Synthetic Unit Hydrograph

Engr. Juniffen I. Tacadena

 Concentration of Runoff
-A study of unit hydrographs for a large number of drainage basins
has revealed an approximate relationship between the peak
discharge rate and the widths of unit hydrographs at ordinate
exceeding approximately 50 percent of the maximum. Curves W-50
and W-75 are usually drawn to envelope the majority of values of
unit hydrographs width measured at discharge ordinates equal to
50 and 75 percent of peak ordinate respectively as obtained from
drainage basins of various configurations and runoff characteristics.
The curves may be used in determining conservative widths for
synthetic unit hydrographs, or you can use the following equations:
Concentration of Runoff
 Synthetic Unit Hydrograph
-In many important hydrologic studies, synthetic unit hydrographs
are required either as a substitute for derivation for hydrologic
records or as a means of correlating the supplementing observed
data.
-Several methods of computing synthetic unit hydrographs have
been presented in technical publications.
-In developing unit hydrographs for use in estimating critical flood
hydrograph, conservative determinations of peak discharge, the
degree of concentration of runoff near peak, and the lag time are of
primary importance; the shape of the rising and recession sides and
the base width of the unit hydrographs are usually of secondary
importance.
 Synthetic Unit Hydrograph
-Synder, based on his studies on the relationship between lag-to-
peak of the area-time curve and that of the actual hydrograph,
presented the synthetic unit hydrograph relations in 1938.
-The basis of the method is an empirical relationship between the
catchment characteristics, like area and shape (slope being
secondary), and the shape of the unit hydrograph as characterized
by: (a) time of occurrence of the peak, (b) magnitude of the peak
flow and (c) the Base width
 Synthetic Unit Hydrograph
-Lag Equation
 Synthetic Unit Hydrograph
-Peak Flow Equation
 Synthetic Unit Hydrograph
-Base length Equation

-Time of Peak
 Changing Unit Hydrograph Duration
-If we have a unit hydrograph obtained from a storm of duration T,
we can use the superposition principle to obtain a unit hydrograph
of duration equal to any integral multiple of T.
-The T-hour unit hydrographs are staggered by periods of T and the
simultaneously occurring ordinates are added to reproduce flood
hydrographs corresponding to n units of runoff from a storm
duration of nT hours.
-The ordinates of the hydrograph are divided by n to give the
ordinates of nT-hour unit hydrograph.
 Changing Unit Hydrograph Duration
-If we require the unit hydrograph for a duration other than an
integral multiple of the given duration, we must resort to S-curve
hydrograph. This is the hydrograph of a storm runoff due to a
continuous uniform effective rainfall of unit intensity lasting
indefinitely
 Storage Function Method

Storage function model treats the behavior

of flow of channel and flood plain as a single
unit, and is most suitable when applied to
the fixed type of flood flow. The storage
function model, when compared with the
non-uniform flow model, has an advantage
that it can simulate a decrease of discharge
to the flow direction by inundation.
 Storage Function Method

The storage function model was derived based

on the assumption that the relation between
water level (H) and discharge (Q) is a single-
valued function. Hence, this model cannot be
applied to estuaries and confluence of rivers.

This method is typically implemented through

computer models.
 Flood Frequency Analysis

The method of computing flood frequency is

generally statistical in nature. It means that
historical records of maximum flood should be
continuous and long. There should be distinction
between the daily maximum flood and the
momentary flood peaks.
 Flood Frequency Analysis

In addition, there should be important distinction

between stages and discharges as there are changes
in the stage-discharge relationship. It is preferable to
work with discharges and if necessary the results are
referred to the most recent stage-discharge
relationship.
 Flood Frequency Analysis
Given the statistical series of flood peaks, a continuous
distribution is used to fit the historical sequence. A
frequency function can be generalized to represent the
series as function of:
 Specific Discharge Method

The specific discharge method is an approximate

method for the estimation of flows, and is typically
used to validate flows from the hydrological analysis
technique, rather than for the estimation of flows in
its own right. Given the approximate nature, it
should be used with caution for infrastructure
design. It is typically applicable for river basins
rather than urban drainage applications.
Specific Discharge Method
Specific Discharge Method
 Specific Discharge Method
The specific discharge curve
 Specific Discharge Method
The specific discharge curve
Note

• Specific Discharge Curves are formulated based on the

studies of the major river basins nationwide. Specific
Discharge Method is applicable only to catchment areas
with more than 20 km2, otherwise Rational Formula is
recommended.
• In addition to the above explanation, the percentage of
urbanized area within the catchment area is also an
important factor in assessing the flood peak discharge
per unit catchment area.
• In case there are two (2) catchment areas with the same
size, the one with the higher percentage of urbanized
area will most likely have a higher flood peak discharge
than the other.
 Other Considerations in Hydrological
Analysis
Channel Routing Model

Distributed flow routing models are used to describe the

transformation of storm rainfall into runoff over a watershed to
produce a flow hydrograph for the watershed outlet. This
hydrograph becomes input at the upstream end of a river
system and routed through the system to the downstream end.

Several channel routing models have been proposed: These are

(a) Storage function model, (b) Muskingum, (c) Kinematic wave
and (d) Muskingum-Cunge standard and so on. These are
typically incorporated through computer models.
 Other Considerations in Hydrological
Analysis
Baseflow
Base flow is sustained runoff of prior rainfall that was
stored temporarily in the river basin. The base flow can be
assumed to be constant during the flood.

When a stream flow gauging station is located in or near

the target river basin, the mean daily discharge of one day
before the floods is used as the base flow. When there are
no data available, 0.05 m /s/km can be used for the base
3 2

flow (FCSEC, 2010).