
Using HEC-RAS to Model Bridges, Culverts, and Floodplains
interpro.wisc.edu/RA00353 See upcoming datesCourse Overview
This foundational course offers engineers and water resource professionals practical experience using HEC-RAS for river, bridge, and culvert modeling. Through a mix of lectures and hands-on workshops, participants will learn to navigate the software, understand hydraulic theory, and apply modeling techniques to real-world scenarios. Learn about basic river modeling, geometry data, and flow data. Use HEC-RAS to model bridges and culverts. No prior experience with HEC-RAS is required.
Learning Outcomes
- Build and run HEC-RAS models for rivers, bridges, and culverts, including mixed flow and multiple structure scenarios.
- Interpret and troubleshoot model outputs to support flood analysis and infrastructure design decisions.
- Apply best practices in hydraulic modeling using RAS Mapper and 2D modeling tools for enhanced spatial analysis.
Who Should Attend?
- Engineers and hydrologists involved in floodplain mapping, infrastructure design, or water resource management.
- Consultants and technical professionals performing hydraulic studies or regulatory submittals.
- Government agency staff and planners responsible for flood risk assessment, permitting, or infrastructure review.
Additional Information
The class includes lectures and hands-on computer workshops that will give you a solid understanding of the theory behind the model as well as a practical ability to work the model effectively. We will use the current version of HEC-RAS. In addition to the program itself, you’ll receive valuable resources and references.
For either the on-line or in-person course, you will need a windows laptop that has:
- A high-speed internet connection
- Adobe Acrobat Reader or other reader to be able to open and read PDFs
- Microsoft Excel
Click here to get information on all of our HEC-RAS related courses.
Course Outline
Note that the course is offered in two different formats:
Our fully Online format:
- Offered over 6 weeks, with pre-recorded content, exercises, and a 1.5 hour Live session each week.
- A recording will be made available of the live session for those who cannot attend.
- Participants should expect to spend 2-4 hours per week on the course.
- This format offers significant flexibility for working professionals and can accommodate a variety of schedules.
Our HyFlex format is offered in “Madison, WI or Live Online”
- This format is offered Live over 3 consecutive days from 9am-5pm Central Time
- Participants must select whether they will attend In-Person (in Madison, WI) or online.
- For those who wish to review content after the course, pre-recorded content will be made available for approximately 1 month after the 3-day session concludes (We are unable to provide a recording of the 3-day session itself).
Online Course Schedule (Offered over 6 weeks)
- Week 1, Topic 1: River Modeling Basic Concepts and Geometry Data
- Week 2, Topic 2: Flow Data and HEC-RAS Modeling
- Week 3, Topic 3: Bridge Modeling Using HEC-RAS
- Week 4, Topic 4: Culvert Modeling Using HEC-RAS
- Week 5, Topic 5: Introduction to RAS Mapper and 2D Modeling
- Week 6, Topic 6: Output Review and Analysis
HyFlex (In-person and Online) Course Schedule (Offered over 3 consecutive days)
Day 1
Calculating Water Surface Profiles
- Concepts of open channel flow and floodplain hydraulics
- Energy principles
- Flow resistance equations
- Momentum concepts
HEC-RAS Modeling - Geometry
- Geometric and flow data
- Program options
- Sources of data
Developing a Geometry Model with HEC-RAS: Workshop
- Starting HEC-RAS
- Steps in developing a hydraulic model
- Starting a new project
- Entering geometric data
- Entering steady flow data
- Performing the hydraulic computations
- Viewing and printing results
- Getting and using help
HEC-RAS Modeling: Flow Data, Compute Profiles, and View Results
- Define steady-flow data and boundary conditions
- Perform hydraulic computations
- View graphics and tables
Calculation of Water Surface Profiles: Workshop
- How to enter data into HEC-RAS
- How to perform the hydraulic computations
- Viewing results
Review Workshop
- Viewing results
- Cross-section plots
- Profile plot
- X-Y-Z plot
- Summary tables
- Errors, warnings, and notes
- Output review for workshop
Geometry Options
- Multiple plan analysis
- Optional friction loss equations
- Cross-section interpolation
- Mixed flow regime calculations
- Modeling stream junctions
- Flow distribution calculations
Bridge Modeling with HEC-RAS
- Nature of flow through bridges
- Components of bridge losses
- Cross-section locations
- Defining ineffective flow areas
- Contraction and expansion losses
HEC-RAS Bridge Input-Output
- Entering and editing bridge data
- Defining a bridge modeling approach
- Bridge modeling options
- Example bridge application
- Pertinent bridge output
Day 2
Bridge Modeling Workshop
- Entering and editing bridge data
- Performing bridge hydraulic computations
- Reviewing pertinent results
Bridge Workshop Review
- Overview of Culvert Hydraulics
- Definition of terms
- Input requirements
- Cross-section locations
- Ineffective flow areas
- Expansion and contraction coefficients
- Inlet control
- Outlet control
- Solution logic
Culvert Modeling with HEC-RAS
- Cross-section locations
- Multiple culvert options
- Program output
Culvert Modeling Workshop
- Entering and editing culvert data
- Culvert modeling options
- Example culvert applications
Day 3
RAS Mapper
- RAS Mapper Overview
- Setting the projection file
- Adding a terrain model
- Preprocessing 1D elements
- Viewing results in RAS Mapper
2-D Basics in HEC-RAS
- Principles of quasi-steady flow modeling
- Adding a 2D area
- Manning's "n" values for 2D areas
- Entering flow data for 2D areas
- Running a 2D model and reviewing results
RAS Mapper and 2D Workshop
- Set the projection file and create terrain
- Create a 2D area
- Run the 2D model and review results
Output Review and Analysis
- How to interpret HEC-RAS output messages (errors, warnings, and notes)
- Diagnosing common data input mistakes
- Using the HEC-RAS "log file" to understand more about the computations and possible problems
HEC-RAS Output Analysis Workshop
- Analyze HEC-RAS output
- Resolve data model errors
Instructor
Christopher Goodell
Chris Goodell is the Principal Consultant for H&H at Kleinschmidt Associates and works out of the Portland Oregon office. He is a registered professional engineer and diplomate of water resources engineering. Chris has over 28 years of experience in water resources engineering with a specialization in computational hydraulics and probabilistic modeling, and teaching HEC-RAS to professionals and students around the world. He is a former developer of HEC-RAS and is the author of the blog The RAS Solution, the book “Breaking the HEC-RAS Code, and co-host of the Full Momentum podcast.” Chris has a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from Oregon State University and a master’s degree in hydraulic engineering from IHE Delft in The Netherlands.