Flood Profile Modeling

with Split Flows and Weirs

Objective: To become familiar with
RAS split flow and weir options.

Split Flows
General Modeling Guidelines
Flow Around an Island
Divided Flow Approach

Weirs

Inline Spillways and Weirs

Entering Inline Spillway/Weir Data
Lateral Spillways and Weirs
Entering Lateral Spillway/Weir Data
Controlling Inline and Lateral Gate Settings
Inline and Lateral Spillway/Weir Output

Flow Around an Island

Q

T
Stagnation Point

8
7

High Ground
6
5
4

3
2
Stagnation Point
1

QT

Separate River Reaches

8

Upper

7
7
6

West
East

3
3

2
Low er

2
1

Splitting the Cross Sections

Divided Flow

Plan: Divided Flow Opening

Divided Flow

River Mile 3
.035

90

.025

River Mile 3
.035
Legend

.025

.035
Le ge nd

WS PF#1

Ground
Ineff

75

Bank Sta

70
65

Ground

80
Elevation (ft)

80

EG PF#1

85

WS PF#1
Elevation (ft)

.035

90

EG PF#1

85

60

Plan: Divided Flow Opening

Inef f
75

Bank Sta

70
65

20

40

60

80
Station (ft)

100

120

140

160

60

20

40

60

80
Station (f t)

100

120

140

160

Split Flow Optimization

RAS can optimize flow splits at:
Lateral weirs
Hydraulic connections
Stream junctions

1. Program calculates a water surface

profile with flows given in flow data file
2. Using computed profiles new flows are
determined and profile is re-run
3. Process continues until flows match

Turning on the Split Flow Optimizer

From Steady Flow Analysis screen, select Options, Flow
Optimizations

What is saved by RAS

Flow data are not changed after optimization
You should input computed flows into the flow
data editor and run the program again to see if
the answer changes

Modeling Weirs in HEC-RAS

Two types of weirs:
Inline weirs
Lateral gated spillways
Can be used to model the following:

Large Dams
Run of the river structures
Drop Structures or natural drops
Lateral storage facilities
Natural overflows to ponding areas
Levee breaching or dambreaks

Inline Weirs and Gated Spillways

Inline Weir and Gated Spillay - Ex 12

Plan: Gated Spillway

30

Le gend
Ground
Ineff

20

Elevation (ft)

Bank Sta

10

-10

-20

200

400

600
Station (ft)

800

1000

Cross Section Locations

Overflow Weir

Gated Spillways
FLOW
FLOW

Inline Weir River

Stationing is 2.5

CONTRACTION
REACH
4

EXPANSION
REACH
3

Cross Section 2
Cross section 2 is located a
short distance downstream from
the structure.
The computed water surface at
this cross section will represent
the tailwater elevation of the
weir and the gated spillways.
This cross section should not
include any of the structure or
embankment, but represents
the physical shape of the
channel just downstream of the
structure.

Ineffective Flow Area Stations and Elevations

Cross Section 3
Located a short distance
upstream of the
embankment
Represents the physical
configuration of the
upstream channel.
The structure and the
roadway embankment are
described by combination of
the deck/road embankment
data, cross section 3, and
the gated spillway data

Sluice and Radial Gates

Sluice Gate

Broad Crested Spillway

Radial Gate

Ogee Spillway Crest

Up to 10 gate groups can be used at any one river crossing.

Each gate group can have up to 25 identical gate openings
Either gate type can be used with an ogee crest shape or a
broad crested weir

Setting the Gate Opening

Inline Spillways and Weirs

Radial gates (often called Tainter gates)
Vertical lift gates (Sluice gates)
Ogee or Broad Crested Weir shapes for both gated
spillways and overflow weirs
Gate equations can handle low flow, normal gate
flow (upstream submerged) or fully submerged gate
flow (both ends submerged)
Up to 10 gate groups
Up to 25 identical gates per group.

Radial Gates
ZU
H

T
B

Z sp

ZD

Q C 2 g W T TE B BE H HE
Where:

H = ZU - Zsp
C = Discharge Coefficient, typically 0.6 0.8

Submerged Radial Gates

When the downstream tailwater increases to the point at
which the gate is no longer flowing freely (downstream
submergence is causing a greater upstream headwater
for a given flow), the program switches to the
Submerged Form of the equation:

Q C 2g W T
Where: H = ZU - ZD

TE

BE

(H )

HE

Fully Submerged Gate Flow

Orifice Equation

Q CA 2 gH
Where:

H = ZU ZD
C = Discharge coefficient, typically 0.8
A = Area of gate opening

Sluice Gates
ZU

Z sp

ZD

Q C W B 2 gH
Where:

H = Upstream energy head (ZU Zsp)

C = Coefficient of discharge (0.5 to 0.7)
W = Width
B = Vertical opening

Submerged Sluice Gates

Q C W B 2 gH
Where:

H = ZU - ZD

Transitions to fully submerged orifice flow at 0.8

submergence:

Q CA 2 gH
Submergence begins when the tailwater depth above the
spillway divided by the headwater energy above the
spillway, is greater than 0.67

Low Flow Through Gates

ZU
Z sp

H
ZD

Q CLH

3/ 2

Upstream water surface is equal to or less than the

top of the gate opening

Uncontrolled Over-Flow Weirs

Can represent emergency spillway or flow
over entire embankment.
Uses standard weir equation
Can have Ogee or Broad Crested weir shape
Weir flow submergence is calculated

Entering Inline Spillway/Weir Data

Weir and Embankment Profile

Gated Spillway Data

Lateral Spillways and Weirs

Radial and sluice gates
Uncontrolled overflow weir
Same hydraulic equations for gates as with
inline spillways
Lateral weir can handle a sloping water
surface as well as irregular weir profile.
Includes culvert flap gates (flow limited to one
direction)

Cross Section Layout

5.3
Lateral
Weir

Main
Channel
5.2

5.1

Lateral Spillway and Weir

Hydraulics
Overflow
Weir

Water
Surface

Gated
Spillways

Main Channel
Bank Elevation
Channel
Invert

Lateral Weir Calculations

Y ws = awsX + C ws

dQ

Y w = awX + C w
dX
X1

X2

Q x1 x2

2C

((a1 x 2 C1 ) 5 / 2 (a1 x1 C1 ) 5 / 2 )
5a1

See notes on next slide for definition of the constants

Lateral Weir Calculation Equation

The equation for a sloping line representing the water
surface and the weir segment are shown on previous
slide
Constants aws and aw represent the slope of the water
surface and the weir segment, respectively
Variables Cws and Cw are constants representing the
initial elevations
The standard weir equation assumes that the weir is
parallel with the water surface. The above general
equation is derived for a sloping weir and water
surface by integrating the standard weir equation

Entering Lateral Spillway/Weir Data

Lateral Weir Embankment Data

Lateral Weir Gate Data

Lateral Weir Culvert Data

Lateral Diversion Rating Curve

Use for modeling irregular structures

Controlling Inline and Lateral Gates

For steady flow simulations specify number of
gates open and gate opening height

Controlling Inline and Lateral Gates

For unsteady flow simulations the following gate
controls are available from the HEC-RAS
unsteady flow data editor:
Time Series
of Gate Openings
Elevation
Controlled Gates

Time Series of Gate Openings

Elevation Controlled Gates

Inline and Lateral Spillway/Weir

Output
The following types of output are available for inline and
lateral spillways/weirs:
Stage and Flow Hydrograph Plots
Time Series Tables
Profile Plots
Cross Section Plots (Inline Spillways/weirs only)
Detailed Output Tables
Profile Summary Tables

Example Profile Plot With a Lateral

Spillway/Weir

Cross Section Plot of Inline

Spillway/Weir

Detailed Output Table For a Lateral

Weir

Profile Output Table for Lateral

Weir