Surface Water Hydrology

Professor Rajib Maity

Department of Civil Engineering
Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur
Lecture 45
Channel Routing: Muskingum Method and Hydraulic Flood Routing

(Refer Slide Time: 0:19)

In this particular lecture, we will know the Muskingum method and Hydraulic Flood Routing
method under the category of channel routing.

(Refer Slide Time: 0:55)

The two concepts are there. One first one as I mentioned, the Muskingum method of routing
and second one is the hydraulic flood routing. Both concepts will be covered in this lecture.
The outline of this lecture goes like this. So, Muskingum method of routing, is procedure, how
to proceed with this method and with a solved example. And then some brief discussion on this
hydraulic fluid routing before going to the summary.

(Refer Slide Time: 1:24)

For a given channel reach, the change in storage for a routing interval of Δt can be expressed
by Muskingum equation as,
The same change in storage for that reach can be expressed by continuity equation as,

𝑰𝟏 𝑰𝟐 𝑸𝟏 𝑸𝟐
𝑺𝟐 𝑺𝟏 ∆𝒕 ∆𝒕
𝟐 𝟐

where, the suffixes 1 and 2 refer to the conditions before and after the time interval Δt.

(Refer Slide Time: 3:19)

Muskingum Method of Routing

Two equations expressing the change in storage for a given channel reach are mentioned in the
previous slide. Comparing them, the value of outflow (Q2) can be evaluated as,

𝑸𝟐 𝑪𝟎 𝑰𝟐 𝑪𝟏 𝑰𝟏 𝑪𝟐 𝑸𝟏

where,

𝐾𝑥 0.5∆𝑡
𝑪𝟎
𝐾 𝐾𝑥 0.5∆𝑡

𝐾𝑥 0.5∆𝑡
𝑪𝟏
𝐾 𝐾𝑥 0.5∆𝑡

𝐾 𝐾𝑥 0.5∆𝑡
𝑪𝟐
𝐾 𝐾𝑥 0.5∆𝑡

It may be noted that C0+ C1+C2 =1

The general form of the equation for nth time step is

𝑸𝒏 𝑪𝟎 𝑰𝒏 𝑪𝟏 𝑰𝒏 𝟏 𝑪𝟐 𝑸 𝒏 𝟏
This is known as Muskingum Routing Equation, which provides a linear equation for channel
routing.

(Refer Slide Time: 4:52)

Muskingum routing equation and continuity equation can also be combined in an alternative
form of Muskingum Routing Equation, i.e.,

𝑸𝟐 𝑸𝟏 𝑩𝟏 𝑰𝟏 𝑸𝟏 𝑩𝟐 𝑰𝟐 𝑰𝟏

where,

∆𝑡
𝑩𝟏
𝐾 1 𝑥 0.5∆𝑡

0.5∆𝑡 𝐾𝑥
𝑩𝟐
𝐾 1 𝑥 0.5∆𝑡
(Refer Slide Time: 5:38)

Procedure of Muskingum Method of Routing

1. To route a given inflow hydrograph, the values of K and x for the reach and the value
of the outflow Q1, from the reach at the start are required.

2. Routing interval Δt should be chosen in such a way that it satisfies the condition
"K > Δt > 2Kx". If Δt < 2Kx, then the coefficient C0 will be negative which should be
avoided by choosing appropriate value of Δt.

3. Calculate the values C0, C1 and C2.

4. Starting from the initial conditions I1, Q1 and known I2 at the end of the first-time step
Δt, calculate Q2.
5. The outflow calculated in step 4 becomes the known initial outflow for the next time
step and the steps are repeated for the entire inflow hydrograph.
(Refer Slide Time: 7:35)

Example 45.1

Assuming K = 10.31 h and x = 0.20, route the following inflow flood using Muskingum
method. Also plot the inflow and outflow hydrograph. At the start of the inflow flood, the
outflow discharge is 12 m3/s.

(Refer Slide Time: 8:22)

Solution

Values of K and x are 10.31 h and 0.20, respectively.

Since K = 10.31 h and 2Kx = 2 × 10.31 × 0.2 = 4.12 h. Thus, the value of t should lie in the
range of 10.31 h > t > 4.12 h. In the present case t = 6 h is selected to suit the given inflow
hydrograph ordinate interval.

The values of C0, C1, C2 can be calculated as

𝐾𝑥 0.5∆𝑡 10.31 0.20 0.5 6

𝑪𝟎 0.08
𝐾 𝐾𝑥 0.5∆𝑡 10.31 10.31 0.20 0.5 6

𝐾𝑥 0.5∆𝑡 10.31 0.20 0.5 6

𝑪𝟏 0.45
𝐾 𝐾𝑥 0.5∆𝑡 10.31 10.31 0.20 0.5 6

𝐾 𝐾𝑥 0.5∆𝑡 10.31 10.31 0.20 0.5 6

𝑪𝟐 0.47
𝐾 𝐾𝑥 0.5∆𝑡 10.31 10.31 0.20 0.5 6

(Refer Slide Time: 09:37)

For the first time interval, i.e., 0-6 h, I1 = 12 m3/s, I2 = 22 m3/s, Q1 = 12 m3/s

So, using the equation, 𝑸𝟐 𝑪𝟎 𝑰𝟐 𝑪𝟏 𝑰𝟏 𝑪𝟐 𝑸𝟏

The value for the next step can be calculated as,

𝑸𝟐 𝟎. 𝟎𝟖 𝟐𝟐 𝟎. 𝟒𝟓 𝟏𝟐 𝟎. 𝟒𝟕 𝟏𝟐
𝟑
𝟏𝟐. 𝟖 𝐦 /𝐬
The process is repeated for the entire time period and prepare the result in a tabulated form to
obtain the outflow discharge.

(Refer Slide Time: 10:59)

 Figure 1: Hydrograph in channel routing of example 45.1
D Excel.Chart.8 \s

(Refer Slide Time: 12:28)

Hydraulic Method of Flood Routing

The hydraulic method of flood routing is essentially a solution of the basic Saint Venant
equations. It is more accurate than hydrologic routing but involves complex analysis.

In general, one-dimensional Saint Venant equations are used in this approach which are first-
order, quasi-linear, hyperbolic, partial differential equations.

Analytical solution for these equations can only be obtained for extremely simplified cases.
However, the development of computational power in the recent past has given rise to many
sophisticated numerical techniques, which can solve partial differential equations numerically.

(Refer Slide Time: 13:28)

The numerical methods for solving Saint Venant equations can be broadly classified into two
categories.

1. Complete Numerical Methods

 These are based on numerical solutions of continuity equation and equation of motion.

 These can be classified as,

 Direct method

 Method of characteristics

 Finite element method

2. Approximate Numerical Methods

 These are based on the equation of continuity and simplified equation of motion.

 Kinematic wave models of routing belong to this category.

 Muskingum-Cunge method can be used to solve kinematic wave models.

(Refer Slide Time: 14:37)

In the direct method, the partial derivatives are approximated by finite difference and resulting
algebraic equations are then solved to route the flow. In case of the method of characteristics,
the continuity equation and the equation of motion of the unsteady flow are converted to their
characteristics form first and then solved by this finite difference technique.

The system is divided into number of elements in the Finite Element Method, FEM sometimes
abbreviated as. Then the partial differential equations are integrated at the nodal point of the
elements.

(Refer Slide Time: 15:16)

Now, while we exercise this finite element method, there could be two schemes: one is the
explicit scheme, other one is the implicit scheme again.

Explicit method

The value(s) of the state variable(s) for the time step (𝑡+∆𝑡) is(are) estimated using the values
from the time step 𝑡 only.

Implicit method

The value(s) of the state variable(s) for the time step (𝑡+∆𝑡) is(are) estimated using the values
from the time step 𝑡 as well as (𝑡+∆𝑡).

(Refer Slide Time: 15:55)

Few Software for Hydraulic Routing

Hydrological Engineering Centre – River Analysis System (HEC-RAS)

 HEC-RAS is developed by United States Army Corps of Engineers for management of

channel systems, rivers, harbors under their jurisdiction.

 HEC-RAS solves the full, dynamic, Saint Venant equation using an implicit, finite
difference method for unsteady flow problems.

 This software is publicly available for the users. Further details of the software can be
found in https://www.hec.usace.army.mil/software/hec-ras/.
(Refer Slide Time: 17:03)

MIKE HYDRO

 MIKE HYDRO is an integrated water resources management program that incorporates

allocation, management, and planning of water resources at a river basin scale.

 It has two modules, i.e., river module and basin module.

 The basin module enables users to manage water resources at a basin scale while the
river module facilitates one dimensional river hydraulics model.

 It is a commercial software and more details can be found in

https://www.mikepoweredbydhi.com/products/mike-hydro-river.

(Refer Slide Time: 17:43)

FLO-2D

 It is a 2D flood routing model that combines hydrology and hydraulics.

 The hydrological component includes rainfall-runoff model along with an overland

flow model that simulates the movement of the flood volume around the grid.

 Flow transferred into the channel is routed using the Saint Venant equation.

 The software has both free and commercial version. More details about this can be
found in https://flo-2d.com/.

(Refer Slide Time: 18:28)

Summary

In summary, we learned the following points from this lecture:

 Muskingum method of channel routing model is discussed with solved example.

 Hydraulic flood routing requires numerical solution of Saint Venant Equation.

 Different techniques of numerical methods are presented briefly.

 Few free and commercial software for hydraulic routing is discussed briefly in this
lecture.

 In the next lecture application of routing in development of conceptual hydrograph will

be covered.