Flood Profile Modeling

with Split Flows and Weirs

Objective: To become familiar with

RAS split flow and weir options.
Split Flows

• General Modeling Guidelines

• Flow Around an Island
• Divided Flow Approach
Weirs
• Inline Spillways and Weirs
• Entering Inline Spillway/Weir Data
• Lateral Spillways and Weirs
• Entering Lateral Spillway/Weir Data
• Controlling Inline and Lateral Gate Settings
• Inline and Lateral Spillway/Weir Output
Flow Around an Island
Q
T

8
Stagnation Point
7
High Ground

5
4

Q Q
2 1

Stagnation Point

QT
Separate River Reaches
8
Upper
7

6 6

Sp r u c e

Sp r u
c e C r ee k
West

East 5 5

4 4

3
3
2
2
Low er
1
 Splitting the Cross Sections
Divided Flow Plan: Divided Flow Opening Divided Flow Plan: Divided Flow Opening
River Mile 3
River Mile 3
.035 .025 .035
90 .035 .025 .035
Legend 90 Legend
EG PF#1
85 EG PF#1
85
WS PF#1
WS PF#1
80 Ground
80 Ground
Elevation (ft)

Elevation (ft)
Ineff
Ineff
75 Bank Sta 75 Bank Sta

70
70

65
65

60
0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140 160 60
0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140 160
Station (ft)
Station (ft)
Split Flow Optimization

RAS can optimize flow splits at:

• Lateral weirs
• Hydraulic connections
• Stream junctions
1. Program calculates a water surface
profile with flows given in flow data file
2. Using computed profiles new flows are
determined and profile is re-run
3. Process continues until flows match
Turning on the Split Flow Optimizer
From Steady Flow Analysis screen, select Options, Flow
Optimizations…
What is saved by RAS

• Flow data are not changed after optimization

• You should input computed flows into the flow
data editor and run the program again to see if
the answer changes
Modeling Weirs in HEC-RAS
Two types of weirs:
• Inline weirs
• Lateral gated spillways
Can be used to model the following:
• Large Dams
• Run of the river structures
• Drop Structures or natural drops
• Lateral storage facilities
• Natural overflows to ponding areas
• Levee breaching or dambreaks
Inline Weirs and Gated Spillways
Inline Weir and Gated Spillay - Ex 12 Plan: Gated Spillway

30 Legend

Ground

20 Ineff
Bank Sta

10
Elevation (ft)

-10

-20
0 200 400 600 800 1000
Station (ft)
Cross Section Locations

Overflow Weir

Gated Spillways

FLOW

FLOW

Inline Weir River

Stationing is 2.5

CONTRACTION EXPANSION
REACH REACH
1

4 3 2
 Cross Section 2
• Cross section 2 is located a
short distance downstream
from the structure.
• The computed water surface at
this cross section will represent Ineffective Flow Area Stations and Elevations

the tailwater elevation of the

weir and the gated spillways.
• This cross section should not
include any of the structure or
embankment, but represents
the physical shape of the
channel just downstream of the
structure.
Cross Section 3
• Located a short distance
upstream of the
embankment
• Represents the physical
configuration of the
upstream channel.
• The structure and the
roadway embankment are
described by combination of
the deck/road embankment
data, cross section 3, and
the gated spillway data
Sluice and Radial Gates

Sluice Gate Radial Gate

Broad Crested Spillway Ogee Spillway Crest

Up to 10 gate groups can be used at any one river crossing.

Each gate group can have up to 25 identical gate openings
Either gate type can be used with an ogee crest shape or a
broad crested weir
Setting the Gate Opening
 Inline Spillways and Weirs

• Radial gates (often called Tainter gates)

• Vertical lift gates (Sluice gates)
• Ogee or Broad Crested Weir shapes for both gated
spillways and overflow weirs
• Gate equations can handle low flow, normal gate
flow (upstream submerged) or fully submerged gate
flow (both ends submerged)
• Up to 10 gate groups
• Up to 25 identical gates per group.
Radial Gates

ZU
H T
ZD
B
Z sp

Q  C 2 g W T TE B BE H HE
Where: H = ZU - Zsp
C = Discharge Coefficient, typically 0.6 – 0.8
Submerged Radial Gates

When the downstream tailwater increases to the point at

which the gate is no longer flowing freely (downstream
submergence is causing a greater upstream headwater
for a given flow), the program switches to the
Submerged Form of the equation:

Q  C 2g W T TE
B (H )
BE HE

Where: H = ZU - ZD
Fully Submerged Gate Flow

Orifice Equation
Q  CA 2 gH
Where: H = ZU – ZD
C = Discharge coefficient, typically 0.8
A = Area of gate opening
Sluice Gates
ZU

ZD
B Z sp

Q  C W B 2 gH
Where: H = Upstream energy head (ZU – Zsp)
C = Coefficient of discharge (0.5 to 0.7)
W = Width
B = Vertical opening
Submerged Sluice Gates

Q  C W B 2 gH
Where: H = ZU - ZD

Transitions to fully submerged orifice flow at 0.8

submergence:

Q  CA 2 gH
Submergence begins when the tailwater depth above the
spillway divided by the headwater energy above the
spillway, is greater than 0.67
Low Flow Through Gates

ZU
H
Z sp
ZD

Q CLH 3/ 2

Upstream water surface is equal to or less than the

top of the gate opening
Uncontrolled Over-Flow Weirs

• Can represent emergency spillway or flow

over entire embankment.
• Uses standard weir equation
• Can have Ogee or Broad Crested weir shape
• Weir flow submergence is calculated
Entering Inline Spillway/Weir Data
Weir and Embankment Profile
Gated Spillway Data
Lateral Spillways and Weirs

• Radial and sluice gates

• Uncontrolled overflow weir
• Same hydraulic equations for gates as with
inline spillways
• Lateral weir can handle a sloping water
surface as well as irregular weir profile.
• Includes culvert flap gates (flow limited to one
direction)
Cross Section Layout

5.3
Main
Channel
Lateral
Weir
5.2

5.1
Lateral Spillway and Weir
Hydraulics
Overflow Water
Weir Gated
Surface Spillways

Main Channel
Bank Elevation
Channel
Invert
Lateral Weir Calculations

Y ws = awsX + C ws
dQ

Y w = awX + C w
dX

X1 X2
2C
Qx1  x2  (( a1 x 2  C1 ) 5 / 2  (a1 x1  C1 ) 5 / 2 )
5a1
See notes on next slide for definition of the constants
Lateral Weir Calculation Equation
• The equation for a sloping line representing the water
surface and the weir segment are shown on previous
slide
• Constants aws and aw represent the slope of the water
surface and the weir segment, respectively
• Variables Cws and Cw are constants representing the
initial elevations
• The standard weir equation assumes that the weir is
parallel with the water surface. The above general
equation is derived for a sloping weir and water
surface by integrating the standard weir equation
Entering Lateral Spillway/Weir Data
Lateral Weir Embankment Data
Lateral Weir Gate Data
Lateral Weir Culvert Data
Lateral Diversion Rating Curve

Use for modeling irregular structures

Controlling Inline and Lateral Gates

For steady flow simulations specify number of

gates open and gate opening height
Controlling Inline and Lateral Gates

For unsteady flow simulations the following gate

controls are available from the HEC-RAS
unsteady flow data editor:
• Time Series
of Gate Openings
• Elevation
Controlled Gates
Time Series of Gate Openings
Elevation Controlled Gates
Inline and Lateral Spillway/Weir
Output

The following types of output are available for inline

and lateral spillways/weirs:
• Stage and Flow Hydrograph Plots
• Time Series Tables
• Profile Plots
• Cross Section Plots (Inline Spillways/weirs only)
• Detailed Output Tables
• Profile Summary Tables
Example Profile Plot With a Lateral
Spillway/Weir
Cross Section Plot of Inline
Spillway/Weir
Detailed Output Table For a Lateral
Weir
Profile Output Table for Lateral
Weir