HEC RAS Introduction
PART 1
Contents
• Introduction
• General Philosophy
• Overview of Capabilities
• Applications
• Computational Procedure
• Quick Start Guide
• Examples
• Advantages & Disadvantages
• Resources
• References
PART 1
Introduction
▪ Hydrologic Engineering Center – River Analysis System
▪ Developed by US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE)
▪ Previously HEC-2 (1990)
▪ Latest version 5.0
▪ Free Download at: https://www.hec.usace.army.mil/software/hec-ras/
PART 1
General Philosophy of the
Modeling System
• Integrated Software Package includes:
1. Graphical User Interface (GUI)
2. Analysis Components
3. Data Storage & Management
4. Graphics
5. Report Generation
• Using a common geometric data representation and
common geometric and hydraulic computation routine
PART 1
Overview of Capabilities
One-Dimensional (1D) River Analysis:
1. Steady Flow Water Surface Profile Computations
2. Unsteady Flow Simulation
3. Movable Boundary Sediment Transport Computations
4. Water Quality Analysis
and…
5. Several Hydraulic Design Features
PART 1
Applications
1. Bridge/Culvert Modelling
2. Inline Structures (Dams, Weirs And Gated Spillways)
3. Lateral Structures (Weirs, Spillways)
4. Flood Management (Floodplain Encroachment, Flood Insurance
Studies)
5. Sediment Transport & Management
6. Water Quality Analysis (Temperature, Algae, DO, BOD, Etc.)
7. Various Flow Analysis
PART 1
Computational Procedures
Steady Gradually Varied Flow Water Surface Profile
Calculations Basic Equations:
1D Energy Equation
PART 1
Computational Procedures
Conveyance Calculation: From Manning Equation
Where:
Q = flow
n = Manning’s coefficient
A = cross sectional area
RH = hydraulic radius
Sf = friction slope
K = conveyance
PART 1
Computational Procedures
Energy Loss, he:
> Friction - Manning Equation
> Contraction/Expansion – loss coefficient
Where:
L = reach length
A = cross sectional area
C = contraction/expansion coefficient
a = velocity weighing coefficient
𝑆f = friction slope
he = head loss
g = gravity
V = flow velocity
PART 1
Computational Procedures
HEC-RAS utilizes the Standard Step Methods:
1. Iterative computation of water surface elevation between two known cross
sections
2. Steady flow
3. Does not require uniform cross-section or channel conditions
4. Requires known channel cross sections along reach
5. Computation of energy equation section by section
6. Control Sections:
✓ Subcritical flow: evaluate from downstream to upstream
✓ Supercritical flow: evaluate from upstream to downstream
PART 1
Quick Start Guide
For Steady Flow Simulation:
Basic Data Requirements
1. Geometric Data:
> River System Schematic
> Cross Section Geometry
> Reach Length
> Hydraulic
Structures/Obstructions
2. Energy Loss Data:
> Manning, n
> Contraction/Expansion
Coefficients
3. Flow Data:
> Flow Rate
> Profiles
> Boundary Conditions
PART 1
Quick Start Guide
• HEC-RAS Main Window
PART 1
Quick Start Guide
1. Start HEC-RAS
2. Click File > New Project
3. Select drive and path to store project in
4. Enter project title, ensure the project File Name has the extension “.prj”
5. Click OK
PART 1
Quick Start Guide
6. Enter Geometric Data
i) River system schematic
> Draw from upstream to downstream
> River Station number increases upstream
PART 1
Quick Start Guide
ii) Cross Section Data
> Cross Section is looking downstream
> Station (different from River Station) is from left to right
> To add new cross sectional data: click Options > Add a new Cross Section
PART 1
Quick Start Guide
ii) Cross Section Data
> Manning, n
> Contraction/Expansion Coefficient
PART 1
Quick Start Guide
iii) Hydraulic Structures: Bridge, Culverts, Dams, Weirs, etc
PART 1
End of Part 1
PART 2
Quick Start Guide
7. Enter Steady Flow Data
i) Profiles:
> Enter number of profiles
> Name each profile e.g., 25 yr, 50 yr, 100 yr, May’74 flood etc.
ii) Flow Data
> Enter flow data for each River Station
> It is assumed flow remains constant until another flow value is encountered on
next River Station
Quick Start Guide PART 2
8. Boundary Conditions
> Necessary to establish the starting water surface at the ends of
the river system
> Subcritical flow > boundary conditions required at downstream end
> Supercritical flow > boundary conditions required at upstream end
> Mixed flow > boundary conditions required at all open ends of river
system
> Four types of boundary conditions:
>Known Water Surface Elevation
>Critical Depth
>Normal Depth
>Rating Curve
PART 2
Quick Start Guide
9. Perform Steady Flow Simulation
> Click File > New Plan
> Enter plan name and Short ID
> Select Flow Regime
PART 2
Quick Start Guide
10. View Results:
> Cross Section Plots
> Profile Plots
> General Profile Plot
> Rating Curves
> X-Y-Z Perspective Plots
> Tabular Results
PART 2
Quick Start Guide
i) Cross Section Plot
PART 2
Quick Start Guide
ii) Profile (WSP) Plot
PART 2
Quick Start Guide
iii) General Profile (WSP) Plot
PART 2
Quick Start Guide
iv) Rating Curves (Water Surface Elevation vs Discharge):
PART 2
Quick Start Guide
v) X-Y-Z Perspective Plots (3D):
PART 2
Quick Start Guide
vi) Tabular Results
PART 2
Examples
HEC-RAS GIS Output for Floodplain Mapping
PART 2
Examples
Bridge Scour Analysis Ice Covered River Analysis
PART 2
Advantages vs Disadvantages
Advantages:
• FREE!
• Simple to Use
• Accepted by most government and private agencies
• Extensive Support by USACE
• Add-on packages available
Disadvantages:
• Numerical instability during unsteady analyses
• Problems modeling highly dynamic rivers and streams
• 1D modeling is less detailed
PART 2
Resources
• HEC-RAS User’s Manual
• HEC-RAS Reference Manual
• HEC-RAS Applications Guide
Available at: http://www.hec.usace.army.mil/publications/
PART 2
References
Djokic and Maidment 2012. Introduction to HEC-RAS and Floodplain Mapping
http://www.ce.utexas.edu/prof/maidment/CE374KSpr12/Ex4/Ex4.htm
Ndolo Goy and Julien, 2014. CIVE 401 HEC-RAS Presentation. Available at:
http://www.engr.colostate.edu/~pierre/ce_old/classes/CIVE%20401/index.html
PART 2
Thank You
