Flow Routing

Techniques
Flow Routing
 is a mathematical method (model) to
predict the changing magnitude,
speed, and shape of a flood wave at
one or more locations along
waterways such as rivers, reservoirs,
canals, or estuaries.
 Flow Routing Q

t
• Procedure to
determine the flow Q
hydrograph at a
point on a
watershed from a t
known hydrograph
Q
upstream
• As the hydrograph
travels, it t
– attenuates
Q
– gets delayed

t
 Why route flows?

• Account for changes in flow hydrograph as a flood wave

passes downstream
• This helps in
– Accounting for storages
– Studying the attenuation of flood peaks
Channel Routing

• Simulate the movement of water through a

channel
• Used to predict the magnitudes, volumes, and
temporal patterns of the flow (often a flood
wave) as it translates down a channel.
• 2 types of routing : hydrologic and hydraulic.
• both of these methods use some form of the
continuity equation.

5
Continuity Equation
•The change in storage (dS) equals the
difference between inflow (I) and outflow
(O) or :
dS
= I -O
dt
•For open channel flow, the continuity
equation is also often written as :
A = the cross-sectional area,
A Q
+ =q Q = channel flow, and
t x q = lateral inflow

6
Hydrologic Routing

• Methods combine the continuity equation

with some relationship between storage,
outflow, and possibly inflow.
• These relationships are usually assumed,
empirical, or analytical in nature.
• An of example of such a relationship might
be a stage-discharge relationship.

7
 Hydrologic Routing
Discharge I (t ) Discharge
Inflow
Transfer Q (t )
Function
Outflow

I (t )  Inflow Q (t )  Outflow
Upstream Downstream
hydrograph hydrograph
Input, output, and storage are related by
continuity equation:
dS
 I (t )  Q (t ) Q and S are
dt unknown
Storage can be expressed as a function of I(t) or
Q(t) or both
dI dQ
S  f (I , ,  , Q, , )
dt dt
For a linear reservoir, S=kQ
Use of Manning Equation
• Stage is also related to the outflow via a relationship such as
Manning's equation

1.49
Q ARh S f
2 1
3 2

9
Hydraulic Routing
• Hydraulic routing methods combine the
continuity equation with some more physical
relationship describing the actual physics of
the movement of the water.
• The momentum equation is the common
relationship employed.
• In hydraulic routing analysis, it is intended
that the dynamics of the water or flood wave
movement be more accurately described

10
Momentum Equation

• Expressed by considering the external forces acting on a control

section of water as it moves down a channel

v v g ( y A) vg
+V + + = g( S o - S f )
t x A 2x A

• Henderson (1966) expressed the momentum

equation as :

y v v 1 v
S f = So - - -
x g x g t
11
Combinations of Equations
• Simplified Versions :

y v v 1 v
S f = So - - - Unsteady –Non-uniform
x g x g t

y v v
S f = So - - Steady – Non-uniform
x g x

y Diffusion or non-inertial
S f = So -
x

Sf = So Kinematic

12
Routing Methods
1. Level Pool Method (Modified Puls)
– Storage is nonlinear function of Q
2. Muskingum Method
– Storage is linear function of I and Q
3. Series of Reservoir Models
– Storage is linear function of Q and its time
derivatives
S and Q Relationships
Level Pool Routing/Modified Puls
• Procedure for calculating outflow
hydrograph Q(t) from a reservoir with
horizontal water surface, given its inflow
hydrograph I(t) and storage-outflow
relationship
 Hydrologic River Routing
(Muskingum Method)
Wedge storage in reach

Advancing I
S Prism  KQ Flood
Q
Wave
S Wedge  KX ( I  Q ) I>Q
I Q
K = travel time of peak through the
reach Q Q
X = weight on inflow versus outflow (0
≤ X ≤ 0.5)
X = 0  Reservoir, storage depends
on outflow, no wedge
X = 0.0 - 0.3  Natural stream I Q
S  KQ  KX ( I  Q)
Receding
Flood
S  K [ XI  (1  X )Q ] Wave QI
Q>I
I I
 Muskingum Method (Cont.)
S  K [ XI  (1  X )Q]

S j 1  S j  K {[ XI j 1  (1  X )Q j 1 ]  [ XI j  (1  X )Q j ]}

Recall:
I j 1  I j Q j 1  Q j
S j 1  S j  t  t
2 2

t  2 KX
Combine: C1 
2 K (1  X )  t
Q j 1  C1I j 1  C 2 I j  C3Q j
t  2 KX
C2 
2 K (1  X )  t
2 K (1  X )  t
C3 
2 K (1  X )  t

If I(t), K and X are known, Q(t) can be calculated using

above equations
Thank You!

Group 9

Nocedal, Junalyn
Obrero, Christian
Paja, Chona Rose
Pandes, Joshua
Boaquina,Julie Ann
BSCE – 4B