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Instructor:  David T. Williams, P.E., PH, CFM, BC.WRE, F.ASCE

Course Length: 90 minutes

Purpose and Background

HEC-RAS is a rather complicated 1-D and 2-D hydraulics program that can be easily put together but also easily—and unknowingly—misused. The most common hydraulic structures modeled are related to culvert modeling.

Join Dr. David T. Williams (who has taught HEC-RAS and bridge and culvert hydraulics to the Federal Highway Administration as well as state and local departments of transportation) present examples of common geometric mistakes and misunderstandings of culvert parameters using HEC-RAS that could have potentially significant effects on a culvert project’s hydraulic results. Note: Since most HEC-RAS models are still performed in 1-D, this course will concentrate on only 1-D culvert applications; however, most of the presentation is applicable to 2-D HEC-RAS modeling.

Part I will discuss common 1-D geometric misrepresentations, the proper placement of cross sections within an HEC-RAS model, and initial coefficients to use to properly simulate the hydraulic effects of a culvert.

Part II will detail how some of the input parameters should be refined, where within the 1-D model they should be placed, and a step-by-step creation of an HEC-RAS culvert model with a real culvert.

Course material will be based upon Dr. Williams’ review of submitted models, his discussions with experienced users, his blogs on hydraulic and culvert modeling topics, and his HEC-RAS Steady and Unsteady course lecture notes.

Benefits and Learning Outcomes

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

• List the types of flow through culverts
• Explain common culvert terminology and relation to HEC-RAS modeling
• Recognize the reason for initial placement of the four cross sections to model a culvert
• Determine initial expansion and contraction coefficients
• Choose the proper placement and elevations of ineffective flow areas
• Explain culvert flow computations in HEC-RAS

Assessment of Learning Outcomes

Students' achievement of the learning outcomes will be assessed via a short post-assessment (true-false, multiple choice and fill in the blank questions).

Who should attend?

• Water resources engineers
• HEC-RAS modelers
• Water resources planners
• Project Engineers
• Project Managers
• Staff Engineers
• Q/A and Q/C reviewers

Outline

• Typical Flow Through Culverts
• Limitations of the Culvert Routines in HEC-RAS
• Types of Culverts
• Introduction to Culvert Terminology
• Cross Section Locations
• Computing Le from the Expansion Ratio (ER)
• Contraction Ratio (CR) – Initial Estimate
• Ineffective Flow Areas – Overview
• Typical Contraction & Expansion Coefficients
• Where to Change the Contraction & Expansion Coefficients
• Flow Analysis for Culverts
• FHWA Full Flow Equations
• Water Surface Profile Computations Through Culverts
• Weir Flow and Culvert Pressure Flow
• Weir Flow Discharge Coefficient: Adjustments
• Supercritical and Mixed Flow Regime Inside of Culvert
• Multiple Manning “n” inside of Culvert and Partially Filled or Buried Culverts
• Multiple Culverts

How to Earn your CEUs/PDHs and Receive Your Certificate of Completion

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 1 year of purchasing the course.

How do I convert CEUs to PDHs?

1.0 CEU = 10 PDHs [Example: 0.1 CEU = 1 PDH]