Estimación de caudal en causes naturales mediante integración numérica aplicando lenguaje PYTHON

Abstract

The velocity-area methods normally applied for the calculation of the volumetric flow rate in natural streams consider the average flow velocity, but not the velocity distribution in the channel cross-section, which causes errors in the interpretation and processing of data, and also inaccuracy in the hydrological planning and the safety of the hydraulic system as well. This academic work focuses on developing an algorithm implemented to the open-source language Python that serves as a tool for flow calculation and flows behavior analysis in the cross-section of a natural water body. Through the application of the graphic velocity–area method of flow calculation, it was determined that the approximation methodology with less uncertainty is the one that implies the numerical integration of the differential elements which conforms to the transversal distribution of velocities from the continuity equation. The calculation process was defined from bibliographic data of water capacity obtained from hydrological and hydraulic studies, establishing a flow chart for its codification. The validation of the proposed measurement methodology and the algorithm calculation was done through field tests calculating the flow in two sections of Burgay River during a period of ten days. The algorithm implemented in Python turns out to be an efficient tool for flow calculation and flow analysis in the cross-section of a channel, these stages are carried out from a preliminary data validation and are summarized in a result report that contains the cross and longitudinal distributions of flow velocities and the hydraulic characteristics of the section. The outcomes provided by the program lead to a wide field of study related to hydrological and hydraulic issues.