July 15, 2024
Virtual Flume
Ven Te Chow’s book “Open Channel Hydraulics” is arguably the gold-standard book for hydraulic engineers-especially those of us who model open channel flow.
Having fun with HEC-RAS?
I’ve been seeing some cool applications of HEC-RAS from around the world lately. Here are some articles showing a few ways we’ve been putting HEC-RAS to use down under.
Making Middle Zealand
Did you know that the only thing keeping New Zealand’s two main islands from being split into three is a little 2-km wide piece of land just south of Auckland? What do you think would happen if you dug a ditch through this strip? Last time I drove across it, I asked myself that question…and then I let HEC-RAS tell me the answer! This article covers terrain manipulation and tidal boundary conditions in HEC-RAS with the construction of a canal that severs Northland from New Zealand’s North Island. The tides on either side of the island are out of phase with each other, so you get some really cool mixing with the alternating current. Have a read and give it a shot yourself!
Creating Rating Curves in HEC-RAS 2D Models
HEC-RAS does a great job providing you with rating curves for 1D models, but how about 2D? It takes a bit of additional effort, but this article walks you through the process of generating a rating curve from your existing 2D model. You may find – as we did in the example covered in the article – that the uncertainties in your rating curve are greater than you thought. Try it yourself by following along with this example, and see if you find yourself wanting to recalibrate your gauge!
Disappearing Terrain?
Do you get frustrated when your terrain disappears in HEC-RAS? Don’t fret, here are some simple workaroundsfor getting it back!
My HEC-RAS Wish List
Speaking of workarounds, the HEC Spring 2017 Newsletter included a preview of what’s new in Version 5.1 (see article on Page 20). They’ll be adding some handy new features, but here’s my HEC-RAS wish list that includes a compilation of suggestions gathered from hundreds of course attendees over the last year and a half since Version 5.0 was released. You may wish to submit your own on the Forum Page of the The RAS Solution.
Comments
Anonymous
on September 6, 2017Links to surfacewater.biz don't seem to work.
Chris Goodell
on September 7, 2017I just checked them all. They all work for me.
Bakari Powell
on November 16, 2017Hey Chris! My name is Bakari Powell, I am a recent graduate and I am working as an Environmental engineer. One of my tasks is to learn HEC-RAS. I have gotten pretty familiar with 1D, but I was wondering if there are any HEC-RAS 2D Examples online that PROVIDE DOWNLOADABLE DATA and STEP-BY-STEP instructions on an example that I could follow. I am a visual, learn by example, learner. The HEC-RAS 2D Users Manual is a little confusing regarding working with a specific example. Please let me know if you know of any GREAT, EASY TO FOLLOW examples. You can contact me here or bakariahpowell@gmail.com. Thank you!
Chris Goodell
on November 16, 2017I would normally recommend going through the Applications Guide, but HEC has yet to include a 2D example in there. I don't know of anything you are wanting that is available online. You could open up the 2D example projects that come with HEC-RAS (Muncie and Bald Eagle Creek) and play around with those to get a feel for how they should be set up.
Bakari Powell
on November 17, 2017Okay, what about some great, informative, easy to follow 1D or 2D video examples for HEC-RAS? Thank you!
Chris Goodell
on November 17, 2017Best I can offer is to Google it and see what videos come up. There are a lot out there. Not sure how great, informative, and easy to follow they are though. Good luck.
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