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Infiltration index is the average rate of loss such that the volume of
rainfall in excess of that rate will be equal to direct runoff.
Infiltration indexes are best suited for applications involving either long-
duration storms or a catchment with high initial moisture content.
Under such conditions, the neglect of the variation of infiltration rate with
time generally justified on practical grounds.
Index
Time
2
index method
• A simpler method because it assumes no variation in f(t) with time. Hence,
an infiltration index is used which assumes infiltration to be constant
through time (at mm hr-1).
• The φ-index is defined as that rate of rainfall above which the rainfall
volume equals the runoff volume. The φ-index is relatively simple and all
losses due to infiltration, interception and depression storage (i.e., storage
in pits and ponds) are accounted for, hence,
3
W-index
The W-index is the average infiltration rate averaged over the whole storm
period, and is given by;
W-index = F/Tr = (P - Q) / Tr
The W-index is the average infiltration rate during the time where rainfall
intensity exceeds the infiltration capacity rate
Where
W = W-index in mm/hr
F = Total infiltration including initial basin recharge in mm
P = rainfall depth in mm
Q = runoff depth in mm
Tr = duration of rainfall in hour.
The W-index attempts to allow for depression storage, short rainless periods
during a storm and eliminates all rain periods during which i < fp. Thus, the
W-index is essentially equal to the φ-index minus the average rate of
retention by interception and depression storage, i.e., W < φ.
The W-index considers the initial abstraction of rainwater as well. Since it is
difficult to determine the correct values of the initial abstraction, the W-index
method is not very popular. 4
Example 1
A storm with 20 cm of precipitation produced a surface runoff of 11.6 cm.
Estimate the index of the storm if the data recorded is as follows:
Storm time (h) 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
Rainfall intensity (cm/h) 0.8 1.8 3.0 4.6 3.6 3.2 2.0 1.0
Solution
From the rainfall distribution, the total rainfall is 20 cm. Therefore, the
depth abstracted by infiltration is (20 - 11.6) = 8.4 cm.
With reference to Figure 1, the index is calculated by trial and error.
Trial #1
A value of between 0.8 and 1 cm/h is assumed. A mass balance leads to
19.2 - 7 = 11.6
Solving gives = 1.085 cm/h, which does not lie within assumed range of
0.8 and 1. 5
Trial #2
A value of between 1 and 1.8 cm/h is assumed. A mass
balance leads to
18.2 - 6 = 11.6
6
6.0
5.0
4.0
Intensity cm/h
3.0
1.0
0.0
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
Time, h
7
Example 1 (2nd method)
A storm with 20 cm of precipitation produced a surface runoff of 11.6 cm.
Estimate the index of the storm if the data recorded is as follows:
Storm time (h) 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
Rainfall intensity (cm/h) 0.8 1.8 3.0 4.6 3.6 3.2 2.0 1.0
Solution
Infiltration of rainwater = 20 - 11.6 = 8.4 cm
The solution has to found by selecting the effective rainfall period iteratively.
Assume that the full length of the storm period, i.e. 8 hours is the effective
rainfall period.
Therefore, index = 8.4 / 8 = 1.05 cm/h
However, this value of index is more than the rainfall recorded during the
first and the eight hour respectively, which is not possible.
Therefore, by assuming again that the effective rainfall period is 6 hours, we
eliminate the chance for occurrence of any excess rainfall during the first and
eight hour respectively. 8
Example 1 (Contd)
Then for the 6-hour effective time period, the infiltration loss is
= 20 - 0.8 - 1.0 - 11.6 = 6.6 cm
Therefore,
index = 6.6 / 6 = 1.1 cm/h
This value of index is not more than any of the values of precipitation
from the second to the seventh hour of the storm, and is, therefore,
acceptable. (Figure )
9
Using Excel
25400
S 254
CN
(Q, P, S, in mm)
• Q = runoff (in)
• P = rainfall (in)
• S = potential maximum retention after runoff begins (in)
• CN = Curve number – reflects soil and cover conditions (0-100)
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Figure. Graphical Solution of SCS Method. 12
Advantages of SCS Method
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Runoff Curve Numbers
CN is a runoff curve number and can be evaluated from
Tables developed by USSCS.
The curve number is a dimensionless number defined such
that 0 CN 100. For impervious and water surfaces CN
= 100; for natural surfaces CN < 100.
The curve number is a function of the following runoff-
producing catchment properties:
1. Hydrologic soil group
2. Land use and treatment
3. Ground surface condition
4. Antecedent moisture condition
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1. Hydrologic Soil groups
15
2. Land Use and Treatment
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3. Ground surface (Hydrologic) condition
Hydrologic condition is based on combination of factors that affect
infiltration and runoff, including:
(a) density and canopy of vegetative areas,
(b) amount of year-round cover,
(c) amount of grass or close-seed legumes in rotations,
(d) percent of residue cover on the land surface
(e) degree of roughness
17
4. Antecedent Moisture Conditions (AMC)
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Example 2
Determine the weighted curve for a watershed with 40% residential
(1/4-acre lots), 25 % open space, good condition, 20% commercial and
business (85% impervious), and 15% industrial (72% impervious),
with corresponding soil groups of C, D, C, and D.
Solution
The corresponding curve numbers are obtained from SCS Tables.
Land Use Soil Group Curve Number
40 % C 83
25 % D 80
20 % C 94
15 % D 93
The weighted curve number is
Solution
CN = 86 P = 6 inches
S = 1000/ CN - 10 = 1.63
Q
P 0.2 S 2
Q = 4.41 inches
P 0.8 S
20