Workshop 2: Mixed Flow Profile Analysis
Exercise Overview
Design a weir and associated stilling basin to minimize the erosive potential of the
hydraulic jump associated with the outflow from the weir. Perform a sensitivity analysis
on the stilling basin’s design to determine whether varying tailwater conditions in the
receiving stream should be considered in the design.
Exercise Prerequisites
• Understanding of the terms and concepts: hydraulic jump, subcritical flow and
supercritical flow
• Competence with keyboard and mouse
• Completion of Workshop Subcritical Profile Analysis
Exercise Objectives
After completing this exercise, you will be able to:
• Examine a HEC-RAS model under varying tailwater conditions
• Analyze a model that mixes subcritical and supercritical flow profiles
• Understand the different boundary condition requirements of subcritical and
supercritical flow modeling
Scenario for Project
A large electric power wholesaler is considering constructing a new hydroelectric facility.
Your contribution to the design team will be to design an emergency spillway for the dam
and a stilling basin that will tie into the existing natural stream downstream. Of particular
concern are the performance of the spillway under multiple loading conditions and the
location of the hydraulic jump. You are to run an analysis of the design and determine the
hydraulic jump location. You are also to perform a sensitivity analysis on the jump
location when the downstream water surface elevation increases.
The figures on the following page show the profile and cross-section views of the
spillway channel and stilling basin. All sections (spillway, stilling basin, and channel)
have the same geometry - a trapezoidal shape with a bottom width of 100 ft and 2H:1V
side slopes. The cross-section shown is a typical section.
An abrupt change in channel slope (from approximately 0 ft/ft to 0.025 ft/ft) occurs at the
entrance of the spillway to the steeply sloping spillway as shown. Note that the crest
elevation of the emergency spillway is 130 ft and the Manning’s roughness value for the
channel is 0.014. Assume that the elevation of the top of the side slope at the spillway
crest is at least 160 ft.
The spillway is 1000 ft in length and then discharges into a 200 ft long stilling basin
with a slope of 0.001. The Manning’s n for the stilling basin is 0.014.
After the stilling basin is 200 ft of earthen channel at a slope of 0.001 with an n=0.040.
Since the channel has a constant cross-section throughout its length, the Ce and Cc values
should be set to zero.
Notice that the Manning’s roughness values are constant for each channel crosssection
and there is no left or right overbank. Therefore the entire cross section may be modeled
as a main channel. The left and right bank stations should be defined accordingly as the
first and last station in the section, resulting in a four-point cross section.
Part A: Normal Depth set for downstream conditions
Analyze this situation under discharges of 15,000 cfs, 22,350 cfs, and 28,500 cfs with a
tailwater elevation based on normal depth at the start of the downstream channel.
Determine the jump location for each of the flows. Answer the questions at the end of the
workshop that pertain to this analysis.
Part B: Vary the tailwater to determine the new jump location
The tailwater depths at the downstream boundary are uncertain for the three flows. While
normal depth represents the upper limit of tailwater, the starting elevations could be much
lower. Modify the downstream boundary conditions so that the tailwater elevations are
116 ft NGVD for a flow of 15,000 cfs, 121 ft NGVD for a flow of 22,350 cfs and 123 ft
NGVD for the flow of 28,500 cfs. Determine the jump location for these tailwater
elevations and if the proposed stilling basin performs satisfactory. In addition, answer the
questions at the end of the workshop that pertain to this analysis.
Profile View of Emergency Spillway and Stilling Basin
Typical Cross-Section of Emergency Spillway, Stilling Basin and Natural
Channel (not to scale)
Tips:
The easiest way to enter cross-section geometry for this workshop is to completely define
the cross-section at the very upstream end of the reach. Recall that HEC-RAS assumes
that higher-numbered river stations are located further upstream than lower-numbered
stations. Therefore, the extreme upstream cross-section should have a river station large
enough that additional cross sections can be added downstream.
Once the geometry of the upstream cross section has been supplied (only four points are
needed!), you can copy this section to the toe of the spillway, adjusting for the lower
elevations at this downstream location. You can then add the other downstream cross-
sections by simply copying the upstream channel geometry to the location of the change
in channel n values and to the furthest downstream channel section and making the
necessary adjustments. After inserting the required sections, add in interpolated sections.
Select an interpolation interval between 10 and 50 feet, using the Interpolate Cross
Sections Tool, to add cross sections in the spillway, stilling basin and earth channel
portion.
This is a mixed profile run so you will need to specify both upstream and downstream
boundary conditions. For Part A, use the normal depth option to set the downstream
conditions. Boundary conditions must also be assigned to the upstream cross-section for a
supercritical profile. In this workshop, the starting water levels are set to critical depth for
the upstream boundary conditions.
The flow regime must be selected as Mixed in the Steady Flow Analysis Window.
To assist you in answering the questions, consider adding the variables Cum Ch Len and
Max Chl Dpth to Standard Table 1. Variables may be added by selecting Options,
Define Table. After adding the desired variables, save your table by selecting Options,
Save Table. Supply a user defined name for a permanent save.
Workshop Review
Now that you have completed this workshop, let’s measure what you have learned.
Questions
Part A – Normal Depth as Downstream Boundary
1. How far upstream (in feet) from the most downstream section does the hydraulic jump
occur for Q = 15,000 cfs?
2. How far upstream (in feet) from the most downstream section does the hydraulic jump
occur for Q = 22,350 cfs?
3. How far upstream (in feet) from the most downstream section does the hydraulic jump
occur for Q = 28,500 cfs?
4. How did you determine where the jump occurred?
5. Would you consider the velocities in the earthen channel to be high? Do you think
channel protection would be necessary?
Part B – Varying the TW Elevation at Downstream Boundary
1. Where does the HJ occur for a TW elev. of 116 for Q = 15,000 cfs
2. Where does the HJ occur for a TW elev. of 121 for Q = 22,350 cfs
3. Where does the HJ occur for a TW elev. of 123 for Q = 28,500 cfs?
4. What do you recommend for the stilling basin design?
5. Use the Hydraulic Design Tool to determine the normal depth for any one of the three
flows on the steep spillway for Part B. Is normal depth reached by the end of the spillway?
If not, how close does the actual depth get to normal depth?
