PROSPECT Course #114

Steady Flow with HEC-RAS

January 13-17, 2025 

Objectives

The objective of the course is to enable the participants to perform water surface profile computations, for steady flow hydraulic analyses, using computer program HEC-RAS in a sound and effective manner.

This course teaches the concepts of open channel flow concepts, hydraulic model data requirements, HEC-RAS input requirements, laying out cross sections for 1D hydraulic modeling, application of bridge and culvert routines, calibration of a steady flow hydraulics model, floodway determination, an overview of Optional capabilities, and output analysis. The HEC-RAS software will be included in lectures and workshops. Participants have an opportunity to prepare input and analyze output during workshops. 

Instructors

Chris Nygaard (Course Coordinator)
Cameron Ackerman 
Stanford Gibson
Mark Jensen
Andy Lowe
Alex Sanchez
Eric Tichanksy
Kristy Riley 


Class Materials

Links to bulk download all Material pdfs and Workshop data files.

Manual_PDF.zip     WorkshopFiles.zip

Tests

IMPORTANT! BEFORE THE PRETEST AND THE POSTTEST, ATTENDEES NEED TO LOG COMPLETELY OUT OF BLACKBOARD AND THEN LOG BACK IN!

To access tests, students must log in Blackboard (https://usace.llc.army.mil) and select “Course Materials” (blue button on left in Blackboard), select Examination/Testing Materials, select appropriate test.



Day 1 - Modeling River Hydraulics with HEC-RAS

Time
TopicObjectiveInstructorMaterial
0800-0900L0
Introductions and pre-course activitiesWelcome and discussion of class expectationsNygaard
0900-1000L1.1
Steady Flow Overview, Applications, and Components

Case studies (why steady flow is important). Demo showing starting HEC-RAS; steps in developing a hydraulic model: starting a new project, entering geometric data, entering steady flow data, performing the computations, viewing and printing results; getting and using help

Gibson

1000-1015 Quiz Game

https://kahoot.it/

Gibson
1015-1030 

Break




1030-1130L1.2
Geometric Data Requirements for Water Surface Profile Calculations 

Study limit determination; defining the river system schematic; cross section geometry and locations; optional cross section properties: ineffective flow areas, levees, and blocked obstructions; defining the reach lengths between sections; energy loss coefficients; stream junction data.

Ackerman

1130-1200W1.3
Laying out Cross Sections Workshop


Ackerman

1200-1300 Lunch




1300-1400L1.4
Geometric Data Development with RAS Mapper 

This lecture will go through developing an HEC-RAS terrain model, river network, and entering and editing data tools in RAS Mapper.

Jensen

1400-1515W1.5
Developing HEC-RAS Geometry Workshop

Students will create a new HEC-RAS terrain layer, layout the model schematic and cross sections.

Nygaard Ackerman, LoweDeveloping HEC-RAS Geometry Workshop
1515-1545 Review


Nygaard
1545-1600 Break




1600-1700L1.6
Water Surface Profile Calculation

Classifications of open channel flow; velocity distribution in a channel; energy principles; cross section subdivision for conveyance calculations; friction loss equations; contraction and expansion losses; computational procedure; critical depth determination; and applications of the momentum equation

Sanchez

Day 2 - Developing a Model and HEC-RAS Bridge Analysis

Time
TopicObjectiveInstructorMaterial
0800-0830L2.1
Steady Flow Data RequirementsDiscussions about flow regime; boundary conditions; discharge information Jensen

0830-0930L2.2
Resistance to Flow 

Discussions about Manning’s equation; uniform flow equations; methods for computing n values: tables, pictures, and equations; examples of calibrated n values for various streams.

Gibson

0930-1000

L2.3

Viewing Results

Viewing results; cross section plots; profile plot; X-Y-Z plot; summary tables; errors, warnings, and notes, and floodplain maps in RAS Mapper.

Nygaard

1000-1015 Break



1015-1145W2.4
1D Model Development and Evaluating Results
Students will learn to create an HEC-RAS model, complete geometry, enter flow data, perform the hydraulic computations, and view resultsAckerman, Lowe, NygaardSteady Flow Modeling with HEC-RAS
1145-1245 Lunch


1245-1315 Review

Ackerman
1315-1415L2.5
Bridge Hydraulics for 1D Modeling

Nature of flow through bridges; components of bridge losses; cross-section locations; defining ineffective flow areas; contraction and expansion losses.

Ackerman

1415-1430 Break



1430-1445 Kahoot

https://kahoot.it/

Gibson
1445-1530L2.6
Bridge Modeling Approaches in HEC-RAS

Available approaches to bridge loss computations within HEC-RAS; selecting the appropriate bridge modeling approach for various situations of low flow bridge hydraulics; selecting the appropriate bridge modeling approach for various situations under high flow bridge hydraulics.

Sanchez

1530-1545 Break




1545-1615D2.7
Application of HEC-RAS to Bridge Hydraulics

Demonstration of how to enter and edit bridge data; defining a bridge modeling approach; bridge modeling options; pertinent bridge output.

Tichansky
1615-1700W2.8
Bridge Development Workshop

Students will learn to enter and edit bridge data for performing bridge hydraulic computations.

Tichansky, Lowe, NygaardBridge Development Workshop

Day 3 - HEC-RAS Bridge and Culvert Hydraulics and Optional Capabilities

Time
TopicObjectiveInstructorMaterial
0800-0900W3.1Bridge Analysis Workshop

Students will focus on solving the bridge solution for mass conservation.

Sanchez, Lowe, Nygaard

Bridge Analysis Workshop
0900-0945 Review

Tichansky


945-1000 

Break




1000-1100L3.2
Overview of Culvert Hydraulics

Definition of terms; input requirements: cross section locations, ineffective flow areas, expansion and contraction coefficients; inlet control; outlet control; solution logic

Jensen

1100-1130

D3.3

Application of HEC-RAS to Culvert Hydraulics

Demonstration of how to enter and edit culvert data; culvert modeling options; review of culvert output

Nygaard

1130-1230 Lunch



1230-1400W3.4
Culvert Analysis

Students will learn how to enter and edit culvert data, perform culvert hydraulic computations; and review pertinent output

Nygaard, Ackerman, LoweCulvert Analysis
1400-1430 Review
Nygaard
1430-1445 Break



1445-1515L3.5Inundation Map ToolsStudents will learn to use RAS Mapper tools for improving inundation mapping

Ackerman

1515-1545
Demonstration of Mapping Tools
RAS Mapper tools for improving inundation mappingAckerman
1545-1600 Kahoot

https://kahoot.it/

Gibson
1600-1700L3.6
Overview of Optional Capabilities

Cross section interpolation; mixed flow regime calculations; flow distribution calculations; lateral structures and optimization; Inline Weirs and Gated Spillways. 

Sanchez

Day 4 – Model Calibration and Trouble Shooting

Time
TopicObjectiveInstructorMaterial
0800-0915L4.1

Calibrating a Steady Flow Model

Students will learn what data is required for model calibration and how to modify Manning’s n values to calibrate the model to observed data.

Gibson

0915-0930 Break




0930-1100W4.2
Model Calibration Workshop

Students will learn how to modify Manning’s n values to calibrate the model to observed data

Gibson, Lowe, NygaardModel Calibration Workshop
1100-1130 Review

Gibson
1130-1230 Lunch


1230-1245 Kahoothttps://kahoot.it/Gibson
1245-1345L4.3
Troubleshooting with HEC-RAS

This lecture will provide students with information on how to interpret HEC-RAS output messages (errors, warnings, and notes); diagnose common data input mistakes; and how to use the HEC-RAS Log File to understand more about the computations and possible problems

Jensen

1345-1700W4.4
Troubleshooting Workshop

This workshop will teach students how to analyze the HEC-RAS output in order to detect common hydraulic modeling problems.

JensenTroubleshooting Workshop

Day 5 - Floodway Determination

Time
TopicObjectiveInstructorMaterial
0800-0845L5.1
Floodplain and Floodway Determination

Floodway definitions; general guidelines; computer procedures; program input requirements for floodway calculations; available output.

Jensen

0845-0900 Break


0900-1030W5.2
Floodway Determination

Students will learn how to enter and edit encroachment data and perform a floodway analysis.

Jensen, Lowe, NygaardFloodway Determination
1030-1130 Course Closing
Post-test, course evaluations, oral critique, and closing remarksNygaard, Riley