Improved Time of Concentration Estimation on Overland Flow Surfaces Including Low-Sloped Planes
Publication: Journal of Hydrologic Engineering
Volume 19, Issue 3
Abstract
Time of concentration () is one of the most used time parameters in hydrologic analyses. As topographic slope () approaches zero, traditional estimation formulas predict large . Based on numerical modeling and a review of relevant literature, a lower bound for slope () of 0.1% was identified as a threshold below which traditional estimation formulas become unreliable and alternate methods should be considered. In this study, slopes less than are defined as low slopes. Slopes equal to or exceeding are defined as standard slopes where traditional estimation formulas are appropriate. A field study was conducted on a concrete plot with a topographic slope of 0.25% to collect rainfall and runoff data between April 2009 and March 2010 to support numerical modeling of overland flows on low-sloped planes. A quasi-two-dimensional dynamic wave model (Q2DWM) was developed for overland flow simulation and validated using published and observed data. The validated Q2DWM was used in a parametric study to generate data for a range of slopes that were used to develop regression formulas for standard slopes () and low slopes ().
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Acknowledgments
The authors wish to express their thanks to Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) and its members for their guidance and support for the study. This study was partially supported by TxDOT Research Project 0–6382. The authors thank the three reviewers for their valuable comments.
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Information & Authors
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Published In
Journal of Hydrologic Engineering
Volume 19 • Issue 3 • March 2014
Pages: 495 - 508
Copyright
© 2014 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Apr 26, 2012
Accepted: Apr 10, 2013
Published online: Apr 12, 2013
Discussion open until: Sep 12, 2013
Published in print: Mar 1, 2014
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