Creating a Simple 2D Model with HEC-RAS

Workshop

1 Objective

In this workshop, you will learn how to create a simple 2D model with HEC-RAS of
the main channel and floodplain area. This workshop will require you to use multiple
terrain datasets to form one terrain model, develop a 2D mesh, provide inflow
hydrograph information, downstream boundary conditions, and perform model runs.

2 Background

You will be working on Bald Eagle Creek near Lock Haven, PA. Flow hydrographs will
be used to simulate flows from Joseph Sayer’s Dam downstream to the town of Lock
Haven and the confluence with the West Brach Susquehanna River. Inflows will also
be specified for local tributaries on Marsh Creek, Beech Creek, and Fishing Creek. A
Normal Depth Boundary Condition will be used.

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3 Terrain Model Preparation

This part of the workshop will guide you through the process of importing terrain
data. The terrain data will be used as the basis for the mesh used for 2D hydraulic
computations.

1. Start HEC-RAS.
2. Start a NEW project using File | New Project… Go to the workshop
directory for this workshop (“Creating a Simple 2D Model”) and then providing
a Title and File Name. Press OK to save it.

3. Launch RAS Mapper .

4. Select Project | Set Projection. Select the Folder button at the top left and
navigate to the “PA_SPCS_ft.prj” provided in the “GIS_Data” folder. Select
and Open this file. This sets the coordinate system for all the data you will
view in RAS. The press the OK button to close the window.

5. Import terrain data for use in RAS by selecting the Project | Create New
RAS Terrain menu item.

6. Click the Add Files button and navigate to the “Terrain” folder. Select
the “BEC_10ft.tif” and “DEM.tif” files, then press the Open button at the
bottom. The “BEC_10ft.tif” file contains gridded data at 10ft postings for the
channel created from a TIN and the “DEM.tif” is a DEM (lower resolution)
downloaded from the USGS for the remainder of the floodplain.

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 7. Use the New Terrain Layer dialog to order the files for import. Note that the
“most important” layer should be on the top of the list and will get the highest
priority when creating the Terrain Layer.

8. Press the Create button.

As the Terrain is created, a computation window will inform you of progress.

9. When the terrain process is finished, select Close on the processing window,
this will close both windows. Turn on the Terrain Layer.
10. Right-click on the Terrain Layer and choose Zoom to Layer (if necessary to
see the terrain).
11. Double-click on the Terrain Layer to access its Properties.

Below is what the terrain should look like. Also shown are all the boundary
condition locations for this workshop.

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Note the location of Sayer’s Dam and tributaries, shown in the background image
above. You will be creating a 2D Model below the Dam with tributary inflows.

4 Create the 2D Flow Area

The 2D Flow Area will go from just downstream of the Dam to the confluence with
West Branch Susquehanna River and will include a portion of Marsh Creek, Beech
Creek, and Fishing Creek tributaries.

1. Right-click on the Geometries group and choose Add New Geometry.

Enter “Simple Geometry” for the name. Press OK to create the geometry
layer.
2. Right-click the new Geometry Layer and select Edit Geometry.

3. Select the 2D Flow Areas Perimeter layer. Draw the perimeter using the
Add New Feature tool.

Question: What things should you consider when creating/defining the 2D

Flow Area polygon?

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 4. Enter a name, when finished.

5. In the Edit 2D Area Properties that come up, Enter 500 for the DX and
DY Point Spacing.

6. Click on the Generate Computation Points with All Breaklines button.

7. Change the Default Manning’s n Value to 0.04.

8. Close the Editor.

9. Turn on the Computation Points.

10. Inspect the edge of the 2D Flow Area Mesh for any mistakes in the
boundary. Make sure each cell has only one point in it. Turn off all
background layers to more easily inspect the mesh. (Mesh problems should
show up with cell points colored red.)
To fix errors in the mesh, use the Editing Tools to Add, Delete, or Move
points.

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 11. Stop Editing to Save the Geometry!

5 Flow Data Connections

After creating the 2D Flow Area computation mesh, add all of the locations for flow
boundary conditions.

5.1 RAS Mapper

12. Start Editing in RAS Mapper.

13. Select the BC Lines layer.

14. Create boundary conditions, left to right when looking downstream at each of
the boundary locations shown below. Enter a name for each (Inflow, Beech
Creek, Marsh Creek, Fishing Creek and Downstream).

***WARNING: Boundary Conditions must be drawn outside of the

perimeter of the mesh!***

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5.2 Geometric Editor

15. Close RAS Mapper.

16. Open the Geometric Schematic and Open the new Geometry (“Simple
Geometry”).

17. Verify the Geometry came in correctly. If not, fix it.

18. Close the Geometric Editor.

5.3 Unsteady Flow Editor

19. Open the Unsteady Flow Data editor and enter boundary condition
information.

20. Use Normal Depth with Slope = 0.001 for the downstream boundary
condition.

21. Use the “Simple2DModel_Flows.dss” file to define the Flow Hydrograph

for the upstream boundary and tributaries. You will need to click the Add
DSS File button to add the DSS file prior to picking a path.

The hydrograph for the inflow is named “Sayers Dam Outflow”. The other

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 DSS records are named the same as the boundary condition.

22. Specify the “EG Slope for distributing flow along BC line” as 0.001. (This is
located at the bottom right on the Flow Hydrograph window.) This must be
done for all of the flow hydrographs attached to the 2D Flow Area.

23. Repeat previous 2 steps for all inflow locations.

24. Save the Unsteady Flow data when complete (call it “Flows”).

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6 Plan and Simulation

25. Open the Unsteady Flow Analysis window, Save a Plan, and enter all of the
necessary information to make a run. Set up the time window:
Start Date: 02JAN1999 Start Time: 0000
End Date: 06JAN1999 End Time: 0000

26. Turn on the Geometry Preprocessor and Unsteady Flow Simulation programs.

27. Specify a Time step.

Question: What is an appropriate time step to use for the simulation? How
would you figure it out?

28. Save a plan by the name of the grid cell size and time step selected (“Initial
Run”).

29. Run the simulation (press the Compute button).

Question: What SHOULD we have done before simulating?

30. Go to the Options | Calculation Options and Tolerances and set the 2D
Flow Option for the Initial Conditions Time (and Ramp Up Fraction).

Question: What is an appropriate Initial Conditions Time to use? What

happens if you don’t use an Initial Conditions Time? How else could you set
the initial conditions?

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