Module 5

Lecture 4: Hydraulic routing

Hydraulic/Distributed flow routing

Flow is calculated as a function of space and time throughout the system
Hydraulic methods use continuity and momentum equation along with the
equation of motion of unsteady flow (St. Venant equations).
St. Venant Equations (Refer to Module 6 for more details)

Kinematic wave routing

Diffusion wave routing

Muskingum-Cunge method

Dynamic wave routing

Module 5

Diffusion wave routing

Muskingum-Cunge method
It is the relationship between the Muskingum method and the Saint-Venant equations.
Inflow-Outflow Equation:

O t + t = C0 It + t + C1 It + C2 O

The constants C0, C1 and C2 are functions of wave celerity, c.

c =

dQ
=
dA

dQ
dy

,
dA
dy
Q discharge and y depth of flow
Module 5

Diffusion wave routing

Muskingum-Cunge method

Contd

Q0
1

X = 1
2 c * T * S 0 * x
where,

Q0 = QB + 0.50(Q p QB )
Q0 = Reference discharge,
S0 = Reach Slope,
QB = Baseflow
Qp = Peak flow taken from the inflow hydrograph

Module 5

Dynamic Wave Routing

Flow in natural channels is unsteady, non-uniform with junctions, tributaries,
variable cross-sections, variable resistances, variable depths, etc. The complete
St.Venant equation represents the dynamic wave routing. (Refer to Module 6 for more
details)

y
V
y
0=
+ y
+V

t
x
x

Valley
storage

Prism
storage

Non-conservative
form of continuity
equation

Wedge
storage

Module 5

Dynamic Wave Routing

Contd

Momentum equation considering all relevant forces acting on the system:

y
1 Q 1 Q
g (So S f ) = 0
+

+ g
A t
A x A
x
2

Local
acceleration
term

Convective
acceleration
term

Pressure
force term

Gravity
force term

Friction
force term

Module 5

Example Problem
Given:
Inflow hydrograph
K = 2.3 hr, X = 0.15, t = 1 hour, Initial Q = 90 cfs
Find:
Outflow hydrograph using Muskingum routing method

1 2 * 2.3 * 0.15
t 2 KX
=
= 0.0631
2 K (1 X ) + t 2 * 2.3(1 0.15) + 1
1 + 2 * 2.3 * 0.15
t + 2 KX
= 0.3442
=
=
2 K (1 X ) + t 2 * 2.3(1 0.15) + 1
2 K (1 X ) t 2 * 2.3 * (1 0.15) 1
= 0.5927
=
=
2 K (1 X ) + t
2 * 2.3(1 0.15) + 1

C1 =
C2
C3

Period
(hr)
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20

Inflow
(cfs)
93
137
208
320
442
546
630
678
691
675
634
571
477
390
329
247
184
134
108
90

Module 5

Example Problem
Period

Inflow

(hr)

(cfs)

93

90

137

32

53.343

94.343

208

13

47

55.9171

115.9171

320

20

72

68.70406 160.7041

442

28

110

95.2493

800

546

34

152

138.2469 324.2469

700

630

40

188

192.1811 420.1811

678

43

217

249.0413 509.0413

Q j +1 = C1I j +1 + C 2 I j + C3Q j
C1 = 0.0631, C2 = 0.3442, C3 = 0.5927
Inflow

Discharge (cfs)

Contd

Outflow

600

C1Ij+1

C2Ij

C3Qj

Outflow
(cfs)

233.2493

691

44

233

301.7088 578.7088

500

10

675

43

238

343.0007 624.0007

400

11

634

40

232

369.8452 641.8452

12

571

36

218

380.4217 634.4217

13

477

30

197

376.0217 603.0217

14

390

25

164

357.411

100

15

329

21

134

323.8578 478.8578

16

247

16

113

283.819

9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20

17

184

12

85

244.6778 341.6778

Time (hr)

18

134

63

202.5124 273.5124

19

108

46

162.1108 215.1108

20

90

37

127.4962 170.4962

300
200

546.411
412.819

Exercise Problem
An inflow hydrograph is measured for a cross section of a stream. Compute the
outflow hydrograph at a point five miles downstream using the Muskinghum
method . Assuming K = 12hr, x=0.15, and outflow equals inflow initially. Plot the
inflow and outflow hydrograph.
Time
9:00A.M.
3:00P.M
9:00 P.M.
3:00A.M.
9:00A.M.
3:00P.M.
9:00P.M.
3:00A.M.
9:00A.M.
3:00P.M.
9:00P.M.

Inflow (cfs)
50
75
150
450
1000
840
750
600
300
100
50

Module 5

Highlights in the Module

Flood routing is a technique of determining the flood hydrograph at a section
of a river by utilizing the data of flood flow at one or more upstream sections
As a flood wave travels downstream, it undergoes:
Peak attenuation
Translation

Types of flood routing

Lumped/hydrologic
Distributed/hydraulic

Lumped / Hydrologic flow routing

Flow is calculated as a function of time alone at a particular location.
Equation of continuity and flow/storage relationship
Module 5

Highlights in the Module

Contd

Hydrologic flow routing methods

Level pool method (Modified Puls)
Channel routing\Muskingum method
Series of reservoir models

Distributed / Hydraulic routing

Flow is calculated as a function of space and time throughout the system
Hydraulic methods use continuity and momentum equation along with the
equation of motion of unsteady flow (St. Venant equations).

Module 5

Highlights in the Module

Contd

Distributed / Hydraulic routing methods

Diffusion wave routing
Muskingum Cunge method
Dynamic wave routing
Complete solution to St.Venant equations

Module 5