FACULTY OF CIVIL AND ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING

DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING (JKA)

SEM 1 SESSION 2020/2021

COURSE NAME CIVIL ENGINEERING SOFTWARE - HECRAS

COURSE CODE BFC 43201

SECTION 1

GROUP 9

TOPIC ALUR D MODEL FABRICATION USING HEC-RAS

WANG SIOW ZHONG AF170227

GROUP MEMBERS
TAN CHEE SEAN AF170241

LECTURER NAME ABC

SUBMISSION DATE 23 DECEMBER 2020

TABLE OF CONTENT

No Title Pages
.
1 Introduction 1-2
- Problem Statement
- Objectives
- Study Area

2 Literature Review 3-4

3 Methodology 5-9
- List and describe methods/apparatus
- Justification on the selection of analysis
- Modification until ARI 50 years

4 Result
- Cost estimation

5 Discussion

6 Conclusion

7 References
1.0 INTRODUCTION

HEC-RAS (Hydrological Engineering Centre – River Analysis System) is a one-

dimensional steady flow hydraulic model designed to aid hydraulic engineers in channel flow
analysis and floodplain determination[ CITATION Eri19 \l 1033 ]. There are a few descriptions of
major capabilities of HEC-RAS which include User Interface, Hydraulic Analysis
Components, Data Storage and Management, Graphics and Reporting. In addition to these
river analysis components, the system contains several hydraulic design features that can be
invoked once the basic water surface profiles are computed. It allows simulating flow in
natural riverbeds or artificial channels to determine the water level being its main goal to
develop flood studies and determine floodable areas.

Firstly, user Interface interacts with HEC-RAS through a graphical user interface
(GUI) which is to ensure users operate the software with ease but still able to maintain a high
level of efficiency. It includes file management, data entry and editing which users can freely
function the software with the guidance facilities. Secondly, Hydraulic Analysis Components
contain several river analysis components which are Steady flow models, Unsteady flow
models, Sediment transport models, and Water quality analysis [ CITATION Wha191 \l 1033 ] . A
key element is, that all four components use a common geometric data representation and
common geometric and hydraulic computation routines. Thirdly, Data Storage and
Management accomplished through the use of "flat" files (ASCII and binary), the HEC-DSS
(Data Storage System), and HDF5 (Hierarchical Data Format, Version 5) which can be
renamed, moved, and deleted of files on a project-by-project basis. The next component is the
Graphics and Reporting and RAS Mapper that can be used to plot a three-dimensional plot of
multiple cross-sections and for the inundation mapping of water surface profile results
directly from HEC-RAS
1.1 PROBLEM STATEMENT

From ancient civilizations to modern settlements, people have relentlessly struggled to

manage and predict river flow and stage. Early peoples had no recourse other than to try to
anticipate a river’s irregular patterns, an exercise often fraught with risk, and patch together
solutions that might not prove effective. For the scholars, a large amount of data needs to be
input in a specific format which depended largely on the ability and the knowledge required
about the hydraulics of the user.

1.2 OBJECTIVES

a) To study the modeling of water flowing through systems of open channels

b) To compute water surface profiles.
c) To develop flood studies and determine floodable areas.

1.3 STUDY AREA

The study area of this project focuses on a cross-section of the channel which is an
unlined channel where water flows throughout rubber estate in Sungai Tahan. An unlined
channel means the water flow is channeled without any protective layer arrangement that is
made of some material such as bricks or cement concrete. As it is basically a ditch in the dirt,
the loss of water through seepage from sides and bottom are high. Thus, this project is to
estimate the modeling of this ditch to prevent flooding.
2.0 LITERATURE REVIEW

Hydraulic conditions associated with stabilization practices, vegetation, and gravel

deposits influenced stability and unplanned adjustment patterns during flows contained
within the active channel[ CITATION Smi05 \l 1033 ]. The prevention of flooring can be
strengthened by enhancing the consideration of the relations between channel stability and
hydraulic conditions at multiple scales and over a range of flow conditions in stream
rehabilitation projects. Extensive work on the mitigation and diagnosis of the flood had been
reflected from related authorities through numerical modeling, detection by experimental
measurements to decrease the potential damage that may cause[ CITATION LiH08 \l 1033 ]. The
actions taken held the hope of minimizing the possibility of flood in every channel.

In order to understand and predict the flowing water in the channels, studies and
research are needed to construct and validate adequate predictive models. It is necessary to
have information on variation and interaction of channel geometry, water flow and sediment
transport in time and space in modern channel belts, as these control erosion and deposition,
the formation and migration of channels and bars, and channel abandonment and
filling[ CITATION Joh93 \l 1033 ]. In this modernization, forecasting of water flow is not
impossible as engineers are striving to construct an environment that is safe but comfortable
for people to live in. Thus, flow modeling through software is invented to picture the flow
water channel and construct a graphical representation of how the information and artifacts
flow through the system in the future. These predicted models are surely important to achieve
the goals of ensuring the safety of residents.

The unsteady flow component (UNET) of the one-dimensional model HEC-RAS can
be used to produce dynamic probability maps of flooding during an event and can be linked
to a stopping criterion for generalized likelihood uncertainty estimation (GLUE)[ CITATION
Pap05 \l 1033 ]. By using the software, different sets of Manning roughness coefficients can be
run through the performance of the model that can compare to inundation data and an outflow
hydrograph. The predicted outcome can be compared and distinguish between effective
parameters and real physical parameters. The determination of the roughness coefficient ‘n’
from the Manning equation is hard to determine as it carries constantly due to the influence of
the meandering character of the river, the bed material and the average grain size, the channel
bedforms, the channel obstructions, the geometry changes between sections and the
vegetation in the channel[ CITATION Tro09 \l 1033 ].
 Currently, most river flood forecasts are conducted using a two-step procedure. First,
flood routing is conducted, normally using hydrological models. The resulting flood peaks
are then converted to water level forecasts using a steady flow hydraulic model, such as
HEC-RAS. Recently, the HEC-RAS model has been extended to facilitate unsteady flow
analyses, and while the numerical scheme is not robust enough to handle dynamic events
such as supercritical flows, it does have the capability to route simple open water floods and
produce water level forecasts at the same time [ CITATION Hic05 \l 1033 ]. The accuracy of the
inundation forecasting can be achieved, thus improving the examination of water flow.
3.0 METHODOLOGY

3.1 LIST AND DESCRIBE METHODS/APPARATUS

There are two main types of data to enter

- Geometric data: Describing the river channel and the structure

- Steady flow data: Describing the water and flow characteristics

Starting a project

1. Open HEC-RAS software in the main window, click on the File, then New Project. In the
New Project, enter the Title of the project and select the location of the folder, Click OK to
back to the main window.

2. In the main window, click on View/Edit Geometric Data.

3. In Geometric Data window, using River Reach draw a river. Insert cross-section data for
every channel.

4. In the main window, go to Edit, then choose Steady Flow Data. Enter the number of
profiles for 5 years, 10 years, 20 years and 50 years. Change the profile name in the Option.

5. In the Steady Flow Data, click Reach Boundary Condition and select critical depth for
downstream.
6. In the main menu, click on Run, then choose Steady Flow Analysis. In the steady flow
analysis menu, choose File, New Plan, Enter the title, then enter the Short ID, Click on
compute.

7. This is the cross-section plot.

8. This is the profile plot.

3.2 JUSTIFICATION ON THE SELECTION OF ANALYSIS
HEC-RAS software application is the best way to analyse many forms of open channel to
investigate the condition of the channel itself from flooding and compare the current situation
until the selection is the most suitable to be modified. By using this software, we can know
the volume of cut and fill process that involved in the modification.

3.3 MODIFICATION UNTIL ARI 50 YEARS

1. Go to the File, click Save Geometric Data as and save the geometric data as another
modify geometric data.

2. In the main window, click on View/Edit Geometric Data. Click on Cross Section Icon and
adjust the Bank stations for every channel to avoid the flood occur.
3. In the Geometric Data, go to Tools and click on Channel Design/Modification Editor. Use
the Template Design for the different channel to design a suitable cross-section by changing
the channel depth, bottom width and side slope, click close and save the modifications by
click on Create a Geometry File with these Modifications.

4. Adjust the river bank in the modify file to the side of the river bank.
5.0 DISCUSSION

Based on the result, the original water flow channel will be overflown with water in
50 years as the prevailing station was located at a lower bank. The result of overflow water is
accompanied by the large width of the river channel which has a shallow channel and water
flow is estimated to cause serious inundation in that area. Even though it is an unlined
channel that allows seepage of water from the surrounding, the water flow will be
accumulated when the water flow becomes stagnant thus causing flooding of the channel.

HEC-RAS is a convenient software that can model a one-dimensional steady flow

hydraulic model for channel flow analysis and floodplain determination. In this project, a few
changes were done in the HEC-RAS software to ensure water loading are still able to fill in
the channel after 50 years. Firstly, the station that was placed at the end of the riverbank
needs to be replaced at a higher elevation by deepening the river. The average full bank
capacity elevation in the river will at least reach 2.5m high of water flow, therefore the depth
of the channel is increased to 3m. The shape of the unedited unlined channel has irregular
shapes and is inconsistent, so by setting the bottom width of the channel to a larger width will
allow more water to be accommodated. The purposed slope must not be too inclined with the
ratio of 1:2. When the depth and slope of a channel are too large, the channel is not
economical and causing over design.

The implication of improper design will lead to inundation around the rubber estate
which will bring negative impacts to both the area and the rubber tree itself. This is because
the rubber tree is unable to live when the ground is filled with too much water. Rubber tree
will rot away and lose its strength if it is filled with water in the long term. The unlined
channel needs to be carefully designed to prevent overdesign as it will increase the cost of the
project. The channel design must be properly estimated as this project only take account of 50
years so that this project is in the budget. One of the great ways to maintain the budget in the
project is by using a cut and fill method. Cut and fill method is an earthmoving method where
the amount of soil from cuts roughly matches the amount of fill needed to make at the same
space. The amount of construction labor can be minimized and the disposal of soil from the
cut section will be greatly decreased. Same as the fill section, this project will not require any
purchasing of soil to refill cut area which rises the expenditure of the project.

The HEC-RAS software is only guidance for engineers to have a closer estimation of
the behaviour of the water flow if the proper design of channels is modeled. External effects
such as the sudden rise of water level, erosion of soil, and weed growth in water induce any
possible changes on the channel. It is strongly recommended to have a lined channel built as
the water flow can be more controlled. The advantage of using canal lining is it the increased
velocity eliminates the possibility of silting in the canal bed, controls the growth of weeds
along the canal sides and bed, provides the stable section of the canal, and reduces the
requirements of land width for the canal because smaller section of the canal can be used to
produce greater discharge.

The unlined channel of this project must be carefully proposed and planned to ensure
the safety and suitability of the area.
6.0 CONCLUSION

The application of HEC-RAS from this project helped us to learn the basic function of
these modeling tools in producing the flow analysis the aim is to ensure the water flow will
not encounter flood in the next 5 years, 10 years, 20years and 50 years. The initially proposed
channel has a floodwater loading that is more than full bank capacity elevation in the river.
The main cause of this irregularity was found to be the cross-section of the unlined channel.
The cross-section is very essential for developing a channel that allows water to flow more
smoothly and it is imperative that there is enough cross-section provided in every geometric
data. This project suggests a deeper analysis of HEC-RAS river cross-sections with detailed
primary data to get a more comprehensive and better result.
7.0 REFERENCES

(2014). In Buku Purata Kadar Harga 2014 (p. 16). Jabatan Pengaliran dan Saliran Malaysia.

Bridge, J. S. (1993). The interaction between channel geometry, water flow, sediment
transport and deposition in braided rivers. Geological Society.

Hicks, F., & Peacock, T. (2005). Suitability of HEC-RAS for Flood Forecasting. Canadian
Water Resources Journal, 159-174.

Li, H., Tang, Y., & Wang, Z. (2008). A review of water flooding issues in the proton
exchange membrane fuel cell. Journal of Power Sources, 103-117.

Pappenberger, F., Beven, K., Horrit, M., & Biazkova, S. (2005). Uncertainty in the
calibration of effective roughness parameters in HEC-RAS using inundation and
downstream level observations. Journal of Hydrology, 49-69.
Smith, S., & Prestegaard, K. (2005, November 10). Water Resources Research . Hydraulic
performance of a morphology‐based stream channel design.

Tate, E. (2019, December 12). Introduction to HEC-RAS. Retrieved from Eric Tate:
http://www.ce.utexas.edu/prof/maidment/grad/tate/research/RASExercise/webfiles/he
cras.html

Troch, P., Verhoeven, R., & Bal, K. (2009). Determination of the Manning Roughness
Coefficient Influenced by Vegetation in the River Aa and Biebrza River.
Environmental Fluidd Mechanics, 549-567.

What is HEC-RAS and what is it useful for? (2019, December 12). Retrieved from GIS
Course.com: https://www.giscourse.com/what-is-hec-ras-and-what-is-it-useful-for/