Session 3 -Exercices

Net (or effective) rain (infiltration losses)

E1 – Horton's Method

A catchment with an area A=5 ha is considered. This cathcment is peri-urban so that the rain can
infiltrate in the soil

The infiltration capacity of soils is given by a Horton-type function:

𝑓(𝑡) = 𝑓𝑐 + (𝑓0 − 𝑓𝑐 )𝑒𝑥𝑝−𝑘𝑡

with fc=5.2 mm/h f0=70 mm/h and k=0.61 h-1

From a hydrological point of view, the Montana coefficients measured over this watershed are equal
to: a(T)=5.3 and b(T) =-0.44 (time in minutes and intensity in mm/min). The knowledge of T, return
period is not useful for exercise

1) Construct a triangle rainfall, lasting 4 hours and satisfying the IDF curve characterized by the
Montana coefficients above. We will take a 10-minute time step to build this rain
2) Calculate the function f(t) (in mm/h and then in mm/min in order to avoid errors), the associated
function F(t) and the precipitated water depth at time t: H(t). To calculate F(t) and H(t) the
trapezoid method will be used (although F(t) and H(t) can be also analytically calculated)
3) Deduce the true infiltration function, the time when the runoff starts as well as the net rain by a
graphical method

E2 – SCS Method

We consider a peri-urban watershed, 25% urbanized, the vegetated permeable areas being made up
of type B soil.
1. Determine the curve number CN value to apply
2. We consider a rainfall with a return period of 10 years, characterized by the Montana
coefficients: a=5.6 b =- 0.43

Calculate the global runoff coefficient for a 60 min rain and a 4 h rain by applying the SCS
model

3. We consider the rain with duration 4h

- Construct a centered triangular rain
- Use the SCS method to calculate the effective rain (considering the curve number CN
from question 1). Use a downward derivative scheme if you need to derive a function
g(t):

𝑑𝑔 𝑔𝑖 − 𝑔𝑖−1
| =
𝑑𝑡 𝑖 ∆𝑡

- From the runoff and precipitated heights at time t, calculate a time-dependent runoff
coefficient (be careful! There's a little trap here). Calculate the effective rainfall from this
coefficient and compare it with the previous rainfall

4- Apply the global runoff coefficient found in question 2 to calculate an effective rainfall.
- Compare this effective rainfall with that obtained in question 2 and the runoff volumes given
by these different effetive rainfalls. What conclusions can be drawn from this calculation ?

5 - Calculate the function F(t), and deduce the infiltration capacity f(t). The derivative will be
expressed by:

𝑑𝐹 𝐹𝑖 − 𝐹𝑖−1
| =
𝑑𝑡 𝑖 ∆𝑡

Deduce the net rainfall and compare it with the effective rainfall found in question 2