Enter an inflow hydrograph, time step, and Muskingum K and X parameters to calculate the routed outflow hydrograph, peak attenuation, and translation time.
The Muskingum method routes flood hydrographs through channel reaches by modeling storage as a combination of prism storage (proportional to outflow) and wedge storage (proportional to inflow-outflow difference).
Key equations:
K represents the travel time through the reach (hours). X is a weighting factor (0-0.5) that describes the relative importance of inflow vs outflow in determining storage.
| Parameter | Typical Range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| K (storage constant) | 0.5 - 6 hours | Approx. reach travel time |
| X (weighting factor) | 0.1 - 0.3 | Natural channels: 0.2-0.3 |
| X = 0 | - | Pure reservoir (level pool) |
| X = 0.5 | - | Pure translation (no attenuation) |
Source: USACE EM 1110-2-1417, Chow et al. (1988).
For educational purposes only. Not a substitute for professional engineering judgment.