FLOW ROUTING
LECTURE 14
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Flow Routing (Flood Q
Routing) t
ROUTING is defined as: The Q
procedure to determine the flow
hydrograph at a point on a
watershed from a known t
hydrograph upstream Q
Given the flow at upstream
point, routing can be used to
find the flow at downstream t
point.
Q
As the hydrograph travels, it
attenuates (if no tributary joins)
t 2
gets delayed
APPLICATIONS OF FLOW (or FLOOD)
ROUTING
Q
t
Following might be the uses of flow/flood routing:
To predict flood propagation
Studying the attenuation of flood peaks
To actuate (issue) flood warning and protection systems
To design various hydraulic structures and hydro-systems operations
Storage routing
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Types of flow routing
Lumped/hydrologic Routing
Flow is calculated as a function of time alone at a particular
location
Governed by CONTINUITY EQUATION and flow/storage
relationship
HEC-HMS may be used for hydrologic routing
Distributed/hydraulic Routing
Flow is calculated as a function of space and time throughout the
system
Governed by CONTINUITY AND MOMENTUM equations
HEC-RAS may be used for hydraulic routing 4
FLOW ROUTING: Why Flood Wave Changes
as it moves down?
As discharge in a channel increases, its stage also increases and with it
the volume of water in temporary storage in the channel, thus causing
an attenuated (reduced) peak at downstream gauges.
As the discharge in Channel reduces, the temporary storage contribute
water in channel, this causing a larger base flow at downstream
gauges.
Flood may be considered as wave moving down a channel, appears to
have lengthened its base time and peak gets attenuated
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FLOW ROUTING
Flow Hydrographs at two locations in a Channel
Water Surface Profiles at two time steps
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STORAGE EQUATION FOR HYDROLOGIC ROUTING
The continuity equation used in hydrologic routing (for channels and reservoirs) 3may be expressed as :
I: inflow rate, m /s
or O: outflow rate, m3/s
S: storage, m3
T: time, sec
All terms are defined for a Specific Reach (length) of a
stream (river)
To provide a more convenient form for hydrologic routing, it is commonly assumed that flows between two time
steps (times t1 and t2 the beginning and end of the routing period) are varying linearly, and the average of the
flows represents the flow. Thus equation is written as:
Most storage-routing methods are based on this equation, in which I1 ,I2 , S1, and O1 are known but S2 and O2 are
unknown
So there are two unknowns and one equation. This is the major difficulty in storage (or reservoir) routing
So another relation is necessary and usually it is Storage vs outflow (discharge) equation or graph
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DETERMINATION OF STORAGE
Before a relation in storage and flow can be established, it is necessary to compute volume (or storage)
in the channel or in reservoir at various times
Obvious method of determining this storage is to calculate volumes in channel from cross sections by
using PRISMOIDAL formula.
Use of Prismoidal method for a number of sections, and for a series of different time, with different water
levels is hectic and time consuming.
An alternate method is to calculate Storage from observed Inflow and Outflow data using Storage equation
(as given Figure 9.7 of Linsley).
Storage for Reservoirs is computed from CONTOUR Sheets of the reservoirs. Area enclosed by each
contour is calculated using Planimeter/graph/gis. Average area between two contours multiplied by the
contour interval gives volume of reservoir between two levels. The volume is computed by adding all
the individual volumes.
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Reservoir Routing
In Reservoirs (especially the ungated reservoirs), the discharge (outflow) is function of Water Surface
Elevation. Thus reservoirs Routing is simplest of all routings.
So in Reservoir Routing, the 2nd equation (in addition to Storage Equation) is obtained from Storage vs
Elevation Vs Discharge Curves, usually available for each reservoir (Fig. 9-8 in Linsley).
For certain Discharge, find Elevation, and then find Storage, then calculate 2S/dT +O, and plot it against
Outflow O.
Storage
harge
s Di s c
e
Elevation
Discharge
ra g
St o
El e v v
vs
v
Ele
vs O
+O
2 S/dt
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Discharge, 2S/dt + O
Reservoir Routing
Continuity equation can be written as:
All parameters on left hand side of above equation are known, and so is found.
Using graph between vs O, Outflow (O) is obtained.
The above procedure repeated for next time step and so on, till all outflows are computed.
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DETERMINATION OF STORAGE for
Channels
The storage between the channel bed and line parallel to it is called PRISM STORAGE
Between this line and actual water profile is called WEDGE STORAGE
During rising stages a considerable volume may consist of these wedges before any large outflow
occurs
As the falling starts inflow drops more rapidly than outflow, negative wedge storage may exist
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MUSKINGUM STORAGE EQUATION for CHANNEL ROUTING
To correct the problem of two unknowns in the storage equation there are a few
analytical techniques. One of them is Muskingum’s storage equation
]-------------(1)
Where a and n are constants from the mean stage-discharge relation for the reach
Q=[Link]
And b and m are constant in mean stage-storage relation
S=[Link]
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MUSKINGUM STORAGE EQUATION
Constant x expresses the relative importance of inflows and outflows in determining the storage. Its value is
high if Wedge Storage is Significant (e.g. in channels) and it is zero if wedge storage is insignificant (e.g. for
reservoirs).
For natural streams x value ranges from 0-0.3 with mean value 0.2
Muskingum’s method assumes that m/n =1 and lets b/a=K
Equation 1 then becomes
S=K[x.I +(1-x)O] ------------- (2)
Constant K, known as STORAGE CONSTANT, is the ratio of storage to discharge and has the dimensions
of time
It is approximately equal to time of travel through the reach and in absence of data K is estimated so
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MUSKINGUM STORAGE EQUATION
Storage equation
The above storage equation when substituted for the value of S from equation (2) and simplified gives
following equation
O2 = co .I2 + c1 .I1 + c2 .O1 ---------------(3)
Where
In these equations t is the routing period in the same
time units as of K
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MUSKINGUM STORAGE EQUATION
Once values of K, x and t are established these coefficients can (Co, C1, C2) can
be computed
All these must be positive in order to get valid solutions from equation
Routing operation is simply a solution of the equation (3) with the O2 of one
routing period becoming the O1 of the succeeding period.
Muskingum’s method assumes K to be constant at all flows.
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NUMERICAL PROBLEM
For the given inflow hydrograph compute outflow hydrograph if K is 2 days and x being 0.2
Routing period is one day. Initial outflow may be taken as 4000 m 3/s
Time (days) Q(m3/s)
1 4000
2 7000
3 11000
4 15000
5 8000
6 4000
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NUMERICAL PROBLEM
Step1. knowing the values of K, x and t compute the values of coefficients
Use this equation for each interval to get outflow for the corresponding time
O2 = co .I2 + c1 .I1 + c2 .O1
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DETERMINATION OF MUSKINGUM’S CONSTANTS: K and x
If the flow data is unavailable K is estimated by travel time in the reach. And x is taken between 0-0.3 (zero
for reservoir like channel, and 0.3 where wedge storage is relatively significant as compared to prism
storage)
But when the past flood data is available K and x are determined by plotting a graph between S and xI+(1-
x)O
The best value of x is that, which causes the data to plot most nearly as a single valued curve. The slope of
this straight line is K.
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NUMERICAL PROBLEM
Given record of past floods. Use these observations to obtain the Muskingum routing parameters k and x for
this river reach. The initial storage in the system is 715,000 m 3
Time (hr) Inflow (m3/s) Outflow (m3/s) Time (hr) Inflow (m3/s) Outflow (m3/s)
1 93 85 11 634 642
2 137 91 12 571 635
3 208 114 13 477 603
4 320 159 14 390 546
5 442 233 15 329 479
6 546 324 16 247 413
7 630 420 17 184 341
8 678 509 18 134 274
9 691 578 19 108 215
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10 675 623 20 90 170
The graphical procedure consists in generating graphs of [xI + (1-x)O] vs. S for different values of x,
arbitrarily selected such that 0 < x < 0.5. The optimal value of x is selected as that which produces the
narrowest and straightest loop graph of [xI + (1-x)O] vs. S. The slope of the least squares linear fit to the
resulting points is the estimate of k.
Generate accumulated storage in the system. Use continuity equation as follows:
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Determination of Muskingum x and k
Inflow Outflow Avg. Inflow Avg. Outflow Cumm. Storage Weighted average
(m3/s) (m3/s) (m3/s) (m3/s) (m3) Flow (m3/s)
I1 O1 - - Initial storage
I2 O2 =(I1 +I2)/2 =(O1 +O2)/2 (Col.3-Col.4)x t + x.Col1+(1-x).Col2
previous storage
I3 O3 =(I2 +I3)/2 =(O2 +O3)/2 (Col.3-Col.4)x t + x.Col1+(1-x).Col2
previous storage
I4 O4 =(I3 +I4)/2 =(O3 +O4)/2
Assume different values of x in the range (0-0.5) and plot graph between column 5 and column
6.
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Whichever trial of x gives the graph to be a straight line select that x and slope of that line is K
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OPEN ENDED Lab (at Campus)
Use the hydrological system, available in lab, and simulate rainfall runoff process. Rain intensity should be set at (Sum
of Reg Nos)/300 mm/hr (working in group of 4 students). Storm should be of 10 minutes duration, and observation
should be suitable interval (may be 30 sec or 60 sec).
Draw hydrograph at outlet
Draw rain hytograph.
Draw Unit Hydrograph
Draw Unit hydrograph of 1 hour storm.
Work in group of 4 student.
Submit the report (5-10 pages) till 23-12-2019 12 Noon.
Weightage = one lab
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OPEN ENDED Lab during ODL
Make a small catchment at suitable location in your house/surrounding (may be a few meter square area). Give it look of a real catchment
by placing various land covers (barran, forest, houses, commercial, etc.), It should have a suitable gradient (slope). Give undulating
topography of your choice.
Make arrangement to simulate rain like condition on the catchment. Some small dia tubes/pipes with sprinklers like arrangement at end.
Simulate rainfall runoff process for a rainfall event of 5 or 10 minutes duration.
You should report:
Measure and draw rain hytograph and total storm duration
Measure and draw observed hydrograph at outlet of catchment at 1 minute interval. Report Time of peak, peak flow, base period.
Calculate the catchment DRO and Losses
Draw Unit Hydrograph
Make a video report of your making and running the model.
Submit the report (5-10 pages) and upload the video at cloud and send its link till 24-02-21 Noon (or a week after Exam).
Weightage equal to one lab 24
Thanks
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Prismoidal Formula
Ref: [Link] 26
Channel Routing in ARABIC Language
[Link]
v=NOIUu59qZVs
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