Unification of Muskingum Difference Schemes

Abstract

The conventional and the more refined difference schemes of the Muskingum method are evaluated from the considerations of diffusion analogy principle, and as numerical schemes for replacing the Muskingum analytical solution. It has been found from the first consideration that the coefficients of both schemes are same in terms of channel and flow characteristics, and thus they result in the same outflow hydrograph for a given inflow hydrograph and the channel reach. However from the second consideration it is seen, that for practically realizable input shapes, the conventional difference scheme reproduces the analytical solution more closely than the more refined difference scheme.