Prepared for CIVE 401 Hydraulic Engineering

By Kennard Lai, Patrick Ndolo Goy & Dr. Pierre Julien

Fall 2015
Contents
• Introduction
• General Philosophy
• Overview of Capabilities
• Applications
• Computational Procedure
• Quick Start Guide
• Examples
• Advantages & Disadvantages
• Resources
• References
 Introduction

• Hydrologic Engineering Center – River Analysis System

• Developed by US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE)
• Previously HEC-2 (1990)
• Latest version 4.1 (2010)
• Free Download at: http://www.hec.usace.army.mil/software/hec-ras/
 General Philosophy of the Modeling System

• Integrated Software Package includes:

- Graphical User Interface (GUI)
- Analysis Components
- Data Storage & Management
- Graphics
- Report Generation
• Using a common geometric data representation and common
geometric and hydraulic computation routine
 Overview of Capabilities

• One-Dimensional (1D) River Analysis:

1. Steady Flow Water Surface Profile Computations
2. Unsteady Flow Simulation
3. Movable Boundary Sediment Transport Computations
4. Water Quality Analysis
and…
Several Hydraulic Design Features
 Applications

• Bridge/Culvert Modeling
• Inline Structures (Dams, Weirs and Gated Spillways)
• Lateral Structures (Weirs, Spillways)
• Flood Management (Floodplain encroachment, Flood
Insurance Studies)
• Sediment Transport & Management
• Water Quality Analysis (Temperature, Algae, DO, BOD, etc.)
• Various Flow Analysis
 Computational Procedures

Steady Gradually Varied Flow Water Surface Profile Calculations

Basic Equations:
• 1D Energy Equation
 Computational Procedures

• Conveyance Calculation: From Manning Equation

2 1
1
𝑄= 𝑅 3 𝐴𝑆𝑓 2 (SI)
𝑛 ℎ
2
1
𝐾= 𝑅 3A
𝑛 ℎ
1
𝑄 = 𝐾𝑆𝑓 2

Where:
Q = flow
n = Manning’s coefficient
A = cross sectional area
RH = hydraulic radius
Sf = friction slope
K = conveyance
 Computational Procedures
• Energy Loss, he:
> Friction - Manning Equation
> Contraction/Expansion – loss coefficient
𝑎1 𝑉1 2 𝑎2 𝑉2 2
ℎ𝑒 = 𝐿𝑆𝑓 + 𝐶 − (SI)
2𝑔 2𝑔

Where:
L = reach length
A = cross sectional area
C = contraction/expansion coefficient
a = velocity weighing coefficient
𝑆f = friction slope
he = head loss
g = gravity

V = flow velocity
 Computational Procedures
HEC-RAS utilizes the Standard Step Method:
• Iterative computation of water surface elevation between two known cross sections
• Steady flow
• Does not require uniform cross-section or channel conditions
• Requires known channel cross sections along reach
• Computation of energy equation section by section
• Control Section:
> subcritical flow: evaluate from downstream to upstream
> supercritical flow: evaluate from upstream to downstream
 Computational Procedures
Standard Step Procedure:
1. Assume initial water surface (WS) elevation at 2
2. Based on assumed WS elevation, determine the corresponding total conveyance and
velocity head
3. With values from step 2, compute 𝑆𝑓 and solve for he
4. With values from steps 2 and 3, solve 1D energy equation for new WS elevation at 2
5. Compare WS elevations of step 1 and step 4. Iterate until values agree to within 0.1
feet (0.003 m) or to user-defined tolerance
 Computational Procedures
• The program is constrained by a maximum number of iterations (default = 20)

• If max iterations is reach before balanced WS is achieved, then calculate critical depth

• Then check if error of minimum error WS is within predefined tolerance

• If within predefined error tolerance and at the correct side of critical depth, then
minimum error WS will be used and set a warning message

• Or else critical depth will be used and set a warning message

• While both are not valid solutions, minimum error WS is better than critical depth

• Common sources of error:

> Inadequate number of cross sections (reach length too long)
> Bad cross section data
> Wrong boundary condition specified (subcritical/supercritical/critical)
 Quick Start Guide
For Steady Flow Simulation:
Basic Data Requirements
1. Geometric Data:
> River System Schematic
> Cross Section Geometry
> Reach Length
> Hydraulic Structures/Obstructions
2. Energy Loss Data:
> Manning n
> Contraction/Expansion Coefficients
3. Flow Data:
> Flow Rate
> Profiles
> Boundary Conditions
 Quick Start Guide
• HEC-RAS Main Window
 Quick Start Guide

1. Start HEC-RAS

2. Click File > New Project

3. Select drive and path to store project in
4. Enter project title, ensure the project File Name has the extension “.prj”
5. Click OK
 Quick Start Guide
6. Enter Geometric Data
i) River system schematic
> Draw from upstream to downstream
> River Station number increases upstream
 Quick Start Guide
ii) Cross Section Data
> Cross Section is looking downstream
> Station (different from River Station) is from left to right
> To add new cross sectional data: click Options > Add a new Cross Section
 Quick Start Guide
ii) Cross Section Data
> Manning n
> Contraction/Expansion Coefficient
 Quick Start Guide
iii) Hydraulic Structures: Bridge, Culverts, Dams, Weirs, etc
 Quick Start Guide
7. Enter Steady Flow Data
i) Profiles:
> Enter number of profiles
> Name each profile e.g. 25 yr, 100 yr, May’74 flood etc.
ii) flow data
> Enter flow data for each River Station
> It is assumed flow remains constant until another flow value is encountered on
next River Station
 Quick Start Guide
iii) Boundary Conditions
> Necessary to establish the starting water surface at the ends of the river system
> Subcritical flow > boundary conditions required at downstream end
> Supercritical flow > boundary conditions required at upstream end
> Mixed flow > boundary conditions required at all open ends of river system
> Four types of boundary conditions:
> Known Water Surface Elevation
> Critical Depth
> Normal Depth
> Rating Curve
 Quick Start Guide

8. Perform Steady Flow Simulation

> Click File > New Plan
> Enter plan name and Short ID
> Select Flow Regime
 Quick Start Guide
9. View Results:

> Cross Section Plots

> Profile Plots
> General Profile Plot
> Rating Curves
> X-Y-Z Perspective Plots
> Tabular Results
 Quick Start Guide

i) Cross Section Plot

 Quick Start Guide
ii) Profile (WSP) Plot
 Quick Start Guide
iii) General Profile (WSP) Plot
 Quick Start Guide
iv) Rating Curves (Water Surface Elevation vs Discharge):
 Quick Start Guide
v) X-Y-Z Perspective Plots (3D):
 Quick Start Guide
vi) Tabular Results
 Examples
HEC-RAS GIS Output for Floodplain Mapping
 Examples
Bridge Scour Analysis

Ice Covered River Analysis

 Advantages vs Disadvantages

Advantages:
• FREE!
• Simple to Use
• Accepted by most government and private agencies
• Extensive Support by USACE
• Add-on packages available

Disadvantages:
• Numerical instability during unsteady analyses
• Problems modeling highly dynamic rivers and streams
• 1D modeling is less detailed
 Resources

• HEC-RAS User’s Manual

• HEC-RAS Reference Manual
• HEC-RAS Applications Guide
Available at: http://www.hec.usace.army.mil/publications/
 References
Djokic and Maidment 2012. Introduction to HEC-RAS and Floodplain Mapping
http://www.ce.utexas.edu/prof/maidment/CE374KSpr12/Ex4/Ex4.htm

Ndolo Goy and Julien, 2014. CIVE 401 HEC-RAS Presentation. Available at:
http://www.engr.colostate.edu/~pierre/ce_old/classes/CIVE%20401/index.html

US Army Corps of Engineers. HEC-RAS

Thank You!
Questions?