Hydrology of Mainawoti Khola Bridge

1.1 General
The proposed bridge site lies in between …………………………………………… of
Siraha district at Mainawoti Khola. The detail hydrological study has been carried out to
find out the hydrological design parameters required for the design of bridge. Maximum
design discharge for 100 yrs. return period, linear waterway, normal and maximum scour
depths and vertical clearance and afflux are main hydrological parameters required for
design and are determined on the basis of depth study. The coordinate of the bridge axis
at the Mainawoti Khola is: 86°13’01”E & 26°39’7.45”N.

1.2 Catchment Characteristics

The Mainawoti Khola is a rain fed river. The catchment area of Mainawoti Khola at
proposed bridge site is found to be 88.92 km2 according to basin map delineation in
Shuttle Radar Topography Mission (SRTM) of 90mx90m resolution using GIS with
HEC-GeoHMS extension tools. Elevation of the river varies from 640 masl to 77 masl
along the length of the river and length is about 38.22 Km. More than 90% of catchment
area is covered with cultivated land & houses. The shape of the catchment area is
irregular shape.

Physiographic Parameters of the study basin

S.N
Description Unit Value
.
1 Shape of basin   Irregular Shape
2 Catchment area km2 88.92
3 Perimeter of catchment km 98.14
4 Maximum elevation along the river m 640
5 Minimum elevation along the river m 77
6 Catchment area below 3000m elevation km2 88.92
7 Longest flow path up to the bridge axis km 38.22
8 Flow length up to the centroid km 20.62
9 Slope of the basin % 1.47

1.3 Stream Channel Characteristics

This river is rain fed river. Minimum flow in the river generally occurs in April or May.
The maximum flow in the river is during the June to September. The highest flood flow
in the river generally occurs in July/August. The catchment maps of the river basin are
shown below.

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Hydrology of Mainawoti Khola Bridge

Figure: Mainawoti Khola Catchment Map at proposed bridge axis

1.4 Rainfall in the Catchment

24 hours maximum rainfall data from the DHM are generated and shown below:

24 hr. Maximum Rainfall(mm)

Year/Statio Lahan (1215) Siraha(1216
n )
1991   117.4
1992 126 77
1993 120 149.3
1994 116 163.2
1995 171.5 218.4
1996 222 134.5
1997 150 168.2
1998 217 224.4
1999   168.2
2000 63.1 210.4
2001 27.9 156.4
2002 170 274.6
2003 82 120.3
2004 98.5 141.4
2005 62 125.3
2006 42.5 165.4
2007   144.6

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Hydrology of Mainawoti Khola Bridge

2008 42.5 98.1

2009 41.3 133.5
2010 56.2 58.4

The locations of meteorological stations along with catchment map are shown below.

Figure: Mainawoti Khola Catchment Map with Meteorological Stations

1.5 Flood Analysis

I. WECS/DHM study method

Hydrological studies on the rivers of Nepal have been carried out by the Water and
Energy Commission Secretariat (WECS) and published a report “Methodologies for
Estimating Hydraulic Characteristics of un-gauged locations in Nepal” in which methods
are described to calculate the flood discharge of the rivers for different return periods.
The flood flows are calculated according to the formula described in the report within the
different altitudes. The maximum flood flows are calculated in any river of catchments
area (A) below 3000m of elevation formula as given below. Though the altitude of the
catchments varies below 5000m, the equation below 5000 elevation catchments is used
for low flow or long-term flow calculation. The following equation is used here for
maximum daily flood peak in safer side.
Q2 = 1.8767(A+) 0.8783

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Hydrology of Mainawoti Khola Bridge

Q100 = 14.639(A+1)0.7342
Where, subscript 2 and 100 stand for the return periods in number of years.
The flood flows for any return period R is governed by
QR = exp(lnQ2+Sσ)
Where, σ = ln(Q100/Q2)/2.326 is the standard deviation of the natural logarithms of annual
floods.
S = Standardized normal variable for a particular return period R.

Catchment Area = 88.92 Km2

σ = ln(Q100/Q2)/2.326 = 0.61

Return Period (Yrs.) S

2 0
5 0.842
10 1.282
20 1.645
50 2.054
100 2.326
200 2.576

Flood Flow, Q m3/s

Return Period Instantaneous Daily
2 97.099 59.267
5 161.792 89.553
10 211.266 111.112
20 263.284 132.754
50 337.392 162.228
100 397.892 185.369
200 463.023 209.539
500 556.076 242.976
1000 632.360 269.588
5000 830.751 336.132
10000 925.999 366.962

II. Fuller’s Method

According to this method the maximum instantaneous flood discharge Q is given by

QT = Qav (1+0.8logT)
Where, Qav is the yearly average 24 hrs flood over a number of years in m 3/s and it is
calculated as Qav = CfxA0.8.

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Hydrology of Mainawoti Khola Bridge

Ref: Design Guidelines for Hydropower Project

Catchment Area (CA): 88.92 km2
Fuller's Coefficient (Cf): 1.03 adopted for Nepal

S.N
Reoccurrence Interval (T, Yrs.) Qav in m3/s QT in m3/s Remarks
.
1 2 91.59 113.64  
2 5 91.59 142.80  
3 10 91.59 164.86  
4 20 91.59 186.91  
5 50 91.59 216.07  
6 100 91.59 238.13  
7 200 91.59 260.18  
8 500 91.59 289.34  
9 1000 91.59 311.40  

III. Modified Dicken’s Method

Using Dicken’s method, the T year flood discharge QT, in m3/s, can be calculated as

QT = CTA3/4
where,
CT = 2.342*log(0.6T)*log(1185/P)+4
T = Return Period
P = 100(As+6)/A
As = Snow covered catchment = 0 km2
A = Total Catchment area = 88.92 km2

Reoccurrence Flood
S.N. CA, km2 As , m2 P CT Remarks
Interval Flow
  (T, Yrs.)         (m3/s)  
1 2 88.92 0 6.75 4.42 127.88  
2 5 88.92 0 6.75 6.51 188.45  
3 10 88.92 0 6.75 8.09 234.28  
4 20 88.92 0 6.75 9.67 280.10  
5 50 88.92 0 6.75 11.76 340.67  
6 100 88.92 0 6.75 13.35 386.50  
7 200 88.92 0 6.75 14.93 432.32  
8 500 88.92 0 6.75 17.02 492.89  
9 1000 88.92 0 6.75 18.60 538.71  

IV. B.D. Richard’s Approach

B.D. Richard’s method may be used for flood estimation using rainfall and basin
characteristics.

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Hydrology of Mainawoti Khola Bridge

Initially certain value is assumed for Tc, then; Catchment Area (A)= 88.92 km2
Q= 0.222AIF m3/sec Length (L)= 38.22 km
F= 1.09352-0.06628ln(A) 24 hr. rainfall= 274.60 mm
D= 1.102L2 /(F*S) Hmax.= 640.0 m
RTC= 0.22127xRTxTc * 0.476577 Hmin.= 77.0 m
I= RTC/Tc Slope (S)= 1.473
KR= 0.651x (Tc+1)
CKR= 0.95632/KR * 1.4806 Q= 367.93 m3/s
TC3= D X CKR
TC2= (TC3/0.585378) ^ (1/2.17608)

Tc F D RT RTC I KR CKR TC3 TC2

1 0.964 1133.222 274.600 60.761 60.761 1.302 0.647 733.205 26.52
10 0.964 1133.222 274.600 182.054 18.205 7.161 0.052 58.755 8.31
9 0.964 1133.222 274.600 173.138 19.238 6.510 0.060 67.660 8.871
8.92 0.964 1133.222 274.600 172.403 19.328 6.458 0.060 68.469 8.920

V. Snyder’s Method
Input
:
Length (L)= 38.22 Km
C. Length (Lc)= 20.62 Km
CA= 0.9282  
Ct= 1.5  
C p= 0.62  
tR= 24  
R= 27.46  

Calculation:
Qpr= qprxCAxAxR = 280.19 m3/s
qpr= 2.78xCP/tPR = 0.12  
tPR= tpr+0.25(tR-tr) = 13.94  
tr = tpr/5.5 = 1.51  
tpr= 0.75xCt(LxLc)*0.3 = 8.32  

VI. Rational Method

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Hydrology of Mainawoti Khola Bridge

Flood flows may be estimated from rational formulae that take into account the intensity,
distribution and duration of rainfall as well as the area, shape, slope, permeability and
initial wetness of the basin. The following formulae are used to calculate the flood
discharge:
Flood
Discharge(Q)= CIA/3.6 m3/s
Time of Concentration(t)= 0.01947L^0.77xS^(-0.385) min.
Intensity(I)= KT^a/(t+b)^n cm/hr
Where, C= 0.3
K= 6.933 L= 38220 m
a= 0.1353 For S= 0.0147
b= 0.5 Nepal T= 100 yrs.
n= 0.8801 A= 88.92 km2

t= 333.40 mins. 5.56 hr.

I= 2.65 cm/hr. 26.49 mm/hr.
Q100= 196.29 m3/s

1.6 Design Flood

Traffic flow of the bridge is high and this flow density will be more in future after the
construction of bridge, considering the importance of bridge, the flood for return period
of 100 years is recommended for design discharge. The maximum discharge using above
methods for return period of 100 years are summarized below in tabular form:
Summary of Flood Flow Calculation at Bridge Axis

S.N
Method 100 Yrs. Return Qflood (m3/s)
.
1 WECS/DHM 397.89
2 Fuller's 238.13
3 Modified Dickens 386.50
4 B. D. Richards 367.93
5 Snyder's 280.19
6 Rational (CA<50 sq.km) 196.29

The Rational approach gives lowest flow and WECS/DHM approach gives highest flow.
For this type of catchment WECS/DHM approach seems suitable. The flood flow for 100
years return period flow is considered for design flow of 397.89m 3/s given by
WECS/DHM approach. The flood level corresponding to the design flood has been
determined from HEC-RAS analysis using the x-section, longitudinal profile and
roughness information obtained from field.

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Hydrology of Mainawoti Khola Bridge

This river is Shallow River. During high flood there is submergence of land nearby the
bridge axis and land at both banks of river due to flat terrain. Most of the calculated
flood passes from outside of the bridge. But for safer design the HFL is calculated by
using 397.89m3/sec. The HFL given by HEC-RAS analysis is 59.71m and Energy
Gradient Line (EGL) is 60.78m before putting bridge.

Plot from the HEC-RAS output of HFL is shown below:

Maina Plan: Plan 01 2/20/2019

Axis
.025 .025 .025
61 Legend

60 EG PF 1
WS PF 1
Elevation (m)

59 Crit PF 1
Ground
58
Bank Sta
57

56
0 10 20 30 40 50
Station (m)

1.7 Linear Water Way of the Flood

According to Kellerhals, mean channel width is given by
B = 3.26Q0.5 for gravel bed channels
Where,
B = mean channel length required for given discharge
Q = design discharge m3/s
B = 65.03 m

According to Lacey’s formula, mean channel width is given by

B = 4.75Q 0.5 for alluvium channels
Where,
B = mean channel length required for given discharge
Q = design discharge m3/s
B = 94.75 m

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Hydrology of Mainawoti Khola Bridge

In case of terai region and alluvium bed channel, the waterway calculated by Lacey’s
approach seems to be reasonable in this river.

But linear waterway at site according to high flood during site survey = 20m.

Considering the design discharge, available linear waterway, available height, bed level,
topography and site geology, minimum bridge length can be provided with span of 20m
by considering x-section at bridge axis. However the span of the bridge is also governed
by the river training cost involved with bridge. There is water-way constriction according
to Lacey’s formula.

1.8 High Flood Level

After the construction of the bridge, linear waterway will constrict to 20m at HFL at
60.99m. It shows little rise of flood level. Plot from the HEC-RAS output of HFL is
shown below:

Maina Plan: Plan 01 2/20/2019

Bridge
.025 .025 .025
66 Legend

64 EG PF 1
WS PF 1
Elevation (m)

62 Crit PF 1
Ground
60
Bank Sta
58

56
0 10 20 30 40 50
Station (m)

1.9 Afflux and Vertical Clearance

The afflux have raised due to waterway constriction, which is also considered in this
design. According to Nepal Bridge Standards-2067, for discharge below 200m3/sec,
vertical clearance should be minimum 1000mm, discharge more than 200m3/sec to
500m3/sec, vertical clearance should be minimum 1200mm, discharge more than
500m3/sec to 2000m3/sec, vertical clearance should be minimum 1500mm, discharge
more than 2000m3/sec to 5000m3/sec, vertical clearance should be minimum 2000mm
and discharge above 5000m3/sec vertical clearance should be more than 2000mm. Here
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Hydrology of Mainawoti Khola Bridge

design flow is in between 200m3/sec and 500 m3/sec. So, 1.20m vertical clearance needs
to be provided. So, the minimum level of bearing = 60.99+1.20 = 62.19m.

Providing the depth of superstructure below deck level 2.0m, the minimum deck level =
62.19+2.0 = 64.19m.

1.10 Scour Depth and Depth of Foundation

Here we have calculated:

Scour Depth Calculation (IRC:78-2014):
Design Discharge(Qd)= 397.89 m3/s
Linear Waterway= 94.75 m
Linear Waterway as per Site Condition= 20.00 m
Proposed Span(L)= 20 m
Db=Qd/L= 19.89
Mean Diameter of River Bed Material(d50)= 0.45 mm

For other than Gravel and Boulders or Soil φ>15˚

Silt Factor(Ksf)=1.76sqrt(m) 1.18
Mean Scour Depth below High Flood Level(dsm)= 1.34(Db2/Ksf)^(1/3)
dsm= 9.309 m
Maximum Scour Depth below HFL:
Scour Depth at Abutment= 1.27dsm= 11.82 m
2

Maximum Scour Depth below Minimum Bed Level:

High Flood Level= 60.99 m
Bed Level= 56.11 m
Flow Depth= 4.880 m
Scour Depth at Abutment= 6.942 m

Scour Level of Foundation:

For Abutment= 49.17 m

1.11 Summary and Conclusion

Hydrological analysis can be summarized and concluded as following:
Design discharge of flood at 100 years return period= 397.89m3/sec
Minimum linear waterway= 94.75m
Waterway according to HFL at u/s and d/s x-section= 20m

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Hydrology of Mainawoti Khola Bridge

Probable bridge span= 20m

Bridge Span: CH: 0+15.50m to CH: 0+35.50m along the proposed bridge axis
Minimum bed level= 56.11m
High flood level= 59.71m (before putting bridge)
Energy gradient level= 60.78m and
High flood level= 60.99m (after putting bridge)

Abutment Scour= 6.942m (from minimum bed level)

Abutment Scour Level= 49.17m

Minimum level of foundation should be 2m below the scour level.

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Hydrology of Mainawoti Khola Bridge

For Annex:

Before Bridge:
Plan: Plan 01 Mainawoti Upper RS: 0 Profile: PF 1      
E.G. Elev (m) 60.78 Element Left OB Channel Right OB
Vel Head (m) 1.07 Wt. n-Val. 0.025 0.025 0.025
W.S. Elev (m) 59.71 Reach Len. (m) 20 20 20
Crit W.S. (m) 59.71 Flow Area (m2) 35.98 18.84 37.18
E.G. Slope (m/m) 0.004042 Area (m2) 35.98 18.84 37.18
Q Total (m3/s) 397.89 Flow (m3/s) 126.13 110.33 161.43
Top Width (m) 40 Top Width (m) 19.88 5.39 14.74
Vel Total (m/s) 4.32 Avg. Vel. (m/s) 3.51 5.85 4.34
Max Chl Dpth (m) 3.6 Hydr. Depth (m) 1.81 3.5 2.52
Conv. Total (m3/s) 6258.4 Conv. (m3/s) 1983.9 1735.3 2539.2
Length Wtd. (m) 20 Wetted Per. (m) 22.23 5.39 16.67
Min Ch El (m) 56.11 Shear (N/m2) 64.16 138.47 88.43
Alpha 1.13 Stream Power (N/m s) 224.93 810.75 383.93
Frctn Loss (m) 0.09 Cum Volume (1000 m3) 0.72 0.27 0.81
C & E Loss (m) 0 Cum SA (1000 m2) 0.37 0.08 0.35

After Bridge:
Plan: Plan 01 Mainawoti Upper RS: 3 Profile: PF 1    
Inside BR
E.G. US. (m) 61.42 Element US Inside BR DS
W.S. US. (m) 60.99 E.G. Elev (m) 61.34 61.3
Q Total (m3/s) 397.89 W.S. Elev (m) 60.2 59.93
Q Bridge (m3/s) 329 Crit W.S. (m) 59.93 59.93
Q Weir (m3/s) Max Chl Dpth (m) 4.1 3.82
Weir Sta Lft (m) Vel Total (m/s) 4.37 4.8
Weir Sta Rgt (m) Flow Area (m2) 91.06 82.92
Weir Submerg Froude # Chl 0.75 0.85
Weir Max Depth (m) Specif Force (m3) 334.82 329.67
Min El Weir Flow (m) 57.93 Hydr Depth (m) 3.04 2.76
Min El Prs (m) 62.19 W.P. Total (m) 43.62 41.99
Delta EG (m) 0.63 Conv. Total (m3/s) 6822.4 5961.1
Delta WS (m) 1.28 Top Width (m) 30 30
BR Open Area (m2) 108.65 Frctn Loss (m) 0.01 0
BR Open Vel (m/s) 5.18 C & E Loss (m) 0.02 0.09
BR Sluice Coef Shear Total (N/m2) 69.63 86.27
BR Sel Method Energy only Power Total (N/m s) 304.26 413.98

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