff

Time
 Q = CiA
Procedure
Rational Method

Runoff Coefficient – C
• Account for
watershed losses.
• Varies with topo, land
use, cover, soil, and
moisture content.
• Assignment is
somewhat subjective.
Source: TxDOT Hydraulic Design Manual
 Q = CiA
Procedure Rational Method

Analysis of the Runoff Coefficient (C )

1. Researchers compiled a table of C values from
engineering literature.
2. Researchers analyzed thousands of storms in Texas
from a rainfall-runoff database to determine “back-
computed” runoff coefficients.
 Q = CiA
Results Rational Method

Analysis of the Runoff Coefficient (C )

1. Determined that tabulated C values are consistent
with the “back-computed” C values.
2. The method that the researchers prefer to calculate
the C value is based off of a weighted, functionally
impervious area approach.
 Q = CiA
Procedure Rational Method

Intensity – i
• Duration is equal to
time of concentration
• Time of Concentration
(tc) – when entire
watershed contributes
to runoff

Source: USGS SIR 2004-5041

 Q = CiA
Results Rational Method

Analysis of Time of Concentration ( tc )

1. Very important to the Rational Method as it

establishes the duration of the rainfall input
required for the system to reach equilibrium.

2. Steeper slopes = Smaller Tc = Greater i and Q.

 Q = CiA
Results Rational Method

Analysis of the Drainage Area ( A )

1. Based on rainfall-runoff
data, upper-limit is
unidentifiable.
2. 200 acres was a
reasonable upper-limit
guideline.
3. Some flexibility in upper-
limit. Areas as high as 640
acres could use method.
 Q = CiA
Procedure Modified Rational Method

Modified Rational Method

• Uses same equation as in the Rational Method,
• Extends rational method produce simple runoff
hydrographs.
 Q = CiA
Results Modified Rational Method

Analysis of the Runoff Coefficient (C )

1. Conceptually, the C value for the Rational Method is

different than the C value for the Modified rational
Method.
2. This method will tend to overestimate total runoff
volumes when using tabulated values of the runoff
coefficient.
 Q = CiA
Results Modified Rational Method

Summary of the Modified Rational Method (MRM)

1. Same watershed area limitations apply as in the

Rational Method.
2. Performs about as well
as other methods in
predicting peak runoff
and the runoff
hydrograph.
 Q = CiA
Results
Modified Rational Method

Summary of the Modified Rational Method (MRM)

3. The MRM can be applied to non-uniform rainfall

events.
4. Volume
Overestimation
for smaller
watersheds
Objectives - Revisited

• Construct guidelines for TxDOT designers for

selection of appropriate parameter values for
Texas watershed conditions (Specifically C and tc).
• The frequency of peak discharge is the same as the
frequency of the rainfall intensity.
Procedure Q =C I A
Unified Rational Method for Texas (URAT)

Unified Rational Method for Texas

• Researchers developed an alternative to the
conventional Rational Method.
– Eliminates probability adjusted and land-use based runoff
coefficients.
– Provides the first tuned version of the rational method for
the rainfall frequency and runoff frequency.
Procedure Q =C I A
Unified Rational Method for Texas (URAT)

Steps for calculating C

1. Determine the area of impervious cover within the
watershed.

C = 0.85 x IMP + 0.15

Where, IMP = Impervious cover as a fraction of

watershed area
Procedure Q =C I A
Unified Rational Method for Texas (URAT)

Steps For Determining T

Where, T = Watershed time of equivalence (min),

κ
β , α , = Regression coefficients (from tables),
A = Drainage area (acres), and
S = Dimensionless main-channel slope
Example

• Residential
Subdivision
• Tarrant County
• New FM Road
 Q = CiA
Example
Rational Method

Area

A = 112 acres
 Q = CiA
Example
Rational Method

Runoff Coefficient

C = 0.25
Res. Single Family
Grass Com. Area

Weighted C Value
C = 0.36
C = 0.40
 Q = CiA
Example
Rational Method

Intensity

Open Chan = 6.6 min Time of

Concentration

Open Chan = 9.3 min

Tc = 30 min
Shal Conc = 9.5 min

Sheet Flow = 3.9 min

 Q = CiA
Example
Rational Method

Intensity
Rainfall Depth…

Tarrant Co. = 2.3”

2.3in 60 min in
i= x = 4.6
30 min 1hr hr

Source: USGS SIR 2004-5041

 Q = CiA
Example
Rational Method

• Final Calculations…

in
QTarrent = (0.36) x(4.6 ) x(112ac) = 185cfs
hr
in
QLubbock = (0.36) x(3.8 ) x(112ac) = 153cfs
hr
in
QJackson = (0.36) x(5.6 ) x(112ac) = 226cfs
hr
Example Q =C I A
Unified Rational Method for Texas (URAT)

Area

A = 112 acres
Example Q =C I A
Unified Rational Method for Texas (URAT)

Runoff Coefficient
Impervious Area =
33.2 acres

Determine %
Impervious Area

C = 0.85 xIMP
+ 0.15

C = 0.40
Example Q =C I A
Unified Rational Method for Texas (URAT)
Watershed time of equivalence – T
25 year variables to Calculate T
County β α κ
Tarrant 0.049 0.226 0.814
Lubbock 0.402 0.203 0.737
Jackson 0.033 0.234 0.844

*
TTarrent = (0.049) x(1120.226 ) x(0.009 −0.814 ) = 6.6 min
*
TLubbock = (0.402) x(1120.203 ) x(0.009 −0.737 ) = 33.7 min
*
TJackson = (0.033) x(1120.234 ) x(0.009 −0.844 ) = 5.3 min
• If time is less than 10 min, round up to 10 min.
 Example Q =C I A
Unified Rational Method for Texas (URAT)

Intensity
Rainfall Depth…

Tarrant = 1.6”/10min

1.6in 60 min in
i= x = 9.6
10 min 1hr hr

Source: USGS SIR 2004-5041

Example Q =C I A
Unified Rational Method for Texas (URAT)

• Final Calculations… Rational

Method
in
Q Tarrant = (0.40) x(9.6 ) x(112ac) = 430cfs
*
185cfs
hr
in
Q Lubbock = (0.40) x(3.6 ) x(112ac) = 159cfs
*
153cfs
hr
in
Q *
Jackson = (0.40) x(10.8 ) x(112ac) = 484cfs 226cfs
hr
Summary

Comparing the two methods…

1. Runoff coefficient
2. Time of concentration
3. Intensity and area
Summary

1. The Rational and Modified Rational methods remain

appropriate models for small Texas watersheds,
2. Upper limit for the drainage area in the Rational
Method appears unidentifiable from analysis, could
be extended from 200 to 640 acres.
3. The Modified Rational method can be used to
tabulate coefficients and generate runoff
hydrographs. Literature C values are on average too
large by a factor of 2.
Summary

4. An alternative to the rational method was

developed called the Unified Rational Method for
Texas.
Conclusions / Questions
Extras Q =C I A
Unified Rational Method for Texas (URAT)

Steps For deriving T

1. Researchers determined the OmegaEM ( Ω )
parameter and mean annual precipitation for each
county.
25 year Regression Equation

Source: USGS SIR 2009-5087

Where, Q = maximum rate of runoff (cfs),

P = mean annual precipitation (in),
S = dimensionless main channel slope (ft/ft),
A = Drainage area (acres), and
Ω = OmegaEM parameter (from maps).
Extras Q =C I A
Unified Rational Method for Texas (URAT)

Steps For deriving T

2. A sequence of drainage areas (from 10 to 10,000 ac)
and slopes (from 0.1 to 10) were developed to
produce flow values.
25 year Regression Equation

Source: USGS SIR 2009-5087

Where, Q = maximum rate of runoff (cfs),

P = mean annual precipitation (in),
S = dimensionless main channel slope (ft/ft),
A = Drainage area (acres), and
Ω = OmegaEM parameter (from maps)
Extras Q =C I A
Unified Rational Method for Texas (URAT)

Steps For deriving T

3. For each recurrence interval and ~county, vectors of A
and Q were used to compute I or “rainfall intensities
of equivalence”.
~ Q
I=
C A
~
Where, I = Rainfall intensity of equivalence (in/hr),
Q = flow from previous step (cfs),
C = Runoff coefficient = 0.15,
A = Drainage area (acres), and
Extras Q =C I A
Unified Rational Method for Texas (URAT)

Steps For deriving T

2 in/hr

T* = 120 min
 Q = CiA
Extras Modified Rational Method

Analysis of the Runoff Coefficient (C )

Source: Report # 0-6070-1