ECW 557:

ENGINEERING HYDROLOGY

HYDROGRAPH ANALYSIS

1
WEEK 6 – HYDROGRAPH ANALYSIS
LEARNING OUTCOMES
At the end of the week, students should
be able to:
1) apply unit hydrograph to determine direct runoff hydrograph
2) derive unit hydrograph from a storm hydrograph by principle of
superposition and lagging (CO2);
3) derive unit hydrographs of other durations from a unit
hydrograph (CO2);
4) derive synthetic unit hydrograph for a meteorologically similar
watershed (CO2).
2
 Total runoff Direct runoff
hydrograph, TRH - Baseflow = hydrograph, DRH

Q Q Q

t t t

Area below graph = Runoff volume

3
 Unit Hydrograph (UH) pg 205
Introduced by Sherman (1932) – predicting the
flood hydrograph from known storm.
Definition: UH is the “hydrograph of direct runoff
resulting from one unit depth (1cm) of rainfall
excess’’ occurring uniformly over the basin and at a
uniform rate for a specific duration (D, hours).
D-hr UH

D
1cm RE * Volume of water in UH = RE
Q (m3/s)
* Average Intensity of RE

D-hr UH = 1/D (cm/h)

D = duration of RE
t
* Distribution of storm considered
tb 4
uniform all over catchment
 Assumptions in UH
• Time Invariance: The direct-runoff response to a
given effective rainfall in a catchment is time-
invariant, implying that the DRH for a given ER in a
catchment is always the same irrespective of when it
occurs.
• Linear Response: Principle of proportionality ~
(effective rainfall proportional to direct runoff in
diff t, same D) – enable superposition to derive
DRHs

(UH Ordinate) x ER depth = DRH

5
HENCE, UH can be used to predict runoff from a storm event
 Effect of Storm Duration, D (hours)
2-hr UH 6-hr UH 12-hr UH
2 hr 1cm RE 6 hr 1cm RE 12 hr 1cm RE
Q Q Q

Unit RE
Unit RE Unit RE

A1 A2 A3
t t t

Area under the graph: A1 = A2 = A3;

Volume of effective rainfall: V1 = V2 = V3 = 1 unit of
Effective Rainfall
Differences: Time to peak, time base, peak value
6
 Principle of Proportionality
DRH due to
D-hr UH P cm RE (P>1) in D hr

1cm RE P cm RE
Q Q

t t
tb tb

Time to peak, tp & time base, tb remain the same

Ordinates & peak value changed 7
 Principle of Proportionality
DRH due to
D-hr UH P cm RE (P<1) In D hr

1cm RE P cm RE
Q Q

t t
tb tb

Time to peak, tp & time base, tb remain the same

Ordinates & peak value changed
8
 Method of Superposition & Lagging
DRH for two events of D-hr rain of 1 cm each
D-hr UH occurs consecutive

Q Q
D hr D hr D hr

1 cm 1 cm
1 cm
Total DRH:2 cm
1 cm RE
RE
1 cm RE
1 cm RE

t t
tb tb for 1st rainfall
tb for nd
Total DRH = Sum(DRHi) 2 rainfall

Time base for Total DRH, Lag time tb’

tb’ = tb + (n-1)D D hr
n = number of rainfall

If dif. storms occurred successively, hence, D-hr UH can be used

9
to derive DRH for storms which has a duration of nD, n=integer
 Method of Superposition & Lagging
DRH for a complex storm event

D-hr UH
Q D D D

D Q cm R cm
1cm P cm
Q

= (P+Q+R) DRH

Q-DRH

P-DRH R-DRH
t
tb

tb for P t
Total DRH =  DRHi
tb for Q
Time base for Total DRH, tb for R
tb’ = tb + (n-1)D tb’
10
n = number of rainfall
 Example: 6.4, pg 207
t(h) Ordinates Ordinates
x RE depth: linear response
6 h-UH DRH
x3.5
0 0 0
x3.5
3 25 87.5
x3.5
6 50 175 3.5 cm DRH
x3.5
9 85 297.5
x3.5
12 125 437.5
6-hr UH
…

x3.5
60 8 28
x3.5
69 0 0 tb
11
Example: A catchment has a constant loss rate of 1.5 cm/h.
In a particular storm event, the catchment receive 6 cm
rainfall in 2 hours and 5 cm rainfall in the next 2 hours.
Determine the resulting runoff hydrograph if the average
baseflow is 20 m3/s and the 2 h UH is given.

t (h) 2h UH (m3/s) t(h) P (cm) L (cm)ER (cm)

0.0 0
1.0 25
0 0
2.0 40 2 6 3 3
3.0 25 4 5 3 2
4.0 13 For UH, tb = 8h
5.0 6 Time base for Total DRH,
6.0 3 tb’ = tb + (n-1)D
7.0 1
8.0 0
12
 x RE depth: linear response
t (h) 2h UH (m3/s) DRH (3cm) DRH (2cm) TOTAL DRH
0.0 0 0 Lag time 0
1.0 25 75 = 2 hr 75
2.0 40 120 0 120
3.0 25 75 50 125
4.0 13 39 80 119
5.0 6 18 50 66.5
6.0 3 9 26 35
7.0 1 3 12 15
8.0 0 0 6 6
9.0 0 2 2
10.0 0 0

13
 ?????
160
DRH (3cm)
140
DRH (2cm)
120
TOTAL DRH
100 Flood Hydrograph
80
60
40
20
0
0.0 2.0 4.0 6.0 8.0 10.0

14
 Example 6.5, pg208
t(h) 6hr-UH DRH2cm

0 0
3 25 x2
Dt = 3h 6 50 0
9 85 50
12 125 100 Dt = 3h Dt = 6h Dt = 9h
15 160 170
18 185 250
24 160 320
Dt = 6h 30 110 370
36 60 320
. . .
. . .
. . .

15
 Example 6.5, pg208
t(h) 6hr-UH DRH2cm t(h) UH DRH2
. . .
0 +3 0 . . .
3 +3 25 x2
. . .

6 +3 50 0 x2
48 +6 25 ??
9 +3 85 50 54 +6 16 50
12 125 100 60 +6 8 32
15 +3 160 170 69 +6 0 ??
18 +3 185 250 75 0
21 320
24 +6 160 370
30 +6 110 320 For UH, tb = 69h
36 60 220
. . .
42 36 120 Time base for Total DRH,
. . .
. . . tb’ = tb + (n-1)D

16
17
18
19
 DIY:
Example 6.6, pg 210
For 6hr-UH (same ordinates as EX 6.4), where tb = 69 h

For Total DRH,

tb’ = tb + (n-1)D
tb’ = 69 + 2x6 = 81h

20
6

21
WEEK 6 – HYDROGRAPH ANALYSIS
LEARNING OUTCOMES
At the end of the week, students should
be able to:
1) apply unit hydrograph to determine direct runoff hydrograph
2) derive unit hydrograph from a storm hydrograph by principle of
superposition and lagging (CO2);
3) derive unit hydrographs of other durations from a unit
hydrograph (CO2);
4) derive synthetic unit hydrograph for a meteorologically similar
watershed (CO2).
22
DERIVATION OF UH

23
 Derivation of UH pg 212
Requires at least five (5) QUALIFIED storm events
with the following characteristics:
• Storm must be isolated/ independent
• Storm must be uniform over entire duration
• Storm must be uniform over entire watershed
• Storm duration must be ±20%D (preferably less)
• Storm duration must be 1/5 to 1/3 of basin lag
• Storm magnitude must be significant, preferably
between 1 to 4cm
24
 Limitations of UH
• Storm are rarely uniform over entire catchment,
hence, UH method is only applicable for
2 km2< A < 5000 km2
• Large storage in catchment which will affect the
assumption of linear response is not considered.
• Precipitation must be rainfall only, snow fall
cannot be considered.
• Method invalid if the storm is nonuniform in time.
Accuracy: typically ±20% tb , ±10% Qp
25
 Derivation of UH
• 5nos UH from qualified storm events
-Qp are different
Q
- tpk are different
- tb are different

• find the average UH ordinate

26
 Average UH
• determine average Qp, tpk and tb
Qp Average UH
Q

• adjust curve – must be smooth

• check area below UH - must
represent unit depth

tpk tb t

27
 Example
Time UH (m3/s) ≡ DRH (m3/s) UH (avg)
h storm 1 storm 2 storm 3 storm 4 storm 5 (m3/s)
0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
2 1.9 1.2 1.5 1.4 1.6 1.5
4 9.4 6.0 8.5 5.5 9.1 7.7
6 9.3 9.9 8.0 10.1 8.5 9.2
8 7.0 8.2 6.1 8.3 6.5 7.2
10 5.2 6.1 4.5 5.9 5.0 5.3
12 3.3 4.3 2.8 4.3 3.5 3.7
14 2.1 2.9 1.8 3.0 2.4 2.5
16 1.2 1.9 0.8 1.9 1.4 1.5
18 0.6 1.0 0.0 1.2 0.6 0.7
20 0.0 0.5 0.6 0.0 0.2
22 0.0 0.0 0.0

Catchment area = 28.4 km2 RE (cm) = 1.00

Average tpk = 4.8 h Sum UH average ordinates = 39.5 m3/s

Average Qp = 9.4 m3/s
Average tb = 20.4 h 28
12.0
UH1
10.0 UH2
UH3
8.0
UH4
6.0 UH5
Average
4.0

2.0

0.0
0 5 10 15 20 25

29
Time UH (avg) UH (avg)
Time, h corrected
h (m3/s)
0 0.0
0 0.0
2 1.5
2 1.5
4 7.7
4 7.7
5 9.4
6 9.2
6 9.2
8 7.2
8 7.2
10 5.3
10 5.3
12 3.7
12 3.7
14 2.5
14 2.5
16 1.5
16 1.5
18 0.7
18 0.7
20 0.2
20 0.0
22 0.0
22 0.0
1.0
1.00

30
 10.0
Qp = 9.4 9.0
8.0
Qp average UH = 9.2
7.0 Average
tp average UH = 6 h corrected
6.0
5.0
4.0
3.0
2.0
1.0
0.0
0 5 10 15 20 25

tpk = 4.8 (5.0) tb = 20.4 (20)

31
 Derivation of UH when D is same
DRH for D-hr rain D-hr UH

D hr D hr

Q Q

P units RE
1 unit RE

V=PxA V=1xA

t t
tb tb

(Ordinates DRH) / ER = ordinates UH

Example 6.7, pg 213

Example 6.8, pg 215
32
92

33
DERIVATION OF UH FROM
COMPLEX STORM EVENT;
D DIFFERENT SITUATION

34
 Analysis
Input Transfer Function Output

Rainfall Data
?
Unit Hydrograph Streamflow Data

Synthesis
Input Transfer Function Output

Rainfall Data Unit Hydrograph

?
Streamflow

35
 1D 2D 3D
UH of Complex Storm
R1 R2 R3 :different rainfall duration, D
Total DRH due to two D-hr rainfall
Q
R1U4+ R2U3
R1U5+ R2U4

DRH due to D-hr effective rain of R1 unit

R1U3+ R2U2 R1U6+ R2U5

R1U7+ R2U6
DRH due to D-hr effective rain of R2 unit

R1U2+ R2U1 R1U8+ R2U7

R1U9+ R2U8

R1U1 R1U10+ R2U9

R2U10 t

D-hr
36
 Convolution Computation
Time Rainfall UH Runoff due to Runoff due to Runoff due to Total direct runoff
(hr) excess Un 1st 2nd 4th Qi
Rm X-hr rain X-hr rain X-hr rain
0 - 0 0 0 0 0

X R1 U1 R1U1 0 0 R1U1

2X R2 U2 R1U2 R2U1 0 R1U2 + R2U1

3X 0 U3 R1U3 R2U2 0 R1U3 + R2U2

4X R4 U4 R1U4 R2U3 R4U1 R1U4 + R2U3 + R4U1

5X … U5 R1U5 R2U4 R4U2 R1U5 + R2U4 + R4U2

6X U6 R1U6 R2U5 R4U3 R1U6 + R2U5 + R4U3

7X U7 R1U7 R2U6 R4U4 R1U7 + R2U6 + R4U4

8X U8 R1U8 R2U7 R4U5 R1U8 + R2U7 + R4U5

9X U9 R1U9 R2U8 R4U6 R1U9 + R2U8 + R4U6

10X U10 R1U10 R2U9 R4U7 R1U10 + R2U9 + R4U7

11X 0 0 R2U10 R4U8 R2U10 + R4U8

12X 0 R4U9 R4U9

13X R4U10 R4U10

14X 0 0
37
 Deconvolution Computation
Q1 = R1U1
Q2 = R2U1 + R1U2
Q3 = R3U1 + R2U2 + R1U3
…
QM = RMU1 + RM-1U2 + … + R1UM
QM+1 = 0 + RMU2 + … + R2UM + R1UM+1
…
QN+M-2 = 0 + 0 + … + RMUN-1 + RM-1UN
QN+M-1 = 0 + 0 +…+ 0 + RMUN

Q=RxU

Unit hydrograph U can be solved using matrix method.

38
 UH of different durations, D

Previously, UH from simple isolated storms can be

grouped under average D-hour. Practically, UH in
different D. Can use following methods:
• Method of Superposition
• S-hydrograph Method

39
 Method of Superposition
DRH for 2D-hr rain
D-hr UH
Q
2D hr
D hr

Q 1cm RE 2cm RE

t t
tb
tb
tb
Intensity = 1/D cm/h
Lag time

(UH Ordinate) x ER depth = DRH

40
(DRH Ordinate) / RE depth = UH Ordinate
 D = duration of UH t  tb  (n 1) D
'
b

n = number of D-hr rainfall

Intensity = 1/nD cm/h

Limitation: For an UH of duration D, other UH

derived has duration which is multiple of the
original UH only, i.e. nD, where n is an integer.

Example 6.9, pg 216 44

Given 4-h UH, find the 12-h UH???

45
46
 S-hydrograph Method

• Overcome the limitation of Method of Superposition.

• Can derive UH with ANY DURATION.

48
 S-hydrograph
Q
S-hydrograph, a.k.a S-curve,
hydrograph produced by
continuous ER at constant
D hr
Maximum
rate & is the summation of
infinite series of D-hr UH,
S-hydrograph spaced D-hr apart.
D hr UH
Maximum equilibrium
discharge at a time
equal to the time base of
t the first UH
D hr D hrtb1
tb2 *Approach constant at tb – D
tb3
49
 S-hydrograph
Intensity = 1/D cm/h Q T hr

Duration = T h (Duration for required UH) Storm B

Depth = Intensity x Duration Storm A
= T/D cm D hr
S-hydrograph A

DS
S-hydrograph B

DS DS
T/D cm
DS x D/T

1 cm
t
lagged T hr

tb’ = tb + (T-D)
51
(DRH Ordinate) / RE depth = UH Ordinate
52
 Example 6.10 pg:219
Derive S-curve for the 4-hr UH?
Hint: use Eq 6.8; S(t) = U(t) + S(t-D)
t = time, D = rainfall duration

54
55
 D -hr Hint: use Eq 6.8; S(t) = U(t) + S(t-D)
Derive 12-h UH from 4-h UH???? t = time, D = rainfall duration

T-hr SA SB (SA – SB)/(T/D)

56
 Example 6.11; pg221
Approach constant at tb – D = 44 – 4 = 40h For S-curve
Q (m3/s)

652 679 694 699 699

0 4 8 12 16 20 24 28 32 36 40 44 t (h)
57
 Example 6.11, pg221
Consider two D-h S-curve, displaced by T-h
tb’ = tb + (T-D) = 44 + (12-4) = 52h
Q (m3/s)

S1 S2

DS

0 4 8 12 16 20 24 28 32 36 40 44 48 52 t (h)
58
Example 6.12, pg221

Fairing

59 S(t-D)
Hint: use Eq 6.8; S(t) = U(t) +
 Example 6.12, 221

tb’ = tb + (T-D) = 44 + (2-4) = 42h

Q (m3/s)

20 20 10 10
0 +4

0 12 42 -4 t (h)
60
 Example 6.12, pg221

tb’ = tb + (T-D) = 44 + (2-4) = 42h

Q (m3/s)

Fairing

0 12 42 t (h)
61
 UH of different durations
Problem solving: 6.18, 6.19

63
 Synthetic UH
Gauged Data UH

Ungauged Data UH but HOW??

A synthetic unit hydrograph is derived from

empirical equations of regional validity when
observed rainfall-runoff data are not available
for unit hydrograph derivation. Its uses are:
• to anticipate post-development conditions,
• to extend the usage of point–specific unit
hydrograph to other locations of similar
characteristics. 64
 Synthetic UH
• Snyder’s method
• SCS method
Both to utilize existing UH from a neighbouring
meteorologically similar watershed.
Watershed A Watershed B
UH available UH not available

Rainfall duration Rainfall duration

Qp

t ? t
65
 tc Storm Hydrograph
D
D = rainfall duration
* Rainfall

L
tpk = time to peak
tb = time base
Q
tc = time of concentration
Point of
inflection/max L = lag time, basin lag
storage
* tr
centre of mass
*t = recession time
r

tpk

Beginning of rainfalltb 66
Components of Hydrograph pg 198
 Snyder’s Method – popular method
Snyder adopted a standard duration tr hours of effective rainfall
given by
tr = tp / 5.5

tr = rainfall duration for standard (h)

tr
tp = Ct ( [Link] )0.3
tp = basin lag (h)
tp = basin
lag/lag time
L = basin length (km)
Qp Lca = distance from watershed centroid
to outlet (measurement point) along
the main channel (km)
Ct = regional constant (0.3< Ct <6.0)
(Representing watershed slope and storage)
Basin lag/lag time = mean time for water travel from
t all parts of watershed to outlet. 67
For flood forecasting, the actual storm duration is normally different from tr thus
For any UH, tR = rainfall duration (h), tp’ = modified basin lag (h)

For standard UH For non-standard UH

tp’ = tp tp’  tp tr  tR
t r = tR
tR tp’ = tp + 0.25(tR – tr)
Qps = 2.78 CpA/ tp
tp’ = 21tp /22 + 0.25tR
tp @ t p’
Qp = 2.78 CpA/ tp’
Qp

A = watershed area (km2)

Qp = peak flow rate (m3/s)
Cp = regional constant (0.31< Cp< 0.93)
Indicate retention and watershed
t storage capacity
68
 Snyder’s Method
Time base of a unit hydrograph by Snyders
Tb = 72 + 3tp’ (unit in hours)
Sketching UH, width of UH based on W50 & W75

Required UH W75
Qp

0.75Qp W50 = 5.87/ q1.08 q = Qp/A

W75
0.5Qp
W50 W75 = W50 / 1.75

Tp

Tb t 69
 Snyder’s Method

Qp

W75 /3
0.75Qp
2/3 W75

0.5Qp
W50 /3 2/3 W50

tpk
t

70
Example 6.14, pg227 Snyder’s Method
Step 1: check whether source UH is standard
Step 2: determine regional constants (Ct & Cp) of source UH
Step 3: check whether required UH is standard
Step 4: determine parameters of required UH
Step 5: determine time base of required UH
Step 6: finalizing required UH using S-curve method

Source UH Required UH

Qp

t
? t
71
 Snyder’s Method
Step 1: check whether source UH is standard

Assume tr = tR
Source UH

tR tr = tp / 5.5  tp

If tp’ = tp standard
tp’

Qp
If tp’  tp non-standard

Time to peak from beginning of ER

Tp = tR/2 + tp’
t 72
 If equal, tp is used.
tp
tr 
5.5
 t p  5.5  t r tr  5.5  2  11h

Recalculate tp 2

3
If equal, tp is used.
Not equal
4
Calculate t’p

73
 Snyder’s Method
Step 2: determine regional constants of source UH
If not standard
tp’ = tp + 0.25(tR – tr)
Source UH
 tp
tR tp’ = 21tp /22 + 0.25tR

tp = Ct ( [Link] )0.3  Ct
tp’

Qp
Qp = 2.78 CpA/ tp’  Cp

t 74
 Snyder’s Method
Step 3: check whether required UH is standard

Required UH tp = Ct ( [Link] )0.3

tR
tr = tp / 5.5

tp’ Assume tp’ = tp

Qp If tr = tR standard

If tr  tR non-standard

t 75
 Snyder’s Method
Step 4: determine parameters of required UH

tp’ = tp + 0.25(tR – tr)

Required UH
 tp’
tR tp’ = 21tp /22 + 0.25tR

Qp = 2.78 CpA/ tp’  Qp

tp’

Qp
tpk = tR/2 + tp’

tpk t 76
 Snyder’s Method
Step 4: determine parameters of required UH

Required UH W50 = 5.87/ q1.08 q = Qp/A

W75
Qp W75 = W50 / 1.75

0.75Qp

0.5Qp
W50

t 77
 Snyder’s Method
Step 5: determine time base of required UH

For large catchment:

Required UH
tb = 72 +3tp’ (h)

Qp
For small catchment:

tb = 5(tp’ +0.5tR) (h)

To the nearest larger integer divisible by tR

tb t
tb is always least accurate

78
 Example 6.14, pg228
Q (m3/s)

62
Select suitable tb

46.5 W75 = 25h

31
W50 = 44h

t (h)
4 8 11.4 33 48 58
79
 Example 6.14, pg228
Q (m3/s)

62 Or use a curve

46.5
W75 = 25 h

31
W50 = 44 h

t (h)
11.4
80
 Snyder’s Method
Step 6: Finalising UH using S-curve method

• Use the synthetic UH derived to plot an S-curve

• Use the S-curve to derive a UH of duration tR

81
 SCS Method
SCS = Soil Conservation Service, US

• Use dimensionless UH derived from large number

of UH on variety of watershed.

82
t/tpk Q/Qp
0.0 0
0.1
0.2
0.015
0.075
SCS Method
0.3 0.16
0.4 0.28
1
0.5 0.43
0.6 0.6 0.9
0.7 0.77 0.8
0.8 0.89
0.7
0.9 0.97
1.0 1 Q/Qp 0.6
1.1 0.98 0.5
1.2 0.92
0.4
1.3 0.84
1.4 0.75 0.3
1.5 0.66 0.2
1.6 0.56
0.1
1.8 0.42
2.0 0.32 0
2.2 0.24 0.0 1.0 2.0 3.0 4.0 5.0 6.0 7.0
2.4 0.18 t/tpk
2.6 0.13
2.8 0.098
3.0 0.075
3.5 0.036
4.0 0.018
4.5 0.009
5.0 0.004 Table 6.2 83
6.0 0
 SCS Method –Dimensionless UH
• Using Snyder’s method, calc. tpk and Qp
• Multiply t/tpk by tpk =t
• Multiply Q/Qp by Qp =Q

• Plot Q vs t
10
9
8

Example: 7
6
tpk = 20h 5
Qp = 10m3/s 4
3
2
1
0
0 20 40 60 80 100 120

84
 SCS Method - SCS Triangular UH
• UH in triangular shape (FIGURE 6.21(b)
• where Tb = 2.67xTp where Tp = time to peak@ lag basin = tr/2 + tp
• Qp = 2.08A/Tp where A in km2

•Tp = tr/2 + 0.6tc where tr = duration of ER, tc = time of concentration

Small watershed

•Example 6.15 page 231

85