STREAM CHANNEL ROUTING

Stream channel routing uses mathematical relations to calculate outflow from a stream channel once inflow, lateral contributions, and channel characteristics are known. Stream channel routing usually implies open channel flow conditions, although there are exceptions, such as storm sewer flow, for which mixed open channel-closed conduit flow conditions may prevail. In this chapter, stream channel routing refers to unsteady flow calculations in streams and rivers. Channel reach refers to a specific length of stream channel possessing certain translation and storage properties. The hydrograph at the upstream end of the reach is the inflow hydrograph; the hydrograph at the downstream end is the outflow hydrograph. Lateral contributions consist of point tributary inflows and/or distributed inflows (i.e. interflow and groundwater flow). The terms stream channel routing and flood routing are often used interchangeably. This is attributed to the fact that most stream channel-routing applications are in flood flow analysis, flood control design, or flood forecasting. Two general approaches to stream channel routing are recognized: (1) hydro-logic and (2) hydraulic. As in the case of reservoir routing, hydrologic stream channel routing is based on the storage concept. Conversely, hydraulic channel routing is based on the principles of mass and momentum conservation. Hydraulic routing techniques are of three types: (1) kinematic wave, (2) diffusion wave, and (3) dynamic wave. The dynamic wave is the most complete model of unsteady open channel flow. Kinematic and diffusion waves are convenient and practical approximations to the dynamic wave. An alternate approach to hydrologic and hydraulic routing has emerged in recent years. This approach is similar in nature to the hydrologic routing methods yet contains sufficient physical information to compare favorably with the more complex hydraulic routing techniques. This hybrid approach is the basis of the MuskingumCunge method of flood routing. At the outset of the study of stream channel routing, it is necessary to introduce a few basic modeling concepts. A typical hydrologic model consists of system, input, and output. In surface water hydrology, the system is usually a catchment, a reservoir, or a stream channel. In the case of a catchment, the input is a storm hyetograph. For reservoirs and stream channels, the input is an inflow hydrograph. For all three cases, catchments, reservoirs, and channels, the output is an outflow hydrograph. In general, modeling problems are classified into three types: (1) prediction, (2) calibration, and (3) inversion. In the prediction problem, input and system are known and described by properties or parameters, and the task is to calculate the output based on the knowledge of system and input. For instance, with known inflow hydrograph, lateral contributions, and channel reach parameters, the outflow hydrograph from a stream channel can be computed using routing techniques. In the calibration problem, input and output are known, and the objective is to determine the properties or parameters describing the system. In the case of a stream channel, with known upstream inflow, lateral contributions, and outflow hydrograph, the routing parameters are calculated by a calibration procedure. The inversion problem is the third type of modeling problem. In this case, system and output are known, and the task is to calculate the inflow or inflows. This is accomplished by reversing the routing process in a technique known as inverse channel routing. For instance, with known upstream inflow, outflow, and channel reach parameters, the lateral contributions can be calculated by inverse routing. The prediction problem is the more common type of modeling application. However, a calibration is usually required in advance of the prediction. Model verification is the process of testing the model with actual data to establish its predictive accuracy. To calibrate and verify a model, it is usually necessary to assemble two different data sets. The first set is used in model calibration, and the second set is used in model verification. A close agreement between calculated and measured data is an indication that the model has been verified. A detailed discussion of these subjects is given in Chapter 13. This chapter is divided into five sections. Section 9.1 describes the Muskingum method, the most widely used method of hydrologic stream channel routing. Sections 9.2 and 9.3 discuss simplified hydraulic routing techniques: kinematic and diffusion waves, respectively. Section 9.4 describes the Muskingum-Cunge method. Section 9.5 introduces the subject of dynamic wave routing, the most complete hydraulic routing technique.

9.1 MUSKINGUM METHOD

The Muskingum method of flood routing was developed in the 1930s in connection with the design of flood protection schemes in the Muskingum River Basin, Ohio [11]. It is the most widely used method of hydrologic stream channel routing, with numerous applications in the United States and throughout the world. The Muskingum method is based on the differential equation of storage, Eq. 8-4, reproduced here