PAPERS, HYDROLOGY--1944 959

DISCUSSION

WILLIAM S. E I S E N L O H R , J r . (Arlington, V i r g i n i a ) D r . K E U L E G A N h a s p r e s e n t e d a v e r y
interesting p a p e r . It i s e s p e c i a l l y appealing to the w r i t e r b e c a u s e he i s of t h e opinion that t h e
rational method of a n a l y s i s u s e d by the author should be u s e d m o r e widely in t h e solution of h y
draulic p r o b l e m s . T h e m e t h o d o f setting up a d i a g r a m of f o r c e s , and deducing t h e r e f r o m t h e e q u a
tion of flow, d o e s m u c h to r e m o v e t h e solution o f h y d r a u l i c p r o b l e m s f r o m the field Of p u r e e m p i r i
cism. It a l s o a f f o r d s a sound b a s i s f o r judging the validity of simplifying a p p r o x i m a t i o n s which
are an i m p o r t a n t p a r t of t h i s p a p e r .

The author h a s t i t l e d h i s p a p e r spatially v a r i a b l e flow, and then p r o c e e d s t o develop his e q u a

tions using t i m e a s a v a r i a b l e , a l s o . T o the w r i t e r it s e e m s m u c h s i m p l e r , o n c e having p o s t u l a t e d
a flow which i s s t e a d y with r e s p e c t to t i m e , and which i s n e c e s s a r y f o r e q u i l i b r i u m - c o n d i t i o n s , t o
write the equation of m o m e n t u m c h a n g e p e r u n i t - t i m e using t o t a l d i f f e r e n t i a l s with r e s p e c t t o x in
much the s a m e m a n n e r a s w a s u s e d f o r a s o m e w h a t r e l a t e d p r o b l e m [ W M . S. E I S E N L O H R , J r . ,
Coefficients f o r v e l o c i t y d i s t r i b u t i o n in o p e n - c h a n n e l flow: P r o c . A m e r . S o c C i v , E n g . , pp. 1 5 - 2 6 ,
January, 1 9 4 4 ] .

The f o r c e s in t h e a u t h o r ' s d e r i v a t i o n r e m a i n unchanged, e x c e p t for the u s e of the t o t a l d i f f e r

ential, but t h e k i n e t i c r e a c t i o n m u s t now be e x p r e s s e d in t e r m s o f x , p h d x t[u+ ( d u / d x ) ( d x / 2 ) ] 2 .
[u - ( d u / d x ) ( d x / 2 ) ] } / 2 d x = hudu. E q u a t i n g t h i s t e r m t o the f o r c e s involved g i v e s t h e equation
2
h u d u = i p g h d x - p g h ( d h / d x ) d x - ( X / 2 ) pu dx-pqudx . (1)

Dividing by p h d x a s did t h e a u t h o r g i v e s his equation (5) with (du/dt) =0.

U
u (du/dx) = g[I-(dh/dx)]-( X / 2 ) ( u / h ) - 2
(<1 A) (2)

If the a u t h o r d e s i r e s t o m a k e h i s equation (5) p e r f e c t l y g e n e r a l , it would s e e m t h a t it would b e

necessary t o include a t e r m f o r l a t e r a l o r v e r t i c a l outflow. In t h e p r o b l e m of runoff o v e r a sloping
ground-surface a s a r e s u l t of r a i n , the v e r t i c a l outflow would be equal to the i n f i l t r a t i o n - r a t e .
Letting the v e l o c i t y of infiltration b e I t h e m a s s of w a t e r leaving t h e portion of the liquid between
sections and S2 p e r u n i t - t i m e i s ( p l d x ) . T h i s m a s s of w a t e r b e f o r e leaving t h e m a i n c u r r e n t had
a velocity u. T h e r e s u l t i n g r e a c t i o n h a s the value ( p l u d x ) . T h i s c a n b e i n s e r t e d a s a n additional
term in equation (1) o f t h i s d i s c u s s i o n , o r it c a n b e c o n s i d e r e d a s being included in t h e t e r m
(p q udx), p r o v i d e d i t i s u n d e r s t o o d t h a t q i s t h e n e t v e l o c i t y of inflow being t h e r a i n f a l l r a t e m i n u s
n n

the infiltration r a t e . T h e i n c l u s i o n o f v e r t i c a l o r l a t e r a l outflow p r e s u m a b l y would have no e f f e c t on

the validity of the a u t h o r ' s final equation, but under c e r t a i n conditions would h a v e c o n s i d e r a b l e effect
on the application o f t h e equation.

THE S U R F A C E - P R O F I L E O F OVERLAND FLOW

C. F . Izzard

This p a p e r p r e s e n t s e x p e r i m e n t a l d a t a applying t h e equation of motion m a t h e m a t i c a l l y d e r i v e d

K E U L E G A N in h i s p a p e r entitled "Spatially v a r i a b l e d i s c h a r g e o v e r a sloping p l a n e " [ s e e 1 of
e f e r e n c e s " a t end of p a p e r ] . T h e e x p e r i m e n t a l d a t a a r e taken f r o m a c o o p e r a t i v e r e s e a r c h -
project of t h e P u b l i c R o a d s A d m i n i s t r a t i o n and t h e Soil C o n s e r v a t i o n S e r v i c e and a r e b a s e d on r u n
off from s i m u l a t e d r a i n f a l l a s d e s c r i b e d in a p r e v i o u s p a p e r [ 2 ] . T h e paved s u r f a c e on which t h e
principal d a t a r e p o r t e d ( S e r i e s II) w e r e obtained w a s a c o m m e r c i a l s l a t e r o o f i n g - f e l t i m p r e g n a t e d
with asphalt and f i r m l y c e m e n t e d t o the s m o o t h s a n d - a s p h a l t s u r f a c e ( S e r i e s I ) u s e d for e a r l i e r
tests [ 2 ] . Subsequently t h i s s u r f a c e w a s c o v e r e d by b l u e - g r a s s s o d ( S e r i e s m) c a r e f u l l y s e l e c t e d
for uniformity) with s o i l o f a v e r a g e t h i c k n e s s about 1 - 1 / 4 i n c h e s . Thin wooden s t r i p s w e r e n a i l e d
to the floor t o r e t a r d m o v e m e n t of w a t e r beneath t h e s o d .

This p a p e r i s l i m i t e d to c o n s i d e r a t i o n of flow a t equilibrium d u r i n g r a i n f a l l a t c o n s t a n t r a t e

and does not involve flow on t h e r i s i n g o r falling l i m b s of the h y d r o g r a p h e x c e p t f o r s o m e d a t a
based on the r e c e s s i o n - c u r v e a t t h e point w h e r e d i s c h a r g e i s equal t o t h e d i s c h a r g e during r a i n f a l l
at equilibrium a s will be d i s c u s s e d subsequently.

The equation of m o t i o n for s p a t i a l l y v a r i a b l e d i s c h a r g e a s d e r i v e d by K E U L E G A N using n o m e n

clature c o n f o r m i n g e s s e n t i a l l y t o t h e A m e r i c a n S t a n d a r d L e t t e r S y m b o l s for H y d r a u l i c s [3] i s , f o r
tie equilibrium c o n d i t i o n s
V(dV/d) g[So - (dy/dl)] - (x/2)(vVy) - (1)
960 T R A N S A C T I O N S . A M E R I C A N G E O P H Y S I C A L UNION

in which the s y m b o l s (and o t h e r s u s e d subsequently) h a v e the following definitions: V = mean

v e l o c i t y in c r o s s - s e c t i o n , feet p e r s e c o n d ; y = depth of flow, f e e t ; 3, = d i s t a n c e f r o m upper end of
t h e plot, feet; L = t o t a l length of p l o t , feet; S Q = s l o p e of plot (nondimensional); g = acceleration
of g r a v i t y = 3 2 . 2 f e e t p e r s e c o n d * ; x = r e s i s t a n c e - c o e f f i c i e n t (nondimensional); i = rainfall-inten
s i t y , i n c h e s p e r hour o r cubic f e e t p e r s e c o n d p e r a c r e ; D = detention on u n i t - s t r i p at equilibrium
e
3
f e e t ; Df = detention on u n i t - s t r i p when d i s c h a r g e = o^ on r e c e s s i o n - h y d r o g r a p h ; q = discharge at*
e

point & f e e t f r o m u p p e r end of u n i t - s t r i p at e q u i l i b r i u m , f e e t 2 p e r second; F = F R O U D E number =

(VVgy); R = R E Y N O L D S n u m b e r ; K = d e t e n t i o n - c o e f f i c i e n t = ( D ^ q g l / 3 , f e e t x s e c o n d s * / ; and
1 3 2 3
2 3

k = d e p t h - c o e f f i c i e n t = (y/jg J / , f e e t / .

T h e e q u i l i b r i u m - c o n d i t i o n i s defined by t h e equation

q e = V y = (ii/43200)

T h e r e s i s t a n c e - c o e f f i c i e n t X i s i d e n t i c a l with t h a t u s e d by K E U L E G A N

2
r = (l/2)XpV fl)

w h e r e i n r i s the m e a n intensity of the s h e a r i n g f o r c e a t s u r f a c e of t h e plot and p i s the density of

t h e w a t e r . It will be shown l a t e r t h a t t h e m a g n i t u d e o f t h e r e s i s t a n c e - coefficient i s affected by the
d i s t u r b a n c e of flow c a u s e d by t h e r a i n d r o p s . T h i s m i g h t be v i s u a l i z e d a s a r e l a t i v e roughness-
e f f e c t i m p o s e d f r o m above on t h e flow in addition to the r e l a t i v e r o u g h n e s s of t h e s u r f a c e on which
t h e w a t e r i s flowing.

T h e e x p e r i m e n t a l d a t a show t h a t f o r a r a i n f a l l - i n t e n s i t y uprto about 3 . 8 i n c h e s p e r hour and for

l e n g t h s of o v e r l a n d flow up t o 72 f e e t the a v e r a g e depth of flow a t e q u i l i b r i u m i s proportional to the
c u b e r o o t of t h e d i s c h a r g e a t t h e end of t h e plot, and i n v e r s e l y p r o p o r t i o n a l t o t h e cube r o o t of the
s l o p e o f the plot f o r s l o p e s i r o m 0 . 0 0 1 m i n i m u m t o 0 . 0 4 m a x i m u m . T h i s i s t r u e for the paved sur
f a c e , a s shown in F i g u r e 1, and f o r the turfed s u r f a c e ( s l o p e s f r o m 0 . 0 1 t o 0 . 0 4 ) , a s shown in Figure
2 . T h e a v e r a g e depth w a s d e t e r m i n e d f r o m t h e t o t a l v o l u m e of detention divided by the a r e a of the
plot, detention a t equilibrium b e i n g the d i f f e r e n c e between m a s s - r a i n f a l l and m a s s - r u n o f f . In the
c a s e of the t u r f e d plot, the c o m p u t e d a v e r a g e depth i s l e s s t h a n the t r u e a v e r a g e depth, if that could
b e m e a s u r e d , b e c a u s e of the v o l u m e of g r a s s - c r o w n s and o t h e r m a t t e r within the f l o w - p r i s m . It
w a s not c o n s i d e r e d f e a s i b l e t o m e a s u r e a c c u r a t e l y the e l e v a t i o n of the w a t e r - s u r f a c e continually
d i s t u r b e d by i m p a c t of r a i n d r o p s .

S o m e i n f i l t r a t i o n o c c u r r e d on the turfed plot d e s p i t e t h e i m p e r m e a b l e s u b - g r a d e and the ap

p a r e n t l y s a t u r a t e d condition of t h e 1 - 1 / 4 i n c h e s o f s o i l . A d j u s t m e n t s in detention w e r e made by
m e a n s of a l o g a r i t h m i c e x t e n s i o n of the r e c e s s i o n - h y d r o g r a p h f r o m e a c h p r e v i o u s r u n . The data
a s p r e s e n t e d in F i g u r e 2 a r e b e l i e v e d to r e p r e s e n t a r e a s o n a b l y u n i f o r m condition of saturation in
t h e s o i l . T h e h y d r a u l i c effect of t h e t u r f did not c h a n g e m a t e r i a l l y throughout t h e t e s t s since the
nineteenth and l a s t r u n m a d e u n d e r i d e n t i c a l c o n d i t i o n s to the f i r s t r u n r e p r o d u c e d the hydrograph
of t h e l a t t e r v e r y c l o s e l y .

A l l d e t e n t i o n - d a t a in F i g u r e 1 h a v e been r e d u c e d - t o a c o m m o n t e m p e r a t u r e o f 6 0 F because it
w a s d i s c o v e r e d t h a t r e s i s t a n c e t o flow w a s i n v e r s e l y p r o p o r t i o n a l t o R E Y N O L D S n u m b e r . The
m e a s u r e d detention w a s c o r r e c t e d in i n v e r s e p r o p o r t i o n to t h e d y n a m i c v i s c o s i t y , neglecting den
s i t y which v a r i e d v e r y little f o r t h e 5 2 F t o 8 2 F r a n g e of t e m p e r a t u r e of t h e r u n o f f - w a t e r . No
c o r r e c t i o n f o r t e m p e r a t u r e w a s m a d e on t u r f - r u n s s i n c e a c c u r a c y of t h e c o m p u t e d detention as ad
j u s t e d f o r infiltration did not w a r r a n t s u c h r e f i n e m e n t , and f u r t h e r m o r e the t e m p e r a t u r e - r a n g e was
small.

In an a t t e m p t t o d e t e r m i n e t h e r e s i s t a n c e - c o e f f i c i e n t for^the paved s u r f a c e on the recession-

flow when r a i n f a l l - d i s t u r b a n c e w a s a b s e n t , detention w a s a l s o c o m p u t e d a t t h e instant at which the
r a t e of d i s c h a r g e w a s equal t o t h e e q u i l i b r i u m - d i s c h a r g e d u r i n g r a i n f a l l . A s h a s previously been
d e m o n s t r a t e d on paved p l o t s , t h e r e i s a m o m e n t a r y i n c r e a s e in d i s c h a r g e a f t e r r a i n f a l l c e a s e s due
to t h e r e m o v a l o f the r e s i s t a n c e c r e a t e d by t h e r a i n f a l l - d i s t u r b a n c e [ 2 ] . Since d i s c h a r g e was
changing r a p i d l y with t i m e a t t h i s i n s t a n t , t r u e e q u i l i b r i u m a s defined by equation (2) did not exist,
but d e s p i t e t h i s f a c t the r e s i s t a n c e - c o e f f i c i e n t s o d e t e r m i n e d c h e c k s r a t h e r c l o s e l y with that deter
m i n e d with s t e a d y u n i f o r m flow (admitted a t t h e upper end of t h e plot) a s shown in F i g u r e 5 and dis
c u s s e d subsequently. F i g u r e 1 s h o w s the r e l a t i o n s h i p of a v e r a g e depth t o d i s c h a r g e on the paved
plot a t the i n s t a n t w h e r e d i s c h a r g e on the r e c e s s i o n - c u r v e w a s equal to the equilibrium-discharge.
It will be noted t h a t the p r o p o r t i o n a l i t y c o n s t a n t f o r t h e d e t e n t i o n foUowing a r a i n f a l l of 3 . 6 - inches
p e r hour i s i d e n t i c a l to that foUowing t h e r a i n f a l l of 1 . 8 i n c h e s p e r h o u r a s would b e expected.
 PAPERS, HYDROLOGY1944 961

7 8 9 10' 2
A 5 ft 7 6 9 -
I0 * 1.5
D I S C H A R G E - C U B I C F E E T P E R S E C O N D -

fig. 1 A v e r a g e depth a s function of e q u i l i b r i u m - r a t e of d i s c h a r g e on paved plot ( S e r i e s H )

The g e n e r a l equation f o r a v e r a g e depth i s

s
(D /L) = K (qe)l/
e (4)

T h e coefficient K i s i n v e r s e l y p r o p o r t i o n a l to the
cube r o o t of the slope a s shown in F i g u r e 3 . T h i s
coefficient a l s o i n v o l v e s the r e s i s t a n c e - c o e f f i c i e n t
X , which in t u r n i s a function of t h e r a i n f a l l - i n
t e n s i t y a s well a s the s u r f a c e - r o u g h n e s s .

In o r d e r to e v a l u a t e the r e s i s t a n c e - coefficient
X equation (1) w a s t r a n s f o r m e d a s follows

2 2/3
M E A N R A T E O F R A I N F A L L 3 . 7 4 I N C H E S
X - (2k/)
(kV/qe )g[So- fr/3 )] -
P E R H O U R E X C E P T A S N O T E D

(5/3)^1/3 ( 5 )

in which k i s defined by the equation

A
I0* L 5 2 3 <6 5 6 7 8 9 10

D I S C H A R G E - C U B I C F E E T P E R S E C O N D q
y=kfl/3 (6)
Fig. 2Average depth a s function of e q u i l i b r i -
T h i s equation i s d e r i v e d f r o m equation (4) by
am-rate of d i s c h a r g e on t u r f e d plot ( S e r i e s III)
differentiation a s c a n be c h e c k e d by i n t e g r a t i n g
the e x p r e s s i o n

which gives 1 3
(D /L)=(3/4)kL / . . .
e (7)
962 TRANSACTIONS, A M E R I C A N G E O P H Y S I C A L UNION

and i n d i c a t e s that the a v e r a g e depth i s t h r e e - f o u r t h s of the depth a t L . The a p p r o x i m a t e validity

of t h i s s t a t e m e n t will be shown subsequently by c o m p a r i s o n of p r o f i l e s computed f r o m the equation
of motion in a modified f o r m and the a p p r o x i m a t e s u r f a c e - p r o f i l e * equation given in equation (6).

F r o m the equilibrium-equation (2) the detention-coefficient K i s r e l a t e d to the depth coefficient

k a s follows
1 3
k = (4/3) K ( i / 4 3 2 0 0 ) / ( 8 )

V a l u e s of X computed f r o m equation (5) a r e plotted a g a i n s t R E Y N O L D S number R for values

of K d e r i v e d f r o m F i g u r e s 1 and 2 for both s u r f a c e s in F i g u r e 4 . F o r the e n t i r e r a n g e of the data
o n both paved and turfed s u r f a c e s the p r o d u c t ( X R ) i s a p p r o x i m a t e l y c o n s t a n t for a given rainfall-
intensity on a given s u r f a c e . F o r the f l a t t e r s l o p e s , p a r t i c u l a r l y SQ = 0 . 0 0 1 , the data vary appreci
ably f r o m v a l u e s of ( X R ) on s t e e p e r s l o p e s , probably b e c a u s e equation ( 6 ) , u s e d in computing k,
d o e s not t r u l y r e p r e s e n t the a c t u a l s u r f a c e - p r o f i l e under t h o s e conditions.

3
I0" L5 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10"* L5 2 3 4 3
S L O P E O F P L O T - S 0

F i g . 3 - - D e t e n t i o n - c o e f f i c i e n t a s function of slope of plot for

paved and turfed s u r f a c e s ( S e r i e s H and H I )

T h e l o g a r i t h m of ( X R ) h a s been plotted a g a i n s t r a i n f a l l intensity in F i g u r e 6 . F o r compara

t i v e p u r p o s e s d a t a d e r i v e d f r o m the f i r s t s e r i e s of e x p e r i m e n t s on a s m o o t h sand-asphalt plot [2]
a r e a l s o shown but they a r e s u b j e c t to r e v i s i o n when r e f i n e m e n t s in m e t h o d s developed in the
s e c o n d s e r i e s h e r e r e p o r t e d h a v e been m a d e .

A t e n t a t i v e equation fitting the data f o r the r o u g h e r p a v e d plot ( S e r i e s H) i s

( XR) = 2 7 (0.21 i / 3 4
+ i) (0)

It will be o b s e r v e d that when i = 0 , ( X R ) = 2 7 , thus c o r r e s p o n d i n g to t h e d e r i v a t i o n shown in

F i g u r e 4 for the r e c e s s i o n - p h a s e .

T h i s v a l u e of ( X R ) c l o s e l y c o r r e s p o n d s with r o u g h d a t a plotted in F i g u r e 5 obtained from

0 T n
a c t u a l m e a s u r e m e n t of depth of flow for v a r i o u s r a t e s of d i s c h a r g e in t e s t s in which steady ^
flow w a s a p p r o x i m a t e d . T h e s e t e s t s w e r e p e r f o r m e d by admitting w a t e r a t the upper end of the pw
o v e r a s e r i e s of s t i l l i n g - p o o l s s o that about 5 0 f e e t of length w a s a v a i l a b l e to establish normal flow
a t the c r o s s - s e c t i o n a t which depth w a s m e a s u r e d with two point g a g e s a t the quarter-points of the j
s i x - f o o t width.
 PAPERS, HYDROLOGY1944 963

A- LINES DRAWN EXACTLY

THROUGH PLOTTED POINTS

1 1 I L I I . I I I
10* L5 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10* L5 2 3
REYNOLDS NUMBER R

F i g . 4 R e s i s t a n c e - c o e f f i c i e n t a s function of Reynolds
n u m b e r ; ( a ) paved plot ( S e r i e s II); (b) t u r f ( S e r i e s HI)

Figures a l s o i n d i c a t e s that the viscous-flow s t a t e , which a p p e a r s to e x i s t below R = 1 , 0 0 0 ,

enters a t r a n s i t i o n - s t a g e a t that point and that a turbulent phase m a y begin at about R = 4 , 0 0 0 . T h e
data unfortunately do not extend f a r enough into the l a t t e r phase t o w a r r a n t any conclusions. T h e
limiting value of R = 2 , 0 0 0 in the r a i n f a l l - t e s t s i s s t i l l in the t r a n s i t i o n - r e g i o n . It a p p e a r s r e a s o n
able to s u r m i s e , t h e r e f o r e , that f o r r a i n f a l l - t e s t s of g r e a t e r intensity on 7 2 - f o o t plots, o r for
overland flow of t h e s a m e intensity ( 3 . 8 inches p e r h o u r ) on longer plots, a change in type of flow
will o c c u r f o r the r e c e s s i o n - f l o w and also f o r flow disturbed by r a i n d r o p - i m p a c t . Consequently
use of the equations to e x t r a p o l a t e beyond the l i m i t s of the d a t a i s not advisable.

E x a m i n a t i o n of the c o m p u t a t i o n s for * b a s e d on equation (5) shows that the t e r m ( 5 / 3 ) 4 * / 3 i s

of negligible i m p o r t a n c e e x c e p t on v e r y flat s l o p e s ( 0 . 0 0 1 ) . T h i s t e r m c o r r e s p o n d s to the a c c e l
e r a t i o n - t e r m plus the r a i n d r o p - m o m e n t u m t e r m ( f i r s t and l a s t t e r m s , r e s p e c t i v e l y ) in equation ( 1 ) .
964 TRANSACTIONS, A M E R I C A N G E O P H Y S I C A L UNION

. - R A I N F A L L I N T E N S I T Y IN I N C H E S P E W HOUR

F i g . 5 - - R e s i s t a n c e - c o e f f i c i e n t a s function of R e y n o l d s n u m
b e r for s t e a d y uniform flow on paved s u r f a c e : S e r i e s n

Consequently it m a y be s a i d t h a t f o r a p p r o x i m a t e p u r p o s e s o n s l o p e s s t e e p e r than 0 . 0 0 5 the force

n e c e s s a r y to a c c e l e r a t e flow b e t w e e n s e c t i o n s and to i m p a r t v e l o c i t y t o r a i n d r o p s in the direction
of flow m a y be neglected.

E l i m i n a t i n g only the r a i n d r o p - m o m e n t u m ( l a s t t e r m ) in equation (1) and e x p r e s s i n g rates in

the i n c r e m e n t - f o r m

V ( A V / A 0 ) = g [ S - ( A y / A J ) ] - (X/2)(vVy)
0 (10)

T h e i n c r e m e n t in v e l o c i t y AV between two s e c t i o n s & a p a r t , y being the depth a t a point midway

between the s e c t i o n s i s

AV = { V [ ( A ^ ) - ( A y / y ) ] } / [ l - ( A y / 2 y ) 2 ]

REYNOLDS NUMBER R

F i g . 6 P r o d u c t X R a s function of r a i n f a l l - i n t e n s i t y for the t h r e e t y p e s of

surface tested
 P A P E R S , HYDROLOGY1944 965

propping out the s e c o n d - o r d e r t e r m in the denominator, substituting the r e s u l t i n g equivalent f o r

2
AV in equation (10) and using the F R O U D E number F = ( V / g y ) r e s u l t s in the equation (11).

(Ay/A4) = { s - ( F / * ) [ M / 2 ) + y ] } / ( l - F )
0 (11)
This i s the dimensionally c o r r e c t equation for equilibrium - s u r f a c e profile taking into c o n s i d
eration the v a r y i n g d i s c h a r g e along the plot, the slope of the w a t e r - s u r f a c e r e l a t i v e to the bed of
the plot, the slope of the plot, and t h e r e s i s t a n c e to flow a s a function of rainfall-intensity, t e m
perature of w a t e r , and r o u g h n e s s of p l o t - s u r f a c e . The equation h a s been used to compute profiles
for typical r u n s a s shown in F i g u r e s 7 and 8. T h e a v e r a g e variation between detention computed
from these p r o f i l e s and the m e a s u r e d detention a s adjusted for t e m p e r a t u r e and r a i n f a l l - i n t e n s i t y ,
as shown in T a b l e 1, i s 4 . 9 p e r c e n t .

By inspection this equation ( 1 1 ) shows: (a) That slope of the s u r f a c e - p r o f i l e i s l e v e l a t the

upper end of the plot; (b) that slope of w a t e r - s u r f a c e r e l a t i v e to plot i s positive (depth i n c r e a s i n g )

*^v-o,oi
< ^ , 0 ,

If

I'l
: C H A N G E IN D E P T H- S C A L E )
jl (NOTE

- I C A L D E P

.. ~ b
0 10 20 30 4 0 50 60 7 (> 1 6

20 30 40 SO
/DISTANCE FROM UPPER E N D OF P L O T - F E E T

F i g . 7 S u r f a c e p r o f i l e s computed by equation ( 1 1 ) ; (a) paved

plot ( S e r i e s H ) and (b)turfed plot ( S e r i e s H I )
966 T R A N S A C T I O N S , A M E R I C A N G E O P H Y S I C A L UNION

T a b l e 1 - - C o m p a r i s o n of a c t u a l and c o m p u t e d v o l u m e s of detention on t y p i c a l paved

and t u r f e d p l o t s a t e q u i l i b r i u m

Rain Actual Actual Com

Slope Length
fall Tem deten puted Vari
Run of of deten
No. plot, inten pera tion deten ation 11
plot, tion, a

L sity, ture adjusted, tion

s 0 i
De
D '
e

Feet Inches F Sqft Sqft Sqft P e r cent

per hour
101 .001 72 3.45 56 1.46 1.46 1.43 -2.1
103 .001 72 3.48 56 1.39 1.39 1.43 +2.9
104 .001 72 3.63 64 1.41 1.44 1.43 -0.7

106 .001 48 3.67 57 0.855 0.832 0.834 +0.2

107 .001 48 3.73 52 0.835 0.789 0.834 +5.7

110 .001 24 3.49 62 0.336 0.346 0.339 -2.0

111 .001 24 3.55 62 0.314 0.320 0.339 +5.9
114 .001 24 3.56 63 0.319 0.329 0.339 + 3.0

115 .001 12 3.65 64 0.125 0.126 0.127 +0.8

118 .001 12 3.65 65 0.129 0.130 0.127 -2.3

131 .005 72 3.66 67 0.747 0.765 0.814 +6.4

132 .005 72 3.63 72 0.750 0.790 0.814 + 3.0
133 .005 72 3.67 73 0.727 0.762 0.814 +6.8

119 .005 12 3.52 60 0.0820 0.083 0.075 -9.6

120 .005 12 3.52 58 0.0763 0.076 0.075 -1.3
121 .005 12 3.58 58 0.0835 0.082 0.075 -8.5

173 .04 72 3.68 68 0.394 0.401 0.404 +0.7

167 .04 12 3.66 66 0.0463 0.047 0.037 -21.3

301 c
.01 72 3.81 78 3.70 3.92 3.58 -8.7

a b
A d j u s t e d t o 6 0 F and i n t e n s i t y 3 . 6 i n c h e s p e r h o u r . ( C o m p u t e d d e t e n t i o n / a c t u a l deten
c
tion a d j u s t e d ) x 1 0 0 . B l u e g r a s s - t u r f ; a l l o t h e r r u n s on p a v e d s u r f a c e ( S e r i e s H).

s o long a s ( F / 4 ) [ ( X /2) + y ] < S Q ; ( c ) beyond point e s t a b l i s h e d by equality in (b) a b o v e , slope is

n e g a t i v e and depth d e c r e a s e s , t h e r e f o r e , depth i s a m a x i m u m a t s u c h point and a l s o ( A y / A i ) = 0,
and t h e r e f o r e
2
y = (X/2)(V /2g) (12)

w h i c h i s t h e l o c u s o f t h e point o f m a x i m u m depth f o r v a r i o u s l e n g t h s of plot on a given slope.

M a t h e m a t i c a l l y equation ( 1 1 ) c a n n o t b e i n t e g r a t e d by a n y s i m p l e m e t h o d , although it is prob

a b l e t h a t functions s i m i l a r t o B R J S S S E ' S b a c k w a t e r t a b l e s m a y b e d e r i v e d , if needed. The com
puted p r o f i l e s w e r e obtained by t r i a l and e r r o r using equation ( 1 1 ) s o l v e d f o r A I and starting
f r o m a known c o n t r o l , a s the c r i t i c a l depth a t t h e point of f r e e o v e r f a l l , o r c r i t i c a l depth' relative
to t h e top of a n o b s t r u c t i o n a c r o s s the flow a s shown in F i g u r e 8 .

F i g u r e 8 i n d i c a t e s that the n o r m a l s u r f a c e - p r o f i l e i s a f f e c t e d f o r only a r e l a t i v e l y short dis

t a n c e u p s t r e a m f r o m t h e 1 / 4 - i n c h high d a m in t h a t F i g u r e . One r u n w a s a c t u a l l y made with such
a n o b s t r u c t i o n m o d e l e d f r o m c l a y . T h i s F i g u r e i n d i c a t e s t h e p o s s i b i l i t y of u s i n g equation (11) w
c o m p u t e t h e s u r f a c e - p r o f i l e f o r flow off a p a v e d s t r i p s u b j e c t t o b a c k w a t e r - e f f e c t f r o m flow on a
turfed shoulder.

F i g u r e 7 a l s o s h o w s p r o f i l e s p l o t t e d f r o m equation (8) u s i n g e x p e r i m e n t a l v a l u e s of k. Note

t h a t t h e s e p r o f i l e s i n t e r s e c t t h e p r o f i l e s c o m p u t e d f r o m equation ( 1 1 ) a t t h e point of maximum
4 e p t h , which i n d i c a t e s t h a t e q u a t i o n s (6) and ( 1 2 ) give i d e n t i c a l r e s u l t s . E x a m i n a t i o n of the
 P A P E R S , HYDROLOGY1944 967

/-DISTANCE FROM UPPER E N D OF PLOT

Fig. 8 S u r f a c e - p r o f i l e s computed by equation (11) f o r paved plot having Sn = 0 . 0 1 with 1 / 4 - i n c h

d a m five feet f r o m lower end of plot ( S e r i e s H )

F i g . 9Rainfall at 3 . 7 i n / h r on turfed plot

968 TRANSACTIONS, A M E R I C A N G E O P H Y S I C A L UNION

. . . . .
3

F i g . 1 0 - - P a v e d s u r f a c e used in S e r i e s H

F i g . 1 1 - - B l u e - g r a s s t u r f u s e d in S e r i e s HI

v a r i a t i o n s between t h i s simplified p r o f i l e - e q u a t i o n and that computed by equation (11) discloses

that the a r e a s under the c u r v e s a r e a p p r o x i m a t e l y equal, the i n c r e a s e d a r e a u p s t r e a m from the
point of i n t e r s e c t i o n being offset by the d e c r e a s e d a r e a d o w n s t r e a m f r o m that point. The close
coincidence of t h e s e c u r v e s d i s c l o s e s why the simplified profile-equation (6) fits the experimental
data so well, despite the c o r r e c t o b s e r v a t i o n by HORNER in his d i s c u s s i o n of a previous paper [2]
that the depth cannot be z e r o a t the upper end of the plot. F o r p r a c t i c a l p u r p o s e s , equation (6) may
be used instead of equation (11) with little e r r o r , so long a s flow i s u n o b s t r u c t e d and the equation
i s not applied to c a s e s w h e r e the p r o d u c t (iL) d o e s not e x c e e d 2 8 0 , m o r e o r l e s s . A s previously
stated t h e r e i s good r e a s o n to b e l i e v e that flow c h a n g e s beyond that r a n g e in such manner that
depth is no longer p r o p o r t i o n a l to the cube r o o t of the d i s c h a r g e .

T h e s e computed p r o f i l e s a l s o indicate that the upper end of the s u r f a c e - p r o f i l e is approximate

ly the s a m e r e g a r d l e s s of the length of o v e r l a n d flow. T h i s f a c t justifies the u s e of detention-data
for v a r i o u s lengths of plot to a r r i v e a t d e t e n t i o n - d i s c h a r g e r e l a t i o n s h i p s .

References

[1] G. H. K E U L E G A N , Spatially v a r i a b l e d i s c h a r g e o v e r a sloping plane, T r a n s . A m e r . Geophys.

Union, P a r t VI, pp. 9 5 6 - 9 5 8 , 1 9 4 4 .
[2] C . F . IZZARD and M. T . A U G U S T I N E , P r e l i m i n a r y r e p o r t on a n a l y s i s of runoff resulting
f r o m simulated r a i n f a l l on a paved plot, T r a n s . A m e r . Geophys. Union, P a r t II, pp. 500-511,
1943.
[3] A m e r i c a n S t a n d a r d s A s s o c i a t i o n , A m e r i c a n s t a n d a r d l e t t e r s y m b o l s for h y d r a u l i c s , Z10.2, 1942,

Public R o a d s A d m i n i s t r a t i o n , F e d e r a l W o r k s A g e n c y ,
Washington 2 5 , D. C .