Estimating the design flood based on design storm rainfallintensity/depth

For Malaysian, we have a procedure (manual) to design flood hydrograph based on the design storm rainfall intensity, such as DID ((1976; 2010). Those manual are explained very well on the corrected procedures and methods to estimate the design flood hydrograph on the gauged and ungauged catchments.

The following procedure is recommended by DID (1976) for estimating the design storm:

  1. the design recurrence interval is selected on the basis of the guidelines suggested by Heiler and Tan (1974).
  2. the design storm depth for the required recurrence interval is calculated from the procedure by DID (1982). The rain depth or intensity is obtained from Intensity-Duration-Frequency curve.
  3. The areal reduction factors recommended by DID (1982) are used to convert point rainfall to catchment mean rainfall.
  4. The temporal pattern of the design storm is not considered.
  5. the design storm duration is taken as that duration which gives the highest peak discharge.

Note: the design storm duration is usually adopted as that duration gives the maximum discharge. this critical duration is found by trial and error by calculating the design flood for a range of storm duration. From the experience, the duration within the catchment lag (time concentration) gives the maximum discharge.

References:

DID (1982), Estimation of the Design Rainstorm in Peninsular Malaysia. Hydrological Procedure No. 1.
DID ( (1976). Design Flood Hydrograph Estimation for Rural Catchments in Peninsular Malaysia. Hydrological Procedure No. 11.
DID (2010). Estimation of design flood hydrograph using clark method for rural catchments in Peninsular Malaysia. Hydrological Procedure No. 27
Heiler T.D and Tan H.T (1974). Hydrological Design Return Periods, Provisional Hydrological Procedure.