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INSTRUCTORS: 
Jie Zeng
Zubayed Rakib, P.E.
Sarah McEwen
Guna Eswar Kumar Uddagiri, MSc, CFM
Fahad Pervaiz, Ph.D, P.E., CFM, ENVS SP
Ruchita Birawat, MSc, CFM
Runal Shrivastava, MSc, EIT, CFM, LEED GA
Zhaorui Wang, MSc
Yilan Li
Yong Lai
Kornel Kerenyi
Haoyin Shan
Xiaofeng Liu
Bruno J. de O. Sousa
Jose G. Vasconcelos

Course Length: 1.5 hours

Purpose and Background

This course will only award PDHs for completion.

Technical presentations from the 2024 World Environmental & Water Resources Congress:

Hydrodynamic Interactions at Multi-Gated and Dual Spillways (17 minutes)

This presentation delves into the complexities of managing water flow through structures with multiple gates and closely positioned spillways. Using CFD modeling with ANSYS Fluent, the study examines how different gate operations affect discharge rates, revealing that actual flows can be significantly lower than theoretical predictions due to hydrodynamic interactions. It highlights the importance of site-specific analysis and tailored operational strategies to optimize flood control and water management. The findings demonstrate that variations in gate openings and structural configurations can lead to substantial differences in water discharge efficiency, emphasizing the critical role of precise modeling in infrastructure management

Reconnecting the Bayou Darter: A One of its Kind Partnership in the Southeast (17 minutes)

This presentation describes an innovative project aimed at restoring habitat connectivity for the Bayou Darter, a rare fish species. The project involved a collaborative effort between the Mississippi Department of Transportation (MDOT), the US Fish and Wildlife Service, and environmental engineers. A key aspect was replacing an old culvert with a multi-span bridge, designed to meet hydraulic and biological requirements while addressing significant erosion and head cuts that impeded fish movement. The team conducted extensive fish surveys and implemented a step-pool system to facilitate safe passage for the darter, making this project a pioneering example of integrating infrastructure development with ecological conservation.

Evaluation of Natural, Existing, and Proposed Conditions of a Railway Arch Bridge Over Limestone Creek in Jefferson County, Illinois (12 minutes)

This presentation focuses on assessing the current state and potential improvements for a railway arch bridge over the Limestone Creek in Illinois. It addresses the impact of climate change and urbanization on bridge structures and proposes models to enhance bridge resilience. The study examines the hydraulic induced failures of bridges, presenting examples from Texas to highlight the urgency of addressing these challenges. The proposed methods aim to improve the bridge's ability to handle increased runoff and intense rainfall, ensuring its safety and functionality in future flood events.

GSSHA Modeling Applied to a Coastal Roadway in Alabama (16 minutes)

This presentation uses the Geisha model to analyze flooding issues on Alabama 180, a coastal roadway through the Fort Morgan Peninsula. Despite the sandy soils typical of the area, the study investigates the causes of flooding and proposes solutions to mitigate these impacts. The presentation details the methodology for simulating flood scenarios and evaluates the effectiveness of various hydraulic interventions. The goal is to enhance the roadway's resilience to flooding, ensuring its usability and safety during extreme weather conditions.

Improved Modeling of Flow Resistance Induced by Bridge Piers in 2D Models (22 minutes)

This presentation discusses advancements in modeling the flow resistance caused by bridge piers using 2D hydrodynamic models. It explores methods such as adding a drag force term to represent flow resistance, comparing different approaches for accuracy and cost-effectiveness. The study highlights the limitations of current drag coefficient selections and emphasizes the importance of considering free surface effects. Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulations were used to test hypotheses and validate the proposed model improvements, with results indicating significant implications for future hydraulic modeling practices.

Learning outcomes and session benefits

Upon completion of this course, you will be able to:

• Explain how Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) modeling with ANSYS Fluent can reveal discrepancies between theoretical and actual flow rates due to hydrodynamic interactions.
• Identify the engineering and ecological benefits of replacing an old culvert with a multi-span bridge and implementing a step-pool system.
• Explain the proposed methods covered in the case study for the bridge in Limestone Creek which enhanced the bridge's resilience to increased runoff and intense rainfall, ensuring future safety and functionality.
• Describe the application of the Geisha model in analyzing flooding issues on Alabama 180 and the specific challenges posed by the area's sandy soils.
• Explain how adding a drag force term and considering free surface effects can improve the accuracy and cost-effectiveness of 2D hydrodynamic models for bridge pier flow resistance.

Assessment of Learning Outcomes

Learning outcomes are assessed and achieved through passing a 10 multiple choice question post-test with at least a 70%.

Who Should Attend?

• Water resource engineers
• Consulting engineers
• Hydrogeologists
• Utility engineers
• Public Agency Engineers
• Utility Directors

How to Earn your PDHs and Receive Your Certificate of Completion

This course is worth 1.5 PDH. To receive your certificate of completion, you will need to complete a short on-line post-test and receive a passing score of 70% or higher within 365 days of the course.