3. Content:3
Hydrograph
Components
Factors affecting Hydrograph
Unit Hydrograph
Assumptions, Derivation, Limitation of Unit Hydrograph
Application
Method of superposition
S – Hydrograph
Distribution Hydrograph
4. Introduction:
HYDROGRAPH :
A Hydrograph is a graph showing variation of discharge (Q) with time (T), at a particular point of stream
or river.
Discharge is usually expressed in cumecs or hectare meter per day and time is expressed in hours or days.
Discharged is plotted on y-axis and corresponding time is plotted on x-axis.
6. Component :6
Rising Limb : Also known as concentration curve – represent the increase in discharge due to gradual building
up of storage in channel and the catchment surface.
Peak of crest segment : The peak flow occur when the runoff from various parts of the catchment
simultaneously contribute amounts to achieve the maximum amount of flow at basin outlet.
Recession Limb : Extent from the point of infection at the end of the crest segment to the commencement of the
natural groundwater flow represent the withdrawal of water from the storage built up in the basin during the
earlier phase of hydrograph.
7. Factors affecting hydrograph :7
• Area
• Shape
• Slope
• Rock Type
• Soil
• Land Use
• Drainage Density
• Precipitation / Temp
• Tidal Conditions
8. Unit hydrograph :8
A unit hydrograph is a hydrograph representing 1 cm of runoff from a rainfall of some unit duration.
For example: A 3-hours unit hydrograph indicates the hydrograph which gives 1 cm depth of direct runoff
when a storm of 3-hour duration occurs uniformly over the catchment.
9. Assumptions of Unit hydrograph :9
• The excess rainfall has a constant intensity within the effective duration.
• The excess rainfall is uniformly distributed throughout the whole drainage area.
• The base time of the DRH (the duration of direct runoff) resulting from an excess rainfall of given
duration is constant.
• The ordinates of all DRH’s of a common base time are directly proportional to the total amount of direct
runoff represented by each hydrograph.
• For a given watershed, the hydrograph resulting from a given excess rainfall reflects the unchanging
characteristics of the watershed.
10. Limitations :10
The unit hydrograph theory cannot be applied to catchment areas greater than 5000 km sq.
The unit hydrograph theory cannot be applied to very small catchments with area less than 2 km sq.
This theory cannot be applied when the major portion of the storm is in the form of snow.
This theory is not very accurate. The accuracy obtained is + 10%.
A large number of unit hydrographs are required for a catchment because as the unit duration changes,
the unit hydrograph also changes.
11. Derivation:11
A unit hydrograph method is used for the estimation of the maximum flood discharge of a stream as well
as for developing a flood hydrograph corresponding to any anticipated rainfall.
In order to derive the unit hydrograph from storm hydrograph of same unit duration the following steps
are followed.
From the past records, select a hydrograph resulting from an isolated, intense, short duration rainfall over
the entire drainage basin.
12. 12
Separate the base flow (ground water flow) from the direct runoff.
Subtracting the ordinates of base flow from the total ordinates, find the ordinates of direct runoff.
Construction of unit hydrograph:
13. 13
Compute the depth of direct runoff as under.
Depth of direct runoff = Volume of the direct
runoff
Area of the drainage basin
=(∑O*t*3600) m^3
(A*10^6) m^2
= 0.36∑O*t cm
A
Where,
∑O = Sum of direct runoff ordinates in cumec
T = time interval in hours between the successive ordinates.
A = Area of drainage basin in square kilometers.
By dividing each of the direct runoff by the depth of direct runoff, the ordinates of unit hydrograph are
obtained.
Ordinates of unit hydrograph = Ordinate of
direct runoff
Direct runoff in cm
14. Application :14
Once a unit hydrograph for a duration try has been developed for a basin, the storm hydrograph for that
basin for any other storm of different intensity but the same duration can be easily developed.
To draw maximum flood hydrograph for the design of spillways.
It can be used for flooding and flood warning based on the observed rainfall in the basin.
To determine runoff from a storm of unit duration.
16. Method of superposition.16
If a unit hydrograph is available and it is desired to estimate a unit hydrograph of nD-hr UH where, n is
an integers which can be easily detremine by superposing n-UH with each graph separated from the
previous D-hr UH.
18. S – Hydrograph :18
S-Hydrograph or S-curve is a hydrograph that is produced by a continuous effective rainfall at a constant
rate for indefinite period.
It is continuous rising curve, in the form of letter S, till equilibrium is reached.
At the time of equilibrium, the S-curve will represent a runoff discharge given by:
Qo = ( A*100*100) * Ro = A . Ro cumecs
100*3600 36
Where ,
A = area of catchment in hectares.
Ro = constant rate of effective rainfall (cm/hour).
19. 19
If the catchment area A is in km^2, the discharge represent by S-curve at the time of equilibrium is given
by,
Qo = ( A* 1000*1000 )*Ro = 2.78 ARo cumecs
100*3600
Qo = 2.78 A cumecs
To
Ro = 1
To
where, To = unit time duration