Civil Engineering Department

Hydraulic Laboratory
Experiment No. 3

RAINFALL- RUN-OFF RELATIONSHIP:

Effect of Varying Slope

INTRODUCTION

This experiment helps the student to investigate the

effect of varying the slope of the catchment under similar
conditions of rainfall intensity, duration and degree of
saturation of the media.

OBJECTIVE:

The objective of this experiment is to compare the

hydrograph characteristics of a simulated watershed under
different slopes towards the outlet.

THEORETICAL CONSIDERATION:

Slope of the catchment affects both the quantity and

rate of flow of a stream run-off. In a simulated
watershed, these changes in the characteristics, such as
volume of rainfall, volume of run-off, coefficient of run-
off, peak flows, time to peak, time of run-off and the
shape and nature of the rising and falling limb of the
curve could be compared. While varying the slope of the
catchment, other parameters such as degree of saturation,
intensity and length of rainfall should be held uniform in
order to see changes in hydrograph character due to slope
changes.

LABORATORY PROCEDURE

The weir calibration curve used in previous

experiments, relating height of water above the rectangular
notch with the corresponding flow rate, should be prepared
before any experiment.

Fill the apparatus with suitable relatively wet

granular medium such as coarse sand to form the model
catchment. Fill the main body of the apparatus up to a
level just below the weir crest at each end. A partially
saturated condition may be made by fully saturating the
media and by draining it afterwards. A pre-selected steady
rate of discharge after draining (or height above weir
notch) from a previous rainfall event could be used as
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starting point of succeeding rainfall events. In this way,
the moisture content may be taken as the same prior to any
rainfall event.

Tilt the mechanism to give the catchment a slope (x mm/

2m). Close valves F, G, H, I, C and D and open valves A, B
and E to allow water to pipes leading to the rainfall
simulator. Open the portholes at the down stream end to
allow an interflow component in the simulation.

Adjust valve B to give an even spray from the

sprinklers. Note the flow through the rotameter. Read the
head over the weir at every 0.5 or 1.0 minute throughout
the experiment. Use the weir calibration curve to convert
head of water to its corresponding flow rate.

Take piezometer readings (indicated on the side of the

apparatus) showing the water profiles within the media.
After a suitable time, such as 5 or 10 minutes, close valve
B. Continue reading the head over the sharp-edged weir
until it approaches zero or a constant value. Plot the
hydrograph of the flow recorded over the weir against time.
Repeat the above steps but with a different slope of
simulated watershed. Make three slope conditions.

The soil in the simulated watershed may be considered

dry when water had been drained after a long period and no
rain has occurred within the period. Any rainfall, after a
recent rain, continues to wet the surface and results to an
earlier saturation of the media. Maintaining degree of
saturation of the media,prior to any experiment may be done
by draining the stored water ( from previous experiments)
in the media until a pre-selected flow or head above the
notch of the weir has been reached.

Each group should maintain the same intensity of

rainfall, a specified degree of saturation of media for
comparison purposes with results of the previous
experiment-under different media saturation.

RESULTS and CALCULATIONS:

A) The plot should be described in terms of the following

characteristics:

a) volume of rainfall
b) volume of run-off
c) coefficient of run-off
d) peak flows
e) time to peak
f) time of run-off
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 g) shape and nature of the rising and falling limb of
the curve

B) Compare group results and explain similarities or

differences of results using the above mentioned
characteristics. Also compare current observations
with results of the previous experiment, that is,
under changing moisture condition.

REFERENCES:

Environmental Hydrology, Ward, A.D., Elliot W.J, CRC Press,

Inc, Lewis Publishers, Florida USA, pp.19-45, pp 133-165,
pp 205-251

Hydrology and Flood Plain Analysis, Bedient, Philip B.,

Huber, Wayne C., Addison Wesley Publishing Company,US, June
1992, pp.87-146, 369-404

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 Experiment No. 2
Data Sheet

RAINFALL- STREAM RUN-OFF RELATIONSHIP:

Effect of Varying Slope
Date Performed : __________
Date Submitted : __________
Section : __________
Members of the Group:

1. 4.
2. 5.
3. 6.
_________________________________________________________________________________________

RESULTS OF THE EXPERIMENT:

TABLE 1a EFFECT OF VARYING SLOPE

1 2
Rainfall Stream Run-off Storage Rainfall Stream Run-off Storage
T R dRV RV Q dQV QV dS R dRV RV Q dQV QV dS
(min) (L/min) (L) (L) (L/min) (L) (L) (L) (L/min) (L) (L) (L/min) (L) (L) (L)
0
0.5
1
1.5
2
2.5
3
3.5

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 1 2
Rainfall Stream Run-off Storage Rainfall Stream Run-off Storage
T R dRV RV Q dQV QV dS R dRV
RV Q dQV QV dS
(min) (L/min) (L) (L) (L/min) (L) (L) (L) (L/min) (L)
(L) (L/min) (L) (L) (L)
4
4.5
5
5.5
6
6.5
7
7.5
8
8.5
9
9.5
10
10.5
11
11.5
12
12.5
13.0
13.5
14.0
14.5
15.0
C =
LEGEND:T- time of rainfall, R – rainfall intensity, dRV – additional volume from rainfall, RV – cumulative volume of
rainfall, Q – stream run-off (converted),dQV – addtl volume from run-off, QV –cumulative run-off volume, dS – change
in storage

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 Experiment No. 2
Data Sheet 1b

Units Condition 1 Condition 2 Condition 3

CHARACTERISTICS
Settings
Volume of rainfall liter

Volume of Runoff Liter

Coefficient of Runoff
Peak flows Lpm

Time to Peak Min

Time of Runoff Min

Shape of Rising Limb Flat/steep

Shape of Falling Limb Flat/steep

Other Characteristics

Slope of Watershed mm/2m

Present/ab
Interflow Component
sent
Rainfall Pattern Direction

Moisture Condition Dry/Wet

Impervious Layer

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GRAPH:

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GRAPH:

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SAMPLE COMPUTATIONS

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RESULTS / DISCUSSION: (attach additional page/s if necessary)

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CONCLUSIONS

RECOMMENDATIONS

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