CH 17

NATIONAL ENGINEERING IIAI~IBOOK
SECTION
HYDROLOGY
CHAPTER 17.
FMOD ROUTING
Victor Mockus Hydraulic Engineer
Revisions by Wendell Styner
1972 Revised and r e p r i n t e d , 1972
NM Notice 4-102,
AUgUSt
1972
NATIONAL ENGINEERING HANDBOOK SECTION
HYDROLOGY CHAPTER 17
FLOOD ROUTING
Contents
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17-1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17-2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17-2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17-3 Elevation-storage and Elevation-discharge relationships . . . . 17-3 Elevation-storage relationships for reservoirs. . . . . . . . 17-3 Elevation-discharge relationships for reservoirs . . . . . . 17-7 Storage-discharge relationships for reservoirs . . . . . . . 17-7 Elevation. stage. storage. discharge relationships for streams . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17-7 Reservoir Routing Methods . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . The continuity equation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Methods and examples . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Mass curve method: numerical version . . . . . . . . . . . Example 17-1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Example 17-2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Mass curve method: direct version . . . . . . . . . . . . Mass curve method: graphical version . . . . . . . . . . . Example 17-3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Storage indication method . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Example 17-4 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Example 17-5 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Storage indication method as used in the SCS electronic computer program . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Culp's method . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Example 17-6 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Short cuts for reservoir routings . . . . . . . . . . . .
Introduction SCS electronic computer program References hmmary of chapter contents Channel Routing Methods Theory of the convex method Discussion Some useful realtionships and procedures Determination o f K Determination of C Determination of At Procedure for routing through any reach length Variability of routing parameters. selection of velocity V
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NM Notice 4 . 1 0 2 .
August 1972
C O N T E N T S cont'd
Examples: Convex routing methods Example 17-7 Example 17-8 Example 17-9 Example17-10 Example 17-11 Effects of transmission l o s s e s on routed flows Routing through a system of channels
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17-54 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17-56 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17-57' . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17-59 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17-61 . . . . . . . . 17-66
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17-53
. . . . . . . . . . . . 17-66
. . . . . .
Unit-hydrograph Routing Methods Basic equations Effects of storm duration and time of concentration Elimination of Tp Working equations f o r s p e c i a l cases Examples Use of equation 17-40 Example 17-12 Use of equation 17-43 Example 17-13 Use o f equation 17-43 on l a r g e watersheds Use of equations 17.48. 17.50. and 17-52 Example 17-14 Example 17-15 Example 17-16 Example 17-17 Discussion
a * . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . .
..... ...................... ............. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17-90 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17-91
..em.....d..........
................ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17-86 .......... . .. .. ..... .. .. . ............. . 17-86 ........ 17-86 . . . . . . . . . 17-89 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17-89 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17-89 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17-90
17-82 17-82 17-83 17-84 17-85 17-86 17-86 17-86
Figures 17-1 17-2 17-3 17-4 17-5 17-6 17-7 17-8 17-9 17-10 17-11 17-12 17-13
Elevation. storage. discharge r e l a t i o n s h i p forareservoir Storage. Discharge r e l a t i o n s h i p and p l o t t e d mass inflow curve f o r a r e s e r v o i r Mass inflow. storage. and mass outflow curves f o r Example 17-2 Graphical version of Mass Curve method of r e s e r v o i r routing f o r Example 17-3 Graphical version f o r Example 17-2. 'Step 4 Working curve f o r Storage-Indication method of r e s e r v o i r routing f o r Example 17-4 Inflow and outflow hydrograph f o r Example 17-4 P r i n c i p a l spillway hydrograph and outflow hydrograph f o r Example 17-5 Working curves f o r Storage-Indication method of r e s e r v o i r routing f o r Example 17-5 Culp's method of r e s e r v o i r routing f o r Example 17-6 Typical shortcut method of r e s e r v o i r flood routing Relationships f o r Convex method of channel routing Convex routing c o e f f i c i e n t versus v e l o c i t y
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August 1972
NM Notice 4.102.
C O N T E N T S cont'd.
Figures 17-14 ES-1025 rev. Sheetlof2 S e e t 2 0 f 2 . . 17-15 Inflow and routed outflow hydrograph f o r Example 17-7 17-16 Inflow and routed outflow hydrograph f o r Example 17-8 17-17 Outflow and routed inflow hydrograph f o r Example 17-9 17-18 Mass inflow, mass outflow and r a t e hydrograph f o r Example 17-10 17-19 Inflow hydrograph and routed outflow hydrographs f o r Example 17-11, Method 1 and 2 17-20 !&pica1 schematic diagram f o r routing through a system of channels 17-21 Q/Q versus A f o r a t y p i c a l physiographic a r e a Tables
...................... .................... . . '. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ........ ............ .. .................. ................. ... . ... . ........... ...
17-1
17-2 17-3 17-4 17-5
17-6
17-7 17-8 17-9 17-10 17-11 17-12 17-13
17-14
17-15 17-16 17-17 17-18
Equations f o r conversion of u n i t s Elevation-storage r e l a t i o n s h i p f o r a reservoir Elevation-discharge r e l a t i o n s h i p f o r a 2-stage p r i n c i p a l spillway Working t a b l e f o r a storage-discharge relationship Operations t a b l e f o r t h e mass-curve method of routing f o r Example 17-1 Operations t a b l e f o r determining storage a f t e r 10 days of drawdown f o r Example 17-2 Working t a b l e f o r t h e graphical version of t h e mass-curve method f o r Example 17-3 Working t a b l e for preparation of t h e working curve f o r Example 17-4 Operations t a b l e f o r t h e S-I method f o r Example 17-4 Procedure f o r routing by t h e storage-indication method f o r Example 17-4. Working t a b l e f o r preparation of t h e working curves f o r Example 17-5. Operations t a b l e f o r Example 17-5 Working t a b l e f o r Culp method, step 1 3 of Example 17-6 Basic operations i n t h e Convex routing method Operations t a b l e f o r Example 17-8 Operations t a b l e f o r Example 17-9 Operations t a b l e f o r Example 17-10. Operations t a b l e f o r Example 17-11 Method 1
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NM Notice 4-102, August 1972
CONTENTS c o n t ' d .
Tables
17-19 Operation t a b l e f o r Example 17-11 Method 2

17-20 P o r t i o n of a t y p i c a l o p e r a t i o n s t a b l e f o r r o u t i n g through a s t r e a m s y s t e m . 17-21 Data and working t a b l e f o r use of Equation 17-43 on a l a r g e watershed 17-22 Area and s t o r a g e d a t a f o r Example 17-17
. . . . . . . 17-67 . . . . . . . . . . . 17-71 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17-88 . . . . . . . . . 17-92
NEH Notice 4-102,
August 1972
N A T I O N A L ENGINEERING HANDBOOK SECTION
HYDROLOGY
Introduction I n t h e Americari Society of C i v i l Engineers' manual, "Nomenclature for Hydraulics," flood r o u t i n g i s variously defined as follows:
(1)The derivation of an outflow hydrorouting (hydraulics) graph of a stream from known values of upstream inflow. The procedure u t i l i z e s wave v e l o c i t y and t h e storage equat i o n ; sometimes both. ( 2 ) Computing t h e flood a t a downstream point from t h e flood inflow a t an upstream point, and taking channel storage i n t o account. routing. flood.-- The process of determining progressively t h e timing and shape of a flood wave a t successive points along a river. routing, streamflow.--The procedure used t o derive a downstream hydrograph from an upstream hydrograph, or t r i b u t a r y hydrographs, and from considerations of l o c a l inflow by solving t h e storage equation.
.--
Routing i s a l s o done with mass curves of runoff o r with merely peak r a t e s o r peak stages of runoff, as well a s hydrographs. The routing need not be only downstream because the process can be reversed f o r upstream routing, which i s often done t o determine upstream hydrographs from hydrographs gaged downstream. Nor i s routing confined t o streams and r i v e r s ; it i s r e g u l a r l y used i n obtaining inflow o r outflow hydrographs, mass curves, o r peak r a t e s i n r e s e r v o i r s , farm ponds, tanks, swamps, and lakes. And low flows a r e routed, as well as floods. The term "flood routing" covers all of t h e s e p r a c t i c e s . The purpose of flood r o u t i n g i n most engineering work i s t o l e a r n what stages or r a t e s of flow occur, without a c t u a l l y measuring them, a t s p e c i f i c locations i n streams o r s t r u c t u r e s during passages of floods. The stages o r r a t e s a r e used i n evaluating o r designing a watercontrol s t r u c t u r e o r p r o j e c t . Differences i n stages or r a t e s from routings made with and without t h e s t r u c t u r e o r p r o j e c t i n place show i t s e f f e c t s on t h e flood flows. I n evaluations, t h e differences a r e t r a n s l a t e d i n t o monetary terms t o show b e n e f i t s on an e a s i l y compar a b l e b a s i s ; i n design, t h e differences a r e used d i r e c t l y i n developing or modifying t h e s t r u c t u r e or p r o j e c t c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s .
L
NM Notice 4-102, AugUSt 1972
The routing process i s based on one of t h e following approaches:

1. Solution of simultaneous p a r t i a l d i f f e r e n t i a l equations of motion and continuity. Simplified versions of t h e equations a r e generally used i n e l e c t r o n i c computer routings; even t h e simplifications a r e t o o laborious f o r manual routings. 2. Solution of the continuity equation alone. A simplified form of t h e equation i s t h e b a s i s f o r many routing methods. 3. Use of inflow-outflow hydrograph r e l a t i o n s h i p s . 4. Use of u n i t hydrograph theory. 5. Use of empirical r e l a t i o n s h i p s between inflow and outflow pesk stages or r a t e s . Mostly used f o r l a r g e r i v e r s . 6. Use of hydraulic models.
Methods based on t h e second, t h i r d , and fourth approaches a r e presented i n t h i s chapter. The routing operations i n t h e methods can be made numerically by means of an e l e c t r o n i c computer, desk c a l c u l a t o r , s l i d e r u l e , nomograph, network c h a r t , o r by mental calculations; o r graphically by means of an analog machine, s p e c i a l c h a r t , o r by successive geometric a l drawings. Methods s p e c i f i c a l l y intended f o r e l e c t r o n i c computers o r analog machines are n e i t h e r presented nor discussed.
A l l methods presented i n t h i s chapter are accurate enough f o r p r a c t i c a l work i f t h e y a r e applied a s they a r e meant t o be and i f a a t a needed f o r t h e i r proper application a r e used. Advantages and disadvantages of part i c u l a r methods a r e mentioned and s i t u a t i o n s t h a t l e a d t o g r e a t e r o r l e s s e r accuracy of a method a r e pointed out, but t h e r e i s no presentat i o n of t e s t s f o r accuracy o r of comparisons between routed and gaged hydrographs
SCS e l e c t r o r i c computer program The e l e c t r o n i c computer program now being used i n SCS watershed evaluat i o n s contains two methods of flood routing. The S t o r q e - I n d i c a t i o n method i s used f o r routing through r e s e r v o i r s and t h e Convex method f o r routing through stream channels. Manual versions of both methods a r e described i n t h i s chapter. References Each of t h e following references contains general m a t e r i a l on flood routing and descriptions o f two or more methods. References whose main subject i s not flood routing but which contain a useful example of routing are c i t e d i n t h e chapter as necessary.
1. Thomas, H. A . , 1937, The hydraulics of flood movements i n r i v e r s : Pittsburg, Carnegie I n s t . Tech., Eng. B u l l . Out of p r i n t but it can be found i n most l i b r a r i e s having c o l l e c t i o n s of engineering literature.
2.
G i l c r e s t , B. R.,
1950, Flood routing: Engineering Hydraulics
(H. Rouse, ed. ), N e w York, John Wiley and Sons, Chapter 10, pp.
635-710.
NEH Notice 6-102, August 1972
3 . U S . Department of t h e Army, Corps of &gineers, 1960, Routing M 1110-2-1408. of floods t h r o u ~ h r i v e r channels: Eng. Manual E
4. Carter, R.W., and R. G. Godfrey, 1960, Storage and flood routing: U.S. Geol. Survey Water-Supply Paper 1543-B.
5. Yevdjevich, Vujica M., 1964, Bibliography and discussion of flood-routing methods and unsteady flow i n channels: U.S. Geol. Survey Water-Supply Paper 1690. Prepared i n cooperation with t h e S o i l Conservation Service.
6. Lawler, Edward A., 1964, Flood routing: Handbook of Applied e w York, McGraw-Hill Book Co. , secHydrology (v.T. Chow, ed. ) , N t i o n 25-11, pp. 34-59.
Summary of chapter contents The remainder of t h i s chapter i s divided i n t o four p - a r t s : elevationstorage and elevation-discharge r e l a t i o n s h i p s , r e s e r v o i r routing methods, channel routing methods, and unit-hydrograph routing methods. I n t h e first p a r t , some r e l a t i o n s h i p s used i n r e s e r v o i r o r channel routing a r e discussed and e x h i b i t s of t y p i c a l r e s u l t s a r e given; i n t h e second, t h e continuity equation i s discussed and methods of using it i n r e s e r v o i r routings a r e shown i n examples of t y p i c a l a p p l i c a t i o n s ; i n t h e t h i r d , t h e theory of t h e Convex method i s presented and examples of t y p i c a l applications i n channel routings a r e given; and i n t h e fourth, t h e u n i t hydrograph theory i s discussed and methods of applying it i n systems analysis a r e shown i n examples using systems of floodwater-retarding strictures
Elevation-Storaae and Elevation-Discharge Relationships
In t h e examples of r o u t i n g through r e s e r v o i r s and stream channels it w i l l be necessary t o use elevation-storage o r elevation-discharge curves ( o r both) i n making a routing o r as a preliminary t o routing. Preparation of such curves i s not emphasized i n t h e examples because t h e i r construction i s described i n other SCS publications. The r e l a t i o n s h i p s a r e b r i e f l y discussed here as preliminary material; e x h i b i t s of t a b l e s and curves used i n routings a r e given here and i n some of t h e examples. Conversion equations used i n preparing t h e t a b l e s and curves s r e given i n Table 17-1.
Elevation storage r e l a t i o n s h i p s f o r r e s e r v o i r s Table 17-2 i s a working t a b l e t h a t shows data and computed r e s u l t s f o r an elevation-storage r e l a t i o n s h i p t o be used i n some of t h e examples given l a t e r . Columus 1 and 7 o r 1 and 8 give t h e r e l a t i o n s h i p i n d i f f e r e n t u n i t s of storage. The r e l a t i o n s h i p i s developed from a contour map ( o r equivalent) of t h e r e s e r v o i r area and t h e t a b l e i s a record of t h e computations t h a t were made. Once t h e map i s a v a i l a b l e , t h e work goes as follows: ( 1 ) s e l e c t contours close enough t o define t h e topography with reasonable accuracy and t a b u l a t e t h e contour elevations i n column 1; ( 2 ) determine t h e
NEH ~ o i i c e 4-102, August 1972
r e s e r v o i r surface a r e a a t each elevation; f o r t h i s t a b l e t h e a r e a s were determined i n square f e e t as shown i n column 2 and converted t o acres as shown i n column 3; ( 3 ) compute average surface areas a s shown i n column 4; ( 4 ) t a b u l a t e t h e increments of depth i n column 5; ( 5 ) compute the increments of storage f o r column 6 by multiplying an average a r e a i n column 4 by i t s appropriate depth increment i n column 5; ( 6 ) accmul a t e t h e storage increments of column 6 t o get accumulated storage i n column 7 f o r each elevation of column 1; ( 7 ) convert storages of column 7 t o storages i n another u n i t , i f required, and show them i n t h e next column. The r e l a t i o n s h i p of data i n columns 1 and 8 i s p l o t t e d i n f i g u r e 17.1 as an elevation-storage curve.
Table 17-1. Equations for conversions of units

- ---
Conversion
Equation No.
where A
A,
AF L
q &
= drainage area in square miles = cross section end-area in square feet.for discharge x = kcre-feet = reach length in feet = discharge in acre-feet per day
= discharge in acre-feet per hour
qcfs = discharge in cfs
qid = discharge in inches per day qih = discharge in inches per hour
Sx SA
= reach storage in cfs-hours for
a given discharge x
= reach storage in acre-feet for a given discharge x
N&X
Notice 4-102, August 1972
17-6
Table 17-2. Elevation-storage relationship for a reservoir.
Elevat ion (feet)
Surface area (q.ft.1
Surface area (acres)
Average surface area (acres)
A
depth (feet)
A
storage
Storage
Storage (inches)
(AF)
(AF)
Elevation-dischar~e r e l a t i o n s h i p s f o r r e s e r v o i r s The elevation-discharge r e l a t i o n s h i p f o r a r e s e r v o i r i s made using elevations of t h e reservoir and discharges of t h e spillways t o be used i n a routing. A t y p i c a l r e l a t i o n s h i p f o r a 2-stage p r i n c i p a l spillway i s given by columns 1 and 6 of Table 17-3 f o r discharges i n c f s , and i n colThe procedure f o r developing umns 1 and 7 f o r discharges i n in./day. t h e r e l a t i o n s h i p w i l l not be given here because s u f f i c i e n t c h a r t s , equat i o n s , and examples f o r p r i n c i p a l spillways a r e given i n NM-5 and i n ES-150 through 153, and f o r emergency spillways i n ES-98 and ES-124. Table 17-3 i l l u s t r a t e s a useful way of keeping t h e work i n order: by t a b u l a t i n g t h e d a t a f o r d i f f e r e n t types of flow i n separate columns, and by keeping t h e two stages separate, t h e t o t a l discharges a r e more e a s i l y summed. Note t h a t t h e t o t a l s i n c f s a r e not merely sums of a l l c f s i n a row; t h e operation of t h e spillway must be understood when sel e c t i n g t h e discharges t o be included i n t h e sum. To combine t h e p r i n c i p a l spillway flow with emergency spillway flow a column f o r t h e emergency spillway discharges i s added between columns 5 and 6 , and t o t a l s i n column 6 must include those discharges where appropriate. Column 7 gives discharges converted from those i n column 6; it i s shown because t h i s t a b l e i s used i n examples given l a t e r and t h a t p a r t i c u l a r u n i t of flow i s required ( s e e Figure 17-1). Storage-discharge r e l a t i o n s h i p s f o r r e s e r v o i r s If rhe elevation-storage and elevation-discharge r e l a t i o n s h i p s a r e To be used f o r many routings it i s more convenient t o use them as a storagedischarge r e l a t i o n s h i p . The r e l a t i o n s h i p s a r e combined by p l o t t i n g a graph of storage and elevation, another of discharge and e l e v a t i o n , and, while r e f e r r i n g t o t h e f i r s t two graphs, making a t h i r d by p l o t t i n g storage f o r a selected elevation against discharge f o r t h a t elevation; f o r a t y p i c a l curve see Figure 17-2. The storage-discharge curve can a l s o be modified f o r ease of operations with a p a r t i c u l a r r o u t i n g method; f o r a t y p i c a l modification see Figure 17-6 and s t e p 4 of Example 17-4. Elevation, stage, storage, discharge r e l a t i o n s h i p s f o r streams It i s common p r a c t i c e t o divide a stream channel i n t o reaches ( s e e Chapt e r 6 ) and develop storage o r discharge r e l a t i o n s h i p s f o r i n d i v i d u a l reaches r a t h e r than t h e stream as a whole. A stream elevation- o r stagedischarge curve i s f o r a p a r t i c u l a r cross section. I f a reach has s e v e r a l cross s e c t i o n s within it they a r e a l l used i n developing t h e working t o o l s f o r routing. Some routing methods require t h e use of separate discharge curves f o r t h e head and f o o t of a reach; such methods a r e not presented i n t h i s chapter.
to
Elevation- o r stage-discharge curves f o r cross sections o r reaches a r e prepared a s shown i n Chapter 14. They w i l l not be discussed here. Elevation- or stage-storage curves f o r a reach can be prepared using t h e procedure for. r e s e r v o i r s but o r d i n a r i l y a modified approach i s used a n d t h e storage-discharge curve prepared d i r e c t l y . Table 17-4 i s a working t a b l e f o r developing such a curve. The work is based on t h e assumption t h a t steady flow occurs i n t h e reach a t all stages of flow.' The reach used i n Table 17-4 has four cross s e c t i o n s s o t h a t a weighting method
Table 17-3
Elevation-discharge r e l a t i o n s h i p f o r a 2-stage p r i n c i p a l spillway.
Elevation (feet)
F i r s t stage: Weir Orifice (cfs) (cfs)
Second stage: Weir Pipe (cfs) (cfs)
Total (cfs)
Total (in./day)
XEH Notice 4-102, August 1972
i s needed; with only one o r two sections t h e weighting i s eliminated but t h e reach storage i s l e s s well defined. Development of t h e storage-discharge curve goes a s follows: ( 1 ) s e l e c t a s e r i e s of discharges from zero t o a discharge g r e a t e r than any t o be routed and t a b u l a t e them i n column 1; ( 2 ) enter t h e stage-discharge curve f o r each cross s e c t i o n with a discharge from column 1 and f i n d t h e s t a g e ; ( 3 ) e n t e r t h e stage-end-area curve f o r t h a t s e c t i o n with t h e stage from s t e p 2 and f i n d t h e a r e a a t t h a t st&ge, t a b u l a t i n g areas f o r a l l sections as shown i n columns 2 , 3 , 4, and 5; ( 4 ) determine t h e distances between cross s e c t i o n s and compute t h e weights a s follows:
From cross section To cross section Distance (feet) Weight
with t h e weight f o r sub-reach 1-2 being 1000/10000 = 0.10, and so on; ( 5 ) compute weighted end areas f o r columns 6, 7, and 8; f o r example, a t a discharge of 3,500 c f s cross s e c t i o n 1 has an end area of 2,500 square f e e t and section 2 has 640 square f e e t , and t h e weighted end a r e a i s u m t h e weighted areas of 0.10(2500 + 640)/2 = 157 square f e e t ; ( 6 ) s columns 6, 7, and 8 f o r each discharge, t a b u l a t i n g t h e sums i n column 9 ; ( 7 ) compute storages i n column 10 by use of Equation 17-8 or 17-9, whichever i s required; f o r example, a t a discharge of 3,500 c f s t h e storage i n cfs-hrs i s s3500 = 10000(1189)/3600 = 3300 cfs-hrs, by a slide-rule computation. The storage-discharge curve i s p l o t t e d using data from columns 1 and 10. Data of those columns can be used i n preparing t h e working curve f o r routing. H o w t h i s i s done depends on t h e routing method t o be used. For t h e Storage-Indication method t h e working curve i s prepared as shown i n Example 17-4.
Table Outflow (cfs)
17-4
Working t a b l e f o r a storage-discharge r e l a t i o n s h i p Wei~htedend-areas
Cross s e c t i o n end-areas 1 (sq.ft)

2 3
Avg
4
(sq.ft)
1-2
2-3
3-4
(sq.ft)
(sq.ft)
(sq.ft)
(sq.ft)
(sq.ft)
endareas ( s q . f t ) (cfs-hrs)
Storage
Reservoir Routing Methods Reservoirs have t h e c h a r a c t e r i s t i c t h a t t h e i r storage i s closely rel a t e d t o t h e i r outflow r a t e . I n reservoir routing methods t h e storagedischarge r e l a t i o n i s used f o r repeatedly solving t h e continuity equation, each s o l u t i o n b e i ~ g a s t e p i n delineating t h e outflow hydrograph. A r e s e r v o i r method i s s u i t e d f o r channel routings i f t h e channel has t h e r e s e r v o i r c h a r a c t e r i s t i c . Suitable channels are those w i t h swamps o r other f l a t areas i n t h e routing reach and with a c o n s t r i c t i o n o r s i m i l a r c o n t r o l a t t h e foot of t h e reach. There i s an exception t o t h i s : a r e s e r v o i r method i s a l s o s u i t a b l e f o r routing through any stream reach i f t h e inflow hydrograph r i s e s and f a l l s so slowly t h a t nearly steady flow occurs and makes storage i n t h e reach closely r e l a t e d t o t h e outflow r a t e . Examples i n t h i s p a r t show t h e use of r e s e r v o i r methods f o r both r e s e r v o i r s and stream channels. 'I'ne Continuity Equation The continuity equation used i n r e s e r v o i r routing methods i s concerned with conservation of mass: For a given time i n t e r v a l , t h e volume of inflow minus t h e volume of outflow equals t h e change i n volume of storage. The equation i s o f t e n w r i t t e n i n t h e simple form:
~t (7
where
-O)
= AS
(EQ. 17-10)
I
0
A t = a time i n t e r v a l
= average r a t e of inflow during t h e time i n t e r v a l = average r a t e of outflow during t h e time i n t e r v a l
A S = change i n volume of storage during t h e time i n t e r v a l I n most applications of t h e continuity equation t h e flow and storage v a r i a b l e s a r e expanded as follows:
so t h a t Equation 17-10 becomes:
where
A t = t2 - tl = time i n t e r v a l ; tl ts t h e time a t t h e beginning of t h e i n t e r v a l and t2 t h e tlme a t t h e end of t h e i n t e r v a l

Il = inflow r a t e a t t l I 2 = inflow r a t e a t t 2 01 = outflow r a t e a t t l
02 = outflow r a t e a t t 2 S 1 = storage volume a t tl S2 = storage volume a t t 2 When routing with Equation 17-10 t h e usual objective i s t o f i n d 5, with Equation 17-11 f i n d 02; t h i s means t h a t t h e equations must be rearranged i n some more convenient working form. It i s a l s o necessary t o use t h e r e l a t i o n s h i p of outflow t o storage i n m+king a solution. Most r e s e r v o i r routing methods now i n use d i f f e r only i n t h e i r arrangement of t h e routing equation and i n t h e i r form of t h e storage-outflow r e l a t i o n s h i p .
It i s necessary t o use consistent u n i t s with any routing equation. commonly used s e t s of u n i t s are:
Time Hours days days hours days Rates Inflow Outflow cfs cfs AF'/day i n . /hr i n . /day cfs cfs M/dw i n . /hr i n . /day Inflow cfs-hrs cfs-days AF inches inches Volumes Outflow cfs-hrs cfs-days
AF'
Some
Storage cf s-hrs cfs-days
AF
inches inches
inches inches
Methods and Examples T w o methods of r e s e r v o i r routing based on t h e continuity equation a r e presented i n t h i s section, a mass-curve method and t h e Storage-Indication method. The mass-curve nethod i s given because it i s one of t h e most v e r s a t i l e of a l l r e s e r v o i r methods. It can be applied numerically or graphically; examples of both versions a r e given. The Storage-Indication method i s given because it i s t h e method used a t t h e present time i n t h e SCS e l e c t r o n i c computer program f o r watershed evaluations and because it i s a widely used method f o r both r e s e r v o i r and channel routings. Examples of r e s e r v o i r and channel routing a r e given. Mass-Curve Method: Numerical Version - According t o item 52 i n reference 5 , a mass-curve method of routing through r e s e r v o i r s was already i n use i n 1883. Many o t h e r mass-curve methods have s i n c e been developed. The method described here i s similar t o a method given i n King's "Handbook of Hydraulics," 3rd e d i t i o n , 1939, pages 522-527; another resembling it i s given i n "Design of Small Dams," U. S. Bureau of Reclamation, 1960, pages 250-252. The method requires the use of elevation-storage and elevation-discharge r e l a t i o n s h i p s e i t h e r separately or i n combination. The i n p u t i s t h e mass ( o r accumulated) inflow; t h e output i s t h e mass outflow, outflow hydrograph, and reservoir storage. The routing operation i s a trial-ande r r o r process when performed numerically, but it i s simple and e a s i l y done. Each operation i s a s o l u t i o n of Equation 17-10 r e w r i t t e n i n t h e form:
MI2
( M O 1 + ' i ; ; a t ) = S2
where
MI2 = mass inflow a t time 2 M01 = mass outflow a t time 1
0
At
= average discharge during t h e routing i n t e r v a l = routing i n t e r v a l = time 2 minus time 1
S2 = storage a t time 2 The routing i n t e r v a l can be e i t h e r v a r i a b l e or constant. Usually it i s more convenient t o use a variable i n t e r v a l , making it small f o r a l a r g e S M C of Chapter change i n mass inflow and l a r g e f o r a s m a l l change. The P 21 a r e tabulated i n i n t e r v a l s e s p e c i a l l y s u i t e d f o r t h i s method of routing. The following example shows t h e a p p l i c a t i o n of t h e method i n determining minimum required storage f o r a floodwater-retarding s t r u c t u r e by use of a P S M C from Chapter 21. Example 17-1.--Determine t h e minimum required storage, by SCS f o r a floodwater-retarding s t r u c t u r e having t h e drainage a r e a Example 21-2 of Chapter 21. Use t h e data and r e s u l t s of t h a t f o r t h i s s t r u c t u r e . Work with volumes i n inches and r a t e s i n day; round off a l l r e s u l t s t o t h e nearest 0.01 inch. criteria, use i n example inches per
1. Develop an elevation-discharge curve f o r t h e s t r u c t u r e . A curve f o r t h e p r i n c i p a l spillway discharges i s needed f o r t h i s routing. Columns 1 and 7 of Table 17-3 w i l l be used f o r t h i s s t r u c t u r e . The elevation-discharge curve i s p l o t t e d i n Figure 17-1.
2. Develop an elevation-storage curve f o r t h e s t r u c t u r e . Columns 1 and 8 of Table 17-2 w i l l be used f o r t h i s s t r u c t u r e . elevation-storage curve i s p l o t t e d i n Figure 17-1.
The
(Note: The curves of s t e p s 1 and 2 can be combined i n t o a storagedischarge curve as shown by t h e i n s e t of Figure 17-2. This curve i s a time-saver i f more than one routing i s made.)
3. Develop and p l o t t h e curve of mass inflow (PSMC). The PSMC developed i n Example 21-2, and given by columns 1 and 7 of Table 21-7, w i l i be used f i r t h i s example. he- p l o t t e d mass inflow i s shown i n Figure 17-2. The p l o t t i n g i s used as a guide i n t h e routing and l a t e r used t o show t h e r e s u l t s but it i s not e s s e n t i a l t o t h e method. 4. Prepare an operations t a b l e f o r t h e routing. Suitable headings and arrangement f o r an operations t a b l e a r e shown i n Table 17-5.
5. Determine t h e r e s e r v o i r storage f o r t h e s t a r t of t h e routing. If t h e routing i s t o begin with some storage already occupied then e i t h e r t h e amount i n storage i s entered i n t h e f i r s t l i n e o r column 5 of t h e operations t a b l e ( a s done i n Example 17-2) or t h e elevationstorage curve i s modified t o give a zero storage f o r t h e f i r s t l i n e . I n t h i s example t h e sediment o r dead s t o r a g e , which i s n o t t o be used i n t h e r o u t i n g , occupies t h e r e s e r v o i r t o elevation 580.2 f e e t as shown i n Figure 17-1. Storage a t t h a t elevation i s 1.00 inches and because t h i s i s a whole s c a l e u n i t t h e storage curve f o r routing i s e a s i l y obtained by s h i f t i n g t h e point of o r i g i n as shown i n Figure 17-1. Ordinarily, if t h e Sediment o r dead storage i s some f r a c t i o n a l quantity it i s b e t t e r t o re-plot t h e curve t o show zero storage a t t h e elevation where t h e routing begins. Determine t h e spillway discharge a t t h e start of the routing. If t h e spillway i s flowing a t t h e s t a r t of t h e routing t h e discharge r a t e i s entered i n t h e f i r s t l i n e of column 7 of able 17-5 (see Example 17-2). For t h i s example t h e s t a r t i n g r a t e i s zero. 7. D o t h e routinq. procedure goes a s follows: a. Select a time and t a b u l a t e it i n column 1, Table 17-5. For This example t h e times used w i l l be those given f o r t h e P S M C i n Table 21-7, except f o r occasional omissions unimportant f o r t h i s routing. b. - Compute A t and e n t e r t h e r e s u l t i n column 2. c. Tabulate i n column 3 t h e mass inflow f o r t h e t i m e i n column 1. The e n t r i e s f o r t h i s example come from'column 7 of Table 21-7. Assume a m a s s outflow amount and e n t e r , it i n column 4.
6.
The trial-and-error
d. -
e. Compute t h e r e s e r v o i r storage, which i s t h e inflow of column 3 minus t h e outflow of column 4, and e n t e r it i n col-
umn 5.
f. -
Determine t h e instantaneous discharge r a t e of t h e spillway. Using t h e elevation-storage curve of Figure 17-1, f i n d the e l e vation f o r t h e storage of column 5 ; with t h a t e l e v a t i o n e n t e r t h e elevation-discharge curve and f i n d t h e discharge, tabulating it i n column 6. I f a storage-discharge curve i s being used, simply e n t e r t h e curve with t h e storage and f i n d t h e corresponding discharge. The average i s always t h e arithmetic mean o f t h e r a t e determined i n s t e p f and t h e r a t e f o r t h e previous time. For t h e time 0.5 days t h e r a t e i n column 6 i s 0.03 i n . /day; f o r t h e previous time t h e r a t e i s zero; t h e average r a t e i s ( 0 + 0.03)/2 = 0.015, which
g. Compute t h e average discharge f o r A t .
NEH n o t i c e 4-102, August 1972
Table 17-5.
Operations table for the mass-curve method of routing for Example 17-1.
Spillway Acc. Assumed Res. discharne Outflow Acc Acc . At inflow acc. volume Inst. A m. for At outflow outflow (days) (days) (in.) (in.) (in.) (in./dsy)(in./day)(in.) (in.)
Time
(1)
0
.5
1.0 2.0
3.0
3.5 4.0
4.4
4.8
5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4
5.6
6.0
6.5 7.0 8 . 0
etc. etc.
etc.
etc.
etc.
etc.
etc.
etc.
etc.
Mass outflow is plotted using entries in column 4 or column 9. The outflow hydrograph is plotted using column 6, which gives instantaneous . rates at the accumulated times shown in column 1
NEH Notice 4-102, A~gUst1972
i s rounded t o 0.02 in./day. For t h e time 1.0 days t h e average i s (0.03 + 0.08)/2 = 0.055, which i s rounded t o 0.06 in./day; and so on.
h. Compute the outflow f o r A t . by t h e average r a t e of column flow f o r column 8. Multiply the A t of column 2
7 and get t h e increment of out-
i. Add t h e outflow increment of column 8 t o t h e t o t a l of column 9 f o r t h e previous time and t a b u l a t e t h e sum i n column 9.
. j . Compare t h e mass outflow of column 9 with t h e assumed mass
outflow of column 4 . I f t h e two e n t r i e s agree within t h e spec i f i e d degree of accuracy (0.01 inch, i n t h i s r o u t i n g ) t h e n t h i s routing operation i s complete and a new one i s begun with s t e p 5. If the two e n t r i e s do not agree well enough then assume another mass outflow f o r column 4 and repeat s t e p s 2 through ;L.
8 . Determine t h e minimum required s t o r w e . Examine t h e e n t r i e s i n column 5 and f i n d t h e l a r g e s t e n t r y , which i s

2.82 inches a t 5.3 days. This i s t h e minimum required storage. The routing gives t h e reservoir storages i n column 5, outflow hydrograph i n column 6, and mass outflow i n column 9, f o r t h e times of column 1. Unless t h e r e s u l t s a r e t o be used i n a r e p o r t o r e x h i b i t , t h e routing i s usually c a r r i e d only f a r enough p a s t t h e time of maximum storage t o ensure t h a t no l a r g e r storage w i l l occur. The mass inflow and outflow f o r t h i s example a r e p l o t t e d i n Figure 17-2, with outflow shown only t o 8.0 days. If t h e mass outflow p l o t t i n g i s made during t h e routing t h e trend of t h e curve i n d i c a t e s t h e b e s t assumption f o r t h e next s t e p i n column 4. The next example shows how t h e routing proceeds when it must s t a r t w i t h t h e r e s e r v o i r containing l i v e storage and t h e spillway discharging. Example 17-2.--For t h e same r e s e r v o i r used i n Example 17-1, determine t h e e l e v a t i o n and amount of storage remaining i n t h e r e s e r v o i r a f t e r 10 days of drawdown from the minimum l e v e l allowed by SCS c r i t e r i a . The base flow used i n developing t h e P S M C ( s e e Example 21-2) i s assumed t o continue a t t h e same r a t e throughout the routing. Round a l l work t o the nearest 0.01 inch.
1. Determine t h e storage volume i n t h e r e s e r v o i r and t h e spillway discharge f o r t h e s t a r t of t h e routing. SCS c r i t e r i a s e r m i t t h e drawdown r o u t i n a t o start with storage at t h e maximum eievation a t t a i n e d i n t h e r o u t i n g of t h e PSH o r PSMC used i n determining t h e minimum required storage, even though t h e s t r u c t u r e may be designed t o contain more than t h e minimum storage. For t h i s example t h e s t a r t i n g storage of 2.82 inches i s found i n column 5 , and t h e associated discharge of 1.69 in./day i n column 6, of Table 17-5 i n t h e l i n e f o r 5.3 days.
REH Notice 4-102, August 1972
2. Prepare an operations t a b l e f o r t h e routing. Ordinarily t h e s u i t a b l e headings and arrangement a r e those of Table 17-5, but- i f base flow, snowmeit, or upstream r e l e a s e s must be included (base flow i n t h i s routing) then one o r more a d d i t i o n a l columns a r e needed. Table 17-6 shows headings and arrangement s u i t able f o r t h i s example.
3. D o t h e routing. The procedure of s t e p 7, Example 17-1, i s s l i g h t l y modified f o r t h i s routing. The f i r s t l i n e of d a t a i n t h e operations t a b l e must cont a i n t h e i n i t i a l reservoir volume i n column 4 and t h e i n i t i a 1 , s p i l l way discharge i n column 7. Accumulated base flow i s added t o t h e i n i t i a l value of column 4 t o give t h e "accumulat;d inflow" of t h a t column. In a l l other respects t h e routing procedure i s t h a t of s t e p 7, Example 17-1.
4. Determine t h e s t o r w e remaining a f t e r 10 days of drawdown. The entry i n column 6 a t day 10 shows t h a t t h e remaining storage i s 0.20 inches, which i s a t elevation 581.1 f e e t .
The routing f o r t h i s example has been c a r r i e d t o 1 4 days t o show t h a t when t h e inflow r a t e i s steady, as it i s i n t h i s case (0.045 i n . / d a y ) , then t h e outflow r a t e eventually a l s o becomes steady a t t h e same r a t e . The l a r g e r t h e steady r a t e of inflow t h e sooner t h e outflow becomes steady. Note t h a t if the routing had been done with an accuracy t o t h e nearest 0.001 inch, t h e outflow r a t e would be 0.045 i n . / d q , t h e base flow r a t e . The mass inflow, storage, and mass outflow curves f o r t h i s example a r e shown i n Figure 17-3. Note t h a t t h e work i s accurate t o t h e nearest 0.01 inch, therefore the curves must follow the p l o t t e d points within t h a t l i m i t . S l i g h t i r r e g u l a r i t i e s i n the smooth curves a r e due t o slope changes i n the storage-discharge curve. Mass-Curve Method: Direct Version.- It is easy enough t o eliminate t h e trial-and-error process of t h e mass-curve method but t h e r e s u l t i n g " d i r e c t version" i s much more laborious than t h e trial-and-error version. To get a d i r e c t version t h e working equation i s obtained from Equation 17-12 a s follows.
The average discharge 5 i n Equation 17-12 la (01 + 02)/2 so t h a t t h e equation can be w r i t t e n :
Because O2 as well as S2 i s unknown it i s necessary t o make combinations of S and 0 t o get d i r e c t solutions i n t h e routing operation. A t any time, mass outflow i s equal t o mass inflow minus storage, or:
Table 17-6
Operations table f o r determining storage after 1 0 days of drawdown for Ekample 17-2.
As-
Time kc. At
(days) (days)
Acc. Acc. base inflow* flow (in.) (in.) (3) 0

.01
sumed Res.
for acc. voloutflow me At ( i n . ) (in;) (in./dqr) ( i n . / d w ) ( i n . )
Spillvray discharge Inst. Avg.
Out-
flow
Acc. outflow
(in.)
(4)
1.69 1.66 1.35 .87 .98 .66 .60 .53 .37 .38 .27 .29 .24 .23 .20 -17 .I5 .12 .O9 07 .08 -07 .07 -06 .05 .04 05 05 etc.
0
2.82 2.83 .02 2.84 -03 2.85 ,04 .07 .o9 ;ll .14 .16 .18 .20 ;22 .27 .32 -36 -40 .45 .50 .54 .58 2.86 2.89 2.91 2.93 2.96 2.98 3.00 3.02 3.04 3.09 3.14 3.18 3.22 3.27 3.32 3.36 3.40 1.50 1.39 1.80 L . l l 2.03 .go 2.01 .92 2.23 .73 2.19 .77 .68 3.30 2.32 .66 2.42 .58 2.52 .5O 2-59 .45 .36 2.73 2.85 .29 2.94 .24 2.93 .25 3.00 .22 .20 3.07 3.13 -19 3.19 -17 3.25 .l5 3.24 .16 .16 3.29 etc. etc.
1.67 1.50
1.n
1.16 .82 .63 .56 .45 .46 .32 .34 .26 .26 -22 .18 .16 .14
.10
0.33 .3O .22 .23 .33 .32 .28 .22 .23 .16 -17 .I3 .I3
. 1 1
14.0 etc.
1.0
etc.
.63 3.45 e t c etc.
.08 .08 .08 .07 .06 .06 .04 .05 .O5 etc.
.09. .08 .14 .10 .08 .08 .08 .07 .06 .06 .04 -05 .O5
etc.
.33 .63 .85 .86 1.19 1.51 1.79 2.01 2.02 2.18 2.19 2.32 2.32 2.43 2.52 2.60 2.74 2.84 2.92 2.92 3.00 3.07 3.13 3.19 3.23 3.24 3.29 etc.
A t a r a t e of 0.045 inches per day.
NELI Notice 4-102, August 1972
Substituting MI1
- S1 for MOl in Equation 17-13 and rearranging gives: At At (Eq. 17-15) M I 2 - MI1 + (sl - - ol) = S2 " - 02 2 2
which is the working equation for the direct version. Working curves of 01 and (Sl - (At 01)/2) and of 02 and (S2 + (At 02)/2) are needed for routing
Other arrangements of working equations can also be obtained from Equation 17-12. Equation 17-15 is the mass-curve version of the StorageIndication method, which is described later in this part. Routing by use of Equation 17-15 takes about twice as much work as routing by the Storage-Indication method. . o t given in Examples of direct versions of the mass-curve method are n this chapter because the trial-and-error version is more efficient in every respect. Mass-Curve Method: Graphical Version.- The graphical version of the mass-curve method is in a sense a direct version because there is no trial-and-error involved. The graphical version is usually faster than the trial-and-error version if the routing job is simple. For complex jobs the trial-and-error version is more efficient and its results more easily reviewed. For any routing it gives mass outflow, storage, and the outflow hydrograph; the graphical version gives only the mass outflow and storage. The following example shows the use of the graphical version with the data and problem of Example 17-1. Example 17-3.--Use the graphical version of the mass-curve method to determine the minimum required storage for the structure used in Example 17-1. Use the data of that example.
1 . Develop an elevation-discharge curve for the structure. The curve used in Example 17-1 will be used here.
2 . Develop an elevation-storwe curve for the structure. 7 1 will be used here. The curve used in Example 1
3. Prepare a working table for the routing. Using the curves of steps 1 and 2, select enough discharges on the discharge curve to define the curve accurately and tabulate them in column 2, Table 17-7. Tabulate the associated elevations in column 1 and storages at those elevations in column 4. Compute average discharges from column 2 for column 3 . The designations in column 5 show which line is associated with each pair of storages shown on Figure 17-4. Thus, line A applies when the storage is between 0 and 0.18 inches; line B when it is between 0 . 1 8 and 0.40 inches; and so on. 4. Plot the mass inflow. The PSMC used in Example 17-1 is used here. It is plotted in Figure
IiEH Botice 4-102, August 1972
5. D o t h e routing. The work i s done on t h e graph of mass inflow, Figure 17-4. Table 17-7 i s used during t h e work. The procedure goes a s follows:
a. Draw l i n e A with i t s o r i g i n a t t h e beginning of mass inflow and with i t s slope equal t o t h e associated average discharge (column 3 of Table 17-7), which i s 0.025 in./day. This i s t h e f i r s t portion of t h e mass outflow curve.
(Note: Every p a r t of t h e l i n e of mass outflow must f a l l on o r below t h e mass inflow curve. If some p a r t i s above t h e inflow, determine t h e slope and storage l i m i t s f o r a l i n e with a f l a t t e r slope and use it i n s t e a d . ) b. Determine t h e time a t which t h e difference between mass inflow and l i n e A i s equal t o t h e l a r g e r of t h e storage l i m i t s f o r l i n e A, i n t h i s case 0.18 inches, which occurs a t 0.65 days. This i s t h e p o i n t of o r i g i n f o r l i n e B. found i n s t e p
c. Draw l i n e B with i t s o r i g i n a t t h e point and with a slope of 0.09 in./day. d. -
Determine t h e time a t which t h e difference between mass inflow and l i n e B i s equal t o t h e l a r g e r of t h e storage limits f o r l i n e B, i n t h i s case 0.40 inches, which occui-s a t 1.50 days. This i s t h e point of o r i g i n f o r l i n e C.
Repeat t h e procedure of s t e p s 5 and d with l i n e s C, I ) , E, e t c . , u n t i l t h e storage being used i s s o l a r g e it exceeds t h e possible difference between mass inflow and mass outflow. For t h i s example t h i s occurs with l i n e H. The p a r a l l e l l i n e above it shows t h a t t h e associated storage of 3.44 inches f a l l s above t h e mass inflow l i n e . When t h i s s t e p i s reached t h e required storage i s obtained by t a k i n g t h e maximum difference between l i n e H and the mass inflow curve. The difference occurs a t t h e point on t h e mass inflow curve where a l i n e p a r a l l e l t o l i n e H i s tangent t o t h e inflow curve. For t h i s example it i s 2.80 inches a t 5.33 days. This s t e p completes t h e routing. The graphical method can a l s o be used f o r routings s t a r t i n g with some storage occupied and with t h e spillway discharging. For t h e problem used i n Example 17-2 t h e graphical method s t a r t s with l i n e H and continues with l i n e s G, F, E, D , C, B, and A i n t h a t order. The r e s u l t s a r e shown i n Figure 17-5. The storage a f t e r 10 days of drawdown i s 0.18 inches, which i s nearly t h e same as found i n Example 17-2. Differences between r e s u l t s of t h e two methods a r e due mainly t o t h e use of s m a l l s c a l e graphs f o r working curves; l a r g e r s c a l e s increase t h e accuracy. Note t h a t l i n e A i'n Figure 17-5 i s f l a t t e r %ban t h e l i n e of accumulated base flow. This i n d i c a t e s t h a t t h e flow becomes steady a t o r near 10 days and t h a t t h e dashed l i n e ( p a r a l l e l t o mass inflow) i s t h e a c t u a l outflow.
e. -
NEB Notice 4-102, August 1972
Table 17-7
Working t a b l e f o r t h e graphical version of t h e mass-curve method f o r Example 17-3. Spillway discharge Inst. Avg
Elevation
(feet )
(1)
Storage (inches ) (4) 0
Designation on F i g . 17-4
(in./day) (in./day) (2)

0
(3) 0.025
(5) line A
580.2 581.0 582.0 583.5 584.6 587.0 587.8 588.4 591.0 592.5
.05 .13 .33 52 .61 70 .95 1.20 1.64 1.69 1.74 1.77 1.80 1.42 .09 .23 .42
.18 .40 .80 1.09 line E 1.86 line F 2.16 2.38 line H 3.44 line I 4.15 line
G
line B line C line D
NEH Notice 4-102, A m s t 1972
Storage-Indication Method.- Reservoir routing methods t h a t a r e a l s o used f o r stream routings a r e generally discharge, not mass, methods because it i s usually only t h e discharge hydrograph t h a t i s wanted. The StorageIndication method, which has been widely used f o r channel and r e s e r v o i r routings, has discharge r a t e s as input and output. The method was given i n t h e 1955 e d i t i o n of NEH-4, Supplement A. Example 17-4, below i s t h e same example used i n t h a t publication except f o r minor changes. The Storage-Indication method uses Equation 17-11 %n t h e form:
where 7 = (I1 + 1 2 ) / 2 . The values of a r e e i t h e r taken from midpoints of routing i n t e r v a l s of p l o t t e d inflow hydrographs o r computed from inflows tabulated a t regular i n t e r v a l s . A working curve of 02 p l o t t e d against (s2/At) + (02/2) i s necessary f o r solving t h e equation. I n channel routing t h e Storage-Indication method has t h e defect t h a t outflow begins a t the same time inflow begins so t h a t presumably t h e inflow a t t h e head of t h e reach passes instantaneously through t h e reach regardless of i t s length. This defect i s not serious i f t h e r a t i o T t / T p i s about 1 / 2 or l e s s , where Tp i s t h e inflow hydrograph time t o peak and T t i s a t r a v e l time defined as:
where
Tt =
reach t r a v e l time i n hours; t h e time it t a k e s a s e l e c t e d steady-flow discharge t o pass through t h e reach reach length i n f e e t average end-area f o r discharge q i n square f e e t s e l e c t e d steady-flow discharge i s c f s q/A = average v e l o c i t y of discharge q i n f p s
L
A q
= = = =
I n determining T t the discharge q i s usually t h e bank-full discharge under steady flow conditions ( s e e Chapter 1 5 ) . Another defect of t h e Storage-Indication method, f o r both channel and r e s e r v o i r r o u t i n g , i s t h a t t h e r e i s no r u l e f o r s e l e c t i n g t h e proper s i z e of routing i n t e r v a l . T r i a l routings show t h a t negative outflows w i l l occur during recession periods of outflow whenever A t i s g r e a t e r than 2 S2/02 ( o r whenever 02/2 i s g r e a t e r than S2/At). This a l s o means t h a t r i s i n g portion's of hydrographs a r e being d i s t o r t e d . I n p r a c t i c e , t o avoid t h e s e p o s s i b i l i t i e s , t h e working curve can be p l o t t e d a s shown i n Figure 17-6; i f any p a r t of t h e working curve falls above t h e l i n e of equal values then t h e e n t i r e curve should be discarded and a new one made using a smaller value of A t . For channel routing t h e p o s s i b i l i t y of negative outflows i s usually excluded by t a k i n g A t l e s s than Tt. Notice 4-102, A u g u s t 1972
The following example shows t h e use of t h e Storage-Indication method i n channel routing. The example i s t h e one used i n t h e 1955 e d i t i o n of NEE-4, Supplement A, with some minor changes. Example 17-4.--Use t h e Storage-Tndication method of r e s e r v o i r routing t o route the inflow hydrograph of Figure 17-7 through the stream reach of Table 17-4.
1. Prepare the storage-discharge r e l a t i o n s h i p f o r t h e reach.
This i s done i n Table 17-4 and t h e t e x t accompanying it.

2. Determine t h e reach t r a v e l time. This i s done using Equation 17-17. Table 17-4 and t h e accompanying t e x t supply t h e following data: L = 10,000 f e e t and f o r a bankf u l l discharge of 800 c f s as q t h e end-area A = 234 square f e e t . = 0.813 hours. Then by Equation 17-17, T t = 10000(23~)/3600(800)
3. Select the routing i n t e r v a l . The routing i n t e r v a l f o r t h i s example w i l l be 0.5 hours, which i s l e s s than t h e t r a v e l time of s t e p 2 and which i s a convenient s i z e f o r t h e given inflow hydrograph. (See t h e discussion i n t h e t e x t accompanying Equation 17-30 f o r f u r t h e r information on t h e select i o n of reach routing i n t e r v a l s . )
4. Prepare the working curve. Use the storage-discharge r e l a t i o n s h i p of s t e p 1, which i s given i n columns 1 and-10 of able 17-4. 'Fnese two coiumk a r e reproduced as columns 1 and 3 of Table 17-8, t h e working t a b l e ; columns 2, 4 , and 5 of t h e t a b l e a r e self-explanatory. The working curve i s p l o t t e d using columns 1 and 5. The f i n i s h e d curve i s shown i n Figure 17-6.
5. Prepare t h e operations t a b l e . Suitable headings and arrangement f o r an operations t a b l e a r e shown i n Table 17-9.
6. Enter times and inflows i n t h e operations t a b l e . Accumulated time i n s t e p sof t h e routing i n t e r v a l is shown i n column 1 of Table 17-9.- I values read From midintervals on t h e inflow hydrograph of Figure 17-7 a r e shown i n column 2.
7. D o t h e routing. The procedure i s shown i n Table 17-10. The routing r e s u l t s a r e shown i n columns 3 and 4 of Table 17-9. The outflow hydrograph given i n column 4 i s p l o t t e d i n Figure 17-7. I n routing through channels it i s generally necessary t o add l o c a l inflow t o t h e routed outflow. The method of doing t h i s i s described l a t e r i n t h e p a r t on channel routing methods.
NEEf Notice 4-102, August 1972
The Storage-Indication procedure f o r t h a t f o r channel routing except t h a t t r a v e l time. The following example problem and data of Example'l7-1 a r e of procedures and r e s u l t s .
r e s e r v o i r routing i s i d e n t i c a l with t h e r e i s no need t o determine a shows t h e r e s e r v o i r procedure. The used i n order t o a l l o w a comparison
&ample 17-5.--Use t h e Storage-Indication method t o determine t h e minimum required storage f o r t h e s t r u c t u r e used i n Example 17-1. Use t h e d a t a of t h a t example where applicable. Make t h e routing with discharges i n cfs.
1. Develop an elevation-discharge curve f o r t h e s t r u c t u r e . The curve used i n Example 17-1 w i l l be used here. That curve i s f o r discharges i n i n . / h r . Ordinarily when c f s a r e t o be used t h e curve i s developed i n t h a t u n i t . The conversion t o c f s w i l l be made i n s t e p 5. 2. Develop an elevation-storage curve f o r t h e structure. The curve used i n Example 17-1 w i l l be used here. That curve i s f o r storage i n inches. The conversion t o cfs-days w i l l be made i n step 5.
3. Develop and p l o t t h e inflow hydrograph. Because of t h e type of problem t h e inflow hydrograph must be a Princ i p a l -Sj?illway Hydrograph (PSH) taken from Chapter-21. The PSH corresponding t o t h e P S M C of Example 17-1 i s given i n columns 1 m d 4 of Table 21-7. The PSH i s p l o t t e d i n Figure 17-8.
Select t h e rout in^ i n t e r v a l . Examination of t h e PSH i n F i m r e 17-8 shows t h a t two routing i n t e r v a l s w i l l be needed, one of 6.5 days f o r small changes i n r&es and one of 0.1 days f o r l a r g e changes.
4 .
5. Prepare t h e working curves.. Data and computations f o r t h e working curves a r e shown i n Table 17-11. T w o curves a r e needed because two routing i n t e r v a l s w i l l be The e l e v a t i o n s of column 1 and discharges of column 2 a r e used. taken from t h e curve of s t e p 1with t h e discharges being converted from i n . / h r . t o c f s i n t h e process. The discharges a r e s e l e c t e d so t h a t they adequately define t h e elevation-dischaxge relationship. Column 3 of Table 17-11 gives the corresponding storages from t h e curve of s t e p 2 , converted from inches t o cfs-hrs during t h e tabulat i o n . The remaining columns contain self-explanatory computations. Columns 2 and 6 give t h e f i r s t working curve and columns 2 and 8 t h e second; they a r e p l o t t e d i n Figure 17-9. Note t h a t " l i n e s of equal values" i f drawn would be w e l l above t h e working curves, therefore t h e routing i n t e r v a l s a r e adequately small. Also note t h a t t h e second curve i s shown only f o r t h e higher discharges i n order t o use a l a r g e r s c a l e ; o r d i n a r i l y t h e e n t i r e curve i s plotted.
NM Notice 4-102, AugUSt 1972
Table 17-8
Working t a b l e f o r preparation of t h e working curve f o r Example 17-4.
Table 17-9 Operations table for the S-I method for

Example
17-4.
Time
(2)
0
(3)
0
(4)
0
. 5
1 . 0
1.5 2.0 2.5 3 . 0 3.5 4.0 4.5 5.0 5.5
6 . 0
6.5
0 625" 1875 3125 4375 4615 3865 3125 2375 1635 900 265 O*"
0
7.0
7.5 8 . 0
etc.
0
0
0 etc.
625 2215 4310 6805 8540 8795 8210 7135 5720 4180 2635 1425 795 420 260 178
etc.
285 1030
1 8 8 0
2880 3610 3710 3450 3050 2440

1 8 1 0
1210 630 375 160 82 53

etc.
* 625 cfs
is the average discharge for the time from 0 to
0.5 hours, 1875 cfs the average discharge from 0.5 to 1.0
hours, and so on.
** Inflow ceases
at 5.33 hours.
Table 17-10
Procedure f o r routing by t h e Storage-Indication method f o r Example 17-4.
Remarks
Given Given
o
285
-o -
+ 625 = 625
From Figure 17-6 Given 625 285 + 1875 = 2215
1030
From Figure 17-6 Given 2215
1030 + 3125 = 4310
1880
From Figure 17-6

Given 4310
- 1880 + 4375 = 6805
2880 etc. etc. etc. etc.
From Figure 17-6 etc.
Prepare t h e operations t a b l e . Suitable headings and arrangement a r e shown i n Table 17-12. Note t h a t t h e r e i s a column f o r i n s t g t a n e o u s r a t e s of inflow. These r a t e s w i l l be used f o r g e t t i n g I values because it i s d i f f i c u l t t o s e l e c t I values accurately enough from some portions of t h e p l o t t e d hydrograph. 7. Tabulate times and r a t e s of inflow and compute 7 values. Accumulated times a r e shown i n column 1 of Table 17-12 a t i n t e r v a l s of A t = 0.5 days f o r t h e i n i t i a l slow-rising portion of t h e PSH, a t A t = 0 . 1 days f o r t h e f a s t - r i s i n g and - f a l l i n g portion, and again a t A t = 0 . 5 days f o r t h e slow recession. Instantaneous r a t e s of inflow f o r those times a r e taken from t h e PSH of Figure 17-8 ( o r from column 4 of Table 21-7 i f they are f o r t h e s e l e c t e d times) and shown i n column 2. The I values of column 3 a r e arithmetic averages of e n t r i e s i n column 2. 8. Do t h e routin@;. The procedure i s t h e same a s t h a t given i n Table 17-10 except when a change i s made from one working curve t o another. The changes a r e made a s follows. A t time 4.5 days t h e routing i n t e r v a l changes, therefore, t h e working curve must be changed. The outflow r a t e a t t h a t time i s 116 cfs. Entering t h e second working curve with t h i s r a t e gives 2,640 c f s as t h e value of (s2/At) + (0212) i n column 4 f o r t h e same time. Once t h i s value i s entered t h e routing continues with use of t h e second working curve. A t time 6.0 days t h e routing i n t e r v a l chknges back t o t h e first one and t h e r e f o r e t h e first working curve must again be used. The outflow r a t e a t t h a t time i s 357 c f s . Entering t h e f i r s t working curve with t h i s r a t e gives 1,270 c f s as t h e value of (s2/At) + (02/2) i n column 4 f o r t h a t time. After e n t e r i n g t h i s value t h e routing continues with use of the first working curve. 9 . Determine t h e maximum storage a t t a i n e d i n t h e routing. The maximum storage a t t a i n e d i n a r e s e r v o i r during t h e routing of a single-peaked hydrograph occurs a t t h e time when outflow equals inflow. The p l o t t i n g i n Figure 17-8 shows t h a t t h i s occurs a t 5.33 days. For t h i s time, Table 17-12 shows t h a t 02 = 364 c f s and (s2/At) + (02/2) = 6,480 c f s . solving f o r S2 gives S2 = A t 6480 (0 1 2 ) . With A t = 0 0 . days and 02 = 364 c f s , S2 = 0.1 6480 (3&/2) = 629.8 cfs-days , t h e maximum storage. To convert t o AF use Equation 17-2, which gives 629.8/0.504 = 1,247 AF as t h e maxim u m storage i n AT. To convert AF t o inches use Equation 17-3 and t h e given drainage area of 8.0 square miles ( s e e Example 17-11, which give l247/53.3(8.0) = 2.93 inches as t h e maximum storage i n inches. (Tote: The storage can a l s o be found by use of a storagedischarge curve o r elevation-discharge and elevation-storage curves but with t h e Storage-Indication method it i s generally b e s t t o use t h e above method. )
6.
A comparison of peak r a t e s of outflow shows t h a t t h e mass-curve method of Example 17-1 gave a peak r a t e of 1.69 in./dsy, which converts t o 363
Table 17-11
Working t a b l e f o r preparation of the working curves f o r Example 17-5. For A t = 0.5 days
For A t = 0.1 days s2 At (cfs) S2 o2 +At 2 (cfs)
Elevat ion (feet)
Dis-
charge
(02) (cfs)
Storage (S2)
O2
S2 S2 "2 At At + 2
(cfs) (cfs)
(cfs-days) ( c f s )
Table 17-12
Operations t a b l e f o r Example 17-5.
Gutf OH
etc.
etc.
etc.
etc.
etc.
From f i r s t working curve. ""From second working curve.
c f s , and t h e Storage-Indication method gave 364 cfs, which i s excellent agreement. But a comparison of maximum storage i n inches shows t h a t t h e mass-curve method of Example 17-1 gave 2.82 inches, t h e graphical masscurve method of Example 17-3 gave 2.80 inches, and t h e Storage-Indication method gave 2.93 inches. The discrepancy i s f o r t h e most p a r t due t o use of small-scale graphs f o r t h e working curves. Larger graphs would reduce t h e discrepancy. St orage-Indication Method as Used i n t h e SCS Electronic Computer Program. SCS e l e c t r o n i c computer program f o r watershed evaluations uses t h e Storage-Indication method only f o r r e s e r v o i r routings. The chief d i f f e r ence between t h e manual procedure of Example 17-5 and t h e electroniccomputer procedure i s t h a t i n t h e l a t t e r no working curves a r e used. Ins t e a d , t h e working equation i s solved during a process i n which interpol a t i o n s a r e made i n t h e elevation-discharge and elevation-storage data stored i n t h e computer. The process i s repeated during t h e routing j u s t as t h e working curve i s repeatedly used i n manual routing. The machine routing has a numerical accuracy g r e a t e r than t h a t of t h e manual routing, but t h e machine cannot improve t h e accuracy of the input data. D e t a i l s of t h e machine routing process a r e given i n pages A-61 through A-66 of t h e r e p o r t t i t l e d "Computer Program f o r Project Formulation Hydrology," by C-E-I-R, Inc. Arlington, Va., January 1964, which w a s prepared f o r SCS. Copies of t h i s report a r e a v a i l a b l e from t h e Washington, D. C. o f f i c e of SCS.
Culp's Method.- Some routing methods a r e developed f o r solving special problems, f o r which they have a high e f f i c i e n c y . One such method i s described next. I n t h e design of an emergency spillway of a dam it i s SCS p r a c t i c e t o base t h e design on t h e r e s u l t s from a routing of an Bnergency Spillway Hydrograph. Because all of t h e spillway dimensions cannot be known i n advance, it i s necessary t o route t h e hydrograph through t h r e e o r four d i f f e r e n t spillways w i t h assumed dimensions before t h e spillway w i t h t h e proper dimensions can be found. M. M. Culp's r o u t i n g method eliminates much of t h a t work by giving t h e routed peak discharge without t h e use of spillway dimensions. The following example shows an a p p l i c a t i o n of t h e method t o t h e s t r u c t u r e used i n previous examples. The example i s lengthy because many d e t a i l s a r e given; a f t e r t h e method i s understood it w i l l be seen t o be f a s t and easy t o apply. Example 17-6.--Find t h e routed peak discharge t o be used i n design of an emergency spillway f o r t h e s t r u c t u r e of Example 17-1. The required difference i n elevation between t h e c r e s t of t h e spillway and t h e reserv o i r water surface, H , i s 4.0 f e e t during t h e peak discharge. Watershed and s t r u c t u r e dafa a r e given i n examples 17-1 and 17-2.
1. Prepare t h e elevation-discharge curve f o r t h e p r i n c i p a l s p i l l -
This curve was prepared f o r Example 17-1 with t h e discharges i n inches per hour. It w i l l be used here as shown i n Figure 17-10(a) with discharges i n cfs.
NEII Notice 4-102, August 1972
2. Prepare t h e elevation-storage curve f o r t h e s t r u c t u r e . This curve was prepared f o r Example 17-1. Only t h e portion above t h e sediment storage w i l l b e used here; it is shown i n f i g u r e 17-10(a). 3. Determine t h e elevation of t h e emergency spillway c r e s t . According t o SCS c r i t e r i a , t h e elevation of t h e emergency spillway c r e s t can be a t o r above t h e maximum water-surface elevation a t t a i n e d i n t h e r e s e r v o i r during t h e routing of t h e P r i n c i p a l Spillway Hydrograph (PSH) o r i t s mass curve (PSMC) The watersurface e l e v a t i o n found i n Example 17-1 w i l l be used here as t h e c r e s t elevation. This elevation i s 589.5 f e e t with floodwater storage of 2.82 inches.
4. Determine t h e water-surface elevation of t h e floodwater remaini n g i n t h e r e s e r v o i r after LO days of drawdown from storage a t t h e water-surface elevation a t t a i n e d i n routing t h e PSH o r PSMC. This s t e p i s required by SCS c r i t e r i a . The determination i s made i n Fxample 17-2 and those r e s u l t s w i l l be used here. The watersurface elevation a f t e r 10 days of drawdown i s 581.1 f e e t with floodwater storage a t 0.20 inches.
5. Prepare t h e Emergency Spillway Hydrograph (ESH) and i t s mass curve (ESMC). The E S H f o r t h i s example was prepared using t h e method of Example 21-5 and t h e following d a t a : drainage a r e a = 8.0 square miles, time of concentration = 2.0 hours, runoff curve number = 75, design storm r a i n f a l l = 9 . 1 inches, storm duration = 6.0 hours, r u n o f f = 6.04 inches, hydrograph family = 2, To = 5.05 hours, i n i t i a l Tp = 1 . 4 hours, To/Tp = 3.61, s e l e c t e d To/Tp = 4, revised Tp = 1.26 hours, S M C was prepared using qp = 3,073 c f s , and Q(q ) = 18,560 c f s . The E Table 21-17 and t h e folEowing d a t a : hydrograph family = 2, To/Tp = 4, Tp = 1.26 hours, and Q = 6.04 inches. The hydrograph i s shown i n Flgure 17-10(b) and t h e mass curve i n Figure 17-10(c).
(Note: The above s t e p s a r e taken, i n much t h e same way, regardless of which manual method of r o u t i n g i s used f o r t h i s kind of problem. The following s t e p s apply t o t h e Culp method. ) Determine t h e time a t which t h e emergency spillway begins t o flow during passage of t h e E S H or ESMC. For t h i s example t h e time was found by routing the E S M C of s t e p 5 by t h e method of Example 17-1, using t h e curves of Figure 17-10(a) as working c w e s . The routing w a s s t a r t e d with 0.20 inches of floodwater i n t h e r e s e r v o i r (SCS c r i t e r i a r e q u i r e t h e E S H or E S M C routing t o s t a r t a t t h e elevation f o r t h e floodwater remaining a f t e r the 10-day drawdown period; see s t e p 4). The emergency s p i l l way began t o flow a t 2.9 hours, a t which time t h e mass outflow was 0.06 inches. The time and outflow a r e indicated by point c l on Figure 17-10(c )
6.
i W H Notice 4-102, August 1972
7.
Determine the average discharge of t h e p r i n c i p a l s p i l l w q during, passage of t h e E S H or E S M C through t h e emergency spillway. The p r i n c i p a l spillway average discharge i s f o r t h e period during which t h e reservoir storage r i s e s from t h e elevation of t h e emergency spillway c r e s t t o t h e c r e s t elevation plus the elevation-discharge curve of Figure 17-10(a) t o f i n d he discharges a t t h e two elevations. These discharges a r e 361 and 392 c f s respectively; t h e i r average i s 376 c f s .
2.
8. Locate a reference point i n t h e E S H f o r use i n l a t e r steps. The reference point, shown as point b l i n Figure 17-10(b), i s located a t t h e time determined i n s t e p 6 and a t t h e average discharge determined i n s t e p 7. A second p o i n t , not a c t u a l l y necessary i n t h e work, i s shown as b2 on t h e recession s i d e . A s t r a i g h t l i n e connecting points b l and b2 represents the p r i n c i p a l spillway outflow r a t e during t h e period used i n s t e p 7. Compute t h e slope of t h e p r i n c i p a l spillway mass outflow l i n e f o r use on the mass inflow graph. Tne mass outflow t o be used i s f o r t h e period considered i n s t e p 7. F u l l pipe flow occurs and t h e mass outflow i s adequately represented by a s t r a i g h t l i n e . The slope of t h e l i n e f o r t h i s example must be i n inches per hour because t h e mass inflow s c a l e s a r e f o r inches and hours. To get t h e slope, convert t h e average discharge of s t e p 7 by use of Equation 17-5, which gives 376/645(8.0) = 0.073 inches per hour. 10. P l o t a reference l i n e and a working l i n e of p r i n c i p a l spillway mass outflow on t h e graph f o r mass inflow. The l i n e s a r e f o r t h e period considered i n s t e p 7 but f o r working convenience they a r e extended beyond t h e limits of t h e period. To p l o t t h e reference l i n e , f i r s t l o c a t e point c2 on t h e mass inflow curve of Figure 17-10(c) a t t h e time determined i n s t e p 6, then through c2 draw a s t r a i g h t l i n e having t h e slope determined i n s t e p 9 ; t h i s gives l i n e A as shown. To p l o t t h e working l i n e , f i r s t determine t h e storage associated with EIp, which i s 1.84 inches as shown i n Figure 17-10(a), then draw l i n e B p a r a l l e l t o l i n e A and 1.84 inches of runoff above it as shown i n Figure 17-10(c).
1 1 . Find t h e period within which t h e emergency spillway peak d i s charge w i l l occur. Point c3 i s a t t h e i n t e r s e c t i o n of t h e mass inflow curve and l i n e B i n Figure 17-10(c). Locate point b3 on t h e E S H of Figure 17-10(b) a t t h e time found f o r c3. Points b3 and b2 are t h e end p o i n t s f o r t h e period within which t h e emergency spillway peak discharge w i l l occur.
9.
2 . Select s e v e r a l working discharges between p o i n t s b3 and b2. Four s e l e c t e d working discharges a r e indicated by p o i n t s b4, b5, b6, and b7 i n Figure-17-10(b); t h e discharges a r e 4,750, 3,500, 2,200, and 920 c f s respectively. These discharges represent t h e peak discharges of outflow hydrographs.
( ~ o t e : After some experience with t h i s method, it may be found e a s i e r t o s e l e c t only two working discharges i n t h i s s t e p , t o work through s t e p s 1 3 t o 15, and i f t h e r e s u l t s a r e u n s a t i s f a c t o r y t o r e t u r n t o s t e p 12 again by s e l e c t i n g a t h i r d working discharge, working through s t e p s 13 through 1 5 f o r t h a t discharge, and s o on.1 13. Compute a volume-to-peak f o r each working discharge of step 12. I n the Culp method t h e r i s i n g s i d e of the outflow hydrograph f o r a trapezoidal spillway i s taken a s being nearly parabolic s o t h a t the volume from t h e beginning of r i s e t o t h e peak r a t e , o r t h e volume-to-peak, i s :
where Q e i s t h e volume i n cfs-hrs, qe i s t h e working discharge of s t e p 12 i n c f s , qps i s t h e p r i n c i p a l spillway r a t e of s t e p 7 i n c f s , and Te i s t h e time i n hours from point b l t o t h e peak time. The volume Q e must be converted t o a u n i t usable with t h e mass inflow curve, i n t h i s case, inches. The summary of work f o r t h i s s t e p i s given i n Table 17-13. I n t h e columns f o r points b4 through b7, t h e items i n l i n e 1 a r e from s t e p 12; items i n l i n e 2 a r e from s t e p 7; items i n l i n e 3 a r e obtained by s u b t r a c t i n g qps from qe; items .in l i n e 4 a r e obtained by inspection of Figure 17-10(b); qps) x Te; items i n l i n e 6 items i n l i n e 5 a r e products of (qe a r e products of ( ~ e j 0 . 6 2 )x 0.62; items i n l i n e 7 a r e Qe's of l i n e 6 divided by t h e drainage a r e a of 8.0 square miles; items of l i n e 8 a r e Qe' s of l i n e 7 divided by 645. Each Qe of l i n e 8 applies only at t h e time indicated by i t s point on the ESH.
14.
P l o t a curve of mass inflow minus mass outflow. This i s a working curve, not t h e complete curve of inflow minus outflow. Subtract each Qe of l i n e 8, Table 17-13, from t h e inflow amount a t t h e i d e n t i c a l time on t h e mass inflow curve of Figure 17-10(c) and p l o t t h e r e s u l t as shown f o r p o i n t s c4, c5, c6, and c7. Connect t h e p o i n t s with a curve, l i n e C.
15.
Determine t h e time and r a t e f o r the emergency spillway peak discharge. The i n t e r s e c t i o n of l i n e s B and C , a t point c8 i n Figure 17-10(c), gives t h e time a t which t h e emergency spillway peak discharge occurs The t o t a l discharge r a t e a t t h a t time i s 3,050 c f s a s shown by t h e corresponding point b8 on t h e ESE of Figure 17-10(b). The emergency spillway discharge r a t e i s 3050 376 = 2,674 c f s , which occurs when t h e r e s e r v o i r water surface i s a t t h e given elevation of 593.5 f e e t ( c r e s t elevation plus Hp). This s t e p completes t h e routing. Design of t h e emergency spillway now follows with use of ES-98, ES-124, and spillway c r i t e r i a .
I f Kp is not known i n advance, t h e Culp method can be used with assumed values of Hp t o get associated discharges from which t h e s u i t a b l e combination of Hp and discharge can be s e l e c t e d . For e a r t h spillways % can be closely approximated from permissible v e l o c i t i e s and t h e appropriate
IiEH Notice 4-102, August 1972
17-35
Table 17-13
Working t a b l e f o r Culp method s t e p 13 of Example 17-6.
Point : Line
It e m
Unit
b4
b5
b6
b7
qe qe
q~s C ~ S Te hrs Qel0.62 cfs-hrs Qe cfs-hrs Qe csm-hrs Qe in.
's
cfs cfs
NJB Notice 4-102, August 1972
length and chosen p r o f i l e of t h e i n l e t channel. A close approximation of t h e emergency spillway discharge r a t e can be obtained i n t h i s way f o r L p ~alue near t h e middle of t h e desired range t o get a " C curve" ( l i n e an E C on Flgure 17-10(c)). The average discharge i n t h e conventional drop i n l e t under f u l l pipe flow conditions v a r i e s only s l i g h t l y as H?, v a r i e s r e l a t i v e l y g r e a t l y , t h u s t h e discharge through t h e emergency splllway can be closely approximated from such an average C curve. If refinement i s j u s t i f i e d , then t r i a l adjustments on t h e slope of l i n e B w i l l give t h e required accuracy. The correction process converges rapidly. For preliminary layouts or comparative cost s t u d i e s such refinement i s seldom j u s t i f i e d . Short-Cuts f o r Reservoir R o u t i n ~ s . - Various equations and c h a r t s have been developed f o r quickly estimating t h e required storage i n a reserv o i r o r t h e required capacity of a spillway, such estimates being used i n preliminary s t u d i e s of s t r u c t u r e s or p r o j e c t s . The equations and c h a r t s a r e usually based on t h e r e s u l t s of routings so t h a t using t h e equation o r c h a r t i s i n e f f e c t a form of routing.
A t y p i c a l short-cut i s t h e graph, Figure 17-11.
The curve through t h e c i r c l e d points i s based on information i n t a b l e 2 on page 39 of "Low D a m s , " a design manual prepared by the Subcommittee on Small Water Storage P r o j e c t s , National Resources Committee, Washington, D. C . , 1938 ( t h e manual i s out of p r i n t and no longer a v a i l a b l e f o r ~ u r c h a s e ) . Relationships of t h i s kind a r e developed from routings made through a p a r t i c u l a r type of spillway and they apply only t o t h a t type. The form of standard inflow hydrograph used f o r routing a l s o a f f e c t s t h e r e l a t i o n s h i p and t h e same form must be applicable when t h e short-cut i s used. With such a r e l a t i o n s h i p i f any t h r e e of t h e four v a r i a b l e s a r e known t h e f o u r t h can be estimated. Usually e i t h e r t h e r e s e r v o i r storage or t h e r e s e r v o i r discharge r a t e i s t h e unknown.
The t r i a n g u l a r point on Figure 17-11 i s f o r t h e routing made i n Example 17-6. For t h a t example t h e outflow/inflow r a t i o i s 3050/10200 = 0.30 and t h e storage/inflow-volume r a t i o i s 2.82/(2.62 + 1.84) = 0.63. Note t h a t t h e emergency spillway "surcharge" storage is included when computing t h e volume r a t i o . Thi: cross p o i n t s , f o r "miscellaneous routings", a r e f o r routings of s e v e r a l kinds ofhydrographs through emergency s p i l l ways of t h e SCS type. The "Low Dams" curve appears t o be an enveloping curve f o r t h e points. As such it can be used f o r making conservative estimates. Thus, i f t h e inflow volume i s 8.15 inches of runoff and t h e t o t a l a v a i l a b l e storage i s 5.7 inches then the storage r a t i o i s 0.7; a t t h a t r a t i o t h e discharge r a t i o i s 0.4, which means t h a t t h e peak outflow r a t e w i l l be not more than 0.4 of t h e peak inflow. Such estimates a r e often u s e f u l i n preliminary work.
--zg gk
1
I-w Z(3 w a
DISCHARGE, INCHES PER DAY, OF PRINCIPAL SPILLWAY WITH TWO-STAGE INLET
2
0
3
2
5
4
6
5
7
6
TOTAL STORAGE- INCHES

I
STORAGE USED IN ROUTING- INCHES
Figure 17-2.
Storage, discharge relationship and plotted mass inflow e w e for a reservoir.

NEB Notice 4-102, August 1972
PLUS ACCUMULATED BASE
TIME, DAYS
Figure 17-3. Mass inflow, storage, and mass outflow curves for Example 17-2.
MASS INFLOW OR :ONTENTS PLUS I
dFTER 1 0 DAYS DRAM
I -INE OF ACTUAL FL(
:LINE IS PARALLEL ' KCUMULATED BASE LOW)
O Y
2
Figure 17-5.
1 0
TIME, DAYS
Graphical version for Example 17-2, Step 4.
Figure 17-6. Working curve for Storage-Indication method of reservoir routing for Example 17-4.
TIME, HOURS
Figure 17-7. Inflow and outflow hydrograph f o r
Example 17-4.
Figure 17-8. Principal spillway hydrograph and outflow hydrograph f o r Example 17-5. mEII Notice 4-102, August 1972
, FOR At = 0.1
DAYS (SECOND WORKING CURVE)
0 FOR At = 0 . 5 DAYS 0 FOR At = 0. l DAYS 2 0 0 0
3000
1000 4000
5000
2000 6000
7000
3000 8000
9000
Figure 17-9. Working curves for Storage-Indication method Example 17-5.
of reservoir routing for
C
vl
Figure 17-10.
Culp's method of reservoir routing for Example 17-6.
OUTFLOW PEAK RATE INFLOW PEAK RATE

Figure 17-11.
Typical shortcut method of reservoir flood routing.
Channel Routina Methods The Convex method of routing through stream channels i s presented i n t h i s p a r t . The method i s derived from inflow-outflow hydrograph r e l a tionships and, because of t h i s , t h e method has some f e a t u r e s not possessed by channel routing methods derived from consideration of t h e continuity equation. The Storage-Indication method of channel routing, presented i n Example 17-4, w i l l not be discussed here, but discussions of procedures f o r adding l o c a l inflows, deducting transmission l o s s e s , and routing through stream systems a l s o apply t o t h a t method. Theory of t h e Convex Method The Convex method i s based on t h e following p r i n c i p l e : When a n a t u r a l flood flow passes t h r o u b a n a t u r a l stream channel having n e g l i g i b l e l o c a l inflows o r transmission l o s s e s , t h e r e i s a reach length L and a time i n t e r v a l A t such t h a t 02 i s not more than t h e l a r g e r nor l e s s than A t i s considered as both t h e t h e smaller of t h e two flows 11 and O1. t r a v e l time of t h e flood wave through t h e reach measured a t t h e beginning of t h e r i s i n g portion of t h e hydrograph a t both ends of t h e reach; and t h e required routing time i n t e r v a l . The p r i n c i p l e requires t h a t : If I 1 2 01, t h e n I1 2 O2 2 O1
If 1 1 5 01,
(Eq. 17-19) (Eq. 17-20)
then I1 5 02 5 01
I n general, inequality Equation 17-19 a p p l i e s t o r i s i n g portions of hydrographs and Equation 17-20 t o f a l l i n g portions. Note t h a t 12 does not e n t e r i n t o t h e p r i n c i p l e ; t h i s makes t h e Convex method a forecasting method (see under "Discussion" )
The routing p r i n c i p l e can be extended t o include l o c a l inflows and transmission l o s s e s but t h i s unnecessarily complicates t h e working equat i o n . It i s common p r a c t i c e t o add l o c a l inflows t o t h e routed outflow hydrographs t o get t h e t o t a l outflows, and t h i s p r a c t i c e w i l l be f o l lowed here. There may be s i t u a t i o n s , however, i n which t h e l o c a l inflow i s added t o t h e inflow hydrograph and t h e n routed. Small transmission l o s s e s are generally deducted a f t e r t h e routing, l a r g e ones during t h e routing; f o r a discussion of transmission l o s s e s see t h e heading "Effects of transmission l o s s e s on routed flows." The routing o r working equation i s formed a f t e r examination of t y p i c a l inflow and outflow hydrographs such as t h o s e i n Figure 17-12. Typical flood wave combinations o f 1 1 , O1 and O2 a r e shown on t h e r i s i n g and f a l l i n g s i d e s of t h e hydrographs. The r o u t i n g p r i n c i p l e s t a t e s t h a t f o r a properly selected reach l e n g t h L , hence A t , O2 K i l l f a l l somewhere on or between I1 and O1 i n magnitude but not above or below them. This i s evident on Figure 17-12 d e s p i t e t h e displacement of 02 i n time; it i s t h e magnitudes t h a t a r e of concern here.
I
l
R& Notice 4-102, August 1972
The next s t e p i s t o recognize t h a t 11, 01 and O2.are members of a Convex s e t i / . For such a s e t , i f p o i n t s A and B a r e i n t h e s e t then a l l points on a s t r a i g h t l i n e connecting A and B a r e a l s o i n t h e s e t . Because t h e concern i s with magnitudes and not with time it i s not 1 and 01. The necessary f o r O2 t o be physically on the l i n e between 1 routing equation can now be w r i t t e n based on t h e theory of convex s e t s . For the s i t u a t i o n j u s t described, and using proportions as shown on t h e i n s e t o f Figure L7-12, t h e routing o r working equation is:
where C i s a parameter with t h e range: zero
<
5 one
( E ~ 17-22) .
Given Equation 17-22, Equation 17-21 meets t h e requirements of Equations 17-19 and 17-20 and therefore of t h e routing p r i n c i p l e . The routing method based on Equation 17-21 i s c a l l e d t h e Convex method t o c a l l a t t e n t i o n t o t h e equation's background.
It follows from Equation 1 7 - 2 1 t h a t :
I n the i n s e t of Figure 17-12 t h e r e l a t i o n s h i p s between 11, 01, make similar t r i a n g l e s , so t h a t :
and O2
where K i s considered t h e reach t r a v e l time f o r a s e l e c t e d steady flow discharge of a water p a r t i c l e through the given reach. From Equation 17-24 it follows t h a t :
Combining Equations 17-23 and 17-25 gives:
'/ Enough of t h e theory of convex s e t s f o r t h e purposes of t h i s chapt e r i s given i n pages 41-42 of "An Introduction t o Linear Programming," by A. Charnes, W. W. Cooper, and A. Henderson; John Wiley and Sons, Inc., N e w York, 1953. NEH Notice 4-102, August 1972
from which comes t h e equation t h a t defines A t , t h e wave t r a v e l time and a l s o t h e required r o u t i n g i n t e r v a l :
i /
Discussion This much of t h e t h e o m i s enouah - f o r makina - a workable routina method. The emphasis i n t h i s chapter i s on working examples, not on theory, t h e r e f o r e t h e a d d i t i o n a l r e s u l t s from t h e theory a r e summarized i n t h e next section without giving derivations or proofs. Further work can be done on some aspects qf t h e Convex routing method but even i n i t s present s t a t e t h e method i s highly useful f o r most types of problems of r o u t i n g flood flows through stream channels.
The theory a s given s o f a r can be used f o r exploratory routings by assuming magnitudes f o r any two of t h e v a r i a b l e s i n Equation 17-27 computing the t h i r d , and using Equation 17-21 with various inflow hydrographs. Such routings show t h e features of t h e Convex method. I n Figure 17-12, f o r example, note t h a t outflow begins a t one routing i n t e r v a l , A t , a f t e r inflow begins, which i s t o be expected f o r a stream reach because it t a k e s water waves time t o t r a v e l through t h e reach. It i s c h i e f l y t h i s c h a r a c t e r i s t i c t h a t distinguishes t h e Convex method from channel methods based on the continuity equation. I n Convex routing t h e peab r a t e of the outflow hydrograph does not f a l l on t h e recession limb of the inflow hydrograph, as i n r e s e r v o i r methods. But, as i n all routing methods, t h e maximum storage i n t h e reach i s a t t a i n e d when outflow equals inflow ( a t point A i n Figure 17-12). The maximum storage i s represented by t h e a r e a under t h e inflow hydrograph t o t h e l e f t of point A minus t h e a r e a of t h e outflow hydrograph t o t h e l e f t of point A . Also note t h a t inflow I 2 does not appear i n t h e working equation though it does appear i n equations f o r other channel methods. This f e a t u r e makes the Convex method a forecasting method. For example, i f t h e rout i n g i n t e r v a l i s one day, today's inflow and outflow a r e known and l o c a l ~ n e g l i g i b l e , then tomorrow's outflow can be predicted inflow i s k n 0 or accurately without knowing tomorrow's inflow. The p r e d i c t i v e f e a t u r e i s more important f o r l a r g e r i v e r s than f o r small streams because t h e r o u t i n g i n t e r v a l f o r reaches of such streams i s usually short. Some UsefU Relationships and Procedures Of t h e equations so far given, only Equations 17-21 and 17-27 a r e needed i n p r a c t i c a l a p p l i c a t i o n s of t h e Convex method. The f i r s t i s t h e working equation and t h e second an a u x i l i a r y equation used once before a routing begins. Several other r e l a t i o n s h i p s and procedures a l s o - u s e f u l i n applications follow
Determination o f K. - K i s t h e reach t r a v e l time f o r a s e l e c t e d steadyflow discharge and can be computed using Equation 17-7 s u b s t i t u t i n g K f o r Tt. Example 17-8 shows a preferred method fok s e l e c t i n g t h e discharge. The K used i n t h e Muskingum routing method ( r e f s . 2 and 3) may a l s o be used as the K f o r t h e Convex method.
of C. From Equations 17-17 and 17-26 the parameter o r routing coefficient C can be derived as t h e r a t i o of two v e l o c i t i e s : t h a t i s , C = V/U, where V i s t h e steady-flow water v e l o c i t y r e l a t e d t o i t h e reach t r a v e l time f o r steady flow discharge, K, and U i s considered t h e wave v e l o c i t y r e l a t e d t o t h e t r a v e l time of t h e wave through t h e i reach, A t . For p r a c t i c a l purposes C may be estimated from an empirical r e l a t i o n s h i p between C and V shown i n Figure 17-13. The dashed l i n e i n t h e Figure i s represented by t h e equation:
I Determination
I n some applications it i s more convenient t o use Equation 17-28 than Figure 17-13. The "x" used i n t h e Muskingum routing method ( r e f s . 2 and 3 ) may a l s o be used t o approximate C. The approximation i s :
I n t h e Muskingum procedure t h e x i s sometimes determined only t o t h e nearest t e n t h ; if t h i s i s done then C i s approximated t o t h e nearest two t e n t h s and accurate routing r e s u l t s should not be expected. I f C and K a r e known, from Equation 17-27, t h e r e Determination of A t . i s only one permissible routing i n t e r v a l . This permissible i n t e n r s l may be an inconvenient magnitude because it i s e i t h e r an unwieldy fract i o n of an hour o r does not fit t h e given hydrograph. I n s e l e c t i n g a s u i t a b l e routing i n t e r v a l keep i n mind t h a t t o o l a r g e an i n t e r v a l w i l l not accurately define t h e inflow hydrograph and t h a t t o o s m a l l an i n t e r v a l w i l l needlessly increase t h e e f f o r t required f o r t h e routing. A generally s u i t a b l e r u l e of thumb t o follow i s t h a t t h e s e l e c t e d r o u t i n g time i n t e r v a l , A t * , should be no g r e a t e r than 115 of t h e time from t h e beginning of r i s e t o t h e time of t h e peak discharge of t h e inflow hydrograph, or:
' U
,
,
At*
T p
5
'I where Tp i s t h e time t o peak (Chapter 16). I f t h e hydrograph has more t h a n one peak the i n t e r v a l should be s e l e c t e d using the 3 the
/
/
s h o r t e s t of t h e r i s e periods of t h e b p o r t a n t peaks. It is important t h a t an end-point of a time i n t e r v a l f a l l a t o r near t h e inflow peak time and any other l a r g e change i n r a t e . Procedure f o r routing through any reach length.- The r e l a t i o n s h i p of K, C, and A t i s v a l i d f o r one and only one routing reach length f o r a given time i n t e r v a l and inflow hydrograph. I f A t i s t o be changed t o At* I (desired routing time i n t e r v a l ) it follows from Equation 17-27 t h a t e i t h e r ( 1 ) C or K must be changed (Method 1) o r , ( 2 ) routing through a s e r i e s / of subreaches, L*, (Equation 17-32) must be made u n t i l t h e sum of t h e t r a v e l time of t h e A t ' s f o r each subreach, L*, equal t h e desired t r a v e l : time, At*, f o r t h e t o t a l reach, L (Method 2). Selection of e i t h e r method
/
/
L
NER Notice 4-102, August 1972
depends on t h e manner of computation and t h e consistency of the answers desired. Method 1 may be used when rough approximations of t h e routing e f f e c t a r e desired and manual computation i s used. Method 2 is used when consistency of t h e routing i s important o r a computer i s used. Consistency, as used here, r e f e r s t o t h e changes i n t h e outflou hydrograph (Tp and q ) caused by varying At*. If t h e r e i s l i t t l e change i n t h e hydrograp8 when A t * i s changed t h e routing i s considered consistent. In Method 1, t h e reach length i s fixed, hence, K i s f i x e d (Equation 17-17) and C must be modified by t h e empirical r e l a t i o n s h i p :
where C* i s t h e modified routing c o e f f i c i e n t required f o r use with A t W , C i s the coefficient determined from Figure 17-13 o r computed by Equat i o n 17-28, At* i s t h e desired routing i n t e r v a l , and A t i s t h e r o u t i n g i n t e r v a l determined from Equation 17-27. After s e l e c t i n g At* t h e coeffic i e n t C* i s found by using e i t h e r Equation 17-31 o r Figure 17-14 (ES1025 r e v . ) Method 2 assumes t h a t C and t h e desired routing i n t e r v a l A t * a r e f i x e d and t h e routing i s made f o r a reach length L*. From Equation 17-27, t h e ' desired t r a v e l time i s :
I
i
, i s then:
From Equation 17-17 t h e proper routing reach l e n g t h t o match C and A t *
I f L* i s l e s s than t h e given reach length, L , t h e inflow hydrograph i s r e p e t i t i v e l y routed u n t i l t h e difference between t h e sum of t h e L*'s The l a s t r o u t i n g i n t h e reach i s a and L becomes l e s s than t h e next L*. The A t used i n f r a c t i o n a l routing using C* computed by Equation 17-31. Equation 17-31 i s t h e time i n t e r v a l f o r routing through t h e f r a c t i o n a l length increment of L, L**. (see Example 17-11 Method 2). If L* i s g r e a t e r than t h e given reach length, L, t h e , i n f l o w hydrograph is routed once using Method 1 . Example 17-11 i l l u s t r a t e s t h e use of Methods 1 and 2. V a r i a b i l i t y of routing parameters; s e l e c t i o n of v e l o c i t y , V. As shown by preceding r e l a t i o n s h i p s , t h e magnitudes of t h e routing parameters C and K (and therefore of At) depend on t h e magnitude of t h e velocity V. For steady flow i n n a t u r a l streams this v e l o c i t y v a r i e s with stage but t h e v a r i a t i o n i s not t h e same f o r a l l seasons of a y e a r or f o r a l l reaches of a stream, nor does t h e v e l o c i t y c o n s i s t e n t l y increase o r decrease with stage. For unsteady flow, v e l o c i t y v a r i e s not only w i t h s t a g e but a l s o with t h e r a t e of change of t h e stream flow.
NM n o t i c e 4-102, A w t 1972
These f a c t s would appear t o require a change i n routing parameters f o r each operational s t e p i n a routing. But exploratory routings with t h e Convex method show t h a t constant parameters must be used t o conserve mass, t h a t i s , t o make t o t a l outflow equal t o t a l infiow. The necessity f o r t h e use of constant parameters i s a c h a r a c t e r i s t i c of c o e f f i c i e n t routing equations, including not only Equation 17-21 but a l s o with t h e Muskingum routing equation ( r e f s . 2 and 3) and t h e Storage-Indication equations. Therefore all of t h e examples i n t h i s p a r t show a use of cons t a n t parameters. I n p r a c t i c e t h e parameters need not be constant f o r a l l steps of a routing but t h e more often they a r e changed t h e more l i k e l y t h a t t h e t o t a l outflow w i l l not equal t o t a l inflow. The average, dominant, and peak v e l o c i t i e s of one inflow hydrograph w i l l nearly always d i f f e r from t h e corresponding v e l o c i t i e s of another hydrograph. Even though a s i n g l e value of V i s used t o get t h e constant values of C , K , and A t f o r a routing, t h i s V w i l l nearly always be d i f f e r e n t f o r d i f f e r e n t inflow hydrographs t o a reach. Each inflow hydrograph w i l l need i t s own routing parameters determined from i t s own s e l e c t e d velocity. There are various methods of s e l e c t i n g the v e l o c i t y . One method, useful when a computer i s used, computes t h e v e l o c i t y as t h e average of v e l o c i t i e s f o r all given discharges of t h e inflow hydrograph 2 50 percent of t h e peak discharge.
A manual method with t h e same objective as t h e machine method w i l l be used i n t h i s chapter t o make manual routings comparable t o machine rout i n g s . I n t h i s method t h e dominant v e l o c i t y of t h e inflow hydrograph i s used t o determine t h e parameters t o be used i n t h e routing. I f t h e inflow hydrograph has a s i n g l e peak t h e v e l o c i t y i s f o r a discharge equal t o 314 of t h e peak inflow r a t e . If t h e inflow hydrograph has two o r more peaks t h e v e l o c i t y i s f o r t h e discharge with t h e l a r g e s t value of Tq, where:
Some a d d i t i o n a l The use of Equation 17-34 i s i l l u s t r a t e d i n Example 17-8. remarks concerning t h e s e l e c t e d velocity a r e given i n t h e paragraph preceding Example 17-7. Examples.- The Convex method i s generally used f o r routing hydrographs through stream reaches. It can a l s o be used, without any change i n procedure f o r routing mass curves through reaches. Examples of both uses w i l l be given. The method can be used f o r routing through r e s e r v o i r s but f o r t h i s it i s not as e f f i c i e n t as t h e mass-curve method of Example 17-1; therefore no examples of r e s e r v o i r routing a r e given i n t h i s p a r t . Examp l e s are given showing various aspects of Convex routing. Example 17-7 Example 17-8
Basic routine using assumed parameters. Routing with parameters determined from reach d a t a and with l o c a l inflow added a t bottom of .reach.
Example 17-9 Example 17-10 Example 17-11
- "Reverse Routing" o r determining t h e inflow hydrograph f o r a given outflow hydrograph. - Routing of Mass Curve and method of g e t t i n g t h e outflow hydrograph. - Routing any hydrograph through any reach.
Method 1 and Method 2 are. compared.
For the following examples it i s assumed t h a t stage-discharge and stage-end-area curves a r e a v a i l a b l e for t h e routing reach. These curves a r e used f o r determining t h e v e l o c i t y , V, a f t e r t h e dominant discharge of t h e inflow hydrograph i s obtained. I n preliminary work such curves may not be a v a i l a b l e , i n which case the v e l o c i t y can be estimated during a f i e l d t r i p t o t h e stream area, o r a s u i t a b l e v e l o c i t y assumed, and t h e routing made as a t e n t a t i v e study; such routings need v e r i f i c a t i o n by routings based on reach d a t a before making firm decisions about a p r o j e c t . I n t h e f i r s t example'the values o f C and A t are assumed; t h e r e f o r e t h e reach length and K do not d i r e c t l y e n t e r i n t o t h e work: Example 17-7.--Route the t r i a n g u l a r inflow hydrograph of Figure 17-15 by t h e Convex computational method. Use assumed values of C = 0.4 and A t = 0.3 hours. There i s no l o c a l inflow i n t o t h e reach.
1. Prepare t h e operations t a b l e . Suitable headings and &rangement a r e shown f o r t h e f i r s t t h r e e columns i n Table 17-14. The "remarks" column i s used here t o e m l a i n t h e s t e p s ; it i s not needed i n routine work.
2. Tabulate t h e inflow r a t e s a t accumulated times, using i n t e r v a l s of A t . The accumulated times a t i n t e r v a l s of A t = 0.3 hours a r e shown i n column 1 of Table 17-14. The inflow r a t e s a t these times a r e taken from t h e inflow hydrograph of Figure 17-15 and shown i n column 2.
3. Prepare t h e working equation. is Since C = 0.4 then (1- C ) = 0.6 and t h e working - eauation o2 = ( 1 C ) 0 1 t C 1 1 = 0.6 o1 + 0.4 1 1 . When inflow ceases t h e working equation i s 02 = 0.6 01.
4. D o t h e routing. Follow t h e s t e p s shown i n t h e remarks column of Table 17-14.

The computational work i n s t e p 4 can usually be done on most desk- calculators by using a system of making t h e two m u l t i p l i c a t i o n s and t h e addition i n one machine operation. The outflow hydrograph of Table 17-14 i s p l o t t e d on Figure 17-15. The c i r c l e d points a r e the outflow discharges obtained i n t h e routing. D i s charges between t h e points a r e found by connecting t h e points with a smooth curve. Sometimes t h e routing p o i n t s do not define t h e peak region
NEH Notice 4-102, A u g u s t 1972
17-55
L.
Table 17-14 Basic operations in the Convex routing method.
Time (hrs)
Inflow, I (cfs)
Outflow, 0 (cfs
Remarks
Given.
Oe = 0.6(0) + 0.4(0) = zero O2 = 0.6(0) + 0.4(800) = 320

0 , = 0.6(320)
O2 = 0.6(832)
0.4(1600) = 832
= 1459
+ 0.4(2400)
0 , = 0.6(1459) + 0.4(3200) = 2155 02 = 0.6(2155)
0.4(4000) = 2893
02 = 0.6(2893) + 0.4(3520) = 3144 02 = 0.6(3144) + 0.4(3040) = 3102 0 , = 0.6(3102) + 0.4(2560) = 2885 02 = 0.6(2885) + 0.4(2080) = 2563
O2 = 0.6(2563) + 02 = 0.6(2178) + 0 , = 0.6(1755) + 0 , = 0.6(1309) +
0.4(1600) = 2178 0.4(1120) = 1755
0.4(640) = 1309 0.4(160)= 849

I 1 = zero.
PI
II
tt TI 11 11
0 2 = 0.6(849) = 509 0 , = 0.6(509) = 305 0 , = 0.6(305) = 183

0 , = 0.6(183) = 110
" "
"
etc
etc.
etc.
etc.
1/ Outflow starts a tA t = 0.3 hrs. 2/ Inflow ceases a t 4.0 hrs. -
well enough; t h i s usually happens when t h e routing i n t e r v a l i s l a r g e . I n such cases t h e peak i s estimated by use of a smooth curve o r t h e routing i s repeated using smaller i n t e r v a l s [see Example 17-11 f o r use of At*). The recession curve o r t a i l of t h e outflow hydrograph continues t o i n f i n i t y , t h e discharges g e t t i n g smaller with every s t e p but'never becoming zero. This i s a c h a r a c t e r i s t i c of most routing methods. I n p r a c t i c e the recession curve i s e i t h e r a r b i t r a r i l y brought t o zero a t some convenient low discharge o r the routing i s stopped a t some low discharge a s shown i n Figure 17-15. The next example i s t y p i c a l of t h e routine used i n p r a c t i c e . Routing parameters a r e obtained from reach data and l o c a l inflow i s added i n t h e conventional manner. Local inflow i s t h e ( u s u a l l y ) small flow from the contributing area between t h e head and foot of a reach. Local inflow and t h e inflow i n t o t h e head of t h e reach together make up t h e t o t a l flow from t h e drainage a r e a above t h e foot of t h e reach. The l o c a l inflow i s generally given as a hydrograph made with reference t o the foot of t h e routing reach. When it i s added t o t h e routed outflow the sum i s t h e total. outflow hydrograph. Example 17-8.--The inflow hydrograph i n Figure 17-16 i s t o be routed tbrough a reach having a low-flow channel length of 14,900 f e e t and a valley length of 12,400 f e e t . Stage-discharge and stage-end-area curves f o r t h e reach a r e available (not i l l u s t r a t e d ) . A hydrograph of l o c a l inflow i s given i n Figure 17-16. Obtain t h e t o t a l outflow hydrograph f o r t h e reach.
1. Determine t h e discharge t o be used f o r g e t t i n g t h e v e l o c i t y V. The inflow hydrograph has two peaks and it i s not r e a d i l y apparent which peak i s the dominant-one, t h e r e f o r e t h e r u l e expressed by Equation 17-34 w i l l be used. The 3/4-discharge f o r t h e f i r s t peak i s 3,750 c f s w i t h a duration of 2.63 hours; f o r t h e second, 2,680 c f s with a duration of 5.35 hours, Then Tq = 3750(2.63) = 9,850 cfs-hrs f o r t h e f i r s t peak and Tq = 2680(5.35) = 14,320 cfsh r s f o r t h e second, therefore t h e second discharge w i l l be used.
2. Determine t h e v e l o c i t y , V. Enter t h e stage-discharge curve f o r t h e reach with t h e s e l e c t e d 3/4discharge from s t e p 1 a& f i n d t h e stage f o r t h a t flow. Then e n t e r the stage-end-area curve with t h a t stage and get t h e enda r e a i n square f e e t . The v e l o c i t y i s t h e discharge divided by t h e end area. For t h i s example V w i l l be taken as 3.0 fps.
3. Determine K. The reach has two lengths, one f o r t h e low-flow channel, t h e o t h e r f o r t h e valley. From an examination of t h e stage-discharge curve and t h e inflow hydrograph it i s evident t h a t most of t h e f l o w w i l l exceed t h e capacity of t h e low-flow channel, t h e r e f o r e use t h e v a l l e y length. This i s given as 12,400 f e e t . By Equation 17-17, using T t = K, t h e value of K = 12400/3600(3.0) = 1.15 hours by a slide-rule computation. NEH Notice 4-102, August 1972
ii
4. Determine C. Enter Figure 17-13 with V = 3.0 fps and f i n d C = 0.65.

5. Compute A t . Using r e s u l t s from s t e p s 3 and 4, and by Equation 17-27, A t = 0.65 (1.15) = 0.745 hours. Round t o 0.75 hours.
6. Prepare an operations t a b l e f o r t h e routing. Suitable headings and arrangement a r e shown i n Table 17-15.
Tabulate accumulated time a t i n t e r v a l s of A t and t h e discharges f o r inflow and l o c a l inflow a t those times. The times a r e given i n column 1 of Table 17-15, inflows i n column 2, and l o c a l inflows i n column 4. Inflows and l o c a l inflows a r e taken from t h e given hydrographs, which a r e shown i n Figure 17-16.
7.
8. Prepare t h e working equation. From s t e p 4, C = 0.65 so t h a t (1- C ) = 0.35. i s O2 = 0.35 O1 + 0.65 I1.
The working equation
9. D o t h e routing. Follow t h e routine used i n Table 17-14 t o a e t t h e outflows f o r column 3 of Table 17-15.
10.
Add t h e Local inflows of column
Get t h e t o t a l outflow hydrograph. 4, Table 17-15, t o t h e routed outflows of column 3 t o get t h e t o t a l outflows f o r Column 5. This s t e p completes t h e example. The t o t a l outflow hydrograph i s shown i n Figure 17-16.
Note i n Figure 17-16 t h a t t h e routed outflow peaks are not much smalle r than the inflow peaks. The f i r s t routed outflow peak i s 93.0 percent of i t s respective inflow peak, and t h e second 97.7 percent of i t s inflow peak. The reach has r e l a t i v e l y small storage when compared with t h e inflow volumes; t h e f i r s t inflow peak has l e s s volume associated with it than t h e second and it i s reduced more than t h e second. The next example i l l u s t r a t e s a routine sometimes needed t o g e t t h e upstream hydrograph when t h e downstream one i s given. The uorking equat i o n f o r t h i s routine i s a rearranged form of Equation 17-21:
Example 17-9.--Obtain t h e inflow hydrograph of a reach from t h e t o t a l outflow hydrograph by use of reverse routing. The t o t a l outflow hydrograph and l o c a l inflow a r e given i n Table 17-16.
1. Determine t h e routing c o e f f i c i e n t C and t h e routing; i n t e r v a l
At. -
Follow t h e procedure of s t e p s 1 through 5 of Example 17-8. example C = 0.44 and A t = 0.5 h r s
For t h i s
Table 17-15
Operations t a b l e f o r Example 17-8.
Time (hrs. )
Inflow (cfs) (2) 0 380 1400 3000 4450 5000 4600 3750 2800 2100 1600 1280 1150 1210
Out flow (cfs
Local Inflow (cfs)
Tot a1 Outflow (cfs)
1480
1880 2360 2880 3250 3500 3580 3480 3240 2930 2600 2280 i.980 1730 1480 1280 1130 980 850 720 620 530 450 400 350 310 270 etc.
21.00 21.75 27.50 23.25 24.00 24.75 25.50 26.25 27.00 27.75 28.50 29.25 30.00 etc.
230 190 150 120 100 90 80 70 60 50
2105 1808 1548 1344
1165
1015 872 750 642
Lo
546
47 4
etc.
30 20 etc.
383 345
etc.
Outflow s t a r t s a t A t = 0.75 hrs.
2. Prepare t h e operations t a b l e f o r t h e routing. Suitable headings and arrangements a r e shown i n Table 17-16. Tabulate accumulated time a t i n t e r v a l s of A" and t h e discharges f o r t o t a l outflow and l o c a l inflow a t those times. The times a r e given i n column 1 of Table 27-16, t o t a l outflows i n column 2, and l o c a l inflows i n column 3 . The t o t a l outflow (but not t h e l o c a l inflow) i s shown i n Figure 17-17.
3.
4.
Determine t h e outflows t o be routed uustream.
A value i n column 2, Table 17-16, minus t h e corresponding value
i n column 3 gives t h e outflow f o r column outflows t o be routed upstream.
4, which contains t h e
5. Prepare t h e working equation. C i s given i n s t e p 1 as 0.44. By Equation 17-35, 1 1 = 2.27 O2 1.27 O1.
6. D o t h e routing. The routine i s s l i g h t l y d i f f e r e n t from t h a t i n Table 17-14. Using values from Table 17-16, the sequence i s : f o r outflow time 0.5 h r s , Il = 2.27(0) - 1.27(0) = 0 , which i s recorded f o r inflow time zero; a t outflow time 1 . 0 h r s , 1 1 = 2.27(163) - 1.27(0) = 370, recorded f o r inflow time 0.5 h r s ; f o r outflow 1.5, I1 = 2.27(478) 1.27(163) = 878, recorded f o r inflow time 1.0 h r s ; and so on. The work i s e a s i l y done by accumulative p o s i t i v e and negative m u l t i p l i c a t i o n on a desk c a l c u l a t o r . The inflow hydrograph t o time 7,5 hours i s p l o t t e d on Figure 17-17.
It w i l l sometimes happen i n reverse routing t h a t t h e working equation gives negative values f o r t h e inflow. This occurs when t h e t o t a l outflow hydrograph o r t h e l o c a l inflow i s i n e r r o r .
The next example shows t h e downstream routing of a mass curve of inflow. The routine i s t h e same as t h a t f o r Example 17-7. The outflow hydrograph can be obtained from t h e mass outflow curve by a s e r i e s of simple calculations; t h e s e outflows must be p l o t t e d a t midpoints of time increments, not a t end points. Example 17-10.--Route t h e mass curve of inflow of Figure 17-18 by t h e Convex method. There i s no l o c a l inflow.
At. Follow t h e procedure
1. Determine t h e routing coefficient C and t h e routing i n t e r v a l
of s t e p s 1 through 5 of Example 17-8. t h i s example C = 0.40 and A t = 0.3 h r s . 2. Prepare t h e operations t a b l e f o r t h e routing. Suitable headings and arrangement are shown i n Table 17-17.
For
NM Nbtice 4-102, August 1972
Table 17-16
p p
Operations t a b l e f o r Example L7-9

--
Time (hrs) (1) 0 .5 1.0 155 2.0 2.5 3.0 3.5 4.0 4.5 5.0 5.5 6.0 6.5 7.0 7.5 8.0 etc.
Tot a 1 Outflow (cfs)
Local Inflow (cfs)
Outflou t o be routed (cfs)
Inflow (cfs)
0 120 310 680 1250 1850 2490 3030 3440 3700 3900 3940 3840 3500 3000 2485 1960 etc.
O 0-1 /
31 etc.
=
163 478 932 1525 2165 2708 3122 3420 3631 3714 3637 3344 2915 2424 1929 etc.
370 878 1508 2278 2978 3398 3648 3793 3899 3819 3539 2972 2370 1800 1300
etc.
1/ Outflow starts a t A t -
0.5 hours.
3. Tabulate accumulated time a t i n t e r v a l s of A t and t h e mass inflows a t those times. The times are given i n column 1 of Table 17-17 and mass inflows i n column 2.
4.
Prepare t h e working, equation. C i s given i n s t e p 1 as 0.40. B y Equation 17-21, O2 = 0.6 O1 + 0.4
5. D o t h e routing. Tne routine i s exactly t h e same as t h a t i n Table 17-14. For examp l e , a t inflow time 2.7 h r s , O2 i s computed using inflow and outflow f o r t h e previous time or O2 = 0.6(3707) + 0.4(5952) = 4605 cfshrs.
(Note: I f only t h e mass outflow i s needed t h e work stops with s t e p 5. I f t h e outflow hydrograph i s a l s o needed, t h e following s t e p s are a l s o taken. )
6. Compute increments of outflow. These a r e the differences shown i n column 4, Table 17-17.
7. Compute average r a t e s of outflow. Dividing the increment of outflow of column 4 , Table 17-17, by t h e increment of time ( i n t h i s case, 0.3 h r s ) gives t h e average r a t e of outflow f o r the time increment. For example, between 1.8 and 2.1 hours i n Table 17-17, t h e time increment i s 0.3 hrs and t h e outflow increment i s 906 cfs-hrs; then t h e average r a t e i s 9061 0.3 = 3,020 c f s . The average r a t e s must be p l o t t e d as midpoints between t h e two accumulated times involved; f o r t h i s case, 3020 c f s i s p l o t t e d a t a time of (1.8 + 2.1112 = 1.95 hours. The mass inflow, mass outflow, and r a t e hydrograph a r e p l o t t e d i n Figure 17-18. The next example shows how t o route any hydrograph through any reach length. Methods 1 and 2 are compared. Example 17-11.--Route t h e inflow hydrograph of Figure 17-19 through a reach 30,000 f e e t long. Assume no l o c a l inflow.
Determine desired routing time i n t e r v a l , A t x . Following t h e r u l e expressed i n Equation 17-30, At* w i l l be 0.4 hrs.
1 .
2. Determine routing c o e f f i c i e n t , C, and routing i n t e r v a l A t . If a stage-discharge-velocity t a b l e f o r a t y p i c a l s e c t i o n i n t h e reach i s used, t h e average v e l o c i t y V i s determined using t h e method from page 17-54, and C i s computed using Equation 17-28. I f a r a t i n g t a b l e i s not used t h e C or V must be assumed; i n t h i s case, l e t C = 0.72. Rearranging Eq. 17-28 gives V = 1 . 7 ~ / ( 1 - C )=
Table 17-17
Operations t a b l e f o r Example 17-10. Increment of Outflow (cfs-hrs)
Time (hrs. 1
Mass Inflow (cfs-hrs)
Mass Outflow (cfs-hrs)
Outflow Rate (cfs)
- .
5.2
7992 7992
7817 7887 etc.
5.5
etc.
1/ Outflow -
70 etc.
233 etc.
etc.
starts a t A t = 0.3 hours
iTBl Notice 4-102, August 1972
( 1 . 7 ) ( .72)/0.28 = 4.37 fps. Combining Equations 17-17 and 17-27, At CL = - or A t = = (.72)(30000)1(3600)(4.37) = K = C 3600V
3600V
1.37 h r s . Use 1 . 4 h r s . t h e e n t i r e reach.
A t i s a l s o t h e wave t r a v e l time through
3. Determine C* Using Equation 17-31 with A t = 1 . 4 h r s , At* = 0.4 h r s , and C = 0.72 0.4+0.5(1.4) 1.1 1 (3.T) ( 1.j ( 1 . 4 ) C* = 1 (1-.72) = 1-(.28) 0.524 = = 1-(.28)
4. Prepare an operations t a b l e f o r t h e routing. Suitable headings and arrangement a r e shown i n Table 17-18.
5. Tabulate accumulated time i n t e r v a l s of At* and t h e inflow discharges f o r those times. The times a r e given i n column 1 Table 17-18, t h e inflows taken from Figure 17-19 i n column 2.
6. Prepare t h e working equation. C*) O1 + From s t e p 3 , C* = 0.49. Using Equation 17-21 O? = ( 1 C X I l o r O2 = 0.51 O1 + 0.49 I 1 . Solutions of t h r s equation can e a s i l y be made by accumulative m u l t i p l i c a t i o n or a desk c a l c u l a t o r .
7. D o t h e routing. Follow t h e routine o f . Table 17-14. umn 3 of Table 17-18.
The outflows a r e shown i n col-
8. Determine t h e times f o r t h e outflow. Outflow begins a t t h e end of t h e f i r s t A t (not A t * )
interval.
J i t h A t = 1 . 4 h r s , show t h i s time i n column 4 of Table 17-18 i n t h e ?ow where outflow begins. Get succeeding times by adding A t * i n t e r r a l s , 0.4 hours i n t h i s case, a s shown i n column 4. I n p l o t t i n g o r ~ t h e r w i s edisplaying t h e inflow and outflow hydrographs they a r e put in t h e i r proper time o r d e r , using columns 1 and 4 , as shown i n f i g u r e L7-19.
1. Determine desired routing time i n t e r v a l , At*. Same as Method 1, At* = 0.4 hr.
2. Determine r o u t i n 4 coefficient C. The routing c o e f f i c i e n t YC" f o r each subreach i s computed from t h e outflow hydrograph of t h e preceding subreach a s done i n Step 2, Method 1. A constant C may be used f o r t h e e n t i r e reach but t h e r e s u l t a n t hydrograph w i l l vary from one produced by recornputin@ C f o r each subreach. For s i m p l i c i t y i n t h i s example, a constant C = 0.72 i s assumed. V = 4.37 f p s .
Table
17-18
Operations t a b l e f o r Example 17-11 Method 1.

Time
Time
Inflow
(hrs)
Inflow (cfs) (2)

0
Outflow (cfs)
(3)
0 01/
Outflow (hrs) (4) 1.4 1.8 2.2 2.6 3.0 3.4 3.8 4.2 4.6 5.0 5.4 5.8 6.2 6.6 7.0 7.4 7.8 8.2 8.6 9.0 9.4 9.8 10.2 10.6
11.0
(1)
0
.4
.8 1.2 1.6 2.0 2.4 2.8 3.2 3.6 4.0 4.4 4.8 5.2 5.6 6.0 6.4 6.8 7.2 7.6 8.0 8.4 8.8 9.2 9.6
10.0 etc.
260 980 2100 3120 3500

3220
2630 1960 1470 1120 840 630 455 345 265 180
130 100
75 60 45 35
20 10 0
127 545 1307 2195 2834 3023 2830 2404 1946 1541 1198 920 692 522 396 290 212 157 117 89 67 51 36 23
12
etc.
6 3
2 1
11.4 11.8 12.2 12.6

13.0
etc.
1/ Outflow -
etc.
starts a t A t = 1 . 4 hours
3. Determine length of subreach L*. This i s t h e length of reach required t o s a t i s f y t h e r e l a t i o n s h i p of Equation 17-26 with C = 0.72 and A t * = 0.4 h r s . Combining Equa) e have L* = (at)(v) ( ~ ~ o o )= /c t i o n s 17-26 and 17-17 ( l e t K = T ~ w (0.4)(4.37)(3600)/0.72 = 8740 f t ; Compare t h e t o t a l of subreach lengths, CL* with t h e given reach length, L. For ELX<L - 80 t o s t e o -5 For EL*>L go t o s t e p 7
4.
I n t h i s example CL*n=l = 8740 = 17480

CL*,=~ = 26220
X L * ,4
= 34960 t o s t e p 5 and
a Therefore, t h e f i r s t t h r e e rout.ings a r e m t h e l a s t routing by going t o s t e p 7.
5. Prepare working equation and do t h e routing. Using Equation 17-21 and t h e routing c o e f f i c i e n t computed i n s t e p The outflows f o r each 2, O2 = (1 C)O1 + C I 1 = 0.28 O1 + 0.7211. subreach a r e shown i n Table 17-19.
6.
G o . t o step 2.
7. Determine t h e length of t h e reinaining subreach t o be routed. Subtract t h e EL* of t h e 3 completed routings, i . e , , 26220 f t from t h e t o t a l reach length t o get t h e remaining reach length t o be routed L** = 30000 - 26220 = 3780 ft.
8. Determine t h e A t time i n t e r v a l f o r t h e remaining subreach. The time i n t e r v a l used here i s t h e same as t h e wave t r a v e l time through t h e remaining subreach. Combining Equations 17-17 and 17-27 as i n s t e p 2 Method 1 At** = CL** = (0.72)(3780)/(3600)(4.37) = 0.173 h r s . 3600~
9. Determine t h e modified routing c o e f f i c i e n t C*. Usinn Eouation 17-31 with At** = 0.173. A t * = 0.4 and C = 0.72,
10. Prepare working equation. Following Method 1 O2 = (1-C*)O1 + C*Il .09 O1 + 0.91 1 1 .
= (1- .91) O1 + 0.9111 =
1 1 . D o t h e routinq. The outflow f o r t h e f r a c t i o n a l r o u t i n g a r e shown i n column 6 Table 17-19.
12. Determine t h e time f o r the routing. The hydrograph f o r each subreach routing i s s e t back one A t time i n t e r v a l . I n t h i s example t h e f i r s t t h r e e routings a r e s e t back 0.4 h r s each and t h e l a s t ( f r a c t i o n a l ) routing i s s e t back 0.173 h r s (round t o 0.2 h r s ) . See column 7 Table 17-19 and Figure 17-19. When C* and At* a r e used and l o c a l inflow i s t o be added, t h e l o c a l inflow must be used i n i t s a c t u a l time p o s i t i o n regardless of A t and At*. That i s , t h e l o c a l inflow i s not s h i f t e d back o r f o r t h because i t i s not affected by t h e use of C* and A t * .
Effects of transmission l o s s e s on routed flows A flood hydrograph i s a l t e r e d by transmission l o s s e s occurring during passage of t h e flow through a reach. The amount of l o s s depends on t h e percolation r a t e of t h e channel, t h e wetted perimeter of channel during flow, and t h e duration of flow f o r a p a r t i c u l a r wetted perimeter (Chapt e r 1 9 ) . Transmission l o s s v a r i e s with t h e mount of flow i n t h e channel which means t h a t t h e most accurate method of deducting t h e t r a n s mission l o s s from t h e routed flow w i l l be on an incremental flow b a s i s . It i s seldom worthwhile t o handle it i n t h i s manner unless t h e t r a n s mission l o s s i s very l a r g e .
An acceptable p r a c t i c e f o r handling transmission l o s s e s i s t o r o u t e t h e inflow hydrograph i n t h e usual manner and afterwards deduct a s u i t a b l e quantity of flow from t h e outflow hydrograph (mainly from t h e r i s i n g limb). If t h a t outflow i s t o be routed downstream again, t h e manner of flow deduction w i l l not be c r i t i c a l , I n some cases it may be reasonable t o assume t h a t l o c a l inflow w i l l be completely absorbed by transmission l o s s e s , thus no l o c a l inflow i s added t o t h e unmodified outflow hydrograph. I n other cases l o c a l r a i q f a l l may completely s a t i s f y transmission l o s s e s , requiring unmodified l o c a l inflow t o be added t o t h e unmodified outflow hydrograph. The use of d e t a i l e d procedures outlined i n Chapter 1 9 , "Transmission Losses", may be necessary f o r more complex S i t u a t i o n s .
a system of channels Routing thro* The methods of channel routing given i n Examples 17-7 throuah - 17-11 a r e used f o r individual reaches 02 a, stream. 0 r k n a r i l y a routing progress e s from reach through reach u n t i l t h e s t a g e s , r a t e s , o r amounts of flow a r e known f o r s e l e c t e d p o i n t s i n t h e e n t i r e stream system of a watershed. The method of progression w i l l be i l l u s t r a t e d using a schematic diagram o r " t r e e grapht' of a stream system. A t y p i c a l graph i s given i n Figure 17-20. It does not need t o be drawn t o s c a l e . The main purpose of t h e graph i s t o show t h e reaches i n t h e i r proper r e l a t i o n s h i p t o each other, but various kinds of d a t a can be w r i t t e n down a t t h e i r respective p o i n t s of application t o make t h e graph a complete reference during t h e routing.
Routing through a stream system begins a t t h e head of t h e uppermost reach. I f t h e r e i s more than one possible s t a r t i n g p l a c e , a s i n Figure 17-20, t h e most convenient should be chosen.
Table 17-19 Time Inflow lhrs)

(1)
Operation t a b l e f o r Example 17-11 Method 2 Outflow Outflow C~*=8740 ZL*=17480 (cfs) (cfs) (3) 011 187 758 1724 2729 32e4 3238 2800 2195 1673 1275 962 723 530 397 302 214 154 115 86 67 51 40 25 14 4 1 0 etc. (4) Outflow Outflow ~ ~ * = 2 6 2 2 0 CL*=30000 (cfs) (cfs) (5) Outflow Time (hrs )
Inflow (cfs) (2) 0 260 980 2100 3120 3500 3220 2630 1960 1470 1120 840 630 455 345 265 180 130 100 75 60 45 35 20 10 0 etc.
(6)
0 .4
.8
1.2 1.6 2.0 2.4 2.8 3.2 3.6 4.0
4.4 4.8
5.2 5.6 6.0 6.4 6.8 7.2 7.6 8.0 8.4 8.8 9.2 9.6 10.0 etc.
0 135 584 1405 2358 3025 3178 2906 2394 1875 1442 1096 827
613
457 345 251
181 133
99 76 58 45 31 19
0 97 447 1137 2016 2743 3056 2948 2549 2064 1617 1242 944 706 527 396 292 212 155 115 87
21 0-
88
415 1072 1931 2670 3021 2955 2586 2111 1661 1280 974 730 545 409 303 220 161 119 90 68 53
66
51
36
24 13 6 2 1 0 etc.
38
25
3
1 0 etc.
14
7 2 1 0 etc.
1/ Outflow -
from subreach 1, 2 , & 3 starts A t * = 0.4 hours a f t e r i n f l o w starts i n t o each subreach.
2/ -
Outflow from subreach 4 starts A t = 0.2 hours (rounded from 0.17 h o u r s ) a f t e r inflow starts i n t o subreach 4.
NEE Notice 4-102, August 1972
m e f i r s t major s t e p i n routing through a stream system i s t o develop t h e routing parameters, C and A t , f o r each reach. Many times it i s necessary t o use At* t o make t h e routing i n t e r v a l uniform through t h e stream system; these parameters should be obtained before t h e routing begins. The method of developing t h e parameters C, K , and A t i s given i n s t e p s 1 through 5 of Example 17-8. The method of determining C* and At* i s given i n s t e p s 1 through 3 of Example 17-11. The second major s t e p i s t h e development of t h e inflow hydrographs a t heads of uppermost reaches and of l o c a l inflow hydrographs f o r a l l reaches. The methods of Chapter 16 a r e used. The t h i r d major s t e p i s t h e routing. For routing any p a r t i c u l a r flood on t h e stream system pictured i n Figure 17-23 a s u i t a b l e sequence i s as follows : 1. Route t h e inflow hydrograph a t ( a ) through reach ( a , b )
2 . Add l o c a l inflow of reach ( a , b ) t o t h e routed outflow t o get t h e t o t a l outflow hydrograph, which becomes t h e inflow hydrograph f o r reach ( b , c ) . It should be noted here t h a t l o c a l inflow f o r a reach i s usually added a t t h e foot of t h e reach. These may be circumstances, however, i n which t h e l o c a l inflow should be added a t t h e beginning of t h e reach. The proper sequence f o r adding l o c a l inflow can be determined only by evaluating each reach.
3. the
Route t h e t o t a l outflow from reach ( a , b ) through reach ( b , c ) .
4. Add l o c a l inflow of reach ( b , c ) t o t h e routed outflow t o get t o t a l outflow hydrograph f o r t h a t t r i b u t a r y .

5.
Route t h e inflow hydrograph a t ( d ) through reach ( d , c )
6. Add l o c a l inflow of reach ( d , c ) t o t h e routed outflow t o get t h e t o t a l outflow hydrograph a t point ( c ) .

7. steps
4 and 6,
Add t h e t o t a l outflow hydrographs from. reaches ( b , c ) and (d,c) t o get t h e t o t a l outflow hydrograph a t point ( c ) . Route t h e t o t a l hydrograph a t p o i n t ( c ) through reach ( c , f ) .
8.
9 . Add l o c a l inflow of reach ( c , f ) t o t h e routed outflow t o get t h e t o t a l outflow hydrograph a t point (f)
10.
Route t h e inflow hydrograph a t point ( e ) through reach ( e , f ) .
1 1 . Add l o c a l inflow of reach ( e , f ) t o t h e routed outflow t o get t h e t o t a l outflow hydrograph f o r t h a t t r i b u t a r y .

12. Route t h e inflow hydrograph a t p o i n t ( g ) through reach ( g , f ) .
13. Add l o c a l inflow of reach ( g , f ) t o t h e routed outflow t o get t h e t o t a l outflow f o r t h a t t r i b u t a r y a t p o i n t ( f ) .
NM
Notice 4-102, August
1972
Add t h e t o t a l outflow hydrographs from reaches ( c , f ) , ( e , f ) , and ( g , f ) , s t e p s 9, 1 1 , and 1 3 t o get t h e t o t a l outflow hydrograph a t point ( f ) .
14.
15.
Route -the t o t a l hydrograph a t point ( f ) through reach ( f , h ) .
16. Add l o c a l inflow of reach (f ,h) t o t h e routed outflow t o get t h e t o t a l outflow hydrograph f o r reach ( f , h ) .
17.
Route t h e t o t a l hydrograph a t point ( h ) through reach ( h , i ) .
18. Add l o c a l .inflow of reach ( h , i ) t o the routed outflow t o get t h e t o t a l outflow hydrograph f o r reach ( h , i ) . 19. Route t h e inflow hydrograph a t point ( j) through reach
( 3 ,k)
20. Add l o c a l inflow of reach ( j , k ) t o t h e routed outflow t o get t h e t o t a l outflow hydrograph f o r reach ( j , L C ) . 21. Route t h e hydrograph a t point (k) through reach ( k , i )
22. Add l o c a l inflow of reach ( k , i ) t o t h e routed outflow t o get t h e t o t a l outflow hydrograph f o r t h i s t r i b u t a r y .
d h e t o t a l outflow hydrographs from reaches ( h , i ) and ( k , i ) , 23. ~ d t s t e p s 18 snd 22, t o get the t o t a l outflow hydrograph f o r point ( i ) . 24. Route t h e hydrograph a t point ( i ) through reach ( i ,I).
t o t h e routed outflow t o get 25. Add l o c a l inflow of reach (i,l?) This completes t h e routing t h e t o t a l outflow hydrograph a t p o i n t (l?). f o r a p a r t i c u l a r flood on t h i s stream system. When manual computations a r e used, an operations t a b l e with times, inflow hydrographs and l o c a l inflows tabulated i n t h e i r proper sequence i s usef u l . Blank columns a r e l e f t f o r t h e routed outflows and t o t a l outflows, which a r e t a b u l a t e d as routing progresses. Above t h e appropriate columns t h e required data and routing parameters a r e tabulated so t h a t t h e t a b l e becomes a complete reference f o r t h e routing. A sample operations t a b l e f o r routing by Method 2 i s shown a s Table 17-20. After t h e inflow hydrograph and l o c a l inflows are t a b u l a t e d t h e sequence of t h e work i s as follows : Tabulate the reach numbers i n t h e order i n which t h e routing w i l l progress; p e r f o m t h e routings as shown i n Example 17-11 and continue i n t h i s manner through t h e stream system. Note t h e routed outflow a t 1.17 h r s which i s rounded t o 1.0 h r s . Theoretically, the outflow hydrograph should be i n t e r p o l a t e d on a multiple of A t t o properly position t h e hydrograph i n r e l a t i o n t o time. The l i n e a r i n t e r p o l a t i o n equation i s :
9. I . = 9i
+
( ~ i ~ qi) + ~ x
At*
- At
At*
NEX Notice 4-102, August 1972
where: qi and qi+i a r e consecutive discharges, A t * i s t h e desired time i n t e r v a l and A t 1 s t h e required time i n t e r v a l of the p a r t i a l routing. When using Method 2, A t i s always l e s s than At*.
If t h e i n t e r p o l a t i o n s t e p i s omitted and t h e s t a r t i n g times rounded as i n Table 17-20 it i s recognized an e r r o r i s introduced, t h e magnitude of which depends on t h e r e l a t i v e values of A t and At*.
Table 17-20. REACH L(ft) V(fps) 16 19300. 2.9
Portion of a t y p i c a l o p e r a t i o n s t a b l e f o r r o u t i n g through a stream system. 15 4000. 4.8 .74 1.00 4000. .17 1.00 Outflow Local Total Outflow Local
14
37000. 3.2 .65 1.00 17486. .65 1.00 17486.
.63
Atx(hrs)l.OO LX(ft)16541. A t (hrs)
.63 1.00 2759. .986
C*
Time Inflow
2028. .12 .998 Outflow Outflow Lacal Total
Outflow
Total
Outflow
0 97 498 1371 2560 3887 5007 5588 5525 4963 4173 3365 2640
031 97 498 1371 2560 3887 5007 5588 5525 4963 4173 3365 2640 2037 etc. 80 etc. 2117 etc.
15
etc.
450 etc.
735 etc.
739 etc.
5
etc.
744 etc.
794 etc.
35
etc.
779 etc.
1279 etc.
2034 etc.
'1
Outflow begins a t 1 . 0 0 h r s . , rounded from 1.17 h r s . Outflow begins a t 0.00 h r s . , rounded from 0.17 h r s . Outflow begins a t 2.00 h r s . , rounded from 2.12 h r s .
NEH Notice 4-10?,
August 1972
Figure 17-13.
Convex routing coefficient versus velocity.
I
P
~fA t * >KO or A t > 6.0 then d i v i d a both by 2 to t i c Eaampl. : Ata=3.0 ond A t =8.2. Use Ata:l.s andAf=+.t.
Th. A t and At* must

ba in identical units of time (minutes or hours or days. etc.)
SYMBOLS K
I
C
At At'
/
REFERENCE
/'
Giwn
I.
- raach t r a w l tima - rou!inq co.fiici.nt - complied routing intonol - desired routinq iekrval
required m u l l n ~c a r t t i c i ~ n l
C*
EXAMPLE
C = 0.8, Kz3.0, and A1':l.o Compute A t = C K = 0.8(3.0) = 2.4

U n A t ond A t o f o r mova I.
: 0.628
2 .
3. U n C in mova 2 ond rood
At
U . 8. mARl%ENT OP ADRlCUL'IVILE
STANDARD D M . N O .
Equat~on by W. A. Styner Nomoqraph by Glenn 0. Commons
DlmOli m 1 Y ) m
DATE 6 . 71
Figure 17-14.
ES-1025 rev. sheet 1 of 2 .

NEX Notice 4-102,August 1972
HYDROLOGY:
at*+ At
NOMOGRAPH FOR SOLUTION OF c*=I-(I-C)
1.5At
tEFERENCE Equation by W.A. Stynar Nomograph by Glenn G. Commons
U .S . DEP-
OF AOBICULTURE
STANDARD DWG. NO.
SOIL CONSERVATION SERVICE

R I G M W M O DnmnON .RmROIDCY aa*llCn
gure
17-14.
ES-1025 rev. sheet 2 of 2.
3
TIME, HOURS
Figure 17-15.
Inflow and routed outflow hydrograph f o r Example 17-7
X ! i Nctice 4-102, August
1972
1 0
1 5 TIME, HOURS
20
25
30 7
-4
-4
4000 TOTAL OUTFLOW --\
ROUTED INFLOW
3 51
0
P. 0
ct
m
I
(TOTAL OUTFLOW MINUS LOCAL
"
C
10
ct
\O -4
I-'
TIME, HOURS
3
TIME, HOURS
Figure 17-18. Mass inflow, mass outflow and r a t e hydrograph f o r

Eiample 17-10.
TIME, HOURS
Figure 17-20.
Typical Schematic diagram for routing through a system of channels.

Unit-Hydrograph Routing Methods Principles of the u n i t hydrograph theory a r e given i n Chapter 16. They apply t o single-peaked hydrographs o r i g i n a t i n g from uniform runoff on t h e contributing a r e a b u t t h e y can be extended t o apply t o more complex runoff conditions. Despite t h e l i m i t a t i o n s of t h e theory it has f e a t u r e s t h a t can be used i n determining peak r a t e s i n stream reaches not only when the watershed i s i n a "present" unreservoired condition but a l s o when it i s controlled by many r e s e r v o i r s . It i s t h e ease w i t h which complex systems of c o n t r o l s t r u c t u r e s a r e evaluated t h a t has made t h e unit-hydrograph type of routing a popular method f o r many years. If s u i t a b l e d a t a a r e used t h e r e s u l t s a r e usually as good a s those obtained by more d e t a i l e d methods of routing. I n t h i s p a r t of t h e chapter t h e basic equations f o r unit-hydrograph routing w i l l be given and discussed ana some of t h e i r uses explained by means of examples. The unit-hydrograph method of r o u t i n g gives only t h e peak r a t e s of runoff. The peak-producing hydrograph, i f it i s needed, must be obtained i n some other way. Basic Equations A l l of the unit-hydrograph working equations are derived from t h e r e l a tionship f o r the peak r a t e of a u n i t hydrograph:
where
qp = peak r a t e i n c f s
K = a constant (not t h e routing parameter used i n the Convex

method)
A
= drainage a r e a contributing runoff; i n square miles = average depth of runoff, i n inches, from t h e contributing area
Tp = time t o peak, i n hours

By l e t t i n g q f o r a watershed i n one condition P' K, A, Q, and T stand and using prmed symbols q;, A ' , & I , and T' f o r t h e same watershed i n a condition being studied, then by use of &tion 17-37 it i s evident t h a t :
%,
A' Q' Tp
(Eq. 17-38) which i s a t y p i c a l working equation of t h e u n i t hydrograph method. It can be used, f o r example, i n determining t h e peak r a t e s a f t e r establishment of land use and treatment measures on a watershed. I n such work t h e pres e n t peaks, areas, runoff amounts, and peak times a r e known and it i s only a matter of f i n d i n g t h e change i n runoff by use of Chapter 10 methods. The areas and peak times a r e assumed t o remain constant.
When a floodwater retarding s t r u c t u r e , o r other s t r u c t u r e c o n t r o l l i n g a p a r t of the watershed, i s being used i n t h e "future" condition then t h e value of A' i s reduced. And i f t h e r e a r e r e l e a s e s from t h e s t r u c t u r e then they must a l s o be taken i n t o account. For a project having struct u r e s controlling a t o t a l of A * square miles and having an average r e l e a s e r a t e of q* csm, t h e peak r a t e equation becomes:
When using Equation 17-39 t o f i n d t h e reduced peak r a t e t h e major assumpt i o n i s t h a t t h e s t r u c t u r e s a r e about uniformly d i s t r i b u t e d over t h e watershed. Another assumption i s t h a t all s t r u c t u r e s contribute t o q*, but t h i s i s sometimes too conservative an assumption (see t h e section t i t l e d "Use of Equation 17-43 on l a r g e watersheds"). When A' = A and T ' = T , which i s t h e usual case when evaluating land use and treatment Peffects, Equation 17-38 becomes:
which i s one of t h e basic expressions of t h e u n i t hydrograph theory. I f t h e same s i m p l i f i c a t i o n applies when evaluating s t r u c t u r e s then Equation 17-39 becomes:
Equation 17-41 can be f u r t h e r s i m p l i f i e d by using: (Eq. 17-42) where r i s t h e f r a c t i o n of drainage a r e a under control or t h e percent of control divided by 100. Using Equation 17-42 i n Equation 17-41 gives:
Effects of storm duration and time of concentration When the e f f e c t s of a change i n e i t h e r t h e storm duration o r t h e time of concentration must be taken i n t o account, one way t o do it i s t o use t h e following r e l a t i o n from Chapter 16:
where
Tp = time t o peak, i n hours a

D
= a constant
= storm duration, i n hours, during which runoff i s generated; it i s u s u a l l y - l e s s than t h e t o t a l storm duration.
NFX Notice 4-102, August 1972
= a constant
T, = time of concentration, i n hours

As shown i n Chapter 16, t h e constants a and b can be taken a s 0.5 and 0.6 respectively, f o r most problems, i n which case Equation 17-44 becomes :
Using Equation 17-45 i n equations 17-37. 17-38, and 17-39 produces working equations i n which e i t h e r t h e storm duration or t h e time of concent r a t i o n can be changed and t h e e f f e c t of t h e change determined. Such equations a r e not often used because t h e main comparison i s usually between present and f u t u r e conditions i n which only runoff amount and drainage area w i l l change. I n s p e c i a l problems where storm duration must be taken i n t o account t h e r e a r e other approaches t h a t a r e more applicable ( s e e t h e s e c t i o n t i t l e d "Use of Equation 17-43 on l a r g e watersheds"). Elimination of Tp
I n many physiographic a r e a s t h e r e i s a consistent r e l a t i o n between Tp and A because t h e r e i s a t y p i c a l storm condition o r pattern. The r e l a t i o n s h i p i s usually expressed as:
where c i s a constant m u l t i p l i e r and d i s a constant exponent. stituting C A ~ f o r Tp i n Equation 17-37 gives: q p = k A (1- d) where k = K/c. Letting (1 - d ) = h, Equation 17-47 becomes: qp = k Ah Q
Sub-
i/
(Eq. 17-47)
(Eq. 17-48)
which i s the working equation i n p r a c t i c e . The parameters k and h are obtained from d a t a f o r a l a r g e storm over t h e watershed o r region being studied. Values of q a t s e v e r a l l o c a t i o n s a r e obtained e i t h e r from P by means of slope-area measurements (Chapter 14): streamflow s t a t i o n s or values of Q associated with each qp are obtained f r o m t h e s t a t i o n d a t a o r by use of r a i n f a l l and watershed data and methods of chapter 10; and drainage areas a t each l o c a t i o n a r e determined. A p l o t t i n g of q /Q against A i s made on log paper and a l i n e of best f i t i s drawn t rough t h e p l o t t i n g . The m u l t i p l i e r k i s the i n t e r c e p t of t h e l i n e where A = 1 square mile and t h e exponent h is t h e slope of t h e l i n e . See t h e s e c t i o n t i t l e d "Use .of Equations 17-48, 17-50, and 17-52" f o r an a p p l i c a t i o n of t h i s procedure.
After h i s known, t h e equivalent of Equation 17-38 i s :
The k ' s cancel out i n making t h i s change. In t h e "Concordant Flow" method of peak determination, Equation 17-48 i s modified t o take i n t o account t h e e f f e c t s of control s t r u c t u r e s and t h e i r r e l e a s e r a t e s , with t h e working equation being:
which i s t h e same as Equation 17-43 i n form but where qp i s now determined from Equation 17-48. Equations 17-39, 17-41, 17-43, 17-50, and 17-51 should be used only when t h e storm runoff volume does not exceed t h e storage capacity of t h e s t r u c t u r e with t h e smallest capacity. If t h e runoff does exceed t h a t capacity these equations must be modified further. Equation 17-50, f o r example, becomes:
C
where Q s i s the average storage capacity of t h e s t r u c t u r e s . It i s shown i n Example 17-20 how Equation 17-51 and similar equations can be used even when t h e capacity v a r i e s from s t r u c t u r e t o s t r u c t u r e . Working equations f o r s p e c i a l cases Additional equations can be developed from those given i f a s p e c i a l problem a r i s e s i n watershed evaluation. For an example, suppose t h a t Equat i o n 17-43 i s t o be used f o r determining the e f f e c t s of a proposed system of floodwater r e t a r d i n g s t r u c t u r e s i n a watershed, and t h a t the evaluation reaches a r e so long t h a t t h e percent of area reservoired v a r i e s s i g n i f i cantly from the head t o t h e foot of the reach. To modify Equation 17-43 * be t h e a r e a reservoired, A t h e t o t a l area, and r = f o r t h i s case, l e t A A*/A f o r t h e head of t h e reach; and l e t B* be the t o t a l a r e a reservoired (including A*), B t h e t o t a l area (including A ) , and r" = BY/B f o r t h e foot of t h e reach. For evaluations t o be made a t t h e foot of t h e reach, Equation 17-43 then becomes:
After f i r s t computing ( 2 - r - r 1 ' ) / 2 = C ' and (A* + B*)/2 = C" f o r t h e reach, t h e working equation becomes: q;, =
9p
C'
q* C"
(Eq. 17-54)
where C' and C" are t h e computed coefficients. requires i t s own s e t of c o e f f i c i e n t s .
Each evaluation reach
Examples The problems i n the following examples range from t h e very simple t o t h e complex, t h e l a t t e r being given t o show t h a t unit-hydrograph methods have wide application. For some complex problems, however., it w i l l generally be more e f f i c i e n t t o use t h e SCS electronic-computer evaluation program. This b a s i c expression of t h e u n i t hydrograph Use of Equation 17-40. theory has many uses. The major l i m i t a t i o n i n i t s use i s t h a t Q and Q' must be about uniformly d i s t r i b u t e d over t h e watershed being studied. The following i s a t y p i c a l but simple problem. &ample 17-12.--A watershed has a peak discharge of 46,300 c f s from a storm t h a t produced 2.54 inches of runoff. What would t h e peak r a t e have been f o r a runoff of 1.68 inches?
1. Apply Equation 17-40.
For t h i s problem q = 46,300 c f s , Q = 2.54 inches, and Q' = 1.68 P inches. B y Equation 17-40 q ; = 46300(1.68/2.54) = 30,604 c f s , rihich i s roun'ded t o 30,600 c f s . Use of Equation 17-43 - The major l i m i t a t i o n s i n t h e use of t h i s equation a r e t h a t both t h e runoffs and t h e s t r u c t u r e s must be about uniformly dist r i b u t e d over t h e watershed and t h a t t h e stream t r a v e l times f o r the 1, future" condition must be about t h e same as f o r t h e "present." The following i s a t y p i c a l but simple problem. Example 17-13.--A watershed of 183 square miles has a flood peak of 37,800 c f s . I f 42 square miles of t h i s watershed were controlled by floodwater r e t a r d i n g s t r u c t u r e s having a n average r e l e a s e r a t e of 15 csm, what would t h e reduced peak be?
1. Computer. By Equation 17-42 r = 42/183 = 0.230 because A* = 42 and A = 183 square miles.
2. Apply Equation 17-43. For t h i s problem, q, = 37,800 c f s , r = 0.230 from s t e p 1, * = 15 . q csm, and A* = 42 s & r e miles. ~y Equation 17-43 q' = 37800(1 0.230) + 15(42) = 29,736 c f s , which i s rounded t o 25,700 c f s . This i s t h e reduced peak.
Use of Equation 17-43 on l a r g e watersheds.- I f Equation 17-43 i s used f o r evaluating t h e e f f e c t s of s t r u c t u r e s i n a l a r n -e watershed or r i v e r basin t h e releases from s t r u c t u r e s far upstream may not add t o t h e peak r a t e s i n t h e lower reaches of t h e main stem. And i f r e l e a s e s from c e r t a i n upstream s t r u c t u r e s do not a f f e c t peaks f a r downstream then those s t r u c t u r e s a l s o a r e not reducing t h e peak r a t e s , t h e r e f o r e t h e i r drainage areas should not be used i n t h e equation.
L/
NM
Notice 4-102, August 1972
I n problems of t h i s kind t h e approach t o be taken i s r e l a t i v e l y simple

though there a r e supplementary computations t o be made before t h e equat i o n i s used. The key s t e p i n t h e approach i s finding the Tp f o r an evaluation flood and using only those areas and s t r u c t u r e s close enough o w this t o t h e sub-basin o u t l e t t o a f f e c t t h e peak r a t e of t h a t flood. H i s done w i l l be i l l u s t r a t e d using the data and computations of Table 17-21. The data a r e f o r a sub-basin of 620 square miles, with a time of concentration of 48 hours. Storm durations f o r t h e floods t o be evaluated w i l l vary from 1 t o over 72 hours, which means t h a t t h e sub-basin Tp w i l l a l s o vary considerably. Table 17-21 i s developed as follows: Column 1 l i s t s t h e t r a v e l times on t h e sub-basin main stem from t h e o u t l e t point t o selected points upstream, which a r e mainly junctions with major t r i b u t a r i e s . The f i r s t entry i s f o r t h e o u t l e t p o i n t . Column 2 gives t h e t o t a l drainage a r e a above each s e l e c t e d p o i n t . Column 3 gives t h e increments of area. Column 4 gives t h e accumulated a r e a s , going upstream. These a r e the contributing areas when t h e flood's Tp i s within t h e l i m i t s shown i n column 1. For example, when Tp i s between 3.5 and 9 . 1 hours, t h e cont r i b u t i n g drainage a r e a i s 74 square miles. Tp must be a t l e a s t 48 hours before the e n t i r e watershed contributes t o t h e peak r a t e . Column 5 shows t h e t o t a l areas controlled by s t r u c t u r e s . Column 6 gives t h e increments of controlled area. Column 7 gives t h e accumulated controlled a r e a s , going upstream. Column 8 gives values of r , which a r e computed using e n t r i e s of columns 7 and 4. Column 9 gives values of (1 of column 8.
r ) , which a r e computed using e n t r i e s
Column 10 gives t h e t o t d l average r e l e a s e r a t e i n c f s f o r t h e cont r o l l e d areas of column 7. For t h i s t a b l e t h e average r e l e a s e r a t e q* i s 7 csm. Therefore t h e q*(A*) entry f o r a p a r t i c u l a r row i s t h e column 7 a r e a of t h a t row multiplied by t h e average r a t e i n csm. Only columns 1, 9, and 10 are used i n t h e remaining work. To determine t h e e f f e c t of t h e s t r u c t u r e s t h e qp and T of t h e evaluation flood must be known, t h e proper e n t r i e s taken from t g e t a b l e , and Equation 17-43 applied. For example, i f qp = 87,000 cfs and Tp = 24 hours f o r a p a r t i c u l a r flood, f i r s t e n t e r column 1 with Tp = 24 hours and f i n d t h e row t o be used, i n t h i s case it i s between Tt values of 21.1 and 28.0 hours; next s e l e c t ( 1 r ) = 0.459 from column 9 of t h a t row and q * ( A W ) = 1,491 c f s from column 10; f i n a l l y , use Equation 17-43 which gives q i = 87000 (0.459) + 1491 = 41,424 c f s , which i s rounded t o 41,400 c f s .
Ll
Table
17-21
D a t a and working t a b l e f o r
use of Equation 17-43 on

AA* 4: (sq.mi.) ( s q . m i . ) (6) (7)
0
0
a l a r g e watershed
Tt (hrs)
A (sq.mi.)
(1)
(2) 620
AA AU A* (sq.mi.) (sq.mi.) ( s q . m i . ) (3) (4) (5)
(1 - r )
q*(~*p'
(cfs)
(8)
0
(9)
1.000
(lo)
0
21
o
2.0 3.5 9.1 15.3
21.1
359 8
8
14 74 164 244
394 495
612 606 546
6 60 90
359
3
.214 .365 .426 517 .541 .586 5'70 .580

--
.786 .635 .574 .483 .459 .414 .430 .420
356 332
24 43
27 70 126 213 290 338 359
189 490 882 1491 2030 2366 2513
456 376 226 125 27

0
80 150
101
289 233 146 69
56 87 '77
28.0 31.0 42.0 '48.0

1/ Using -
98 27
593 620
21 o
48
21
an average rate of q* = 7 c s m .
' . . -
If any o t h e r p o i n t i n t h e sub-basin i s a l s o t o be used f o r evaluation of s t r u c t u r e e f f e c t s t h e n a s e p a r a t e t a b l e i s needed f o r t h a t p o i n t .
Use of Equations 17-48, 17-50, and 17-52.- When streamflow d a t a o r slopea r e a measurements and Q e s t i m a t e s a r e a v a i l a b l e f o r a watershed and i t s v i c i n i t y , t h e information can be used t o c o n s t r u c t a graph of qp/Q and A as shown i n Figure 17-21. This i s t h e g r a p h i c a l form of Equation 17-48. If a l i n e with an i n t e r c e p t of 484 c f s / i n . and slope of 0 . 4 can be reasonably w e l l f i t t e d t o t h e d a t a , as i n t h i s case, it means t h a t t h e hydrograph shapes of t h e s e watersheds c l o s e l y resemble t h e shape of t h e u n i t hydrograph of Figure 16-1 ( s e e Chapter 1 6 ) . Usually t h e slope w i l l be 0.4 f o r o t h e r shapes of hydrographs ( t h e reason f o r t h i s i s discussed i n Chapter 1 5 ) but t h e i n t e r c e p t w i l l vary. kor t h e l i n e of Figure 17-21, Equation 17-48 can be w r i t t e n :
The following examples show some t y p i c a l uses of t h e graph o r i t s equation. Example 17-14.--For a watershed i n t h e region t o which Figure 17-21 a p p l i e s , A = 234 square miles and Q = 3.15 inches f o r a storm event. What i s q 7 P'
1 .
Find qp/Q f o r t h e given A.
Enter t h e graph with A = 234 square miles and a t t h e l i n e of r e l a t i o n f i n d qp/Q = 4,290 c f s / i n . 2. Compute q,.
Multiplying %/Q by Q g i v e s qp, t h e r e f o r e , qp = 3.15(4290) = 13,500 c f s by a s l i d e - r u l e computation.
If p a r t of a watershed i s c o n t r o l l e d by floodwater r e t a r d i n g s t r u c t u r e s
t h e graph can be used t o g e t h e r with equation 17-50, as follows: Example 17-15.--A watershed o f 234 square miles has a system of floodwater r e t a r d i n g s t r u c t u r e s on it c o n t r o l l i n g a t o t a l of 103 square miles. Each s t r u c t u r e has a s t o r a g e c a p a c i t y of 4.5 inches b e f o r e discharge begins through t h e emergency spillway. Each s t r u c t u r e has an average r e l e a s e r a t e of 1 5 csm. When t h e storm runoff Q i s 4 . 1 inches what i s t h e pea& r a t e with ( a ) s t r u c t u r e s not i n p l a c e , and ( b ) s t r u c t u r e i n place?
1. Determine t h e f l o o d peak f o r t h e watershed with s t r u c t u r e s not i n place. Use t h e method of Example 17-14. Enter Figure 17-21 with A = 234 square miles and f i n d qp/Q = 4,290 c f s / i n . Multiplying t h a t r e s u l t by Q = 4.1 inches gives qp = 4.1(4290) = i 7 , 6 0 0 c f s by a s l i d e r u l e computation. This discharge i s (k A Q ) i n Equation 17-50.
2. Determine (1 r ) . From Equation 17-42 r = A*/A = 1031234 = 0.440. 1 - 0.440 = 0.560.

3.
Then ( 1
- r) =
Determine t h e flood peak f o r t h e watershed with s t r u c t u r e s i n
place.
Use Equation 17-50 with t h e r e s u l t s of s t e p s 1 and 2 and t h e given data f o r controlled a r e a and r e l e a s e r a t e : q$ = 17600(0.560) + 15(103) =. 11,410 c f s , using a s l i d e - r u l e f o r t h e m u l t i p l i c a t i o n s . Round t h e discharge t o 11,400 c f s .
If t h e storm runoff exceeds t h e storage c a p a c i t i e s of t h e s t r u c t u r e s but t h e capacities a r e t h e same f o r a l l s t r u c t u r e s then Equation 17-52 can be applied as shown i n t h e following example.
Example.17-16.--For the same watershed and s t r u c t u r e s used i n Example 17-18 find t h e peak r a t e s without and with s t r u c t u r e s i n place when t h e storm runoff i s 6.21 inches.
1 . Determine t h e flood peak f o r t h e watershed with s t r u c t u r e s not i n place. Use t h e method of Example 17-14. h t e r Figure 17-21 with A = 234 = 4,290 c f s / i n . This i s (k ~ h i) n Equasquare miles and f i n d q p / ~ t i o n 17-52. Multiplying t h a t r e s u l t by Q = 6.21 inches gives q = 6.21 (4290) = 26,700 c f s by a s l i d e - r u l e computation. This i s ?he peak r a t e without s t r u c t u r e s i n place.
2. Determine r. From Equation 17-42 r = AY/A = 1031234 = 0.440
3. Determine t h e flood peak f o r t h e watershed with s t r u c t u r e s i n place.

Use Equation 17-52 with (k A ~ = ) 4,290 c f s / i n . from s t e p 1; Q = 6.21 inches, as given; r = 0.440, from s t e p 2; and Qs = 4.5 inches, q* = 15 csrn, and A* = 103 square miles as given i n Example 17-17. O.bkO(4.5)) + 15(103) = 18160 + 1540 = Then q$ = 4290(6.21 19,700 cfs.
Note t h a t t h e e f f e c t of t h e r e l e a s e r a t e on reducing t h e storm runoff amount i s not taken i n t o account i n t h i s example. This means t h a t t h e peak of 19,700 c f s i s s l i g h t l y too l a r g e and t h a t t h i s approach gives a conservatively high answer. I f t h e storage c a p a c i t i e s of t h e s t r u c t u r e s vary then Equation 17-52 i s used with ( Q - r Q s ) computed by a more d e t a i l e d method, as shown i n t h e following example. Example 17-17.--A watershed of 311 square miles has a system of floodwater retarding s t r u c t u r e s c o n t r o l l i n g a t o t a l of 187 square miles and having average r e l e a s e r a t e s of 8 csm. Storage c a p a c i t i e s of t h e s t r u c t u r e s are shown i n column 3 of Table 17-22; t h e s e a r e t h e c a p a c i t i e s before emergency spillway discharge begins. When t h e storm runoff i s
uniformly 7.5 inches over the watershed, what i s t h e peak r a t e of flow with ( a ) no s t r u c t u r e s i n place and ( b ) s t r u c t u r e s i n place?
1. Determine the flood peak f o r t h e watershed with s t r u c t u r e s not
i n place. Use t h e method of Example 17-14. Enter Figure 17-21 with A = 311 square miles and f i n d q p / 4 = 4,800 c f s / i n . This . i s ( k A ~ i) n Equat i o n 17-52. Multiplying t h a t r e s u l t by Q = 7.5 inches gives qp = 36,000 cfs by a slide-rule computation. This i s t h e peak r a t e without s t r u c t u r e s i n place. 2. Compute the equivalent of ( r QS) i n Equation 17-52. The f a c t o r ( r Qs) can a l s o be expressed a s :
where Ax i s t h e drainage a r e a i n square miles of t h e x-th s t r u c t u r e and Qsx i s t h e reservoir capacity i n inches f o r t h a t s t r u c t u r e . In Table 17-22 each drainage a r e a of column 2 i s multiplied by t h e respective storage of column 3 t o get t h e entry f o r column 4. But note t h a t when t h e storage exceeds t h e storm runoff it i s t h e storm runoff amount, i n t h i s case 7.5 inches, which i s used t o get t h e e n t r y f o r column 4. Equation 17-56 i s solved f o r ( r Q s ) by dividing t h e sum of column 4 by the t o t a l watershed area: ( r Qs)= 967.26
311
= 3.11 inches
(Note: Column 4 is not needed if the c a l c u l a t i o n s a r e made by accumulative multiplication on a desk-calculator. ) 3. Determine the flood peak f o r t h e watershed with s t r u c t u r e s i n
place.
Use Equation 17-52 with (k A ~ = ) 4,800 c f s / i n . from s t e p 1; Q = 7.5 inches, as given; ( r QS) = 3.11 inches as computed i n s t e p 2; and * = 187 square miles, a s given. This gives: q i = q* = 8 csm and A 4800(7.5 - 3.11) + 8(187) = 21100 + 1495 = 22,595 c f s , which i s rounded t o 22,600 c f s . This i s t h e peak r a t e with s t r u c t u r e s i n place. DISCUSSION. These examples are a sample of t h e many ways i n which t h e unit-hydrograph methoa of routing can be used. Accuracy of t h e method depends on what has been ignored, such as v a r i a b l e r e l e a s e r a t e , surcharge s t o r a g e , and so on. In general, t h e method gives conservative results-t h a t i s , t h e e f f e c t s of s t r u c t u r e s , f o r example, a r e usually underestimated so t h a t t h e peak r a t e i s s l i g h t l y too high. The examples a l s o show t h a t as t h e problem contains more d e t a i l s t h e procedure g e t s more complex. It i s e a s i l y possible t o make t h i s "short-cut" method so complicated it becomes d i f f i c u l t t o get t h e solution. For t h i s reason, and f o r reasons of accuracy, it i s b e t t e r t o use t h e SCS e l e e t r o n i c computer program f o r complex routing problems.
NHI Notice 4-102, August 1972
Table 17-22 Floodwater retarding structure
Area and storage data f o r Example 17-17 Gontribut ing drainage area ( s q . mi.)
Storage (in.)
A x
Qsx
( s q . mi. x i n . )
This i s (drainage a r e a ) x (storm runoff of 7.5 inches) because t h e storage g r e a t e r than t h e runoff i s ineffect i v e and should not be used i n the computation.
NEB ~ o t ' i c e4-102, August 1972

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NATIONAL ENGINEERING IIAI~IBOOK

Victor Mockus Hydraulic Engineer

Revisions by Wendell Styner

1972 Revised and r e p r i n t e d , 1972

NATIONAL ENGINEERING HANDBOOK SECTION

..................... ................. ......................... .......... ..................... .................... ................... ......

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17-54 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17-56 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17-57' . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17-59 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17-61 . . . . . . . . 17-66

..... ...................... ............. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

17-82 17-82 17-83 17-84 17-85 17-86 17-86 17-86

.............. ......... .. .. ... .......

17-15 17-16 17-17 17-18

17-19 Operation t a b l e f o r Example 17-11 Method 2

. . . . . . . 17-67 . . . . . . . . . . . 17-71 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17-88 . . . . . . . . . 17-92

NEH Notice 4-102,

N A T I O N A L ENGINEERING HANDBOOK SECTION

The routing process i s based on one of t h e following approaches:

1950, Flood routing: Engineering Hydraulics

NEH Notice 6-102, August 1972

Elevation-Storaae and Elevation-Discharge Relationships

NEH ~ o i i c e 4-102, August 1972

NM Notice 4-102, August 1972

Table 17-1. Equations for conversions of units

qcfs = discharge in cfs

= reach storage in cfs-hours for

= reach storage in acre-feet for a given discharge x

Notice 4-102, August 1972

Elevat ion (feet)

Surface area (q.ft.1

Surface area (acres)

Average surface area (acres)

NEH Notice 4-102, August 1972

Elevation-discharge r e l a t i o n s h i p f o r a 2-stage p r i n c i p a l spillway.

F i r s t stage: Weir Orifice (cfs) (cfs)

Second stage: Weir Pipe (cfs) (cfs)

XEH Notice 4-102, August 1972

NM Notice 4-102, August 1972

Table Outflow (cfs)

Working t a b l e f o r a storage-discharge r e l a t i o n s h i p Wei~htedend-areas

Cross s e c t i o n end-areas 1 (sq.ft)

= average r a t e of inflow during t h e time i n t e r v a l = average r a t e of outflow during t h e time i n t e r v a l

so t h a t Equation 17-10 becomes:

A t = t2 - tl = time i n t e r v a l ; tl ts t h e time a t t h e beginning of t h e i n t e r v a l and t2 t h e tlme a t t h e end of t h e i n t e r v a l

NEH Notice 4-102, August 1972

Storage cf s-hrs cfs-days

NM Notice 4-102, August 1972

MI2 = mass inflow a t time 2 M01 = mass outflow a t time 1

= average discharge during t h e routing i n t e r v a l = routing i n t e r v a l = time 2 minus time 1

NM Notice 4-102, August 1972

g. Compute t h e average discharge f o r A t .

NEH n o t i c e 4-102, August 1972

NEH Notice 4-102, A~gUst1972

7 and get t h e increment of out-

. j . Compare t h e mass outflow of column 9 with t h e assumed mass

8 . Determine t h e minimum required s t o r w e . Examine t h e e n t r i e s i n column 5 and f i n d t h e l a r g e s t e n t r y , which i s

REH Notice 4-102, August 1972

The average discharge 5 i n Equation 17-12 la (01 + 02)/2 so t h a t t h e equation can be w r i t t e n :

NM Notice 4-102, August 1972

Acc. Acc. base inflow* flow (in.) (in.) (3) 0

for acc. voloutflow me At ( i n . ) (in;) (in./dqr) ( i n . / d w ) ( i n . )

Spillvray discharge Inst. Avg.

.63 3.45 e t c etc.

A t a r a t e of 0.045 inches per day.

NELI Notice 4-102, August 1972