Investigation of Flood Routing Using Variable Parameter Kinematic Wave Model (VPKWM) for Non-Prismatic Natural Channel in an Ungauged Basin

Abstract This research concerns about the development and application of Variable Parameter Kinematic Wave Numerical model (VPKWM) based on 1-D Saint-Venant equation, to study the behaviour of the propagation of a flood wave in Non-prismatic natural waterways in an ungauged basin. The channel slope and wetted perimeter are considered as variable because of the irregularity of the boundary of the channel and the change in magnitude of discharge. The scarcity of reliable inflow data at upstream is a serious problem for the flood routing process in an ungauged basin. In this study the inflow hydrograph and lateral inflow hydrographs are obtained using SCS-CN method as rainfall runoff model. The performance of the model assessed considering four parameters such as root mean square error (RMSE), peak discharge, peak time and total volume. The results indicated that the VPKWM for non-prismatic channel provided reasonable output compared with the observed data.