Chapter 9

FLOOD ROUTING
9.1 RESERVOIR ROUTING
Flood routing is the process of determining the reservoir stage, storage volume of the outflow
hydrograph corresponding to a known hydrograph of inflow into the reservoir; this is called
reservoir routing. For this, the capacity curve of the reservoir, i.e., ‘storage vs pool elevation’,
and ‘outflow rate vs. pool elevation’, curves are required. Storage volumes for different pool
elevations are determined by planimetering the contour map of the reservoir site. For exam-
ple, the volume of water stored (V) between two successive contours having areas A1 and A2
(planimetered) and the contour interval d, is given by
d
Cone formula, V= (A1 + A2 + A1 A2 ) ...(9.1)
3
d
Prismoidal formula, V= (A + A2 + 4Am) ...(9.2)
6 1
A1 + A2
where Am = , i.e., area midway between the two successive contours. The prismoidal
2
formula is more accurate. The outflow rates are determined by computing the discharge through
the sluices and the spillway discharge for different water surface elevations of the reservoir.
(i.e., pool elevations):
Copyright © 2006. New Age International Ltd. All rights reserved.

Discharge through sluices, Qsl = CdA 2 gh ...(9.3)

Discharge over spillway crest, Qsp = CLH3/2 ...(9.4)
Outflow from the reservoir O = Qsl + Qsp
where h = height of water surface of reservoir above the centre of sluice
H = height of water surface of reservoir above the crest of spillway
Cd = coefficient of discharge for the sluice
C = coefficient of spillway
A = area of sluice opening
L = length of spillway
The problem in flood routing is to determine the relation between the inflow, the out-
flow and the storage as a function of time. The problem can be solved by applying the hydro-
logic equation
I = O + ∆S ...(9.5)
where I = inflow rate

262
Raghunath, H.M.. Hydrology : Principle Analysis Design, New Age International Ltd, 2006. ProQuest Ebook Central, [Link]
Created from kenyatta-ebooks on 2021-11-04 10:52:54.
 FLOODS ROUTING 263

O = outflow rate
∆S = incremental storage, at any instant.
Taking a small interval of time, t (called the routing period and designating the initial
and final conditions by subscripts 1 and 2 between the interval, Eq. (9.5) may be written as
+ I2
t −
FG I
O1 + O2
1 IJ
t = S2 – S1
FG IJ...(9.6)
2 H 2 K H K
The routing period, t selected should be sufficiently short such that the hydrograph
I1 + I2
during the interval 1-2 can be assumed as a straight line, i.e., Imean = .
2
Eq. (9.6) can be rearranged as
+ I2
t + S1 –
FG I
O1t 1
= S2 +
O2 t IJ ...(9.7)
2 2H 2 K
After selecting a routing period t, curves of O vs. S, and O vs. S ± Ot/2 on either side of
O-S curve are drawn. At the beginning of the routing period all the terms on the left side of Eq.
(9.7) are known and the value of the right side terms is found out. Corresponding to this O2
and (S-Ot/2) are read from the graph, which become the initial values for the next routing
period and so on.
This method of flood routing was developed by LG Puls of the US Army Corps of Engi-
neers and is called the ISD (Inflow-storage-discharge) method. Here it is assumed that the
outflow (i.e., discharge) from the reservoir is a function of the pool elevation provided that the
spillway and the sluices have no gates (i.e., uncontrolled reservoirs) or with constant gate
openings, if provided with control gates for which poor elevation vs. discharge curves are drawn.
Eq. (9.6) may be rearranged as
FG 2S 1 IJ 2S2
(I1 + I2) + − O1 = + O2 ...(9.8)
H t K t

After selecting a routing period t, a curve of ‘

2S
+ O vs. O’ can be drawn since
2S
+O
FG IJ
t t H K
Copyright © 2006. New Age International Ltd. All rights reserved.

2S 2S
– 2O = – O, a curve of ‘ – O vs. O’ can also be drawn.
t t
At the beginning of the routing period all terms on the left of Eq. (9.8) are known. This
method is called modified puls or Storage Indication Method.
Example 9.1 For a reservoir with constant gate openings for the sluices and spillway, pool
elevation vs storage and discharge (outflow) curves are shown in Fig. 9.1. The inflow hydrograph
into the reservoir is given below:

Time (hr) 0 6 12 18 24 30 36 42
Inflow (cumec) 50 70 160 300 460 540 510 440
Time (hr) 48 54 60 66 72 78 84 90
Inflow (cumec) 330 250 190 150 120 90 80 70

Pool elevation at the commencement = 110 m

Discharge at the commencement = 124 cumec

Raghunath, H.M.. Hydrology : Principle Analysis Design, New Age International Ltd, 2006. ProQuest Ebook Central, [Link]
Created from kenyatta-ebooks on 2021-11-04 10:52:54.
 264 HYDROLOGY

Route the flood through the reservoir by (a) ISD method, and (b) modified Puls method,
and compute the outflow hydrograph, the maximum pool elevation reached, the reduction in
the flood peak and the reservoir lag.

1
Storage S in cumec – day
4
0 400 800 1600 2400 3200 4000 4800 5600 6400

120
c
cume
118 s. O in 100
levn v
3 pool e
116 .m
Pool elevation (m)

M
10
114 in d)
.S u te
112 vs p
ev
n .S om
el vs (c
110 o l v n day
po e 1
el 4
108 o ol ec –
p m
cu
106 in

104

102

100
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17
Outflow O in 100 cumec, Storage S in 10 Mm3 (or 1000 ha-m)

Fig. 9.1 Pool elevation vs. storage and discharge (Example 9.1)

1
Solution (a) Flood routing by ISD method Take the routing period as 6 hr or 4
day. It is easier
1
to work the flow rates in cumec and the storage volumes in terms of cumec – day. Hence, the
Copyright © 2006. New Age International Ltd. All rights reserved.

4
1
storage in Mm3 is converted to cumec – 4
day by multiplying by 46.3, Table 9.1. Corresponding
to an initial pool elevation of 110 m, O = 124 cumec, S = 49.1 Mm3 = 49.1 × 46.3 = 2270 cumec

1
Ot O 124 1 1
Ot
– 4
day, = ×t cumec × day = 62 cumec – day, S + = 2270 + 62 = 2332 cumec
2 2 2 4 4 2

1
Ot 1
– 4
day, and S – = 2270 – 62 = 2208 cumec – day. First ‘O vs. S’ curve is drawn. For a
2 4

O
particular O on the S curve, abscissa units may be set off on either side of the S curve and
2
this is repeated for other values of O. The points obtained on either side of S curve plot
Ot Ot
S+ and S – curves as shown in Fig. 9.2.
2 2

Raghunath, H.M.. Hydrology : Principle Analysis Design, New Age International Ltd, 2006. ProQuest Ebook Central, [Link]
Created from kenyatta-ebooks on 2021-11-04 10:52:54.
 Copyright © 2006. New Age International Ltd. All rights reserved.

Ot 2S
Table 9.1 Tabulation for drawing (i ) S ± and (ii ) ± 0 curves for routing the flood through the reservoir (Example 9.1)
2 t

Created from kenyatta-ebooks on 2021-11-04 10:52:54.

Pool Outflow Storage S Computation for I.S.D. method Computation for
FLOODS ROUTING

elevation O (t = 6hr = 1 day) modified Puls method

4

1
Ot Ot Ot 2S 2S 2S
(m) (cumec) (Mm 3) (cumec – 4
day*) S+ S– +O –O
2 t 2 t t t
(cumec – (cumec – (cumec – (cumec) (cumec) (cumec)
1 1 1
4
day) 4
day) 4
day)

100 60 8.7 400 30 430 370 800 860 740

102 70 15.1 700 35 735 665 1400 1470 1330
104 86 23.4 1480 43 1123 1037 2160 2246 2074
106 100 32.0 1480 50 1530 1430 2960 3060 2860
108 110 40.0 1850 55 1905 1795 3700 3810 3590
110 124 49.1 2270 62 2332 2208 4540 4664 4416
112 138 58.3 2700 69 2769 2631 5400 5538 5262
113 310 63.0 2920 155 3075 2765 5840 6150 5530
114 550 68.3 3160 275 3435 2885 6320 6870 5770
115 800 73.5 3400 400 3800 3000 6800 7600 6000
116 1030 78.8 3650 515 4165 3135 7300 8330 6270
117 1280 83.8 3880 640 4520 3240 7760 9040 6480
118 1520 90.0 4160 760 4920 3400 8320 9840 6800
120 — 101.0 4680 — — — — — —

*1 cumec – 1 day = 1 × 6 × 60 = 21600 m3. 1 million m3 (Mm3) = 106/21600 = 46.3 cumec – 1 day.
4 4
265

Raghunath, H.M.. Hydrology : Principle Analysis Design, New Age International Ltd, 2006. ProQuest Ebook Central, [Link]
 266 HYDROLOGY

1400
1300
1200
1100

2 )
1000

t
2 )

+ O
(S – Ot
Outflow O (cumec)

900

(S
sS

vs
800

Ov
O vs

O
700
600
500
400
300
200
100
0
1400 1800 2200 2600 3000 3400 3800 4200 4600
1
Storage S, S + Ot and S – Ot cumec – day
2 2 4

Fig. 9.2 Reservoir routing by ISD method (Example 9.1)

For routing the flood by the I.S.D. method, Table 9.2, for the known outflow at the
Ot
commoncement of 124 cumec, S – is read from the curve as 2208 cumec– 41 day and to this
2
I1 + I2 50 + 70 1 1
t= cumec × 4
day = 60 cumec – 4
day is added to get the right hand side of Eq.
2 2
Ot
(9.7); i.e., S + = 2268 and corresponding to this O = 120 cumec is read from the graph which
Copyright © 2006. New Age International Ltd. All rights reserved.

2
is the outflow at the beginning of the next routing period. Corresponding to this O = 120
cumec, the pool elevation of 109.2 m is read from the ‘pool elevations vs. O’ curve. Correspond-
Ot I1 + I2 70 + 160
ing to this O = 120 cumec, S – = 2040 is read from the graph and t= t
2 2 2

1
Ot
= 115 cumec – 4
day is added to get S +
= 2155 for which O is read as 116 cumec and pool
2
elevation as 108.4 m. Thus the process is repeated till the flood is completely routed through
the reservoir and the outflow hydrograph is obtained as shown in Fig. 9.3.
(b) Flood routing by modified Puls method: Corresponding to the initial pool elevation of
1
1 2S 2 × 2270 cumec − 4 day
110 m, O = 124 cumec, S = 2270 cumec – 4
day, = 1 day = 4540 cumec,
t 4
2S 2S
+ O = 4540 + 124 = 4664 cumec and – O = 4540 – 124 = 4416 cumec. Thus, for other
t t

Raghunath, H.M.. Hydrology : Principle Analysis Design, New Age International Ltd, 2006. ProQuest Ebook Central, [Link]
Created from kenyatta-ebooks on 2021-11-04 10:52:54.
 FLOODS ROUTING 267

2S 2S 2S 2S
values of O, values of + O and – O are computed and ‘O vs. + O and – O’ curves
t t t t
are drawn as shown in Fig. 9.4.
Table 9.2 Reservoir routing—ISD method [Eq. 9.7] (Example 9.1)

I1 + I 2 Ot Ot
Time Inflow t Outflow O S– S+ Pool
2 2 2
(hr) I (cumec- (cumec) (cumec- (cumec- elevation
(cumec) 1 day) 1 day) 1 day) (m)
4 4 4

0 50 124 110.0
60 + 2208 2268
6 70 120 109.2
115 + 2040 2155
12 160 116 108.4
230 + 1960 2190
18 300 119 109.1
380 2020 2400
24 460 122 109.6
500 2080 2580
30 540 130 110.8
525 2380 2905
36 510 195 112.5
475 2730 3205
42 440 395 113.4
385 2820 3205
48 330 395 113.4
290 2920 3110
Copyright © 2006. New Age International Ltd. All rights reserved.

54 250 335 113.1

220 2790 3010
60 190 265 112.8
170 2760 2930
66 150 210 112.6
135 2740 2875
72 120 170 112.4
105 2720 2825
78 90 145 112.3
85 2700 2785
84 80 132 111.2
75 2650 2725
90 70 130 110.8

Raghunath, H.M.. Hydrology : Principle Analysis Design, New Age International Ltd, 2006. ProQuest Ebook Central, [Link]
Created from kenyatta-ebooks on 2021-11-04 10:52:54.
 268 HYDROLOGY

600
14.5 hr = Reservoir lag
550
12 hr
500 75
cumec 132 cumec = Reduction
450 in flood peak
Inflow or outflow (cumec)
400

350 Inflow hydrograph

300 To
storage Outflow hydrograph
250 (ISD method)

200 Equal Outflow hydrograph

areas (modified puls method)
150
Fro
m sto
100 rag
e
50
6 hr routing periods
0
0 12 24 36 48 60 72 84 96 108
Time t (hr)

Fig. 9.3 Reservoir routing (Example 9.1)

1300

1200

1100
O

1000
t +O
O vs. 2S –
t

s. 2S

900
Copyright © 2006. New Age International Ltd. All rights reserved.

800
Outflow O (cumec)

O v

700

600

500

400

300

200

100

0
0 1000 2000 3000 4000 5000 6000 7000 8000 9000 10000
2S + O and 2S – O cumec
t t
Fig. 9.4 Reservoir routing by modified Puls method (Example 9.1)
Raghunath, H.M.. Hydrology : Principle Analysis Design, New Age International Ltd, 2006. ProQuest Ebook Central, [Link]
Created from kenyatta-ebooks on 2021-11-04 10:52:54.
 FLOODS ROUTING 269

For routing the flood by the modified Puls method, Table 9.3, corresponding to the initial
2S 2S
pool elevation of 110 m, O = 124 cumec, + O = 4664 cumec and – O = 4416 cumec are
t t
2S
read off. For this – O = 4416 cumec, I1 + I2 = 50 + 70 = 120 cumec is added to get the right
t
2S 2S
hand side of Eq. (9.8), i.e., + O = 4416 + 120 = 4536 cumec. For this value of + O, O = 123
t t
2S
cumec, and – O = 4290 cumec are read off from the curves. For O = 123 cumec, the pool
t
elevation of 109.8 m is read off from the ‘O vs pool elevation curve’. These values become the
2S
initial values for the next routing period. Again, for – O = 4290 cumec, I1 + I2 = 70 + 160 =
t
2S
230 cumec is added to get the right hand side of Eq. (9.8), i.e., + O = 4290 + 230 = 4520
t
2S
cumec for which O and – O values are read off and pool elevation obtained, which become
t
the initial values for the next routing period. Thus the process is repeated till the flood is
completely routed through the reservoir and the outflow hydrograph is obtained as shown in
Fig. 9.3 by dashed line.
Table 9.3 Reservoir routing–modified Puls method [Eq. 9.8]. (Example 9.1)

2S 2S
Time (hr) Inflow O – O* +O Outflow O Pool elevation
t t
(cumec) (cumec) (cumec) (cumec) (m)

0 50 UV 4416 4464 124 110.0

6 70 W UV + 4290 4536 123 109.8
12 160 W + 4276 4520 122 109.6
Copyright © 2006. New Age International Ltd. All rights reserved.

18 300 4482 4736 126 111.8

24 460 4986 5248 131 111.0
30 540 5506 5986 240 112.7
36 510 5696 6556 430 113.5
42 440 5716 6646 465 113.6
48 330 5666 6486 410 113.4
54 250 5586 6246 330 113.0
60 190 5526 6026 250 112.7
66 150 5466 5866 200 112.5
72 120 5436 5736 150 112.3
78 90 5476 5646 135 111.6
84 80 5278 5546 134 111.4
90 70 5428 130 110.8
2S 2S FG IJ
* –0= + 0 – 2O
t t H K
Raghunath, H.M.. Hydrology : Principle Analysis Design, New Age International Ltd, 2006. ProQuest Ebook Central, [Link]
Created from kenyatta-ebooks on 2021-11-04 10:52:54.
 270 HYDROLOGY

Results.

Modified
ISD method Puls method

(i) Maximum pool elevn.

reached ≈ 113.5 m* 113.6 m
(ii) Reduction in flood peak 132 cumec 75 cumec

(iii) Reservoir lag 14 21 hr 12 hr

*To pass the crest of the outflow hydrograph.

9.2 STREAM FLOW ROUTING

In a stream channel (river) a flood wave may be reduced in magnitude and lengthened in
travel time i.e., attenuated, by storage in the reach between two sections. The storage in the
reach may be divided into two parts-prism storage and wedge storage, Fig. 9.5, since the water
surface is not uniform during the floods. The volume that would be stored in the reach if the
flow were uniform throughout, i.e., below a line parallel to the stream bed, is called ‘prism
storage’ and the volume stored between this line and the actual water surface profile due to
outflow being different from inflow into the reach is called ‘wedge storage’. During rising stages
the wedge storage volume is considerable before the outflow actually increases, while during
falling stages inflow drops more rapidly than outflow, the wedge storage becoming negative.
Negative
wedge storage
Wedge
storage
Water surface
prism
stora
ge Wedge
prism storage
Copyright © 2006. New Age International Ltd. All rights reserved.

stora
ge
Strea
m be
d prism
stora
ge

Fig. 9.5 Storage in a stream channel during a flood wave

In the case of stream-flow routing, the solution of the storage equation is more compli-
cated, than in the case of reservoir routing, since the wedge storage is involved. While the
storage in a reach depends on both the inflow and outflow, prism storage depends on the
outflow alone and the wedge storage depends on the difference (I – O). A common method of
stream flow routing is the Muskingum method (McCarthy, 1938) where the storage is ex-
pressed as a function of both inflow and outflow in the reach as
S = K [xI + (1 – x) O] ...(9.9)
where K and x are called the Muskingum coefficients (since the Eq. (9.9) was first developed by
the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in connection with the flood control schemes in the
Muskingum River Basin, Ohio), K is a storage constant having the dimension of time and x is

Raghunath, H.M.. Hydrology : Principle Analysis Design, New Age International Ltd, 2006. ProQuest Ebook Central, [Link]
Created from kenyatta-ebooks on 2021-11-04 10:52:54.
 FLOODS ROUTING 271

a dimensionless constant for the reach of the river. In natural riverchannels x ranges from 0.1
to 0.3. The Eq. (9.9) in most flood flows approaches a straight line. Trial values of x are as-
sumed and plots of ‘S vs. [xI + (1 – x) O]’ are in the form of storage loops; for a particular value
of x, the plot is a straight line and the slope of the line gives K. If S is in cumec-day and I, O are
in cumec, K is in day.
After determining the values of K and x, the outflow O from the reach may be obtained
by combining and simplifying the two equations.
FG I 1 + I2 IJ t − FG O
1 + O2 IJ t = S – S1 ...(9.10)
H 2 K H 2 K 2

same as (9.6)
and S2 – S1 = K [x (I2 – I1) + (1 – x) (O2 – O1)] ...(9.11)
(Eq. 9.11 is the same as Eq. (9.9)); for a discrete time interval the following equation may be
obtained
O2 = C0I2 + C1I1 + C2O1 ...(9.12)
Kx − 0.5t
where C0 = – ...(9.12 a)
K − Kx + 0.5t
Kx + 0.5t
C1 = ....(9.12 b)
K − Kx + 0.5t
K − Kx − 0.5t
C2 = ...(9.12 c)
K − Kx + 0.5t
Combining Eq. (9.12 a, b, c) gives
C0 + C1 + C2 = 1 ...(9.12 d)
where t is the routing period. The routing period should be less than the time of travel for the
flood wave through the reach, otherwise it is possible that the wave crest may pass completely
through the reach during the routing period. Usually the routing period is taken as about 1/3
to 1/4 of the flood wave travel time through the reach (obtained from the inflow-hydrograph).
Copyright © 2006. New Age International Ltd. All rights reserved.

If there is a local inflow due to a tributary entering the mainstream, it should be added
to I or O accordingly as it enters the reach at the upstream or downstream end, or the local
inflow may be divided, a portion added to I and another portion added to O.
A number of methods have been developed for flood routing. The numerical method of
solution of the routing equations is tedious but has the advantage of easy checking and filling.
The Sorensen’s graphical method of reservoir routing has the advantage that variable time
periods can be used. Cheng’s graphical method is used for stream flow routing. Quite a number
of mechanical instruments, flood routing slide rules and electronic computers, etc. have been
used to facilitate computations.
Example 9.2 The inflow and outflow hydrographs for a reach of a river are given below. Deter-
mine the value of the Muskingum coefficients K and x for the reach.
Time (hr) 0 24 48 72 96 120 144 168 192 216
Inflow (cumec) 35 125 575 740 456 245 144 95 67 50
Outflow (cumec) 39 52 287 624 638 394 235 142 93 60

Raghunath, H.M.. Hydrology : Principle Analysis Design, New Age International Ltd, 2006. ProQuest Ebook Central, [Link]
Created from kenyatta-ebooks on 2021-11-04 10:52:54.
 272 HYDROLOGY

Solution From the daily readings of the inflow and outflow hydrographs, a routing period t =
24 hr = 1 day is taken. The mean storage is determined from Eq. (9.10) and then the cumula-
tive storage S is tabulated. For trial values of x = 0.2, 0.25 and 0.3, the values of [xI + (1 – x) O]
are computed in Table 9.4. Storage loops for the reach, i.e., curves of S vs. [xI + (1 – x) O] for
each trial value of x are plotted as shown in Fig. 9.6. By inspection, the middle value of x = 0.25
approximates a straight line and hence this value of x is chosen. K is determined by measuring
the slope of the median straight line which is found to be 0.7 day. Hence, for the given reach of
the river, the values of the Muskingum coefficients are
x = 0.25, K = 0.7 day
Example 9.3 The inflow hydrograph readings for a stream reach are given below for which the
Muskingum coefficients of K = 36 hr and x = 0.15 apply. Route the flood through the reach and
determine the outflow hydrograph. Also determine the reduction in peak and the time of peak of
outflow.
cum storage S (cumec-day)

500 500
S (cumec-day)

400 x = 0.2 400 x = 0.3

Storage
300 Storage 300 loop
loop
200 200

100 100

0 0
0 100 200 300 400 500 600 700 0 100 200 300 400 500 600 700
xI + (1 – x) O (cumec) xI + (1 – x) O (cumec)
500 m=k
x = 0.25
400
Dy
S (cumec-day)

300 c.d
K= =
300 Dx 430 c
= 0.7 day Dy = 300 cumec-day
approx.
Copyright © 2006. New Age International Ltd. All rights reserved.

200 Median Muskingum

St. line
line Dx coefficients:
100 k = 0.7 day, x = 0.25
= 430 cumec
0
0 100 200 300 400 500 600 700
xI + (1 – x) O, cumec

Fig. 9.6 Storage loops for the reach of the river (Example 9.2)
Outflow at the beginning of the flood may be taken as the same as inflow.

Time (hr) 0 12 24 36 48 60 72 84 96 108 120

Inflow (cumec) 42 45 88 272 342 288 240 198 162 133 110
Time (hr) 132 144 156 168 180 192 204 216 228 240
Inflow (cumec) 90 79 68 61 56 54 51 48 45 42

Solution Eq. 9.12: O2 = C0I2 + C1I1 + C2O1

x = 0.15, K = 36 hr = 1.5 day; take the routing period (from the inflow hydrograph readings) as
1
12 hr = 2
day. Compute C0, C1 and C2 as follows:

Raghunath, H.M.. Hydrology : Principle Analysis Design, New Age International Ltd, 2006. ProQuest Ebook Central, [Link]
Created from kenyatta-ebooks on 2021-11-04 10:52:54.
 Copyright © 2006. New Age International Ltd. All rights reserved.

Table 9.4 Determination of the Muskingum coefficients K and x for a reach of the river. (Example 9.2)

Time Inflow Outflow I–O Mean cumulative x = 0.2 X = 0.25 X = 0.3

(hr) I O (cumec) storage storage 0.2 I 0.8O Total 0.25 I 0.75 O Total 0.3I 0.7O Total

Created from kenyatta-ebooks on 2021-11-04 10:52:54.

(cumec) (cumec) (cumec- (cumec- (cumec) (cumec) (cumec)
FLOODS ROUTING

day) day)

0 35 39 –4 –2 –2 7 31.2 38.2 8.75 29.25 38.0 10.5 27.3 37.8

24 125 52 73 34 32 25 41.6 66.6 31.25 39.0 70.25 37.4 36.4 73.9

48 575 287 288 180 212 115 229.6 344.6 143.75 215 358.75 172.5 200.9 373.4

72 740 624 116 202 414 148 499.2 647.2 185.0 468 653.0 222.0 436.8 658.8

96 456 638 –182 –33 381 91.2 510.4 601.6 114.0 478 592.0 136.8 446.6 583.4

120 245 394 –149 –165 216 49 315.2 364.2 61.25 295.5 356.75 73.5 275.8 349.3

144 144 235 –91 –120 96 28.8 188.0 216.8 36.0 176.3 212.3 43.2 164.5 207.7

168 95 142 –47 –69 27 19.0 113.6 132.6 23.75 101.64 125.39 28.5 99.4 127.9

192 67 93 –26 –37 –10 13.4 74.4 87.8 16.75 69.7 86.45 20.1 65.1 85.2

216 50 60 –10 –18 –28 10 48.0 58.0 12.5 45.0 57.5 15.0 42.0 57.0
273

Raghunath, H.M.. Hydrology : Principle Analysis Design, New Age International Ltd, 2006. ProQuest Ebook Central, [Link]
 274 HYDROLOGY

Kx − 0.5t 1.5 × 0.15 − 0.5 × 21 − 0.025

C0 = – =– =– = 0.02
K − Kx + 0.5t 1.5 − 1.5 × 0.15 + 0.5 × 1
2
1.525
1.5 × 0.15 + 0.5 × 1
Kx + 0.5t 2
C1 = = = 0.31
K − Kx + 0.5t 1.525
K − Kx − 0.5t 1.5 − 1.5 × 0.15 − 0.5 × 21
C2 = = = 0.67
K − Kx + 0.5t 1.525
Check: C0 + C1 + C2 = 0.02 + 0.31 + 0.67 = 1
∴ O2 = 0.02 I2 + 0.31 I1 + 0.67 O1
In Table 9.5, I1, I2 are known from the inflow hydrograph, and O1 is taken as I1 at the
beginning of the flood since the flow is almost steady.
Table 9.5 Stream flow routing—Muskingum method
[Eq. 9.12]. (Example 9.3)

Time Inflow 0.02 I2 0.31 I1 0.67 O1 Outflow

(hr) I (cumec) (cumec) (cumec) O
(cumec) (cumec)

0 42 — — — 42*
12 45 0.90 13.0 28.2 42.1
24 88 1.76 14.0 28.3 44.0
36 272 5.44 27.3 29.5 62.2
48 342 6.84 84.3 41.7 132.8
60 288 5.76 106.0 89.0 200.7
72 240 4.80 89.2 139.0 233.0
84 198 3.96 74.4 156.0 234.0
96 162 3.24 61.4 157.0 221.6
Copyright © 2006. New Age International Ltd. All rights reserved.

108 133 2.66 50.2 148.2 201.0

120 110 2.20 41.2 134.5 178.9
132 90 1.80 34.1 119.8 155.7
144 79 1.58 27.9 104.0 133.5
156 68 1.36 24.4 89.5 115.3
163 61 1.22 21.1 77.4 99.7
180 56 1.12 18.9 66.8 86.8
192 54 1.08 17.4 58.2 76.7
204 51 1.02 16.7 51.4 69.1
216 48 1.00 15.8 46.3 63.1
228 45 0.90 14.8 42.3 58.0
240 42 0.84 13.9 38.9 53.6
*O1 is assumed equal to I1 = 42 cumec

Raghunath, H.M.. Hydrology : Principle Analysis Design, New Age International Ltd, 2006. ProQuest Ebook Central, [Link]
Created from kenyatta-ebooks on 2021-11-04 10:52:54.
 FLOODS ROUTING 275

∴ O2 = 0.02 × 45 + 0.31 × 42 + 0.67 × 42 = 42.06 cumec

This value of O2 becomes O1 for the next routing period and the process is repeated till
the flood is completely routed through the reach. The resulting outflow hydrograph is plotted
as shown in Fig. 9.7. The reduction in peak is 108 cumec and the lag time is 36 hr, i.e., the peak
outflow is after 84 hr (= 3 21 days) after the commencement of the flood through the reach.

400 Lag
36 hr
Inflow hydrograph
350
Inflow or outflow Q (cumec)

300
108 cumec = Reduction in peak
250 To Peak out-flow after 84 hr
stor-
age Outflow hydrograph
200
1
k = 36 hr = 1 day
150 2
Equal Fro x = 0.15
areas m
100 sto
rag
e
50 84 hr
12 hr routing period
0
0 24 48 72 96 120 144 168 192 216 240
Time t (hr)

Fig. 9.7 Streamflow routing by Muskingum method (Example 9.3)

QUIZ IX

I Match the items in ‘A’ with the items in ‘B’

A B
(i) Flood routing (a) Muskingum method
Copyright © 2006. New Age International Ltd. All rights reserved.

(ii) ISD method (b) f (I – 0)

(iii) Modified Puls method (c) f(0)
(iv) Stream-flow routing (d) Sorensen’s graphical method
(v) Wedge storage (e) Cheng’s graphical method
2S
(vi) Prism storage (f) ± 0 curves
t
0t
(vii) Reservoir routing (g) S ± curves
2
(viii) Streamflow routing (h) Outflow hydrograph
II Say ‘true’ or ‘false’, if false, give the correct statement:
(i) In flood routing through reservoir
Given are:
(a) Pool elevation vs. storage (b) Pool elevation vs. outflow (discharge)
(c) Flood hydrograph of inflow

Raghunath, H.M.. Hydrology : Principle Analysis Design, New Age International Ltd, 2006. ProQuest Ebook Central, [Link]
Created from kenyatta-ebooks on 2021-11-04 10:52:54.
 276 HYDROLOGY

Required to find at any time after the commencement of flood

(a) Reservoir stage (pool elevation) (b) Storage volume
(c) Outflow (d) Reduction in flood peak
(e) Maximum pool elevation reached (f) Reservoir lag
(ii) The outflow consists of discharge over the spillway only
(iii) The routing period should be greater than the time of travel of the flood wave through the
reach.
(iv) The routing period should be sufficiently short such that the hydrograph during this interval
can be assumed as a straight line.
(v) Reservoir routing by modified Puls method is simpler than I.S.D. method.
(vi) Stream flow routing is more complicated than reservoir routing since the prism storage is
involved.
(vii) While storage is simply a function of discharge in reservoir routing, it (storage) is a function
of both inflow and outflow in steamflow routing since wedge storage is involved.
(viii) Inflow is a parameter in the storage equation of streamflow routing to adequately represent
the prism storage.
(ix) The storage in a reach consists of prism storage and wedge storage, the former is due to the
nonuniformity of water surface while the latter is beneath a line parallel to the stream bed.
(x) The wedge storage volume becomes negative during rising stages.
(xi) The wedge storage depends on the outflow alone while the prism storage depends on the
difference of inflow and outflow.
(xii) The routing period is taken as about 1/3 to 1/4 of the flood wave travel time through the reach
and is obtained from the flood hydrograph of inflow.
(xiii) Variable time periods can be used in the Sorensen’s graphical method of reservoir routing.
(xiv) Cheng’s graphical method is used for reservoir routing.
(xv) Local inflow due to a tributary poses a problem in streamflow routing.
(xvi) Though mechanical and electronic devices have been developed for flood routing computa-
tions, the numerical methods have the advantage of easy checking and filling.
(false: ii, iii, vi, viii, ix, x, xi, xiv)
Copyright © 2006. New Age International Ltd. All rights reserved.

III Choose the correct statement/s in the following:

1 Given a hdyrograph of inflow into the reservoir, flood routing is the process of determining.
(i) reservoir pool elevation (ii) resorvoir storage
(iii) hydrograph of outflow from the reservoir
(iv) discharge over the spillway and through sluice ways
(v) exclusion of silt-charge from the reservoir
(vi) head available for the power plant (vii) all the above items
2 Wedge storage in a channel reach is a function of
(i) inflow into the reach (ii) ouflow from the reach
(iii) difference between the inflow and outflow
(iv) the routing period (v) prism storage
(vi) local inflow (from a tributary joining at mid-reach)
(vii) all the above factors (1 – i, ii, iii; 2 – iii, vi)

Raghunath, H.M.. Hydrology : Principle Analysis Design, New Age International Ltd, 2006. ProQuest Ebook Central, [Link]
Created from kenyatta-ebooks on 2021-11-04 10:52:54.
 FLOODS ROUTING 277

QUESTIONS

1 (a) Define ‘flood routing’. What are the usual assumptions made in routing a flood in a reservoir?
(b) Explain clearly the I.S.D. curves method of reservoir flood routing. What are the factors to be
considered in choosing the routing period?
2 (a) Take any two flood routing methods you know of and show that they are only solutions of the
dS
continuity equation I – 0 = .
dt
(b) A retarding basin has storage and discharge characteristics as given below. The dam has an
ungated sluice 1.5 m dia with its centre at elevation 157.5 m and a spillway at crest elevation
226.5 m. Discharge given below for pool elevations above 226.5 m include both sluice and
spillway discharge. The inflow hydrograph is also given below.
Route the flood through the reservoir
(i) by ISD method
(ii) by the modified Puls method
Determine the maximum pool elevation reached, the reduction in flood peak and the reservoir
lag. Pool elevation at commencement = 157.8 m (for which the discharge = 5.95 cumec).
(i) ‘Pool Elevation vs. Storage’ and Discharge data:

Pool Elvn. Storage (ham) Discharge

(m) (= 104 m3) (cumec)

157.5 0.085 3.9

159 0.368 17.3
162 1.33 29.8
168 7.6 45.5
174 21.2 57.0
180 43.8 66.7
Copyright © 2006. New Age International Ltd. All rights reserved.

186 80.4 75.0

192 136.0 82.8
198 208 89.5
204 297 96
210 400 102
216 520 108
222 655 114
225 728 116
226.5 764 117
227.4 787 119
228.0 805 289

Raghunath, H.M.. Hydrology : Principle Analysis Design, New Age International Ltd, 2006. ProQuest Ebook Central, [Link]
Created from kenyatta-ebooks on 2021-11-04 10:52:54.
 278 HYDROLOGY

(ii) Inflow hydrograph data

Time Inflow Time Inflow

(hr) (cumec) (hr) (cumec)

0 15 36 141
6 57 42 93
12 159 48 60
18 258 54 33
24 246 60 18
30 198

(Hint Take routing period t = 6 hr = 1/4 day)

Draw the curves:
(i) Pool elevation vs. discharge (outflow)

Ot 1
(ii) Discharge (outflow) in comec vs. S ± in cumec – 4
day, for ISD method of routing.
2
2S
(iii) Discharge (outflow) in cumec vs. ± O in cumec, for modified Puls method of routing.
t
3 (a) How does ‘stream flow routing’ differ from reservoir flood routing?
(b) The inflow hydrograph readings for a stream reach are given below for which the Muskingum
coefficients of K = 30 hr and x = 0.2 apply. Route the flood through the reach and determine
the reduction in peak and the time of peak of outflow. Outflow at the beginning of the flood
may be taken as the same as inflow.

Time Inflow Time Inflow

(hr) (cumec) (hr) (cumec)
Copyright © 2006. New Age International Ltd. All rights reserved.

0 15 132 32
12 16 144 28
24 31 156 24
36 96 168 22
48 121 180 20
60 102 192 19
72 85 204 18
84 70 216 17
96 57 228 16
108 47 240 15
120 39

Raghunath, H.M.. Hydrology : Principle Analysis Design, New Age International Ltd, 2006. ProQuest Ebook Central, [Link]
Created from kenyatta-ebooks on 2021-11-04 10:52:54.
 FLOODS ROUTING 279

4 (a) Show that storage in a stream reach can be expressed in terms of inflow and outflow in the
form:
S = K [xI + (1 – x) 0]
(b) The inflow and outflow hydrographs for a reach of a river are given below. Determine the
best values of the Muskingum coefficients K and x for the reach.

Time Inflow Outflow

(hr) (cumec) (cumec)

0 20 20
12 191 30
24 249 120
36 164 176
48 110 164
60 82 135
72 62 116
84 48 90
96 32 68
108 28 52
Copyright © 2006. New Age International Ltd. All rights reserved.

Raghunath, H.M.. Hydrology : Principle Analysis Design, New Age International Ltd, 2006. ProQuest Ebook Central, [Link]
Created from kenyatta-ebooks on 2021-11-04 10:52:54.