Detention Basics
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Objectives
Know what a detention basin is
Know how to develop an inflow
hydrograph
Know how to determine a stage-storage
curve
Know how to determine an outflow curve
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Detention Basin-Purposes
Store water temporarily during a storm and
release the stored water slowly
Attenuate the flow
Store first-flush
Design for infiltration
If all water is infiltrated then (retention basin)
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Detention Basins
On-Site
Regional
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Detention Basins
Inflow (ditch or pipe)
Storage
Outflow (single/multiple stage
Orifice
Weir
Emergency spillway
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Routing
Method used to model the outflow
hydrograph
Based on continuity equation
Water in varies
Water out varies
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Information Needed to Route
Inflow hydrograph
Relation of storage volume to elevation in
the proposed detention basin
Relation of outflow to water level elevation
(discharge rating)
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Inflow hydrograph
Ch 5 of TR-55 (NRCS method)
Modified rational method (see book 11.2)
Simple
symmetrical triangle (2*tc)
Asymmetrical triangle (total base = 2.67 tc)
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Flow (cfs) Flow (cfs)
Time (hrs) Undeveloped Developed
TR-55 Hydrograph 12.7
12.8
246
284
631
670
(NRCS Method)
13 366 739
13.2 433 820
13.4 503 861
13.6 575 872
13.8 636 861
Peak flow is higher after development 14 686 833
14.3 720 755
14.6 701 679
Peak flow occurs earlier after development 15 631 568
15.5 529 412
TR-55 Hydrograph
1000
Undeveloped
800
Developed
Flow (cfs)
600
400
200
0
0 5 10 15 20
Time (hrs)
Rational Method:
Simple Symmetrical Triangle
Triangular Runoff Hydrograph
Tc=2 hours; Qp=200 cfs
250
200
150
Q (cfs)
100
50
0
0 1 2 3 4
Time (hrs)
Rational Method: Area under hydrograph?
Time base of 2.67 tc
Base of 2.67*Tc
Tc=2 hours; Qp=200 cfs
250
200
150
Q (cfs)
100
50
0
0 1 2 3 4 5 6
Time (hr)
Computing Storage Volumes
Two Methods
Elevation-Area
(detention basins)
Average End-Area (pipes)
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Computing Storage Volumes
Elevation-Area (detention basins)
Contour lines are determined around basin
Determine area of each contour
Volume between 2 contours = average
area*depth between the contours
Prepare a table showing elevation, area,
incremental volume and cumulative volume
See example 14-1 (page 341)
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Elevation-Area Method: Ex 14-1
Elev (ft) Area (ft2) Incr. Vol (ft3) Cum. Vol (ft3)
230 0 0 0
231 250 (250/2*1)= 125 125
232 840 ((250+840)/2*1)= 545 670
233 1350 1095 1765
234 2280 1815 3580
235 3680 2980 6560
236 5040 4360 10,920
Stage vs Volume
12000
10000
Volume (cubic ft)
8000
6000
4000
2000
0
230 231 232 233 234 235 236
Elev (ft)
Computing Storage Volumes
Average end-area (pipes)
Find u/s area at elevation increments
Find d/s area at elevation increments
Average the areas & multiply by length
This gives you total volumes (not incremental
volumes)
See Example 14-2 (page 343)
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End Area Method
Downstream Upstream
Elevation Area Area Length Volume
(ft) (sq ft) (sq ft) (ft) (cubic ft)
520 0 0 200 0
521 2.39 0 200 239
522 6.29 2.39 200 868
523 10.1 6.29 200 1639
524 12.6 10.1 200 2270
525 12.6 12.6 200 2520
Pipe Detention Basin
Average End Area Method
3000
2500
Storage (cubic ft)
2000
1500
1000
500
0
520 521 522 523 524 525
Elevation (ft)
Discharge Rating
Calculate outflows based on water
elevation in the detention pond
Orifice and weir equations are used
Singlestage (see pg 345)
Two stage (see page 348)
If more than one stage, calculate each
outlet separately and add to get stage-
discharge curves
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Orifices
Hole in a wall
through which water
flows
Square edge
Beveled edge
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Orifice
When water flows
through an orifice the
water contracts with
a smaller area than www.spiraxsarco.com
the original orifice
opening (vena
contracta)
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General Orifice Equation
Q=ca(2gh).5
Where:
Q=discharge (cfs or cms)
c=discharge coefficient (0.62 often used)
a=cross-sectional orifice area (sq ft or sq meters)
h=total head (ft or m)
g=gravitational constant (32.2 or 9.81)
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Orifice Discharge
Free Discharge
Submerged Discharge
Equation is the same. Head for the
submerged discharge is the difference
between upper and lower water surfaces
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Orifice-Free Discharge
Given: Dia=6”, WSE=220.0 ft;
Elev of orifice centerline=200.0 ft
Q=ca(2gh).5
Q=0.62*0.196*(2*32.2*20).5
Q=4.4 cfs
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Weir
Horizontal surface
over which water is
allowed to flow
Used to regulate and
measure flows
http://www.flow3d.com/appl/weir.htm
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Rectangular, Sharp-Crested
Weir
Q=cLH3/2
Q-flow (cfs)
c-adjusted discharge coefficient (careful)
c=3.27+0.4(H/P) where P is ht of weir above channel
bottom
L-effective crest length, ft
L=L’-0.1nH
L’=actual measured crest length and n=# of contractions
H-head above crest, ft
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Rectangular, Broad-Crested
Weir
Q=cLH3/2
Q-flow (cfs)
c-discharge coefficient (App A-5 English
units)
L-crest length, ft
H-head above crest, ft
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V-Notch or Triangular Weir
Q=c*tan(angle/2)*H5/2
c = 2.5 (but should calibrate)
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Other Weir Types
Cipoletti (trapezoidal)
Ogee (dam spillway)
youngiil.co.kr
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Detention Outlet Structures
Single Stage (culvert or orifice)
Multi-Staged to handle different flows
Combination of orifices &/or weirs
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Single Stage Outlet Example
(Ex14-3)
An outlet consisting of a 12” pipe is proposed
for a detention basin. The invert of the pipe
is 320.0 feet and the top of berm is 325.0 ft.
Compute the discharge rating for the outlet.
Area=0.785 sq ft
Assume c=0.62
Use orifice equation: Q=ca(2gh).5
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Single Stage Outlet Example
WSE (ft) h (to c/l of pipe) Q out (cfs)
320 0 0
321 0.5 2.8
322 1.5 4.8
323 2.5 6.2
324 3.5 7.3
325 4.5 8.3
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Multi-Stage Outlet
Example 14-4 (pg 349)
4” Orifice and 2 weirs L=1.5’ and L=12.5’
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Multistage Outlet
Example 14-4
Multi Stage Outlet (4" orifice @ 560'; 1.5' weir @ 562.37, 12.5'weir @ 563.37; weir wall thicknesses=0.5')
4" ORIFICE 1.5' WEIR 1.5' WEIR Total Q (cfs)
WSE (ft) h (to cl-ft) Q (cfs) h (to cl-ft) c (FigA-5) Q (cfs) h (to cl-ft) c (FigA-5) Q (cfs) cfs
560 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
561 0.83 0.40 0 0 0 0.00 0.40
562 1.83 0.59 0 0 0 0.00 0.59
562.67 2.50 0.69 0 0 0 0.00 0.69
563 2.83 0.73 0.33 3.00 0.85 0 0.00 1.58
563.67 3.50 0.81 1.00 3.32 4.98 0.00 0.00 5.79
564 3.83 0.85 1.33 3.32 7.64 0.33 2.86 6.78 15.27
565 4.83 0.95 2.33 3.32 17.71 1.33 3.32 63.65 82.32
Equations: c*a*(2gh)^.5 orifice
cLH^1.5 weir
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Emergency Spillway
Emergency Outlet
Rainfallexceeds design storm
Outlet becomes blocked
Purpose
Prevent overtopping of berm
Control direction of overflow
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Emergency Spillway
Typical Design Criteria
Spillway crest set at or above the maximum
impoundment elev
Designed for emergency spillway design storm
(minus what can be handled by outflow structure)
or designed to convey peak discharge of design
storm (assuming outflow structure plugged)
Top of berm = WSE through the spillway +
freeboard (1-2’ typical)
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