Session 4 : Exercices

Rainfall-runoff transformation

E1 – Unit Hydrograph/Deconvolution/Convolution

The data in the file “data_exo1.xls” give a "measured" rainfall imeasured (t) after taking into
account losses via a runoff coefficient (taken equal to 1 for simplicity because it is not
important for the exercise. Precipitated rain and effective rain are therefore similar). The data
also show the corresponding hydrograph "measured" at the outlet Qmeasured(t)

The duration of the rain is d=40 mn and the rain is centered

This "measured" hyetograh, for the purpose of the exercise, was in fact generated with the
Montana coefficients (a=5.2 and b=-0.45) assuming a triangular rainfall. Similarly, the
corresponding "measured" hydrograph was generated by the linear reservoir method (with
a certain coefficient K) ... But this information is supposed to be unknown: we consider that
we have two measurements, a hyetogram and the corresponding flow hydrograph .

1- Identification of the unit hydrograph by deconvolution

It is proposed to construct the unit hyetograph by deconvolution

1.1 Since the rain and the hydrograph are sampled on the same time step t = 5 minutes, what
is the duration and amplitude of the unit rain 𝐼𝑢 to be considered?
1.2 For each time step 𝑡𝑘 , calculate the scale factor 𝛼𝑘 corresponding to the (average)
intensity of the rain on the step [𝑡𝑘−1 , 𝑡𝑘 ]
1.3 Similarly, discretize the hydrograph 𝑄𝑚𝑒𝑎𝑠𝑢𝑟𝑒𝑑 (𝑡) by giving for each step 𝑡𝑘 the average
flow 𝑄(𝑡) over the interval [𝑡𝑘−1 , 𝑡𝑘 ]
1.4 Apply the discrete convolution equation to construct the unit hydrograph HU.
Since it takes a long time to do in Excel, I generated this hydrograph via a Python program.
I'm just asking you to check that you find the correct results for the time step t1 (=[0-5
min] ), t 2, t3 , and t4 (using Excel for instance)

2- Calculation of an Hydrograph (Convolution & Linear Reservoir)

On this same catchment area, a new rain (again triangular!) is measured later with the same
assumptions of a runoff coefficient equal to 1.

2.1- Apply the discrete convolution formula and the unit hydrograph found previously to
calculate the runoff hydrograph. Again, I generated this hydrograph by a Python program. If
you do this manually, check the results on the first 5 times steps.
2.2 The time constant K of the linear reservoir model that was actually used to generate the
data for question 1 is K=15 min

- Calculate the hydrograph by applying the linear reservoir model (recurrence relationship)

- Compare the two hydrographs obtained and conclude

E2 – Semi-Mechanistic Model

An urban watershed is considered to have equivalent parameters for the rainfall-runoff

transformation as follows:

Surface A: 5 ha, average slope (along surface flow): s0= 0.01 m/m. Friction: Manning
coefficient n=0.04 , Elongation M=L/A1/2=0.45

Figure 1: Schematic representation of the watershed

We consider a triangle rain with a duration of 60 minutes and a peak intensity imax=1 mm/min.
The runoff coefficient is C=0.9. It is assumed that there are no initial losses (dp=0 in the semi-
mechanistic model)

1- Calculate the hydrograph generated by this rain using the semi-empirical model based on
a storage equation and a flow equation (Manning-Strickler):

𝑑ℎ
𝐴 = 𝐴𝑖𝑒𝑓𝑓𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑣𝑒 (𝑡) − 𝑄(𝑡)
𝑑𝑡

𝑊 √𝑠0
𝑄(𝑡) = (ℎ − 𝑑𝑝 )5/3
𝑛

Unlike the slide, in order to be able to solve the problem simply, we will take a totally explicit
discretization scheme.
2- It is desired to compare the results obtained with the linear reservoir model, which has a
single parameter K.

- Estimate the value of the parameter K so that the 2 methods can be compared. Recall
that K is the time difference between t1, the barycenter of the hyetogram, and t2, the
barycenter of the hydrograph.
-
a) Calculate t1 and t2
b) Deduce K

- Calculate the hydrograph from the linear reservoir model. Conclusion?

3- Perform a sensitivity test by varying the parameters n, s0 and W. How does this translate
into the value of K. Does the linear reservoir model always give comparable results???
Conclude.