Example 10:
Table Ex-10.1 shows the flood hydrograph obtained due to a 4h rainfall event. Magnitude of the rainfall
event is 3.5 cm. Area of the catchment is 25 km2.
Table Ex-10.1
Time from
beginning
12
16
20
24
28
32
36
40
44
48
52
56
60
-8
-4
of the rain
0
4
8
event
(h)
Discharge
9.5
11.0
10.5
10.2
11.0
13.0
22.0
26.0
28.0
27.0
25.0
23.0
20.0
16.0
14.0
12.5
11.0
10.0
(m3/s)
(a) Obtain the DRH by separating the base flow using following different base flow separation
techniques.
(i) Constant discharge method
(ii) Constant slope method (or straight line method)
(iii) Concave method
(b) Compare the direct runoff volumes obtained by each base flow separation technique.
Directions to self-study:
While there are many techniques for separating base-flow, at this level, graphical techniques are
introduced.
Solution:
(a)
Constant discharge method:
In this method, a constant base flow is assumed throughout the flood hydrograph. The
minimum flow at the beginning of the rising limb of the hydrograph (i.e. the point where the
beginning of the surface runoff) is considered as the constant base flow.
Figure Ex-10.1 and Table Ex-10.2 shows the DRH after separating the base flow using this
technique.
30
28
26
24 FHG
22
20
Discharge, m3/s
18
16
14
12
10
8
6 DRH
Base flow
4
2
0
-8 -4 0 4 8 12 16 20 24 28 32 36 40 44 48 52 56 60
Time, h
Figure Ex-10.1
Table Ex-10.2
12
16
20
24
28
32
36
40
44
48
52
56
60
Time, h
0
Discharge,
10.2
11.0
13.0
22.0
26.0
28.0
27.0
25.0
23.0
20.0
16.0
14.0
12.5
11.0
10.0
9.5
m3/s
Base flow,
10.2
10.2
10.2
10.2
10.2
10.2
10.2
10.2
10.2
10.2
10.2
10.2
10.2
10.2
10.2
10.2
m3/s
DRH,
11.8
15.8
17.8
16.8
14.8
12.8
-0.2
-0.7
0.8
2.8
9.8
5.8
3.8
2.3
0.8
0
m3/s
For convenience, end of the
DRH is considered as 56 h
Constant slope method:
In this method, the start of the surface runoff has to be joined to the point representing end of
surface runoff. Identifying (more appropriately, estimating) the latter on the flood hydrograph is
difficult and it is done using the equation 𝐷 = 0.827𝐴0.2 . In this equation, D is the time, in days,
from peak discharge to the end of surface runoff and A is the catchment area in square kilometers.
𝐷 = 0.827𝐴0.2
𝐷 = 0.827 × 250.2 = 1.57 𝑑𝑎𝑦𝑠 = 37.8 ℎ~ 38 ℎ
Figure Ex-10.2 and Table Ex-10.3 show the DRH after separating the base flow using this
technique.
30
28
D
26
24 FHG
22 DRH
20
Discharge, m3/s
18
16
14
12
10
8 Base Flow
6
4
2
0
-8 -4 0 4 8 12 16 20 24 28 32 36 40 44 48 52 56 60
Time, h
Figure Ex-10.2
Table Ex-10.3
12
16
20
24
28
32
36
40
44
48
52
56
60
Time, h
0
9.5
11.0
13.0
22.0
26.0
28.0
27.0
25.0
23.0
20.0
16.0
14.0
11.0
10.0
10.2
12.5
Discharge,
m3/s
10.20
10.17
10.14
10.11
10.08
10.04
10.01
9.98
9.95
9.92
9.89
9.86
9.83
9.79
9.76
9.73
Base flow,
m3/s
11.89
15.92
17.96
16.99
15.02
13.05
10.08
-0.23
0.00
0.83
2.86
6.11
4.14
2.67
1.21
0.24
DRH,
m3/s
DRH ends at 58 h
Concave method:
In this method, the trend prior the beginning of the surface runoff is extended up to the time to
peak. Then, the end of the line is connected to the end of runoff calculated in constant slope
method.
30
28
26
24
22
20
Discharge, m3/s
18
16
14
12
10
8
6
4
2
0
-8 -4 0 4 8 12 16 20 24 28 32 36 40 44 48 52 56 60
Time, h
Figure Ex-10.3
Table Ex-10.4
12
16
20
24
28
32
36
40
44
48
52
56
60
Time, h
0
9.5
11.0
13.0
22.0
26.0
28.0
27.0
25.0
23.0
20.0
16.0
14.0
11.0
10.0
10.2
12.5
Discharge,
m3/s
10.17
9.77
9.37
8.97
8.57
8.17
8.33
8.50
8.67
8.84
9.00
9.17
9.34
9.50
9.67
9.84
Base flow,
m3/s
13.03
17.43
19.83
18.67
16.50
14.33
11.17
-0.34
0.03
1.23
3.63
7.00
4.83
3.16
1.50
0.33
DRH,
m3/s
DRH ends at 58 h
Figure Ex-10.3 and Table Ex-10.4 show the DRH after separating the base flow using this
technique.
