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Notes-Ineffective Area

Ineffective flow areas are portions of floodplains where flow velocity is near zero and flow is not actively conveyed, such as areas around bridge abutments. These areas are given a slope and triggered water elevation to restrict conveyance calculations until flow becomes effective. Modeling ineffective areas properly represents flow conveyance and requires modifying channel sections upstream and downstream of structures generating ineffective areas.

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48 views8 pages

Notes-Ineffective Area

Ineffective flow areas are portions of floodplains where flow velocity is near zero and flow is not actively conveyed, such as areas around bridge abutments. These areas are given a slope and triggered water elevation to restrict conveyance calculations until flow becomes effective. Modeling ineffective areas properly represents flow conveyance and requires modifying channel sections upstream and downstream of structures generating ineffective areas.

Uploaded by

Md Mamunur Rashid
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© Public Domain
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Notes – Modeling Ineffective Areas in HEC-RAS

Ineffective flow areas


 Portion of floodplain (channel + adjacent land + flood fringe) that that do not actively convey flow (i.e., velocity = 0).
 Include: Channel sections (in the vicinity of U/S and D/S of culvert/bridge abutments) + other areas (where flow is expected to stagnate)
Ineffective Flow Area Floodplain Area

Ineffective Flow Area


 CR = Compression Region
 ER = Expansion Region

 Slope (CR) = CR:1 (CR = Lc + length


along flow), U/S (typically 1:1)

 Slope (ER) = ER:1 (ER = length along


flow), D/S (Typically, slope = 2:1, ER = Le
= 2)

 Lc and Le = length along flow direction


 Ineffective flow areas: Bridge profile is typically an obstruction to flow in the overbanks, or possibly within the channel itself. Ineffective flow
areas are defined to ignore (for conveyance calculations) areas where water is being stored and not conveyed.
 Slope (Ratio: Distance along flow/Distance perpendicular to flow). (Parallel/Perpendicular)
 Contraction Reach (slope): 1:1 (1 = along flow, 1 = perpendicular to flow)
 Expansion Reach (slope): 2:1 (2 = along flow, 1 = perpendicular to flow)
“Ineffective area” option is used to:
 Restrict effective flow area around or near the edges of the culverts/bridge
 Represent correct amount of active flow area just D/S of culvert/bridge

Water velocity in “ineffective areas”


 Water velocity in ineffective areas is near zero, therefore, does not contribute to the conveyance of that section until a certain WS or “Trigger
Elevation” is reached.
 Once “trigger elevation” is reached, the area becomes effective again.
“Ineffective flow area” commonly occur at:
 (i) channel sections near bridge/culvert sections, (ii) large embankment constrictions, and (iii) channel sections with wide overbank areas.
Inactive flow areas must be eliminated. This can be done by:
 Modifying the channel section geometry for both U/S & D/S sections
 From bridge or culvert structures or any other channel section.
How to Model Ineffective Flow Areas

 In the aforementioend bridge plan, you would need to add ineffective flow areas at Sections 2 (just D/S, after exit) and 4 (Just U/S, before enrance).
 Total width of the ineffective flow areas would span from the edge of the channel  to the bridge abutments.
 Top elevation of the ineffective area would be the Low Bridge Chord for Section 2 and the Top Bridge Chord for Section 4.

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