Flood & Flood

Routing
HYDROLOGY

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Flood & Flood Routing

 Flood is defined as a higher stage of river. It is a level at which river overflows on its banks.

Estimation of Peak Flood

Empirical Methods

I. Dicken’s Formula:

Here, QP = Peak Flood Discharge in m3/s

CD = Dicken’s Constant (lies between 6 and 30)

A = Area of catchment in km2

II. Ryve’s Formula:

Here, CR = Ryve’s Constant (lies between 6.8 and 10.2)

Rest of the notations have same meaning as described above.

Note: Ryve’s Formula is more suitable for Southern India; especially for Western Ghats.

III. Inglis Formula:

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With the help of Flood Frequency Study

 Statical Probability Method: This method is suitable only when large sample space is available. With small
sample space, this method gives improper results.

 Recurrence Interval/ Return Period (T): It is the average time period after which the specified
peak flood has a probability to occur again. Probability of occurrence of a flood with a return
period of T years is given by:

 Probability of not occurrence of the given peak discharge up to ‘n’ successive years;

The above value is known as reliability or assurance of non-occurrence.

 Probability of occurrence at least ones in ‘n’ successive years (Risk).

 Safety Factor: Ratio of design value of hydrological parameters adopted to the estimated value of
hydrological parameters.

 Safety Margin:

 Theoretical Probability Method:

 Gumble’s method: This is a theoretical method based on the concepts of probability. This method
is suitable when interpolations are large.

Here, P gives probability of occurrence of an event (X) equal to or larger than Xo.

y = a dimensionless variable given as follows:

Here, X’ = Mean Value

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σx = Standard deviation of variate X

Usually instead of probability of any event X, it is the value of X which is required to be found
corresponding to any given probability hence when it is required to find the peak intensity of rain which
will occur with a probability ‘P’ in given time period ‘T’ will be given by XT (say), it will be given by:

Here,

k = Frequency factor

yT = Reduced Variate

T = Recurrence Interval

y'n = Reduced Mean. It depends on sample size of given data. When sample size is very large,

y'n = 0.557.

Sn = Reduced Standard deviation. It depends on sample size of given data and for very large sample
size, Sn = 1.2825.

 Apart from above discussed methods, Flood Discharge can also be found using hydrographs.

 Design Flood: Flood value adopted for the design of any given hydraulic structure.

 Spillway Design Flood: It is the design flood used for specific purpose to design spillway of the structure.
It is the maximum flood which can be passed through a hydraulic structure without any damage.

 Standard Project Flood (SPF): It is the flood which result from severe combination of metrological data
and hydrological factors that are reasonably applicable to the region. Extremely rare combinations are
excluded.

 Probable Maximum Flood: These are extreme floods that are physically possible in the region as a result
of severe most combination including rare combinations of meteorological and hydrological factors.

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PMF is used in the situation where the failure of the structure would result in loss of life and catastrophic
damage. Generally,

Structure Recommended Design Flood

PMF determined by Unit Hydrograph and probable

maximum precipitation (PMP).
Spillway for major and medium projects
If ① is not applicable or possible use flood-frequency
with storages more than 60Mm3
method with

T = 1000 years.

SPF determined by Unit Hydrograph and standard project

storm (SPS) which is usually the largest recorded
Permanent Barrage and minor dams with storm in the region.
3
capacity less than 60Mm
Flood with a return period of 100 years.

Use ① or ② whichever is higher.

Flood with return period of 100 or 50 years depending on the

Pickup Weirs
importance of the project.

Waterways Flood with T = 50 years

Aqueduct Foundations and Free
Flood with T = 100 years
board

Project with very scanty or inadequate data Empirical Formulas

 Indian Standard Guidelines for design flood for dams:

Class of Dam Gross Storage (Mm3) Hydraulic Head (m) Inflow Design Flood for Safety
Small 0.5 to 10.0 7.5 to 12.0 100-year flood

Intermediate 10.0 to 60.0 12.0 to 30.0 Standard Project Flood (SPF)

Large >60.0 >30.0 Probable Maximum Flood (PMP)

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Flood Routing
 Flood Routing is a technique of determining hydrograph at a section of a river by utilizing the data of
flood flow at one or more upstream sections. It is an important technique used to determine the solution
of floods.

 Constructing a Reservoir, floods can be controlled because when flood passes through the reservoir, its
outflow hydrograph takes greater amount of time in reaching the peak and hence its peak also gets
reduced.

 When outflow of the reservoir is uncontrolled;

as in case of freely operated spillway, the peak
of outflow hydrograph occurs at the
intersection of inflow and outflow curve
whereas if outflow of the reservoir is of
controlled type, then the peak will occur after
the point of intersection of the two curves.

Types of flood routing

 Reservoir Routing: Effect of a flood wave is
studies.

 Channel Routing: Change in shape of a

hydrograph as it travels down a channel is
studied.

A Variety of methods of routing are available but

the most prominent methods used are:

1) Hydrologic Routing Methods - Only uses equation of continuity. Example: Muskingum Method

2) Hydraulic Routing Methods - Uses Equation of continuity as well as equation of motion. (basic differential
equation used is St. Venant Equations)

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Types of Channel Storage

 Prism Storage: It is the volume that would exist if the uniform flow occurs at the downstream depth, i.e.,
the volume formed by an imaginary plane parallel to the channel bottom drawn at the outflow section
water surface. Prism Storage is similar to the reservoir storage and is a function of outflow discharge.

 Wedge Storage: It is the wedge like volume formed between the actual water surface profile and the top
surface of the prism storage. Wedge storage is a function of inflow discharge.

 Total Storage (S):

Here, F(I) = Function of inflow

F(Q) = Function of outflow

General Flood Management Measures practiced in India

Engineering /Structural Measures

 Reservoirs

They store the water during periods of high discharges in the river and release it after the critical high
flow condition is over, so as to be ready to receive the next wave.

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 Embankments

Embankments (including ring bunds and town protection works) confine the flood flows and prevent
spilling, thereby reducing the damage.

 Channelization of Rivers

Some of the states are proposing channelization of rivers, at least in certain reaches, in the context of
tackling the extensive meandering problems of the rivers, activating navigational channels and training
these rivers into their original courses.

 Channel Improvement

The method of improving the channel by improving the hydraulic conditions of the river channels by
desilting, dredging, lining etc., to enable the river to carry its discharges at lower levels or within its
banks has been often advocated but adopted on a very limited extent because of its high cost and other
problems.

Administrative / Non-structural Measures

 Flood Plain Zoning

Flood-plain zoning measures aim at demarcating zones or areas likely to be affected by floods of
different magnitudes or frequencies and probability levels, and specify the types of permissible
developments in these zones, so that whenever floods actually occur, the damage can be minimised, if
not avoided.

 Flood Proofing

Flood proofing measures adopted in India in the past, consisted in raising a few villages above pre-
determined flood levels and connecting them to nearby roads or high lands.

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