HEC-RAS

Hydrologic Engineering Center – River

Analysis System
Seminar and Training Workshop

Engr. Mark Bryan T. Alivio

HEC-RAS
■ Developed at the Hydrologic Engineering Center, a division of Institute
for Water Resources (IWR), US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE)
■ a computer program that models the hydraulics of water flow through
natural rivers and other channels.
■ It is an integrated system used to perform one-dimensional 1D and
two-dimensional (2D) unsteady flow river hydraulics calculations.
■ AVAILABLE to the PUBLIC for FREE. Download it here:
https://www.hec.usace.army.mil/software/hec-ras/downloads.aspx
Why HEC-RAS?
■ It is free!
■ Easy to use
■ 1D steady state model
■ 1D and 2D unsteady modeling
■ 1D Sediment Transport and Mobile Boundary Modeling
■ Widely accepted software
 Flood Studies

HEC-RAS APPLICATIONS Floodplain management

Floodplain insurance
■ The HEC-RAS program was designed specifically for
application in floodplain management and flood- Levee and flood wall design
insurance studies to evaluate floodway encroachment
and to simulate estimated flood inundation (USACE, Bridge and culvert design
2006).
Channel design

Channel restoration

Sedimentation analysis

Irrigation

Dam safety

Wetland restoration
Etc.
HEC-RAS
■ HEC-RAS is designed to
perform one and two-
dimensional hydraulic
calculations for a full network
of natural and constructed
channels.

Key features of the HEC-RAS model

includes:
 Graphical User Interface (GUI)
 Data storage and management
 GIS-related tools and
capabilities.
HEC-RAS User’s Manual, 2010
HYDRAULIC CAPABILITIES
■ Steady flow water surface profiles –
single reach, dendritic, mixed flow regime.
■ Unsteady flow simulation – full network of
open channels, adapted from UNET
■ Sediment transport/Movable boundary –
long term trends of scour and deposition
■ Water Quality Analysis
■ Two dimensional flow modeling
HYDRAULIC PARAMETERS

1. Velocity
2. Depth
3. Shear
4. Width
5. Area
6. Etc.
HYDRAULIC MODELING
■ is the application of fluid dynamic to simulate the movement of water.
■ Hydraulic models are applied to determine the extent of a floodplain
and probability of a flood occurrence.
– The model can be used to estimate flow velocities and the
associated flood hazard ratings.

MODEL DIMENSIONS
■ 1D – flow is passed along a
predetermined path (from upstream
to downstream)
■ 2D – flow moves across a horizontal
mesh (regular or irregular).
 MODELLING APPROACHES
■ 1D Steady and Unsteady Modelling
– Steady-state conditions describe the case
where the discharge in the channel remains
constant over time.
– Unsteady flow means that the flow rate in the
channel actually varies with time.

■ 2D Unsteady Modelling
– 2D modelling discretize (represent using
discrete quantities) the river and adjacent
floodplain areas into a collection of individual
cells called grid cells, 2D cells or
computational cells.
Ferrin P. Affleck, P.E. CFM
Ferrin P. Affleck, P.E. CFM
 Benefits of 2D models:
• Fewer modeling assumptions
and less user judgment yield
results that are representative of
actual conditions.
• Enhanced communication with
stakeholders with engaging
graphics, videos of flow paths,
and georeferenced results.

■ Accurate representation for

complex conditions, including
wide floodplains, sinuous
channels, multiple channels,
bends and confluences,
bridge/roadway crossings,
roadway overtopping, skewed
roadway, tidal waterways, and
bridge scour, among other
conditions.
Dusty Robinson, PE
Let’s Get Started!
Let’s Get Started!
Collect Necessary Data
 Topography
 Projection
 Land Cover
 Hydrology
THANK YOU 
Processing

■ 2D Unsteady flow
– Without structure
– With structure (try small water impounding structure)
– Terrain Modification