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Simulating hydraulic interdependence between bridges along a river corridor under transient flood conditions
Matthew E Trueheart1, Mandar M Dewoolkar1, Donna M Rizzo1
1Civil and Environmental Engineering, The University of Vermont, Burlington, VT, USA.
The Science of the Total Environment
|November 5, 2019
Summary
Bridge alterations can unexpectedly change river flow and water levels. Analyzing these bridge-stream interactions using hydraulic models is crucial for effective river management and infrastructure design during floods.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Engineering
- Hydrology
- Civil Engineering
Background:
- Bridge construction and modifications can significantly impact riverine ecosystems and hydrological processes.
- Understanding these impacts is vital for sustainable infrastructure development and effective flood risk management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a framework for analyzing interconnected bridge-stream interactions under flood conditions.
- To assess the influence of bridges on hydrological parameters like discharge and water levels.
- To inform resource allocation for river rehabilitation and infrastructure design.
Main Methods:
- Utilized a two-dimensional unsteady HEC-RAS hydraulic model.
- Simulated the impact of individual bridge structures on a 46-mile river network.
- Analyzed changes in discharge, velocity, stream power, and water levels during extreme flood events.
Main Results:
- Bridge presence can alter peak discharge by up to 10% at adjacent structures and 1% at distant ones (up to 6 miles upstream, 9 miles downstream).
- Bridges can either attenuate or amplify flood flows, with impacts depending on their specific characteristics.
- Structures causing substantial backwaters exhibited the most dramatic, and not always predictable, network impacts.
Conclusions:
- Hydraulic modeling is essential for accurately predicting bridge-induced hydrological changes.
- Bridge and roadway alterations require careful consideration due to their potential for significant, non-linear impacts on river systems.
- Holistic design and analysis are necessary to mitigate unintended consequences and optimize infrastructure projects.
Keywords:
2D hydraulic modelingBridge resiliencyBridge-river interactionsExtreme flood eventsFlood mitigationTransient analysisMore Related Videos
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