Paige Brue

Selecting Manning’s n Values for 2D HEC-RAS Models

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Manning’s roughness coefficient, which is also commonly referred to as Manning’s n, is an empirical parameter that represents energy loss due to a variety of things such as friction losses, flow separation, turbulence, and very sudden contractions or coefficients. Relatively recently, the United States Army Corps of Engineers released versions of HEC-RAS that include two-dimensional … Read more

Selecting Manning’s n Values for 1D HEC-RAS Models

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The Manning’s roughness coefficient, which is also commonly referred to as Manning’s n, is an empirical parameter that represents energy loss due to a variety of things such as friction losses, flow separation, turbulence, and very sudden contractions or expansions. Manning’s n values are applied to Manning’s equation, which calculates open channel flow. In HEC-RAS, … Read more

Permaculture – A Civil Engineer’s Perspective

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I am an engineer with a professional background in hydrology and hydraulics. Recently, I began working at a new company that is involved in a variety of water conservation projects throughout California. Several of my coworkers have taken permaculture courses. At first, I wrote off permaculture as a bit “fluffy.” However, the more I learned … Read more

Developing A Sediment Rating Curve in HEC-RAS

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Sediment transport is the “brown” side of HEC-RAS modeling, which involves determining how sediment is transported along a stream. In my experience, sediment transport analyses are performed for projects associated with streams/channels that are aggrading and degrading. It is important to model such streams to ensure that they do not cause damage to nearby infrastructure. … Read more

Active Versus Passive Rainwater Harvesting

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Rainwater harvesting has a long history. However, in many places around the world, the practice of rainwater harvesting has diminished significantly. Admittedly, it is much easier to obtain water by turning on the tap. However, as water consumption outpaces the rate of groundwater recharge, water supplies are becoming increasingly stressed. This problem is exacerbated by … Read more

Modeling Drop Structures in HEC-RAS

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One of the biggest challenges faced by river engineers today is stabilizing degrading channels. Urbanization and the associated increase in the amount of impervious area have caused an increase in runoff and stream flow rates. As a result, many stream beds have experienced a reduction in channel slope through downcutting or increased channel meander. For … Read more

Materials Used for Rainwater Harvesting Tanks

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The best tank material for your site depends on a variety of factors including whether the tank is to be installed above ground or underground, your budget, the water quality required, the site configuration, climate, and structural characteristics. Selecting an appropriate tank for your rainwater harvesting system is important because it is most likely the … Read more

Culvert Hydraulics – Inlet and Outlet Control

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A culvert is a relatively simple structure, typically a pipe or box, that projects through an earthen embankment to allow flow to be conveyed from an area upstream of a roadway to the downstream end of a roadway. Culverts consist of an inlet, an outlet, and a culvert barrel. Common culvert shapes include circular pipes, … Read more