Basic Hydrology

Time of Concentration
Methodology
By: Paul Schiariti, P.E., CPESC

Mercer County Soil Conservation

District
 What is the Time of Concentration?

The time it takes for runoff to travel from the most

hydraulically distant point in the watershed to a
point of interest.

What is the most Hydraulically Distant Point in the

watershed?

Is it a “hydraulic distance” or a “hydraulic time”?

Is there a difference?
 Hydraulically Most Distant Point?

Path “A” is 1000 ft. long with a Time of Concentration = 1.00 Hours
Path “B” is 750 ft. long with a Time of Concentration = 1.25 Hours
Where is the “Correct TC Flow Path?
What is the difference in TC for both Flow Paths?

Path “B” TC = 0.39 Hours, Path “A” TC = 0.20 Hours

What is the difference in QPEAK for the two Flow
Paths & which is correct?
Approximately 9 Acres of the 10
Acres flows similar to Path “B”,
therefore this path is
representative of 90% of the
drainage area, and realistically
better represents the watershed

The use of TC Flow Path

“B” represents an under-
estimation of QPEAK by 19
to 20%.

Would this be an issue if

it was the Pre-
Development analysis?
 Three Components of the Segmental Time of
Concentration Method
1. Sheet Flow: “Sheet flow is flow over plane surfaces. It
usually occurs in the headwater of streams.”

The most sensitive component of the TC. Pay very close

attention to the Manning’s Roughness Coefficient. Pay very
close attention to the ground surface slope. The maximum
sheet flow length should be no greater than 125 to 150 ft.

2. Shallow Concentrated Flow: “After a maximum of 300 feet,

sheet flow usually becomes shallow concentrated flow.”
Note: This 300 ft. value has since been revised down to a
maximum of 150 ft. on very uniform surfaces. The latest
version of WinTR-55 only allows up to 100 ft. of sheet flow.

3. Channel Flow: Channel flow occurs within swales,

channels, streams, ditches and piped storm drainage
systems. Velocities are computed for channel flow based
upon Manning’s open channel flow equation.
 TR-55 Segmental Time of Concentration
Sheet Flow Travel Time Component

P2 values are obtained from NRCS 24

Hour Design Storm Rainfall Depths.
 TR-55 Segmental Time of Concentration
Shallow Concentrated Flow and Channel Flow Component
 How sensitive is the Sheet Flow equation to Manning’s “n”?
Sheet Flow Equation:
TT= (.007) x (n) 0.8 x (L) 0.8
P2 0.5 x S 0.4
• Example: L = 125 ft.
P2 = 3.00 In.
S = 0.006 ft / ft

Lets say an “n” value of 0.05 was mistakenly used when an “n” value of
0.24 was the appropriate value. What effect will this have on the Time of
Concentration? What effect will this have on the peak discharge rates?

“n” = 0.05: TT= (.007) x (0.05) 0.8 x (125) 0.8 = 0.136 Hours (Incorrect)
3.0 0.5 x 0.006 0.4

“n” = 0.24: TT= (.007) x (0.24) 0.8 x (125) 0.8 = 0.475 Hours (Correct)
3.0 0.5 x 0.006 0.4
This represents an under-estimation of the Time of Concentration of 71%!!!
 How does this effect the peak Discharge?

Drainage Area = 20.00 Acres

Runoff Curve Number = 74
10 Year Storm Precipitation = 5.00 Inches
Additional Travel Time for Shallow Concentrated Flow Plus
Channel Flow = 0.50 Hours

TC1 = 0.136 Hours + 0.40 Hours = 0.536 Hours

TC2 = 0.475 Hours + 0.40 Hours = 0.875 Hours

Q0.05 = 30.70 cfs (Incorrect)

Q0.24 = 24.10 cfs (Correct)

Difference in Peak Discharge Rates = 6.60 cfs

Over estimates the peak discharge by 27.4% !!

 Effect on the Runoff Hydrograph for the different TC’s

Not only is the actual

Peak Discharge
different…

But the timing of the Peak Discharge is

different as well.
 What is the correct Manning’s n value?

Manning’s “n” for “Maintained Turf Grass” should almost

always be = 0.24
Percent Increase In The Sheet Flow Travel Time Related to
Change In Ground Slope
Ground Slope In %

0.50
0.60
0.70
0.80
0.90
1.00
1.10
1.20
1.30
1.40
1.50
1.60
1.70
1.80
1.90
2.00
0.0
% Decrease In Sheet Flow Tt

10.0
25 %
20.0
30.0
40.0
50.0
60.0

An over-estimation of ground slope from 1.00 % to 2.00 %

results in an under-estimation in the Sheet Flow
component of the Time of Concentration by 25 %.
 Example Time of Concentration Calculation
Shallow
Concentrated
Channel Flow Flow Sheet Flow
250 ft. 125 ft. 100 ft.

93 92 92 99
93 94 95 98
96 97
100

X
"A"-
X X 100.5
"D"- "B"-
93.3 99.5
X
"C"-
96.0

93 92 92 93 94 95 96 98 99
97

Note: The individual segment lengths are not the

horizontal distances, but the linear distances along the
flow path line.
 Example - Continued

1. Compute the Sheet Flow S h e e t F lo w

Travel Time Component of 1 0 0 ft.

the Time of Concentration:

“A” – 100

100.5
X
"A "-
X 1 0 0 .5
"B "-
9 9 .5

“B” –
99.5 99

What surface description best categorizes this type of ground

cover for the purpose of choosing a Manning’s “n” Roughness
Coefficient ?
Which Manning’s “n” value most closely mimics this
specific ground cover?
We can immediately eliminate the
following:
Smooth Surfaces
Fallow (No Residue)
Cultivated Soil
Woods
This leaves the following choices:
Grass
Range

Range is defined as: “An extensive tract

of open land on which livestock wander
and graze.”
This is not a range !

This leaves us with the grass options:

Best fit is Dense Grasses – “n” = 0.24
 Compute the Sheet Flow Travel Time Component:
Sheet Flow Equation:
TT= (.007) x (n) 0.8 x (L) 0.8
P2 0.5 x S 0.4
L = 100 ft.
P2 = 3.00 In.
S = (100.5 – 99.5)/ 100 = 0.01 ft / ft
n = 0.24

TT= (.007) x (0.24) 0.8 x (100) 0.8 = 0.324 Hrs

3.0 0.5 x 0.010 0.4

• The next component of the Time of Concentration is the shallow

Concentrated flow Travel Time portion.
 Shallow Concentrated Flow Component of the Time of
Concentration

S h a llo w
“B” – C o n c e n tra te d
F lo w S
99.5
1 2 5 ft.

99

100

X
"B "-
X 9 9 .5
"C "-
9 6 .0
“C” –
97 98 9
96.0

Shallow Concentrated Flow is 125 ft. (non-paved) at (99.5-96.0)

/125 = 0.028 ft/ft
 Enter Figure 3-1 to arrive at the Average Velocity

TT = 125 / 3600 x 2.70 = 0.013 hrs.

The actual equation used to

determine the velocity for Shallow
0.028 Concentrated flow is based on:
ft/ft

TT = L * (58,084.2 * s0.5) -1
-or-
TT = L
3600 x 16.1345 x S0.5
2.7 fps

Therefore: V = 16.1345 x S0.5

Channel Flow Component of the Time of Concentration

Con
Channel Flow
250 ft.
“C” –
5 98
96.0 96 97

X
"D"-
93.3
X
"C"-
96.0
“D” – 95 96 97
93.3

The Channel Slope is 250 ft. at (96.0-93.3)/250 = 0.0108 ft/ft

Note: The channel does not have to possess a visible water surface to be
considered channel flow.
Solve Manning’s equation to arrive at the Channel Velocity

Wow ! There are several

unknown variables here. How
are we going to assign values to
them ?

The first thing we need to know

is the channel cross sectional
geometry.

Assume a reasonable flow

depth – say 1.5 ft, and solve for
the cross sectional flow area
and the wetted perimeter.
1.5 ft
1
2
5 ft

Approximate channel geometry

 The first step is to compute the Hydraulic Radius:
Compute the Hydraulic Radius as follows:

1.5 ft
1
2
5 ft

The Hydraulic Radius is equal to the cross – sectional flow area divided by the
wetted perimeter:

A = (5.0 ft. x 1.5 ft.) + [(1.5 ft. x 2) x 1.5 ft.] = 12.0 s.f.
WP = 5.0 ft. + [2 x (3.0 ft.2 + 1.5 ft.2)1/2] = 18.42 ft.
R = 12.0 s.f. / 18.42 ft. = 0.651 ft.

How do we compute the Manning’s “n” roughness coefficient?

Method used to determine Manning’s n value for earthen channels
(Not to be confused with Manning’s “n” for Sheet Flow)

SUPPLEMENT A contained within Appendix A8 of the NJ STANDARDS entitled

“Method for Estimating Manning’s “n”” contains a practical methodology based upon
“Cowan's Equation”:

n =(n0 + n1 + n2 + n3 + n4) x m5
Where:
n = Manning’s “n” value
n0 = the portion of the n value that represents the channel material in a straight,
uniform smooth reach
n1 = the additional value added to correct for the effect of channel surface
irregularities
n2 = the additional value for variations in shape and size of the channel cross section
through the reach
n3 = the additional value for obstructions (such as beaver dams, debris dams,
stumps, downed trees, and root wads extending into the channel)
n4 = the additional value for vegetation in the channel
m5 = the correction factor for the meandering of the channel
Manning’s “n” values to be used for Cowan’s method for channel
roughness
Channel Conditions Values
Material Involved Earth n0 0.02
Rock cut 0.025
Fine gravel 0.024
Coarse gravel 0.028
Degree of Irregularity Smooth n1 0
Minor 0.005
Moderate 0.01
Severe 0.02
Variations of Channel Cross Section Gradual n2 0
Alternating occasionally 0.005
Alternating frequently 0.010-0.015
Relative Effect of Obstructions Negligible n3 0
Minor 0.010-0.015
Appreciable 0.020-0.030
Severe 0.040-0.060
Vegetation Low n4 0.005-0.010
Medium 0.010-0.025
High 0.025-0.050
Very high 0.050-0.100
Degree of Meandering Minor m5 1
Appreciable 1.15
Severe 1.3
Compute Manning’s “n” value for the channel

n0 = Earth Channel = 0.02

n1 = Smooth Irregularity = 0.00
n2 = Gradual Section Variations = 0.00
n3 = Negligible Obstructions = 0.00
n4 = Low to Medium Vegetation = 0.01
0.03
m5 = Minor Meandering = 1.00
Manning’s “n” value = 0.03 x 1.00 = 0.03
 Compute the Travel Time for the channel section

V = 1.486 x R 2/3 x S ½
n
V = 1.486 x 0.651 2/3 x 0.0108 ½ = 3.87 fps
0.03
TT = 250 / 3600 x 3.87 = 0.0179 hours

The total Time of Concentration = TT1 + TT2 + TT3 = TC

TC = 0.324 Hr. + 0.013 Hr. + 0.018 Hr. = 0.355 Hr.
 What if our depth of flow assumption was incorrect?
Lets say the actual flow depth was 0.5 ft. as opposed to our original
assumption of 1.5 ft:

0.5 ft
1
2
5 ft

A = (5.0 ft. x 0.5 ft.) + [(0.5 ft. x 2) x 0.5 ft.] = 3.00 s.f.
WP = 5.0 ft. + [2 x (1.0 ft.2 + 0.5 ft.2)1/2] = 7.24ft.
R = 12.0 s.f. / 18.42 ft. = 0.414 ft.

V = 1.486 x 0.414 2/3 x 0.0108 ½ = 2.86 fps

0.03

TT = 250 / 3600 x 2.86 = 0.024 hours

Remember our original TT was 0.018 hours!!
Really, not that much of a difference.
 What is the correct Manning’s “n” value for Sheet Flow ?

Is this Fallow (no residue) or

Cultivated Soils: Residue Cover <
20%; n = 0.05 or 0.06 ?
 What is the correct Manning’s “n” value for Sheet Flow ?

Cultivated Soils: Residue Cover >

20%; n = 0.17
 What is the correct Manning’s “n” value for Sheet Flow ?

Smooth Surface (concrete, asphalt,

gravel or bare soil); n = 0.011
What is the correct Manning’s “n” value for Sheet Flow ?

Woods; Light Underbrush;

n = 0.40
 Summary:

1. Make sure the flow path is representative of

the drainage area.
2. Check the Manning’s “n” value in the sheet
flow equation.
3. Check the slope used in the sheet flow
equation.
4. Do the field conditions agree with the
analysis?
5. If the Tc goes up from the pre-development to
the post-development, there may be an error.
6. Tc should typically go down from pre to post-
development.
Questions and (hopefully!) Answers ?