Training Course-Day-2

Water Surface Profile Modeling Using

HEC-RAS

Aug-2009
University of Engineering
and Technology
LAHORE
 Course Contents
DAY-2
Modeling a Bridge
Modeling a Culvert
Modeling Multiple Openings
Practice session / Discussions
Modeling an Inline structure (Weir, Dam etc.)
Modeling Storage Area
Modeling Bridge Scour
Modeling Channel Modifications
Understanding of notes/warnings and errors
Understanding Model Stability
Trouble shooting
Practice session / Discussions
 Explanation-Ineffective flow area

The areas of the cross section that will contain water

that is not actively being conveyed (ineffective flow).
Ineffective flow areas are often used to describe
portions of a cross section in which water will pond, but
the velocity of that water, in the downstream direction, is
close to or equal to zero.
This water is included in the storage calculations and
other wetted cross section parameters, but it is not
included as part of the active flow area.
When using ineffective flow areas, no additional wetted
perimeter is added to the active flow area
 Bridge Modeling -Geometry
Roadway

Deck

Upstream
Embankment Pier
Side Slope
Low Chord

Downstream
Embankment
Side Slope
Bridge Modeling -Geometry
 Bridge Modeling Flow Types
Low Flow
The flow through the bridge
opening is open channel flow
Water surface is not touching
the low chord
High Flow
1. Pressure flow
Water surface is touching the
low chord (Sluice Flow)
2. Weir Flow
Water overtops the bridge
Bridge deck acts like a Weir
 Bridge Modeling
Energy accounts for friction losses and geometry changes
through bridge, as well as losses due to flow transition &
turbulence. (do not account for pier drag)

Momentum accounts for friction losses and geometry changes

through bridge. (requires pier drag coefficient Cd)

FHWA WSPRO Federal Highways Administration method of

analyzing bridge. Uses energy equation as well as some
empirical attributes. Developed for bridges that constrict wide
floodplains with heavily vegetated overbank areas.

Yarnell - Empirical formula developed to model effects of bridge

piers. Based on 2600 lab experiments on different pier shapes
(Yarnells Pier Coefficient, K )
 Bridge Modeling

Low Flow Bridge Modeling

3 Types of Flow
Class A Low Flow - Subcritical Flow
Energy, Momentum, Yarnell, and WSPRO

Class B Low Flow - Flow passes through

critical depth
Energy and Momentum

Class C Low Flow - Supercritical Flow

Energy and Momentum
 Bridge Modeling-High Flows
Pressure (Sluice) flow

1
Z
Q = C d A bu Y 3 - +
3V 32
2

2 2 g

Pressure (Orifice) flow

Q = C A 2gH
 Bridge Modeling-High Flows

Pressure & Weir flow

3
Q = CLH 2

For high tail water elevations the program will

automatically reduce the amount of weir flow to
account for submergence on weirs elevations
 Locating Cross-Sections Near Bridges

Fully Fully
Contraction Thru
Effective Expansion Expanded
Flow Bridge Flow
 Locating Cross-Sections Near Bridges
Lc Le

Fully Fully
Effective Expanded
Flow Flow

4 3 2 1

Lc and Le can be determined by field investigation during high flow

or can be computed.
Locating Cross-Sections Near Bridges

3 2
1
Contraction and Expansion Ratios
Bridge Modeling Expansion Ranges
 Contraction and Expansion Ratios

Contraction Expansion
No Transition 0 0
Gradual Transition 0.1 0.3
Typical Bridge Transition 0.3 0.5
Abrupt Transition 0.6 0.8
Contraction and Expansion Ratios
Expansion Contraction
Cross-Section 4 (furthest US) 0.5 0.4
Cross-Section 3 0.5 0.3
Cross-Section 2 0.5 0.3
Cross-Section 1(furthest DS) 0.3 0.1

Use Cc = 0.4 0.3 0.3 0.1

Use Ce = 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.3
 Ineffective flow areas
3 2 1
4
Bridge Data Sheet
Created by Clyde Giaquinto NRCS-NY
Bridge Modeling -Geometry
Bridge Modeling -Geometry
Practice Session
Bridge Modeling
 Culvert Modeling
A culvert is a relatively short
length of closed conduit, which
connects two open channel
segments or bodies of water
In HEC-RAS, Federal Highway
Administration (FHWA, 1985)
standard equations are used for
culvert hydraulics
The definition of culvert
geometry is similar to bridge
geometry
The layout of cross sections, the
use of the ineffective areas, the
selection of loss coefficients,
and most other aspects of
bridge analysis apply to culverts
as well
 Culvert Hydraulics
Depending upon upstream or downstream control, supercritical and mixed
flow regimes are calculated
If the control is at downstream side subcritical flow would pass through the
culvert from downstream to upstream
When the culvert is at steep slopes, super critical computations are carried
out
A hydraulic jump will occur at a location where the specific force of the
subcritical flow is larger than specific force of supercritical flow
Culvert Hydraulics
Culvert Hydraulics
Culvert Hydraulics
Culvert data input is almost same as that
for bridge input
with some minor specific inputs
Modeling Multiple Openings
Modeling Inline Structures
Modeling Storage Areas
Modeling Bridge Scour
Total Scour = sum of

1) Long term Aggradation/degradation

2) General Scour
3) Local Scour
Clear Water Scour
Clear-water scour occurs when there is no movement
of the bed material in the flow upstream of the
crossing

or

the bed material being transported in the upstream

reach is transported in suspension through the scour
hole at the pier or abutment at less than the capacity
of the flow
Live Bed Scour

Occurs when there is transport of bed material

from the upstream reach into the crossing.

Live-bed local scour is cyclic in nature; that is,

the scour hole that develops during the rising
stage of a flood refills during the falling stage.
Channel Modification Analysis
Trouble Shooting Model
 Trouble Shooting Model
Following factors will affect the stability
and numerical accuracy of the model
1. Cross section spacing.
2. Computation time step.
3. Theta weighting factor for numerical solution.
4. Solution iterations.
5. Solution tolerances.
6. Weir and spillway stability factors.
7. Weir and spillway submergence factors.
 Theta weighing factors
Theta is a weighting applied to the finite difference
approximations when solving the unsteady flow
equations.

Theoretically Theta can vary from 0.5 to 1.0.

A practical limit is from 0.6 to 1.0

Theta of 1.0 provides the most stability.

Theta of 0.6 provides the most accuracy.
The default in HEC-RAS is 1.0.
Once you have your model developed, reduce
theta towards 0.6, as long as the model stays
stable.
 Iterations
At each time step derivatives are estimated and
the equations are solved. All of the computation
nodes are then checked for numerical error. If
the error is greater than the allowable
tolerances, the program will iterate. The default
number of iterations in HEC-RAS is set to 20.
Iteration will generally improve the solution. This
is especially true when your model has lateral
weirs and storage areas.
 Tolerance
Two solution tolerances can be set or changed
by the user: water surface calculation (0.02
default) and Storage area elevation (0.10
default). The default values should be good for
most river systems.

Only change them if you are sure!

Making the tolerances larger can reduce the

stability of the solution. Making them smaller
can cause the program to go to the maximum
number of iterations every time.
 Weir and Spillway Stability Factors

The weir and spillway stability factors can range

from 1.0 to 3.0.

The default value of 1.0

As you increase the factor you get greater

dampening of the flows (which will provide for
greater stability), but less accuracy.
 Submergence Factors

Can vary from 1.0 to 3.0.

A factor of 1.0 leaves the submergence criteria in its

original form.

Using a factor greater than 1.0 causes the program to

use larger submergence factors earlier, and makes the
submergence curve less steep at high degrees of
submergence.
.
 Last Note

Practice Practice and Practice

 Thank You All !

For Future Reference Please use following contact Information .

www.bossintl.com

Ali Iqbal Yasir Abbas

ali@relevancepoint.com engryasir@brain.com.pk
0302-8551238 0333-4349247