Cumulative equations for continuous time Chicago hyetograph method

Abstract

ABSTRACT The Chicago method is a classical method based on IDF curves for obtaining design hyetographs which present rainfall rates as continuous functions of time, one valid for times before peak and another for after peak. The intensity peak of rainfall is arbitrarily positioned at time zero, the function before peak counting time reversely and the function after peak with time axis normally. The time duration of the hyetograph before peak is determined by multiplying the total duration by a displacement factor with value between zero and one. This technical note presents both equations for before and after peak with the same time axis (time zero at the beginning of hyetograph) to facilitate applications of the Chicago method. The equations presented show cumulated rainfall depths resulting from exact integrals over chronological time of the original Chicago method’s rainfall intensity equations. That is, at every instant of time from the beginning of the hyetograph one has the exact value of cumulated rainfall. Thus, by decumulation, the sequential rainfall hyetograph depths are obtained. There is an advantage in using these equations which are easily introduced in spreadsheets.