Tag: Hydraulic Modeling

CFD Hydraulic Modeling Helps Find Solutions to Dam Flow Problems

By Pete Haug, PE Today’s engineering challenges are complex, especially for dam owners and operators. Flow problems around dams include spillway scour, riprap damaging currents, river debris collecting in the wrong places, and uneven overtopping of training walls. Imbalanced flow entering powerhouse units can create trash rack vibrations, excessive bearing wear, and even air-core vortex… Read More »

What is Computational Fluid Dynamics/3D Hydraulic Modeling?

By Matthew Hickox, PE Computational fluid dynamics (CFD), also known as three-dimensional (3D) hydraulic modeling, is a practical way to predict and visualize how water flows in real-world conditions – including in rivers, stormwater structures, and wastewater systems. CFD solves fundamental flow equations that describe how physical laws govern fluid motion. It also provides detail… Read More »

2D Modeling and Matrix Riprap Save Millions on Transportation Flood Recovery Projects

By Will DeRosset, PE, CFM, and Anthony Alvarado, PE, CFM The Colorado Department of Transportation recently published several case studies celebrating major progress in effective design in flood recovery projects. The projects all relate to designs implemented in the recovery from devastating 2013 flooding. The key takeaways are: 2D hydraulic modeling and spatially explicit analysis… Read More »