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Advanced Hydraulic Structures in HEC RAS

This course explores advanced hydraulic structure modeling in HEC-RAS and is the third course in our pathway of HEC-RAS courses.

Our HEC-RAS pathway of courses is as follows:

1. Using HEC-RAS to Model Bridges, Culverts, and Floodplains

2. Advanced 2D Modeling with HEC-RAS and RAS Mapper

3. Advanced Hydraulic Structures in HEC-RAS (this course)

4. Rainfall-Runoff Modeling with HEC-HMS and HEC-RAS

Participants will evaluate modeling approaches for bridges, culverts, weirs, dam structures, and related hydraulic controls; enter detailed structure geometry; choose appropriate coefficients and breach parameters; compute losses; generate rating curves; export structure results; and troubleshoot common structure-related model issues. The course emphasizes defensible model setup and interpretation for design, floodplain studies, infrastructure review, and risk assessment.

It is highly recommended that participants take the earlier courses in the HEC-RAS pathway before taking this course; however, it is not required.

View course details

Who Should Attend?

· Water resources engineers, transportation hydraulics engineers, dam safety professionals, floodplain modelers, consultants, agency reviewers, and technical staff.

· Professionals who model or review bridges, culverts, weirs, dams, road embankments, and related hydraulic structures.

· Participants who have completed the foundational HEC-RAS course or who have equivalent experience with HEC-RAS geometry, flow data, and output review.

Course Details: RA00157-E435

Course Outline

Modeling Approaches for Hydraulic Structures

Selecting the right representation for the structure and project purpose

· Review of 1D, 2D, and combined 1D/2D structure modeling options

· Choosing between bridges, culverts, inline structures, lateral structures, storage area/2D connections, and terrain-based representations

· Data requirements for structure geometry, survey, plans, inspection records, and field verification

· Understanding project objectives: design, floodplain mapping, dam safety, screening, or alternatives analysis

· Model setup quality control for structure hydraulics

Single and Multi-Barrel Pipe and Box Culverts

Detailed culvert inputs, coefficients, and result interpretation

· Culvert geometry, shape, inlet and outlet configuration, and barrel data

· Single barrel, multi-barrel, pipe, box, arch, and embedded structure considerations

· Inlet control, outlet control, tailwater, entrance losses, and outlet losses

· Roadway overtopping and combined culvert and weir flow

· Hands-on culvert modeling exercise and result review

Bridge Decks, Piers, Abutments, Headwalls, and Wingwalls

Representing bridge geometry and flow losses

· Bridge opening geometry, deck and roadway data, low chord, high chord, and pressure flow considerations

· Pier geometry, abutments, skew, ineffective flow areas, blocked obstructions, and contraction/expansion reaches

· Modeling headwalls, wingwalls, approach embankments, and related controls

· Selecting bridge computation methods and reviewing output tables

· Diagnosing unrealistic bridge losses, ineffective flow behavior, and flow distribution issues

Weir Coefficients and Dam Breach Parameters

Using hydraulic controls and breach assumptions responsibly

· Inline and lateral weirs, broad-crested weirs, sharp-crested weirs, ogee controls, and roadway overtopping

· Selecting and documenting weir coefficients

· Dam breach parameter inputs, breach timing, breach geometry, and sensitivity considerations

· Boundary conditions and routing effects for dam and reservoir scenarios

· Uncertainty, conservatism, and communication of breach modeling assumptions

Structure Losses and Rating Curves

Quantifying hydraulic behavior across flow ranges

· Computing and reviewing contraction, expansion, entrance, exit, pier, pressure flow, and weir losses

· Developing rating curves for culverts, bridges, weirs, and other controls

· Comparing alternatives and documenting governing hydraulic conditions

· Using plan comparisons and sensitivity runs to understand model behavior

· Linking hydraulic results to design criteria and regulatory questions

Exporting Results, Scour Protection, and Troubleshooting

Preparing practical deliverables and resolving common problems

· Exporting tables, profiles, cross-section plots, maps, and structure-specific results

· Interpreting velocity, shear, depth, overtopping, and freeboard outputs

· Applying hydraulic results to scour protection screening and preliminary countermeasure discussions

· Troubleshooting warning messages, nonconvergence, blocked flow, unexpected overtopping, and unrealistic rating curves

· Final model review checklist, questions and answers, and wrap-up

Course Schedule

Instructor and Program Director

Instructor
Krey Price
Director
Krey Price is a civil engineer specializing in water resources. Krey is based in Perth, Australia, where he provides consulting and training services in flood modeling. Krey has a master’s degree in hydraulic and coastal engineering from the University of California at Berkeley. Krey’s thirty-year career has included modeling, design, and project management for international flood mitigation projects.
Program Director
Adib Amini

Additional Information

Participants will complete hands-on workshops using the current version of HEC-RAS and RAS Mapper.

A Windows laptop is required. Participants should install required software before the first session and confirm that they can open the workshop files.

All students will need a Windows laptop that has:

· A high-speed internet connection

· HEC-RAS, current version

· Microsoft Excel

· Adobe Acrobat Reader or another PDF reader

Total Credits:

CEU 2.1,

PDH 21,

Course Administration

Fee Information

Fee covers course materials.

Discounts

ID IS: 66045 When three or more sign up from same employer, your course fee is $1720 per person.
ID IS: 66045 When two or more sign up from same employer, your course fee is $1745 per person.

Payment Options

If you are planning to attend an Interdisciplinary Professional Programs course, payment is required at the time of registration. Below are the payment options:

Pay by Credit Card

Enroll online and pay by credit card.

Search for the course on the website and then click on the Enroll Now button from the course webpage.
Enter all necessary course attendee information and payment information on the course enrollment page.
You will receive an email to confirm successful enrollment and payment.

Enroll over the phone and pay by credit card.

Call CERC Registrations at 608-262-2451.
Provide the registrations representative with:
- the course name, dates, and/or course number.
- the necessary course attendee information and payment information.
You will receive either a mailed document or an email to confirm successful enrollment payment.

Pay by Check

Mail in a completed registration form and check payable to UW Madison.

Fill out a registration form (found either in the back of the course brochure you received in the mail or here).
Prepare a check, made payable to UW Madison.
Mail the registration form and check to: CERC Registrations 21 N Park St, Ste 7101 Madison, WI 53715
You will receive either a mailed document or an email to confirm successful enrollment and payment.

Pay by Purchase Order

Request Purchase Order information from registration@cerc.wisc.edu
- If a fee quote is needed, contact custserv@interpro.wisc.edu first
You will receive an invoice from UW–Madison Business Services for payment, usually within 3–5 business days

Military

If using SF-182 form, please call our registration number at 608-262-2451 or email registration@cerc.wisc.edu for details and instructions.

Event Cancellation

We reserve the right to cancel a course due to insufficient enrollment or unforeseen events. If we cancel a course, participants will be notified via email or phone and will be given the option for a full refund or to transfer their registration and any fees paid to another course. We are not responsible for non-refundable plane tickets, hotel reservations, and other travel related expenses. For enrollee Course Cancellation, refer to notes on course page.

Cancellation Policy

If you cannot attend, please notify us no later than one week before your course begins, and we will refund your fee. Cancellations received after this date and no-shows are subject to a $150 administrative fee. You may enroll a substitute at any time before the course starts.