Applications of 2D Surface Flow

Modeling in the new HEC-RAS

Version 5.0
Derek Etkin, P.E.
ASFPM Annual National Conference, Grand Rapids, MI
Concurrent Session G June 23, 2016
 Contents

1. Overview of HEC-RAS prior to 2D capabilities

2. Introduction to 2D Surface Flow Modeling in version 5.0

3. Applications of HEC-RAS 2D capability

4. Advantages and Opportunities

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 HEC-RAS Overview

Open channel flow freeware published by USACE

HEC-2 developed in 1966 (FORTRAN), HEC-RAS released in 1995
Generates flood profiles from 1D Open Channel Flow energy
and continuity equations

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 HEC-RAS Overview

Cross sections developed from survey and LiDAR using

HEC-GeoRAS, an extension in ArcMap

to flow

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 HEC-RAS Overview

Inundation mapping generated from profile interpolated

between cross sections and intersected with terrain data

Source: FEMA (2013) Federal Guidelines for Inundation Mapping of Flood Risks Associated with Dam Incidents and Failures (FEMA P-946)

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 HEC-RAS Overview Steady State

1-D Steady Flow constant discharge

( Q2/A)
+ gA( h - So + S f ) = 0 Q = VA
x Momentum x Continuity

Simulate single, peak discharge from hydrologic analysis

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 HEC-RAS Overview Unsteady Flow

1-D Unsteady Flow variable discharge and storage

Q ( Q2/A) gA( h ) 0 Q + A = 0
t x Momentum x S o S f x t
Continuity

Simulate routed hydrograph, storage between cross sections

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 Representing with 2D Flow with 1D HEC-RAS

Split Flow

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 Representing with 2D Flow with 1D HEC-RAS

Offline Storage Areas

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 Introducing HEC-RAS version 5.0!

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 2D Flow Areas in HEC-RAS 5.0

2D Flow Areas can be added to geometry file like Storage Areas

Digital Terrain Map now integrated into HEC-RAS input files
2D Flow Area properties imported from Digital Terrain Map

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 2D Flow Areas in HEC-RAS 5.0

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 2D Flow Area Calculations
Unstructured Mesh with Implicit Finite Volume solver
Hydraulic properties of computational cells (and faces)
pre-processed from Digital Terrain Map
Diffusion Wave or Full Momentum 2D Equations

Source: Brunner, G.W. (2014) Combined 1D and 2D Modeling with HEC-RAS Source: USACE (2016) HEC-RAS 2D Modeling Users Manual (CPD-68A)

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 2D Flow Area Calculations

Pre-processed stage-storage for each cell

Cells do not have a flat bottom or single depth.

Cell Volume
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 2D Flow Area Calculations

Pre-processed cross section for each cell face from Terrain Map
Conveyance between cells defined by rating curves

Cell Face
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 2D Flow Area Calculations

High resolution Digital Terrain Map

Lower resolution computational mesh

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 2D Flow Area Linkages

2D Flow Areas can be linked to 1D Flow Reaches

1D Flow Reaches
Upstream

Downstream

Lateral Connections

Storage Areas or other 2D Flow Areas

External Boundary Condition

Normal Depth, Rating Curve, Stage or Flow time series

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 Post-Processing - Depth

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 Post-Processing - Depth

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 Post-Processing Velocity

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 HEC-RAS 2D Riverine Applications
Useful for riverine flow outside of well-defined, single channels:

Inter-connected or braided channels

Dam breach flood waves with unpredictable paths

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 HEC-RAS 2D Example Application Dam Breach

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 HEC-RAS 2D Example Application Dam Breach

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 HEC-RAS 2D Applications Dam Breach

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 HEC-RAS 2D Applications Dam Breach

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 HEC-RAS 2D Technical Advantages

Implicit Finite Volume approach

Improved stability
Cells can start completely dry
More robust than finite element or finite difference
Allows for larger time steps than explicit methods
Unstructured Mesh Flexibility
Cells do not have flat bottom
Allows larger computational cells without loss of terrain details
Cells can be sized according to terrain features

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 HEC-RAS 2D Project Advantages

Public Domain
No license fees
Large community of practitioners
Widely accepted as HEC product
Pre- and Post-processing in MAPPER (and GeoRAS)
Can easily integrate 2D Flow Areas into existing HEC-RAS
models
Update old 1D HEC-RAS models
No need to decide 1D or 2D when selecting modeling software
Can use for screening approach and where to focus detail

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 CHALLENGES

Mesh editing tools limited

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 CHALLENGES

Some limited capacity for modeling structures

Can represent weirs, levees, and culverts
Cannot use full 1D bridge modeling capabilities

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 CHALLENGES

Processing of map inundation, removing islands

from high resolution grid; cleaning up Leaking
Can use hydraulic connectivity plots

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 CHALLENGES

Limited by quality of LiDAR/Raster

Adding bathymetry to LiDAR for pure 2D Flow Area runs

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 Thank you.

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