Author(s): P. B. Angelidis; N. E. Kotsovinos
Linked Author(s):
Keywords: Runoff simulation; Overland flow; Kinematic wave approximation
Abstract: This work represents a simulation model that provides an analysis of the quantity of runoff from urban watersheds. A mathematical-numerical model has been developed, which simulates the precipitation – runoff process and computes flow hydrographs at various places. The program accepts as input the real morphology of the urban watershed using a digitizer interfaced to a computer. Then it divides automatically the hydrological basin into very small subbasins. The model substitutes each small subbasin with an idealized V-shaped overland flow element of equivalent area, which consists of two equal orthogonal planes connected at one side. Successful application of this approach begins with the description of unsteady, uniform flow over the idealized overland flow elements. The overland flow of each element is collecting by a corresponding collector channel of the drainage system. A dendritic channel system – the drainage system – is generated automatically. The overland flow from each element is input as uniformly distributed lateral inflow into the corresponding collector channel, which routes both this lateral inflow and the inflow from upstream channel too. The kinematic wave approximation has been proven to be an accurate and efficient method of simulating storm water runoff for both overland flow and stream channel routing. A finite difference method is used for approximating the governing partial differential equations with simple difference equations.
Year: 2001