Scribd
Upload
693 views4 pages

The Rational Method

The Rational Method is an empirical formula that relates runoff from a catchment area to the rainfall intensity and size of the catchment. The basic formula is: Peak Discharge = Runoff Coefficient x Intensity x Area. This document provides the specific formula used to calculate peak discharge given a catchment area's runoff coefficient, rainfall intensity for a given return period, and the area reduction factor. It also describes how to determine each of these parameters based on characteristics of the catchment area like land use and slope.

Uploaded by

roshan034
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
693 views4 pages

The Rational Method

The Rational Method is an empirical formula that relates runoff from a catchment area to the rainfall intensity and size of the catchment. The basic formula is: Peak Discharge = Runoff Coefficient x Intensity x Area. This document provides the specific formula used to calculate peak discharge given a catchment area's runoff coefficient, rainfall intensity for a given return period, and the area reduction factor. It also describes how to determine each of these parameters based on characteristics of the catchment area like land use and slope.

Uploaded by

roshan034
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

The Rational Method

This method is an Empirical formula relates the run-off from a catchment to


the intensity of the rainfall and the sixe of the catchment. A coefficient is
introduced to account for the manner in which the type of land-use within, and
morphology of the catchment affect the rate of run-off.

The basic form of the equation is thus:

Peak Discharge, Q = Runoff Coefficient x Intensity x Area

The real formula used for calculating peak discharge at a given outlet of a
catchment area is :

QT = 0.278 x CT x IT X (ARF x A)

Where:
QT = Discharge (m3/s) for a return period T
CT = Runoff coefficient for return period T
IT = Intensity (mm/hr) for return period T
ARF = Area Reduction Factor

A description of each of these parameters is given below:


The run off coefficient CT is obtain on the physical characteristics of:
 The Slope of the project site
 Soil Permeability
 Land-use
From database of catchment characteristics
CT = FT (αC1) + βC2

Where
CT = Runoff coefficient for return period T
α = % of catchment that is rural
β = % of catchment that is urban

C1 = Cy + Cp + Cv
Where
Cy relates to topography
Cp relates to permeability
Cv relates to vegetation

Values of Cy, Cp and Cv are derived from the table below:


Mean Classification Cy values for different Mean Annual
Catchment Precipitation (mm)
Slope
< 600 600 - 900 > 900
Less than 3% Marsh/Wetland 0.01 0.03 0.05
3% to 10% Flat 0.06 0.08 0.11
10% to 30% Hilly 0.12 0.16 0.20
Greater than Steep 0.22 0.26 0.30
30%

Classification Cp Values for different Mean Annual Precipitation


(mm)
<600 600-900 > 900
Very Permeable 0.03 0.04 0.05
Permeable 0.06 0.08 0.10
Semi Permeable 0.12 0.16 0.20
Impermeable 0.21 0.26 0.30

Classification Cv Values for different Mean Annual


Precipitation (mm)
<600 600-900 > 900
Thick Bush & Plantation 0.03 0.04 0.05
Light Bush & farmland 0.07 0.10 0.15
Sugarcane 0.17 0.20 0.25
No vegetation 0.26 0.28 0.30

Since β is equal to 0, the new formula is


CT = FT (α C1)
For a return period of 25 years, FT can be safely taken as 0.70
 The Mauritius Meteorological Office has developed a rainfall intensity-
duration-frequency (IDF) relationship from data for 5 sites over a period
of 20 years, which is deemed applicable to the whole island.

The equation derived from the IDF curves for calculating intensity, I, (mm/hr)
are as follows:
For duration t < 1hr I = R x t -0.29
t > 1hr I = R x t -0.29

where, for Return Period Tr of

2 yrs, R= 33
5 yrs, R= 53
10 yrs, R= 66
25 yrs, R= 90

In the Rational Method, the storm rainfall is assumed to have a duration equal
to the catchment time of concentration t c. Therefore, the largest possible peak
flow for a return period of 25 years is obtained.
Henceforth, the time of concentration tc is substituted for t in the above
equation for rainfall intensity.

The most widely used formula to calculate tc is:


Tc = [(0.87 x L2) / (1000 x S)] 0.385
Where,
tc - time of concentration (hours)
L - Longest flow path (km)
S - Slope of L (m/m)

The Area Reduction Factor (ARF) is used to convert point rainfall into a real
rainfall for larger catchments. This is necessary to reflect the fact that as
catchment area increases, the assumption of uniform rainfall across the entire
catchment becomes invalid.

You might also like