WinTR-20

Project Formulation Hydrology

Computer Program

How does WinTR-20 compute results ?

Presented by: WinTR-20 Development Team

WinTR-20 Computation Methods June 2015

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 WinTR-20 Computation
Differences
 Runoff hydrographs
 Time of Concentration
 Adjusting curve numbers
 Adding hydrographs
 Diverting or dividing hydrographs
 Structure Routing
 Reach Routing
 Smoothing NOAA Atlas 14 and NRCC data

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WinTR-20 Computation Methods June 2015
 Runoff Hydrographs
 WinTR-20 will compute runoff
hydrographs according to NEH Part 630
Chapter 16 Hydrographs (2007).
 The time increment used to develop the
hydrograph is computed internally in
WinTR-20.
 However, the user may set a time
increment for output (interpolated values).

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WinTR-20 Computation Methods June 2015
 Runoff Hydrographs (cont)
 To see the internal time increment in WinTR-20,
leave the Print Time Increment blank on the
Global Output window.

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WinTR-20 Computation Methods June 2015
Runoff Hydrographs(continued)

 The table above is the dimensionless unit

hydrograph (DUH) with PRF 484.
 The peak of the DUH is at point number 11.
 Delta t = 0.6 Tc / ((point number – 1) – 0.5)
 Delta t = 0.063 Tc
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WinTR-20 Computation Methods June 2015
 Runoff Hydrographs (cont)

 The table above the DUH for PRF 350.

 The peak of the DUH is at point number 6.
 Delta t = 0.6 Tc / ((point number – 1) – 0.5)
 Delta t = 0.133 Tc

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WinTR-20 Computation Methods June 2015
 Calculating Time of
Concentration (Tc)
 Besides direct entry of a Tc value, WinTR-20
has two options for computing Tc.
 Velocity Method for Tc from WinTR-55
computer program. Uses sheet flow, shallow
concentrated flow, and channel flow
segments.
 Lag Method for Tc calculation from EFH-2
computer program. Uses curve number,
watershed length, and watershed slope.

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WinTR-20 Computation Methods June 2015
 Velocity method for Tc

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WinTR-20 Computation Methods June 2015
 Calculating Sheet Flow
Travel Time

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WinTR-20 Computation Methods June 2015
 Calculating Shallow Con-
centrated Flow Travel Time

 Tt = Length (feet) / V (feet/sec) / 3600 (sec/hr)

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WinTR-20 Computation Methods June 2015
 Calculating Channel Flow
Travel Time

 or Channel Velocity may be entered directly in

data window.
 Tt = Length (feet) / V (feet/sec) / 3600 (sec/hr)
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WinTR-20 Computation Methods June 2015
 Lag Method for Tc

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WinTR-20 Computation Methods June 2015
 Lag Method for Tc

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WinTR-20 Computation Methods June 2015
Viewing Tc calculations

 Select Sub-Area Tc Computations. Tc

calculations for each sub-area will be placed
in the .dbg output file.
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WinTR-20 Computation Methods June 2015
 Viewing Tc calculations

 From the View pull-down menu select Debug File.

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WinTR-20 Computation Methods June 2015
 Adjusting curve numbers
 Two methods have been added to WinTR-20
to adjust the curve number of a sub-area.
 One allows entry of an ARC value for a sub-
area (used in Texas and Kansas).
 The second allows the user to reduce the
curve number by a specific value for a sub-
area (used in Oklahoma).
 These two methods are used to adjust curve
number to calculate peak discharges for
design of certain conservation practices.
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WinTR-20 Computation Methods June 2015
Adjust curve number by ARC
 ARC may be any value from 1.0 to 3.0
 Original CN tables are based on ARC 2
 For example, adjust CN 80 from ARC 2 to
ARC 1.6
 If CN is 80 for ARC 2, then CN is 63 for
ARC 1
 Use a linear interpolation to calculate CN
73.2 for ARC 1.6

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WinTR-20 Computation Methods June 2015
 Reduce curve number by
specific value
 CN may be reduced by a number from 1 to
14.
 For example, if the CN for ARC 2 is 78 and
reduced by 8, WinTR-20 will use a CN of 70
for this sub-area.

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WinTR-20 Computation Methods June 2015
 Adding Hydrographs
 Two hydrographs may be combined or added
such as where two streams join at a junction.
 If the time intervals are the same, the
discharges are added directly.
 If time intervals are different (as they
generally are) WinTR-20 will combine
hydrographs using the following method.

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WinTR-20 Computation Methods June 2015
Adding Hydrographs (cont)
 For example, let us add hydrographs A and B.
 Hydrograph A has a time interval of 0.1 hour
and Hydrograph B has an interval of 0.33 hour.
 Hydrograph A is interpolated to a time interval
of 0.33 hour and added to Hydrograph B.
 Hydrograph B is interpolated to an interval of
0.1 hour and added to Hydrograph A.

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WinTR-20 Computation Methods June 2015
 Adding Hydrographs (continued)

 Whichever hydrograph has the higher peak is

saved for further operations downstream.

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WinTR-20 Computation Methods June 2015
Diverting or dividing hydrographs
 There are two methods of splitting a
hydrograph in WinTR-20.
 Split based on two cross section rating curves.
 Divert an inflow hydrograph above a specific
discharge.

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WinTR-20 Computation Methods June 2015
Divide based on two rating curves

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WinTR-20 Computation Methods June 2015
Divert above a specific discharge

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WinTR-20 Computation Methods June 2015
 Structure Routing

 The storage indication method (described in NEH Part

630 Hydrology Chapter 17) is used to route the inflow
hydrograph through the structure.
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WinTR-20 Computation Methods June 2015
Maximum number of Hydrograph
Points
 The maximum number is 100,000.
 This allows WinTR-20 to save hydrographs at
extremely short time intervals.
 Sometimes with structure routings with very
low release rates, this 100,000 point limit can
be exceeded.

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WinTR-20 Computation Methods June 2015
 Channel Reach Routing

 The Muskingum-Cunge method is described

in NEH Part 630 Chapter 17. Examples are
provided.
 WinTR-20 training module 8 presents the
Muskingum-Cunge method of routing.

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WinTR-20 Computation Methods June 2015
Smoothing NOAA 14 and NRCC Data

 When importing NOAA 14 or NRCC rainfall

data there is an option to smooth the data.
 The 60-minute and 24-hour precipitation
values are not changed. Precipitation for other
durations may be adjusted.
 Smoothing the data provides for a smooth
rainfall distribution and relatively smooth
runoff hydrograph.

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WinTR-20 Computation Methods June 2015
Smoothing NOAA 14 and NRCC Data

 Import and select Smooth option. From the

View pull-down menu select Smoothed
NOAA/NRCC File. 29
WinTR-20 Computation Methods June 2015
Smoothing NOAA 14 and NRCC Data

 This example is for the 25-year return period

NOAA 14 data at College Park, MD.
 “Precip” is the original NOAA 14 data.
 “Inc_Int” is the incremental intensity for the
original NOAA 14 data.
 The “Sm” refers to smoothed data.
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WinTR-20 Computation Methods June 2015
Smoothing NOAA 14 and NRCC Data

 Incremental Intensity is the difference in

precipitation divided by the difference in
duration converted to inches / hour.
 At 5-minute duration,

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WinTR-20 Computation Methods June 2015
Smoothing NOAA 14 and NRCC Data

 At 30 minute duration,

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WinTR-20 Computation Methods June 2015
Smoothing NOAA 14 and NRCC Data
 Incremental Intensity is the difference in
precipitation divided by the difference in
duration converted to inches / hour.
 At 5-minute duration,

 At 30 minute duration,

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WinTR-20 Computation Methods June 2015
Smoothing NOAA 14 and NRCC Data

 Smoothed Incremental Intensity.

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WinTR-20 Computation Methods June 2015
Smoothing NOAA 14 and NRCC Data

 Smoothed precipitation values.

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WinTR-20 Computation Methods June 2015
 The End

WinTR-20 Computation Methods June 2015

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WinTR-20 Computation Methods June 2015