Professional Documents
Culture Documents
chapter two
9. Flood Routing
The terms river routing and flood routing are often used interchangeably. This is
attributed to the fact that most stream channel-routing applications are in flood
flow analysis, flood control design or flood forecasting.
Two general approaches to river routing are recognized: (1) hydrologic and (2)
hydraulic. As will be discussed in Chapter 10, in the case of reservoir routing,
hydrologic river routing is based on the storage concept. Hydraulic river routing is
based on the principles of mass and momentum conservation. There are three
types of hydraulic routing techniques: (1) kinematics wave, (2) diffusion wave,
and (3) dynamic wave. The dynamic wave is the most complete model of
unsteady open channel flow, kinematics and diffusion waves are convenient and
practical approximations to the dynamic wave.
This chapter discusses a commonly used hydrologic routing method such as the
Muskingum method.
Page 1 of 19
chapter Two
For a river channel reach where the water surface cannot be assumed horizontal,
in case of flood flow, the stored volume becomes a function of the stages at both
ends of the reach, and not at the downstream (outflow) end only.
In a typical reach, the different components of storage may be defined for a given
instant in time as shown in Figure 9.1.
I Q
Wedge storage
Prism storage
The continuity equation holds at any given time: dS/dt = I(t) - Q(t) where the total
storage S is the sum of prism storage and wedge storage. The prism storage S p is
taken to be a direct function of the storage at the downstream end of the reach and
the prism storage is the function of the outflow Sp = f1(Q). The wedge storage Sw
exists because the inflow, I, differs from outflow Q and so may be assumed to be
a function of the difference between inflow and outflow Sw = f2(I - Q).
Assuming that in Eq. (9.1) f1(Q) and f2 (I - Q) could be both a linear functions, i.e.
f1(Q) = KQ and f2 (I - Q) = b (I - Q), we have
Page 2 of 19
chapter Two
S = K [XI + ( 1 - X) Q] (9.3)
The routing equation for the Muskingum method is derived by combining Eq.
(9.1) and Eq. (9.3) and the result is given in Eq. (9.4). The condition is that C1 + C
2 + C3 = 1, and often the range for t is K/3 t . K.
Q j+1 = C 1 I j+1 + C 2 I j + C 3 Q j
where
t - 2KX
C1 =
2K(1 - X) + t
(9.4)
t + 2KX
C2 =
2K(1 - X) + t
2K(1 - X) - t
C3 =
2K(1 - X) + t
of X and using known values of the inflow and outflow, successive values of the
numerator and denominator of the following expression can be computed:
Page 3 of 19
chapter Two
The computed values of the numerator and denominator are plotted for each time
interval, with the numerator on the vertical axis and the denominator on the
horizontal axis. This usually produces a graph in the form of a loop. The value of
X that produces a loop closest to a single line is taken to be the correct value for
the reach, and K is equal to the slope of the line. Finally K may be computed form
the average value determined from Eq. (9.5) for the correct values of X. Note that
since K is the time required for the incremental flood wave to traverse the reach,
its value may also be estimated as the observed time of travel of peak flow
through the reach.
With K = t and X = 0.5, flow conditions are such that the outflow hydrograph
retains the same shape as the inflow hydrograph, but it is translated downstream a
time equal to K. For X = 0, Muskingum routing reduces to linear reservoir
routing.
0.5t
X 1 X and X 0.5 (9.6)
K
One rule of thumb used in practice is that the ratio t/K be approximately 1 and X
be in the range 0 to 0.5 together with Eq. (9.6).
Page 4 of 19
chapter Two
Example 9.1: Given the inflow and outflow hydrograph in Table E9.1 from Cols.1 to 3.
Estimate the routing parameters K and X.
Several values of X are tried, within the range 0.0 to 0.5, for example, 0.1, 0.2, and 0.3.
For each trial value of X, the weighted flow (XIj + (1-X)Q j) are calculated, as shown in
Table E9.1. Calculating the slope of the storage vs. weighted outflow curve then solves
the value of K. In this case the value of K is 2 days for X =0.1. It is to be noted that there
is greater storage during the falling stage than during a rising stage of a flood for a given
discharge.
Page 5 of 19
chapter Two
0 0 0
0 2000 4000 6000 8000 0 2000 4000 6000 8000 0 2000 4000 6000 8000
Page 6 of 19
chapter Two
channel systems with large floodplains and larger values, near 0.4, for natural
channels. The following relationships for estimating K and X:
0.6 L
K (9.10)
Vo
4F 2 y0
X 0.5 0.31 (9.6)
9 S0 L
Where:
L = the reach length (m)
Vo = the average velocity (m/s)
yo = the full flow depth (m)
So = the slope of the channel bottom (m/m)
F = the Froud number V0 / [gyo] 2
Example 9.2: The flood hydrograph ordinates tabulated in Table E9.2 arrived at location
A (Figure E9.2) on 20 July 1999 at 1:00 p.m. Determine the peak flow and arrival time
(calendar day) of this flood at downstream location B. Muskingum coefficients of the
reach from A to B are: X = 0.35 and K = 1.2 days. The initial outflow at B was 10 m3/s.
A
B
A
B
Figure E9.2. Schematics of a river reach (From A to B)
Time 1.0 2.0 3.0 4.0 5.0 6.0 7.0 8.0 9.0 10.0
(hr)
Inflow 15 80 150 180 200 140 125 75 45 25
(m3/s)
Solution:
The Muskingum coefficients are determined for X = 0.35 and K = 1.2 hr. The values are
C1 = 0.0625, C 2 = 0.7188, and C3 = 0.2188. Then the outflow is calculated in Table E 9.2,
Page 7 of 19
chapter Two
and plotted in Figure E9.2. The arrival time of the peak flood at section B-B is at 20 July
1999 at 6:00 p.m.
250
Inflow hydrograph
Outflow hydrograph
200
150
Q (m3/s)
100
50
0
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16
Tim e (hr)
Page 8 of 19
chapter Two
9.2. Given the following inflow hydrograph to a certain stream channel reach,
calculate the outflow hydrograph by the Muskingum method.
Time (hr) 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11
Inflow (m3/s) 35 75 88 125 185 140 120 98 78 35 30
and K = 1 hr, X = 0.2 and t = 1 hr.
9.3. A storm event occurred on a given catchment that produced a rainfall pattern of 5
cm/hr for the first 10 min, 10 cm/hr in the second 10 min, and 5 cm/hr in the next 10 min.
The catchment is divided into three sub-catchments.
A 1 C
B 2
The unit hydrograph of the three sub-catchments are given in the following table. Sub
basins A and B had a loss rate of 2.5 cm/hr for the first 10 min and 1.0 cm/hr thereafter.
Sub-basin C had a loss rate of 1.0 cm/hr for the first 10 min and 0 cm/hr thereafter.
Determine the resulting flood at point 2 given the Muskingum coefficients K = 20 min
and X = 0.2.
10 - minutes unit hydrographs
Sub-catchment A Sub-catchment B Sub-catchment C
Time (min) Q Time (min) Q Time (min) Q (m3/s/cm)
(m3/s/cm) (m3/s/cm)
0 0 0 0 0 0
10 5 10 5 10 16
20 10 20 12 20 33
30 15 30 16 30 50
40 20 40 21 40 33
50 25 50 26 50 16
60 20 60 19 60 0
70 15 70 18
80 10 80 10
90 5 90 5
100 0 100 0
Page 9 of 19
chapter Two
i. For flood forecasting in the lower parts of a river basin after passing
through reservoir, the case of Awash river downstream of Koka dam,
iii. For conducting river basin watershed studies for watersheds where one or
more storage facilities exist. Specifically, for watersheds in which existing
reservoir are located, a reservoir routing is necessary to evaluate
watershed plans such as location of water supply structures, and regional
flood control measures.
Note that in order to develop an operational flood routing procedures for a major
river system, detailed knowledge of the main stream and the various feeder
channels is necessary.
Page 10 of 19
chapter Two
Level pool routing is the procedure for calculating the outflow hydrograph from a
reservoir with a horizontal water surface, given its inflow hydrograph and storage
outflow characteristics.
For a hydrological system, input I(t), output Q(t), and storage S(t) are related by
the continuity equation
dS
= I(t) - Q(t) (10.1)
dt
The time horizon is broken into intervals of duration t, indexed by j, that is t = 0,
t, 2t, ..., j t, (j+1)t, ..., and the continuity equation is integrated over each time
interval. For the j-th time interval:
S j +1 (j +1)t (j +1)t
dS =
jt
I(t)dt -
jt
Q(t)dt (10.2)
Sj
The inflow values at the beginning and end of the j-th time interval are Ij and I j+1,
and the corresponding values of the outflow are Q j and Q j+1. If the variation of
the inflow and outflow over the interval is approximately linear (for t small), the
change in storage over the interval Sj+1 - Sj can be found by rewriting the above
I j + I j+1 Q j + Q j+1
S j+1 - S j = t - t (10.3)
2 2
equation as
In order to solve the above equation let us separate group first the known (the
right quantity from the equality) and the unknown (the left one) variables in the
following equation:
Page 11 of 19
chapter Two
2 S j+1 2S j
+ Q j+1 = ( I j + I j+1 ) + ( -Qj ) (10.4)
t t
The value of t is taken as the time interval of the inflow hydrograph. For a given
value of water surface elevation, the value of storage S and discharge Q are
determined, then the value of 2S/t +Q is calculated and plotted.
In routing the inflow through time interval j, all terms on the right side of Eq.
(10.4) are known, and so the values of 2S j+1 /t + Q j+1 can be computed. The
corresponding value of Q j+1 can be determined by linear interpolation of tabular
values.
To set up the data required for the next time interval, the value of 2S j+1 / t - Q j+1
is calculated by
2 S j+1 2 S j+1
( - Q j+1 ) = ( + Q j+1 ) - 2 Q j+1 (10.5)
t t
Depth (stage) storage relationships for a given contour lines can be computed as follows.
The area within contour lines of the site can be planimetered, with the storage in any
depth increment Δh equal to the product of the average area and the depth increment.
Thus the storage increment ΔS is given by:
Page 12 of 19
chapter Two
Figure 10.1 Development of the storage-outflow function for level pool routing on the
basis of storage-elevation and elevation-outflow curves.
800.0
700.0
600.0
500.0
Q( m3/s)
400.0
300.0
200.0
100.0
0.0
0.0 0.5 1.0 1.5 2.0 2.5 3.0 3.5
H (m)
6000.0
S(m3)
5000.0
4000.0
3000.0
2000.0
1000.0
0.0
0.0 0.5 1.0 1.5 2.0 2.5 3.0 3.5
H (m )
800.0
700.0
600.0
500.0
Q( m /s)
3
400.0
300.0
200.0
100.0
0.0
0.0 500.0 1000.0 1500.0 2000.0 2500.0
2S/dt+Q (m 3/s)
Page 13 of 19
chapter Two
Example 10.1 . The design of an emergency spillway calls for a broad-crested weir of
width L = 10.0 m; rating coefficient Cd = 1.7; and exponent n = 1.5. The spillway crest is
at elevation 1070. Above this level, the reservoir walls can be considered to be vertical,
with a surface area pf 100 ha. The dam crest is at elevation 1076 m. Base flow is 17 m3/s,
and initially the reservoir level is at elevation 1071 m. Route the design hydrograph given
in Table E10.2 through the reservoir. What is the maximum pool elevation reached?
Solution. The calculation of the storage indication function above the spillway crest
elevation are shown in Table E10.1a. Outflow is calculated based on the Q = Cd L H n =
1.7 *10* H 1.5.
The routing is summarized in Table E10.1b. The inflow hydrograph is given in Column 2
and 3. Columns 5 and 6 give calculated vale of 2S j / t - Q j and 2Sj+1 / t + Q j+1. The
initial outflow is 17 m3/s; the initial storage indication value (when the reservoir water
level is 1 m above the spillway crest)
2 S j+1 2S j
+ Q j+1 = ( I j + I j+1 ) + ( -Qj )
t t
2 S1 2S
for j = 0 + Q1 = ( I 0 + I 1 ) + ( 0 - Q0 )
t t
2 S j+1 2S j
+ Q j+1 = ( I j + I j+1 ) + ( -Qj )
t t
2 S2 2S
for j = 1 is + Q2 = ( I 1 + I 2 ) + ( 1 - Q1 )
t t
The corresponding Q2 is then obtained from Table E10.1a as 17.4 m3/s. The recursive
procedure continues until iteration continues until the outflow has substantially reached
the base flow condition. The maximum pool elevation (MPE) occurs at maximum spill of
72.5 m3/s. It can be calculated from the ogee spillway equation and H = 2.63 m depth,
and the MPE is 1070.0 + 2.63 = 1072.63 m.
Page 14 of 19
chapter Two
160
Inflow design Hydrograph
140
Outflow hydrograph over the spillway
120
100
Q (m3/s)
80
60
40
20
0
0 5 10 15 20 25
Tim e (hr)
Page 15 of 19
chapter Two
Design Inflow
Time Index Time hydrograph Ij +I j+1 2Sj/dt - Qj 2Sj+1/dt +Qj+1 Qj+1
j (hr) (m3/s) (m3/s) (m3/s) (m3/s) (m3/s)
Page 16 of 19
chapter Two
Most large reservoirs have some type of outflow control, wherein the amount of
outflow is regulated by gated spillways. In this case, both hydraulic conditions
and operational rules determine the prescribed outflow. Operational rules take
into accounts the various use of water.
The differential equation of storage can be used to route flows through reservoirs with
controlled outflow. In general, the outflow can be either (1) uncontrolled, (2) controlled
(gated), or (3) a combination of controlled and uncontrolled. The discretized equation,
including controlled outflow, is
in which Qr is the mean regulated outflow during the time interval t. With Qr
known, the solution proceeds in the same way as with the uncontrolled out flow
case.
In the case where the entire outflow is controlled, Eq. (10.6) reduces to
I j + I j+1
S j+1 = S j t - tQr (10.7)
2
By which the storage volume can be updated based on average inflows and mean
regulated outflow.
Q = 120 H 1.5
The reservoir surface area is 12.5 km2 at spillway crest level and increases linearly by 2
km2 per meter rise of water level above crest level.
Page 17 of 19
chapter Two
The design storm inflow, assumed to start with the reservoir just full, is given by a
triangular hydrograph, base length 40 hr and a peak flow of 450 m3/s occurring after 18
hours after the start of flow. Estimate the peak outflow over the spillway and its time of
occurrence to start of inflow (adapted from Shaw, 1994).
Solution. A level water surface in the reservoir is assumed. Temporary storage above the
crest level is given by:
H H
0 0
2 S j+1 2S j
+ Q j+1 = ( I j + I j+1 ) + ( -Qj )
t t
2 S j+1
+ Q j+1 = 2 *10 6 * (12.5H j 1 H j 1 ) / 7200 120 H j 1
2 1.5
t
2 S j+1
+ Q j+1 = 34722 H j 1 277.7 H 1 j 1 120 H j 1
2 1.5
t
and
2 S j+1
Q j+1 = 34722 H j 1 277.7 H j 1 120 H j 1
2 1.5
t
Page 18 of 19
chapter Two
10.1. Design the emergency spillway width (rectangular cross section) for the following
dam, reservoir, and flood conditions: dam crest elevation = 483 m; emergency spillway
crest elevation = 475 m, coefficient of spillway rating = 1.7; exponent of spillway rating
= 1.5. Elevation-storage relation:
Time (hr) 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24
Inflow 90 75 50 40 30 15 10 5 2 1 0
(m3/s)
Assume design freeboard = 3 m and initial reservoir pool level at spillway crest.
Inflow 0. 2.7 4.4 6.9 8.7 9.4 15.1 19.6 20.9 10.7 8.6 5.5 4.4 2.1 1.5 0.
(m3/s) 0
Page 19 of 19