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Hydrology Eng. (3 Class) : U A C E C E .D

This document provides an outline and overview of unit hydrograph theory and methods. It discusses key definitions, assumptions, limitations, and uses of unit hydrographs. Methods for deriving unit hydrographs of different durations from storm hydrographs are presented, including the method of superposition and S-curve method. Synthetic unit hydrographs and dimensionless unit hydrographs are also introduced. Examples are provided to demonstrate the calculation and construction of unit hydrographs.

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167 views32 pages

Hydrology Eng. (3 Class) : U A C E C E .D

This document provides an outline and overview of unit hydrograph theory and methods. It discusses key definitions, assumptions, limitations, and uses of unit hydrographs. Methods for deriving unit hydrographs of different durations from storm hydrographs are presented, including the method of superposition and S-curve method. Synthetic unit hydrographs and dimensionless unit hydrographs are also introduced. Examples are provided to demonstrate the calculation and construction of unit hydrographs.

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Mahmoud Mahmoud
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UNIVERSITY OF ANBAR

COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING
CIVL ENG.DEPT.

Hydrology Eng. (3rd class)

Lecture (2)

Prof.Dr. Ayad S. Mustafa


➢ Outline :
1. Unit Hydrograph Definitions .
2. Assumptions in Derivation of UH Theory .
3. Limitation and Uses of UH Theory .
4. Unit Hydrograph Derivation :
5. Unit Hydrograph of different durations :
6. Synthetic Unit Hydrograph (SUH) .
7. Dimensionless SCS Unit Hydrograph .
8. References .
➢ Unit Hydrograph Definitions :
The concept of a unit hydrograph(UH) was first
introduced by Sherman in 1932 . He defined a (UH) as
follows :
( is a direct runoff hydrograph (DRH) resulting
from one inch or one cm of excess rainfall
generated uniformly over the drainage area at a
constant rate for an effective duration )
Fig. (1) Unit hydrograph for 2-hr ,12 hr
and 24 hr for the same watershed
➢ Assumptions in Derivation of (UH) Theory :
1. The rainfall is of spatially uniform intensity within its
specified duration .
2. The effective rainfall is uniformly distributed throughout
the whole area of drainage basin .
3. A unit hydrograph reflected all the combined physical
characteristics of the basin .
4. The ordinates DSR hydrograph due to net rains of
different intensities but same duration are proportional .
5. The base of time duration of hydrograph of direct runoff
due to effective rainfalls of unit duration is constant .
Base period of hydrograph of different rainfall intensities
remain approximately same .
(1)

Plot of the Total Hydrograph

12000

10000

Flow Rate (m 3/s)


8000

6000

4000

2000

0
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40
Time (hrs)
➢ Limitation and Uses of UH Theory :
- Limitations:
1. Similar rainfall distribution from storm to storm over a large
area is rare . Hence UH theory is suited to catchment area
under about 500 𝑘𝑚3
2. Odd shaped basins particularly those which are long and
narrow , commonly have very uneven rainfall distribution and
hence UH theory for such basins is not much suitable .
3. The catchment having large storage like reservoir , lake , low
areas , etc. affect the linear relationship and hence theory
cannot be applied.
4. The unit hydrograph method cannot be applied when an
appreciable portion of the storm precipitation falls as snow.
5. If the variation of base period and peak flow very more than
∓ 20% and +10% , theory applied is not generally accepted .
6. In mountainous regions , subject to orographic rainfall, aerial
distribution is very uneven, but the pattern tends to remain
the same from storm to storm and UH theory may not be
successfully applied .
- Uses :
1. As the UH is a linear model of the catchment , it is
used to determine runoff hydrograph of the
catchment even for extreme magnitude to determine
peak flow for design of hydrograph structure .
2. It can be used for flood forecasting and waring .
3. Based on rainfall records, it is used for extension of
flood flow records .
➢ Unit Hydrograph Derivation :
A-From a simple flood hydrograph of isolated storm:
Different steps required to drive UH are :
l. Analyze the stream flow hydrograph to permit separation
of surface runoff from groundwater flow.
2. Measure the total volume of surface runoff (direct runoff )
from the storm producing the original hydrograph. This is
the area under the hydrograph after groundwater base flow
has been removed.
3. Divide the ordinates of the direct runoff hydrograph by
total direct runoff volume in inches, and plot these results
versus time as a unit graph for the basin.
4. Finally, the effective duration of the runoff-producing rain
for this unit graph must be found from the hyetograph (time
history of rainfall intensity) of the storm event used.
(2) :
Fig (2) : Derivation of unit hydrograph from a storm hydrograph
Table (1):Calculation of the ordinates of 6 hr unit hydrograph,
see Example (2)
B-From complex storm :
Example(3): Find the half-hour unit hydrograph using the excess
rainfall hyetograph and direct runoff hydrograph given in Table (2)

Table (2) Excess rainfall hydrograph and direct runoff


hydrograph for Example (3)
➢ Unit Hydrograph of different
durations :
 Unit hydrograph are derived from simple isolated
storms and if the duration of the various storms do not
differ two much duration of D h.
 In practice the unit hydrographs of different duration
are needed (nD).
 Two methods are available
1.Method of Superposition
2. the S-Curve method
1-Method of Superposition
Example (4) :Given the ordinates of 4 hr unit hydrograph as below,
derive the ordinates of 12 hr unit hydrograph for the same catchment.

Solution: The calculations are performed in


table (3)
The 12 hr unit hydrograph is shown in fig.(3)
Table(3) Calculation of a 12 hr unit hydrograh from a 4 hr unit
hydrograph ,Example 4 .
Fig.(3) Construction of a 12 hr unit hydrograph from a 4 hr unit
hydrograph .
Fig.4 S curve hydrograph lagged t hr
➢ Synthetic Unit Hydrograph (SUH)
▪ Synder 1938 .

▪ the peak discharge per unit of watershed area 𝑞𝑃𝑅


▪ the basin lag 𝑡𝑃𝑅 (time difference between the centroid
of the excess rainfall hyetograph and the unit
hydrograph peak).
▪ The base time 𝑡𝑏 .
▪ the widths W (in time units) of the unit hydrograph at
50 and 75 percent of the peak discharge.
 Snyder defined a standard unit hydrograph as one
whose rainfall duration 𝑡𝑟 is related to the basin lag 𝑡𝑏
by :
Fig. (5)
(6) :

below
➢ Dimensionless SCS Unit Hydrograph :

 A method developed by the


Soil Conservation Service for
constructing synthetic unit
hydrographs is based on a
dimensionless hydrograph

Fig(6) Dimensionless unit hydrograph


and mass curve
(6).
Example (7):
➢ REFERENCES :
1. Ven Te Chow , David R.Maidment and Larry W. Mays,
APPLIED HYDROLOGY , INDIAN EDITION , Mc Graw
Hill Education .
2. H.M.Raghunath, Hydrology principles . Analysis . Design
. Revised second Edition .
3. Warren Viessman , Jr.Gary L. Lewis. Introduction to
hydrology . Fourth Edition .
4. P.K. Bhattacharya. Elements of Applied Hydrology .
KHANNA PUBLISHERS DELHI-6 .
5. Das,M MOHAN .Hydrology .

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