Understanding the Rational Method in Hydrology
Translated by
ScribdTranslationsUnderstanding the Rational Method in Hydrology
Translated by
ScribdTranslationsThe Rational Method is one of the most commonly used for estimation of the
maximum flow associated with a certain design rainfall. It is used
usually in the design of urban and rural drainage works. And it has the advantage
not requiring hydrometric data for the Determination of Flows
Maximums.
The expression used by the Rational Method is:
Where:
Maximum flow [m3/s]
C: Runoff coefficient, inthis tutorialyou will find
some values for Rural and Urban basins.
I: Design Rain Intensity, with a duration equal to
concentration time of the basin and with equal frequency
to the selected return period for the design(Curves of
I-D-F) [mm/h]
A: Basin area. [Ha]
Among the limitations highlighted by some authors regarding the Rational Method
can refer to:
Provide only a peak flow, not thehydrogram of increase for the
design.
Assume that the rain is uniform over time (constant intensity) which
It is only true when the duration of the rain is very short.
The Rational Method also assumes that the rainfall is uniform across the entire area.
from the basin under study, which is partially valid if its extent is
very small.
Assume that runoff is directly proportional to the
precipitation (if the precipitation doubles, the runoff also doubles). In the
reality, this is not true, as runoff also depends on many other factors
factors, such as antecedent precipitation, humidity conditions
soil antecedent, etc.
Ignore the effects of temporary storage or retention of water.
drained on the surface, channels, conduits, and other elements (natural and
artificial.
Assume that the return period of precipitation and that of runoff
they are the same, which would be true in impermeable areas, where the
previous soil moisture conditions do not significantly influence
in Surface Runoff.
Despite these limitations, the Rational Method is used practically everywhere.
drainage projects for road, urban or agricultural purposes, always taking into account that
will produce acceptable results in small areas and with a high percentage of
waterproofing, therefore it is advisable that its use be limited to Basins with
areas smaller than 200 hectares.
Let's now look at the application of the Rational Method with an example:
It is desired to determine, using the Rational formula, the maximum flow in a
basin with the land uses presented and for a return period of 25
years. The analysismorphometric of the basinthrows the following results:
125 Ha
Length of the Main Channel = 1.350 m
Maximum Quota Main Channel = 965 meters above sea level
Minimum Level Main Channel = 815.75 m above sea level
The frequency study for the maximum intensities yielded the following
expression for the curves ofIntensity-Duration-Frequencyin the region:
con: I[mm/hr], Tr[years] and D[minutes].
In this case, it has been decided to represent the Intensity-Duration Relationship.
Frequency of the Area under Study through a Mathematical Adjustment of the
Available Curves.
Generally, we will have to graphically take the value of Intensity.
using the Regional Curves.
Given the presence of different land uses in the basin, it is necessary to establish
the Weighted Runoff Coefficient based on the areas. This is
we study at theExample presented at the end of this Tutorial,in which the value
The Weighted Runoff Coefficient resulted in 0.46.
To obtain the Design Intensity, it is necessary to know the duration of the
associated rain. To this end, the Rational Method assumes that the duration of the
rain will be equal to the Concentration Time of the Basin under study, the
What is the time it takes for a drop of water to travel the distance from the
farthest point from it to the point under consideration (definition point
the basin).
For the determination of the Concentration Time, there are different expressions.
among which the Kirpich Equation stands out:
For which we have the length of the channel, needing to establish its slope:
With this value we will have:
This value and the specified return period of 25 years will be,
we can establish the value of the design intensity with the equation
supplied:
From here, applying the Rational Method Formula, the flow rate will be
maximum in the basin will be:
As we see from the previous example, the application of the Rational Method is rather
simple, hence its widespread use.
OBJECTIVES OF HYDROLOGY
FUNDAMENTAL THEMES FOR THE STUDY OF HYDROLOGY I HOPE THIS IS OF
ITS USEFULNESS FOR THE STUDY OF IT:
Hydrology: is defined as the science that studies the availability and distribution of water.
about the earth. Currently, Hydrology plays a very important role in Planning of
use of Hydraulic Resources, and has become a fundamental part of the projects
engineering related to water supply, wastewater disposal, drainage,
protection against the action of rivers and recreation. On the other hand, the integration of Hydrology with the
Systems Engineering has led to the essential use of the computer in processing
existing information and in the simulation of future event occurrence.
As has happened with other sciences, as hydrological studies were conducted
during development, it was necessary to divide the general topic into a series of specialized topics and
interdisciplinary groups that came together under the name of Hydraulic Resources Planning.
Planning includes as main topics Meteorology, Surface Hydrology and
The Hydrology of Groundwater.
OBJECTIVES OF HYDROLOGICAL STUDIES
Theprojectsthose that use water as the main component are classified as follows:
Water Supply Projects.
Capture flows (Q) of surface currents or underground deposits to supply
water demands in specific areas.
Among these projects are those of Aqueducts and Sewage Systems and those of Irrigation and Drainage.
Agricultural Fields.
2. Hydropower Supply Projects.
Captures flow rates (Q) of surface currents and takes advantage of height differences (H) to deliver
Hydraulic Energy to the Turbines of Hydroelectric Plants.
The turbines convert Hydraulic Energy into Mechanical Energy, which is transmitted to the
Generators; these transform Mechanical Energy into Electrical Energy.
3. Design of Road Works, Rainwater Drainage, and Protection Structures Against Attacks
of rivers.
Hydrological studies analyze the average and extreme flow regimes of the streams.
of water in the areas influenced by the road works, in the zones that require
stormwater drainage and in the flood-prone areas adjacent to the waterways.
The increasing flows and the avalanches generated by landslides are the variables
important in this type of projects. These variables are then related to the levels of
flooding, with flow velocities and with lateral and bed erosion processes.
Etcetera.
HYDROLOGICAL STUDIES IN ENGINEERING PROJECTS
The steps followed in ahydrological studythey are the following:
Project location
Information gathering
Field work
Analysis of the information
1. Location: In engineering projects, the study area is initially defined as the
project influence area. This area defines both the areas that will be
benefited by the project such as the hollows from the natural streams that cross them and
of those selected to be used as catchments.
The following is the monograph of the area, which includes geographical and historical aspects.
social, land use, and soil characteristics.
2. Information Gathering
The information collected to develop a hydrological study includes the following
aspects:
Cartography
Hydrometeorology
Previous studies.
Within the cartographic information, maps with contour lines at scales between
1:100,000 and 1:5,000, aerial photographs, and radar and satellite images. This information
it is processed to determine the morphometric characteristics, storage capacity, and
of soils and land use of the watersheds and areas of importance within the
project.
In the hydrometeorological aspect, information is gathered about climate variables,
precipitation, the flows and levels of natural currents and the sediments they transport
the currents. Generally, this information is collected in the form of TIME SERIES
HISTORICAL, which are processed with statistical and probabilistic methods to determine
medium regimes and future projections. The treatment of these series is carried out in accordance with
the type of project that will be developed and for this the concepts of Hydrology are used
Applied and Stochastic Hydrology.
The analysis of the studies that have been developed previously in the project area
it allows to complement the collected information. This analysis is of capital importance when the
the project is developed in several phases because in the second phase it must be carefully analyzed.
what was done in the first one, and so on.
Fieldwork
After analyzing the collected information, the engineer is able to program the
fieldwork that allows for the complementing of the existing information. Among these
jobs include the execution of Surveying and Bathymetric surveys, the collection and
Analysis of Sediment Samples transported by currents, the installation and operation
of Meteorological and Rainfall Stations and the conduct of Flow Measurements.
4. Analysis of hydrological information
After the collection stage, the analysis of the climate, precipitation, and flows is carried out.
the sediments.
This analysis is carried out according to the needs of the project and may include one or more
from the following topics:
Climate.
The average values of Temperature, Humidity, Pressure, and Wind define the climate of the area.
study.
In water supply projects, the climate decisively influences the relationship that exists.
between Precipitation, the Watershed and the formation of the Flows of natural currents.
This relationship is mathematically expressed through the Water Balance equation.
Furthermore, the analysis of the climatic regime is one of the fundamental bases of the study of
environmental impact in all engineering projects.
Precipitation
Precipitation studies analyze the rainfall regime in the region based on data from
rainfall measuring and pluviographic stations.
The analysis includes the variability of precipitation over time, its distribution across the area.
of study, the quantification of the volumes of water that fall on the area and the magnitudes and
frequencies of intense downpours.
Mean flow
The flow regime of a stream is related to rainfall and its characteristics.
from its current slope.
This regime defines the states of minimum, average, and maximum flows at the sites that have
they have been selected for water capture or for the construction of hydraulic works.
The methodology used depends on the available information and the needs of the
project. Statistical and probabilistic analyses of historical flow series can be used or
hydrological balances.
Hydrological Balance
The Hydrological Balance relates the variables involved in the hydrological cycle:
Precipitation
Evapotranspiration
Superficial Caudal
Surface and underground storage
Groundwater flow
It applies in all cases related to the distribution of hydraulic resources to
global level, or in specific basins. It is essential in regulatory studies of
dams and in the water supply projects for aqueduct, irrigation, and generation
hydroelectric.
The general equation of the Hydrological Balance in a given basin has the following form:
P + Qa + G = ET + Q + dS
P is the precipitation in the selected period.
What is the surface contribution of neighboring basins.
G constitutes the net flow of groundwater to and from neighboring basins.
ET represents the actual evapotranspiration in the basin.
What is the surface flow that leaves the analyzed basin.
dS is the change in surface and underground storage. It includes storage in channels,
dams, soil and aquifers.
Growing
In flood studies, the magnitudes of extraordinary maximum flows are analyzed.
and the frequency with which they occur. Along with avalanche analyses, they are important in the
bridge designs, drainage systems, and flood control works.
Droughts
During some times of the year, natural currents experience periods of low flow or
of drought. These droughts can be critical when the magnitudes of the flows become so
drops in the intake of aqueducts, irrigation systems, and generation systems
energy can be affected in its normal operation.
Groundwater
Groundwater deposits are called Aquifers and are supplied with part of the
water that rain falls in recharge areas within its watershed.
Water infiltrates through the surface of the soil and then moves vertically until it
find a waterproof layer that prevents passage and forces the formation of a
water storage in the empty spaces of the soil. The upper limit of this
storage is referred to as Groundwater Level.
The volume of water that is stored below the Water Table is Groundwater. This
volume constitutes the main source of water supply for springs, lakes, and rivers during periods of
drought.
Globally, the volume of existing groundwater is much greater than that of surface water.
Superficial, but in many cases, mainly when the aquifers are found at great
depth, its capture is difficult and costly. In those regions where the waters
Shallow waters are scarce or nonexistent near consumption sites of groundwater.
they can solve the water supply problems. The study of aquifers and of movement
The study of groundwater is called Hydrogeology.