WEEK 11: RATIONAL METHOD

LEARNING OUTCOMES
At the end of the week, students should be
able to:
(1) explain the concept of rational method (CO1);
(2) explain the concept of time of concentration
(CO1);
(3) apply rational method for peak flow determination
(CO2).
 Hydraulic Design Approach

In the design of hydraulic structures, only the

magnitude (quantity) of the runoff is required rather
than a descriptive time variation of flow.
Analysis and design using the peak flow for a
given frequency generally yields satisfactory
solution.
 Estimation of Peak Flow

UH method
Empirical method
Modeling/ Simulation
Statistical method
Rational method
 Design flood
estimation is
crucial in the
planning and
design of water
resources
projects like the
construction of
culverts, bridges,
reservoirs or
dams.
 If a water control structure is under designed, the results
could be a disaster; the dam may break, the highway may
flood or the bridge may collapse. On the other hand, if the
structure is over designed and hence very safe, the cost
involved could be unreasonably expensive.
Therefore, estimation of the design flood or magnitude of a flood
of a certain recurrence interval to be adopted for the design of a
water control structure is fundamental to ensure that economic
engineering design with adequate standards of safety can be
achieved.
DeFlood GS is a prototype web-based guidance system on
design flood estimation.

Objective of DeFlood GS
To help the engineers and practitioners to obtain the appropriate
design flood estimation in a more convenient way within an
acceptable accuracy and certainty.
 Rational Method

Introduced since 1889 and still widely used.

A standard method in urban storm drainage design.
Suitable for catchment size of < 50 km2.
 Rational Method
Qp = C I A Rainfall duration t > tc
where
Qp = maximum peak discharge
I = rainfall intensity
A = watershed area

C = dimensionless runoff coefficient

Qp= (CIA)/3.6 for units

Qp (m3/s) I (mm/h) A (km2)
 The Rationale
if rainfall intensities remain steady and uniform
over the time interval required to completely drain a
watershed such that the entire watershed is
contributing to the outflow at the point of design
(time of concentration tc), then the runoff would
reach a constant peak value.
Q

Q = Qp

t = tc t
 tc (min) A (km2) Cumm A (km2)
1 2 2
2 3 5
3 4 9
4 3 12
12

Isochrone (equal time of travel)

4h
R=CP 3h
RA= C PA
(R A) / t = C (P / t) A 2h

Q =C IA 1h
Say C = 0.2, I = 10 mm/h (uniform intensity):
tc (min) A (km2) Cumm A (km2) Q = C I A (m3/s)
1 2 2 = 0.2*10* 2/3.6 = 1.1
2 3 5 = 0.2*10* 5/3.6 = 2.8
3 4 9 = 0.2*10* 9/3.6 = 5.0
4 3 12 = 0.2*10*12/3.6 = 6.7

5 12 = 0.2*10*12/3.6 = 6.7
6 12 = 0.2*10*12/3.6 = 6.7
= 0.2*10*12/3.6 =
 Runoff Coefficient
Use published values (range) provided by literature
e.g. Table 7.1 pg248 (Subramanya)

For catchment with heterogenous surface, calculate

equivalent runoff coefficient:

Ce
CA
i i
A1
A i
A2

A3
Rainfall Intensity
IDF curve:
T3 > T2 > T1
I

T3

T2
T1
General equation:
t
KT A
I
(tc B)C

K,a,x and m are constants

 Time of Concentration

CtL ( LLca / S ) n
tc 0.77 0.385
0.01947 L S

Example: 7.1(a), (b)

Problem solving: 7.1, 7.2, 7.3, 7.4