cmutsvangwa Engineering Hydrology; Dept. of Civil and Water Eng.

, nust, 03/05/2007 15:59:44

Chapter 11

TRIANGULAR MODEL HYDROGRAPH AND RATIONAL FORMULA

Triangular model hydrograph and the rational formula to derive an inflow

hydrograph
If annual river discharges are available, the inflow hydrograph can be derived but on
many occasions this data is not available and the simplest method of deriving the
inflow hydrograph is by applying the Triangular Model Hydrograph and the Rational
Formula. The procedure involves computing:

• Maximum probable flood, MPF or peak discharge (Qmax).

• Rainfall intensity, I
• Storm duration, Tp

Using the Standard ratios and discharge as given by the USBR the inflow
hydrograph is projected. The time and discharges ratios are multiplied by the storm
duration, Tp and peak discharge, Qp respectively.

Rainfall intensity
This is the amount of rainfall in a given time (e.g. mm/hr). In general the greater the
intensity of rainfall the shorter the duration. When adequate reliable records on
rainfall are not available, the following formula derived from the Triangular Model
Hydrograph and the Rational Formula can be used to determine the rainfall
intensity.

Q × 6.87
I= , mm/h (1)
A

Where: I =Rainfall intensity

Q =Peak discharge (run-off), m3/s
A = Catchment area, km2

Storm duration
Period of time which rainfall falls and if reliable rainfall measurements are not
available, the storm duration can be estimated from:

2050 log[NR ] − 3000

TP = − 20 (2)
I

Where: Tp =Storm duration, min

R =Runoff, mm
N =Return period, years

1
Chapter 11 Triangular mode hydrograph and rational formula
cmutsvangwa Engineering Hydrology; Dept. of Civil and Water Eng., nust, 03/05/2007 15:59:44

I = Rainfall intensity, mm/hr

Mean annual runoff (MAR)

This is the long term average runoff and is normally expressed in millimeters. The
updated MAR for different hydrologic zones in Zimbabwe can be obtained from the
Hydrological Branch or ZinWa. The gross mean annual runoff (GMAR) is the total
runoff contributed by a catchment area and is calculated as:

GMAR =Catchment area (km2) x MAR (mm) x 103, m3 (3)

Maximum probable flood (MPF)

Theoretically greatest discharge for a given duration that is physically possible over
a given size of storm area for a particular location and time of year. It is an estimate
and therefore has a degree of uncertainty. Numerous methods are available for
estimating the peak rates of runoff required for design application in small urban
and rural catchment areas. Some incorporate a rational analysis of the rainfall-
runoff process whereas others are completely empirical or correlative in that they
predict peak runoff rates by correlating inflow rates with simple catchment
characteristic such as area or slope. In Zimbabwe Mitchell’s method (1998) is
widely applied for both small and large catchment areas. It is an empiric-correlative
method, and the MPF is given as:

[ ]
ln MPF10000 yr + 1 = 1.175[ln ( A + 1)]
0.755
+ 3.133 (4)

Where: MPF10000 = Maximum probable flood for a 10 000 yr. return

period, m3
A = Catchment area, km2.

Computed values for MPF are shown in Table 1 for a 10 000-year return period.
Factors for various return periods are given in Table 2

Table 1 Values of MPF in m3/s for 10 000-yr. return period

Area, km2 x1 x10 x100 x1000 x10 000

1 55 222 953 3 600 12 300
1.1 58 236 1 010 3 790 12 900
1.2 60 250 1 060 3 980 13 500
1.3 63 263 1 120 4 160 14 000
1.4 65 277 1 170 4 330 14 600
1.5 68 289 1 220 4 500 15 100
1.6 70 302 1 260 4 660 15 600
1.7 73 314 1 310 4 810 16 100
1.8 75 325 1 350 4 960 16 600
1.9 78 337 1 400 5 110 17 000

2
Chapter 11 Triangular mode hydrograph and rational formula
cmutsvangwa Engineering Hydrology; Dept. of Civil and Water Eng., nust, 03/05/2007 15:59:44

2.0 80 348 1 440 5 250 17 500

2.2 85 370 1 520 5 530 18 300
2.4 89 392 1 600 5 800 19 200
2.6 94 412 1 680 6 050 19 900
2.8 98 432 1 750 6 290 20 700
3.0 102 452 1 820 6 530 21 400
3.2 106 471 1 890 6 760 22 100
3.4 111 489 1 960 6 980 22 800
3.6 115 507 2 030 7 190 23 500
3.8 119 525 2 090 7 400 24 100
4.0 122 542 2 150 7 610 24 700
4.2 126 559 2 210 7 800 25 300
4.4 130 575 2 270 8 000 25 900
4.6 134 592 2 330 8 190 26 500
4.8 138 607 2 390 8 370 27 100
5.0 141 623 2 440 8 550 27 600
5.5 150 661 2 580 8 990 29 000
6.0 159 698 2 710 9 410 30 200
6.5 168 733 2 830 9810 31 500
7.0 176 767 2 950 10200 32 600
7.5 184 800 3 070 10570 33 700
8.0 192 833 3 180 10930 34 800
8.5 200 864 3 290 11280 35 900
9.0 207 895 3 400 11620 36 900
9.5 215 924 3 500 11950 37 900

Source: Mitchell (1998), Zimbabwe Engineer, Vol. 63 N10-1

Table 2 Factors for various return periods

Return period, Fraction of Return period, Fraction of MPF

yrs MPF yrs
2 0.010 200 0.374
5 0.045 500 0.497
10 0.085 1000 0.600
20 0.136 2000 0.711
50 0.218 5000 0.870
100 0.292 10000 1.000

Source: Mitchell (1998), Zimbabwe Engineer, Vol. 63 N10-1

Example 1
The catchment area of a proposed dam, which lies in hydrologic zone BUZ4
(Umzingawne catchment) is 10 km2. Determine the GMAR.

3
Chapter 11 Triangular mode hydrograph and rational formula
cmutsvangwa Engineering Hydrology; Dept. of Civil and Water Eng., nust, 03/05/2007 15:59:44

Solution
The MAR for zone BUZ4 is 50mm (DWD, 1972).

∴ GMAR = Catchment area x MAR x 103, m3

=10 x 50 x 1000
=500 000m3

Example 2
Determine the MPF for a 100-year return period for a catchment area in Example 1

Solution:
[ ]
From equation ln MPF10000 yr + 1 = 1.175[ln ( A + 1)]
0.755
+ 3.133
[ ]
ln MPF10000 yr + 1 = 1.175[ln (10 + 1)]
0.755
+ 3.133
ln[MPF 10000 yr + 1] = 5.407
[MPF 10000 yr + 1] = e = 222.98
5.407

Therefore MPF = 222.98 − 1 = 221.98

Say =222m3/sec

The reduction factor for MPF for a 100-yr. return period from Table 2 is 0.292 and
thus the MPF for 100yrs =0.292x222
=65m3/s

Example 3
Derive the inflow hydrograph using any applicable data from previous examples

Solution
Compute:
(i) Calculate the maximum probable flood (from example 3, MPF=65m3/s)
(ii) Rainfall intensity from equation 1

65 × 6.87
I= =45mm/hr
10

(iii) Storm duration from equation 2

2050 log[NR ] − 3000

TP = − 20
I

2050 log[100 x50] − 3000

TP = − 20
45

4
Chapter 11 Triangular mode hydrograph and rational formula
cmutsvangwa Engineering Hydrology; Dept. of Civil and Water Eng., nust, 03/05/2007 15:59:44

Tp=82.6 min or 1.38hrs)

Having estimated the storm duration, a curvilinear hydrograph is projected using

standard USBR ratios (Table 3).

T=Tp x (T/Tp ratio), column 2 in Table .4. The T/Tp ratio in column 1 is from
the USBR standard ratios (Table 3) and Tp is 1.38 hrs.
Q= Qp x (Q/Qp ratio), column 4. The peak discharge, Qp is equivalent to the
MPF= 65m3/sec.

The hydrograph is obtained by plotting the values of Q in column 4 against the

value of T in column 1 and the hydrograph is shown in Fig. 1

Table 3 USBR Standard ratios for deriving a hydrograph

Time Discharge Time Discharge Time Discharge

ratio ratio ratio ratio ratio ratio
T/Tp Q/Qp T/Tp Q/Qp T/Tp Q/Qp

0 0 1.0 1.0 2.4 0.18

0.1 0.015 1.1 0.98 2.6 0.13
0.2 0.075 1.2 0.92 2.8 0.098
0.3 0.15 1.3 0.84 3 0.075
0.4 0.28 1.4 0.75 3.5 0.036
0.5 0.43 1.5 0.66 4 0.018
0.6 0.6 1.6 0.56 4.5 0.009
0.7 0.77 1.8 0.42 5 0.004
0.8 0.89 2 0.32
0.9 0.97 2.2 0.24

References
1. Mitchell T.B., (1998), Annual River Flood Frequency in Zimbabwe, the
Zimbabwe Engineer, Vol. 63 N10-1 pg.9, Thompson Publications, Zimbabwe
2. DWD, (1972), An Assessment of the Surface Water Resources of Zimbabwe
and Guidelines for Development and Planning, Ministry of Water Resources and
Development, Zimbabwe Government
3. Barban R., (1995), Design of Diversion Weirs, John Wiley, UK
4. Kabell T., (1987), Guidelines to the Design of Dams, DWD Annual Conference,
Zimbabwe Government
5. Kabell T., (1983), Reservoir Sedimentation in Zimbabwe, Ministry of Water
Resources and Development, Zimbabwe Government

5
Chapter 11 Triangular mode hydrograph and rational formula
cmutsvangwa Engineering Hydrology; Dept. of Civil and Water Eng., nust, 03/05/2007 15:59:44

Table 4 Computation of the inflow hydrograph

1 2 3 4
T/Tp T, hrs Q/Qp Q,
ratio m3/s
0 0 0 0
0.1 0.138 0.015 0.975
0.4 0.552 0.280 18.20
0.6 0.828 0.600 39.00
0.8 1.104 0.890 57.85
1.0 1.380 1.000 65.00
1.4 1.932 0.750 48.75
1.8 2.484 0.420 27.30
2.2 3.036 0.240 15.60
3.0 4.140 0.075 4.875
3.5 4.830 0.036 2.340
4.0 5.520 0.018 1.170
4.5 6.210 0.009 0.585
5.0 6.900 0.004 0.260

70
60
50
Discharge, Q(m3/s)

40
30
20
10
0
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
-10
Time, hrs

Fig Inflow Hydrograph

Fig. 1 Inflow hydrograph

6
Chapter 11 Triangular mode hydrograph and rational formula