Rational Method / Used to Calculate Peak Flow
Rates
In many cases designs are based on peak flow
rate only
Rational Method
Empirical method developed in 1851
quick and simple procedure to estimate qp
many limitations but still widely used
qp (cfs) = 1.008CiA
C = coefficient (dimensionless)
i = rainfall intensity (in/hr)
with duration (D) = tc
tc = time of concentration
A = drainage area (ac)
1.008 is conversion factor usually assumed to be 1
Rational Method
• Rationale of rational method:
– As rain falls steadily across watershed runoff will increase
until the entire watershed is contributing runoff
• Occurs when rainfall duration (D) = tc
• If D ≠ tc , runoff less than at D = tc
• qp is at a maximum when D = tc
• Assumptions of rational method:
– Uniform rainfall over drainage area
– Maximum qp is a function of the average rain intensity
– Runoff frequency = rainfall frequency used
Time of Concentration (tc)
• The time it takes flow to move from the most
hydraulically remote point in a watershed to the
watershed outlet
– The distance from the hydraulically most remote point
to the outlet is called the hydraulic length
• tc is the sum of flow times for the various flow
segments as the water travels to the watershed
outlet
– Overland flow + shallow channel flow + open channel
flow
• Travel time for each segment depends on length
of travel and flow velocity
Hydraulically most
remote point in the
watershed
Rational Method
• Runoff Coefficient (C)
– Difficult to accurately determine
– Must reflect factors such as: interception, infiltration,
surface detention, antecedent moisture conditions
– Studies have shown that C is not a constant
• C increases with wetter conditions
– Table 5.5 contains a range of values for C
– Compute average C for composite areas
• Area weighted basis
• Cavg = ΣC A / ΣA (same method used with Curve Numbers)
i i i
Runoff Coefficients for the Rational Method
Rational Method Summary
• Peak flow equation only
• Cannot predict time to the peak (tp)
• Should not be used to develop hydrographs