4-Hydraulic Modeling The Black Art

Hydraulic Modeling:
The Black Art

Hydraulic Modeling: The Black Art
Part I
What Is Hydraulic Modeling?
Part II
The Process
Who is Vinnie Bergl?
• Graduated from Marquette University
– B.S. in Civil and Environmental Engineering
– Class of 2006
• P.E. in Illinois and Wisconsin
• Started working at RJN in 2005
• Various SSES and sewer design projects
• Specialize in hydraulic modeling of sewer
systems
What is hydraulic modeling?
Hydraulic modeling is a pseudoscientific
powerful signaling device engineering tool
using math nobody in the industry
understands hydrodynamic and hydrological
principles
principles to create a fictionalization simulation
of a hydraulic network
of a hydraulic network that can be used to
affirm preconceptions evaluate current
conditions,
conditions, rationalize recommend
improvements,
improvements, and predict outcomes under
various hypothetical scenarios
improvements, and predict outcomes under
various hypothetical scenarios that will never
actually happen.
Hydrology, Hydraulics, and
Hydrodynamics (for Sewers)
• Hydrology – methodology to predict how
rainfall becomes flow in a hydraulic network
• Hydraulics – principles that govern the behavior

of water under a given set of conditions
• Hydrodynamics – computations that dictate the

movement of flow from place to place
through a hydraulic network
Sewer Hydraulics
Bernoulli Equation Manning’s Formula

(energy balance) (open-channel flow)
Sewer Model Hydrodynamics
St. Venant Equations – relationships fundamental
to dynamic modeling methods
Continuity Equation Momentum Equation

(conservation of flow) (conservation of momentum)
Engines / Solvers – computerized algorithms that

iteratively solve the hydrodynamic equations
time step – time interval at which the solver
calculates changing conditions in the model
Continuity Equation Momentum Equation

(conservation of flow) (conservation of momentum)
short time step = more accurate

long time step = faster simulation
time step – time interval between calculated
conditions in the model
less accurate more accurate

Sewer Models
• model – methods and computations used to
simulate a sewershed for given parameters
– hydrological model – generates runoff, loads
it into the hydraulic network
– hydraulic model – simulates the movement of
flow through the network
– water quality model – simulates pollutant
loads as flow moves through the network
• platform – software; may support multiple
models, engines, and hydrological methods
Sewer Models
• SWMM (Stormwater Management Model) –
developed by EPA ca. 1970; used by several
software platforms and popular in the U.S.
• MOUSE (Model for Urban Sewers) – developed
by Danish Hydraulic Institute (DHI); mainly used
by DHI MIKE software suite
• Bentley (Haestad Methods) – evolved from Army
Corps HEC models (late ’70s); used by Bentley
products (SewerGEMS, StormCAD)
• Wallingford – developed in the U.K.; now used in
InfoWorks products
Software Platforms
Platform Software Supported Strengths/
Developer Models Applications
Bentley Bentley, sewer systems
SWMM
XP Software SWMM stormwater and 2D
models
Innovyze Wallingford sanitary systems
Innovyze SWMM stormwater and 2D
models
Danish Hydraulic MOUSE, integrated urban
URBAN Institute (DHI) sewershed models
SWMM
SWM M 5 EPA (freeware) SWMM sewer systems
Requisite Car Analogies
SWMM : Wallingford :: Cadillac : Jaguar
(different models)
Explicit : Implicit :: diesel : gasoline

(different engines)
InfoSWMM : EPA SWMM5 ::

Lexus ES350 with voice recognition and moon roof :
Toyota Camry with manual locks and no AC
(same model, different features)
Sanitary vs. Storm
Sanitary Stormwater
Model Network Underground (pipes) Underground and overland
Main Concern Backups / Overflows Flooding
Conditions Dry and wet weather Wet weather only
Overflow Gone from system Goes to overland network
*combined sewer models – a bit of

both
The Process
• Stage 1: Building the Physical Model

• Stage 2: Flow Monitoring Data Analysis
• Stage 3: Flow Input and Distribution
• Stage 4: Model Calibration
• Stage 5: Analysis of Existing Conditions
• Stage 6: Development of Alternatives
• Stage 7: Analysis of Alternatives
The Process

Building the Physical Model
a functional
beautiful infrastructure abstraction
Defining the Network
• Full model – All sewers in

study area modeled
• Skeletal model – Only

trunk and limbs modeled
– Diameter threshold
– Tributary area
“Venous”? “Arterial”?
Like:
Not like:
Physical Features
• node – any junction or storage location
– manholes / inlets
– wet wells
– tanks
• link – path along which flow moves between nodes

– gravity mains
– force mains
– overland channels
• catchment – hydrological boundary; turns rain into runoff

– meter [sub-]basin
– drainage area
Data Import
collected sources  GIS  table  model
Data Import
model software’s
built-in fields
geodatabase fields
Physical Data Import
Node Fields Link Fields Catchment Fields
Required X coordinate Upstream node Area
Y coordinate Downstream node
Standard Rim elevation Shape Outflow node
Invert elevation Pipe diameter Ground slope
Structure diameter Upstream invert Imperviousness
Bolted lids Downstream invert Meter basin
Material / roughness Wastewater load
Other TIN elevation Silt depth Parcel count

Trough condition
Inlet capacity
Ponding condition
Lift Stations
Wet wells
• Dimensions
• Operating ranges
Pumps
• Design points
• Pump curves
• Discharge piping
Control Structures
• Diversion chambers
• Control valves
• Weirs
• Gates
• Dams
• Orifices
Outfall Conditions
The Process

Flow Data Analysis
How does meter data feed the

model?
Sanitary Combined Stormwater
Dry-Weather
Analysis X X
RTK
Analysis X
Calibration
Events X X X
Dry-Weather Flow Patterns
Dry-Weather Flow Patterns
Each meter basin has unique DWF
RTK Unit Hydrographs
…and unique RTK parameters
What does RTK do again?
• Deconstructs RDII into an elemental unit

What does RTK do again?
• Model reassembles RDII response using
RTK UH as building block; rain as catalyst
More tortured analogies…
Observed RDII RTK Unit Model RDII

Response Hydrograph Response
Why RTK?
• Prevailing method for sanitary models
• Scales well
• Consistent with RDII narrative

The Process

Dry-Weather Flow (DWF) Input
1. Large point flows are input to nearest
node
Dry-Weather Flow (DWF) Input
2. Remaining flow apportioned by area or
population
Wet-Weather Flow Distribution
1. Delineate catchments
2. Define hydrology
3. Apply rain
4. Run model
Sanitary WWF Distribution
• Meter basins subdivided
• catchment = sub-basin
• RTK hydrology
Sub-Basin Delineation
Wet-Weather Flow (WWF) Input
catchment area X rain intensity X UH = WWF
X X
Stormwater Runoff
• Part of storm and combined sewer models
• catchment = drainage area
• Hydrology
– SWMM runoff
– NRCS method
– Rational method
Catchment Properties
• Area
• Ground slope
• Imperviousness
Sanitary vs. Stormwater Hydrology
Sanitary Stormwater
Catchments Sub-basins (polygons) Drainage areas (blobs)
Delineation property boundaries contours
Basis Flow monitoring data Physical catchment properties
Methods RTK NRCS, SWMM, Rational, others
Imperviousness (CN, C value,

Scaling Factor % rainfall capture
etc.)
The Process

Model Calibration
Process of validating model results by
comparing against observed data
Dry-Weather Calibration
• REPLICATION
• D-V-Q
• Volume
• Timing
What’s good enough?
WASTEWATER PLANNING USERS GROUP (WaPUG) CODE OF
PRACTICE FOR THE HYDRAULIC MODELLING OF SEWER SYSTEMS
WaPUG =
Wet-Weather Calibration
Simulation of observed
(metered) rain events
Used to test and refine

hydrological inputs
WaPUG (UDG) says…
WaPUG (UDG) says…
+20” to -4”
WaPUG (UDG) says…
Depth - Depth
Flow ÷ Flow
REPLICATION.
What if it doesn’t replicate?
• Units and decimal
places!
• Variable rainfall capture

(RTK)
• Pipe diameters /
materials
• Roots and debris

Village of Deerfield
plateaus
clean
peaks
replication
clean
peaks
roots
restriction
Continuity and Stability
Qin = Qout
Is it
stable?
The Process

Dry-Weather Flow
Will it scour?
2 fps
slow flow  silting  capacity loss

Sustainable Peaking Factor (SPF)
SPF = avg. capacity ÷ ADWF
• Simple measure of
excess flow capacity
< 3.0 = undersized

Sustainable Peaking Factor (SPF)
Design Storm Analysis
• Typically 24-hr. events

– SCS Type II storm
– IDF from Bulletin 70
• Recurrence intervals of
2 months to 100 years
SCS Type II Distribution
10-yr, 30-min. storm

10-yr, 60-min. storm

10-yr, 12-hr. storm

10-yr, 24-hr. storm

Level of Protection Analysis
How protected is the system against…
surcharging
overflows / overland flooding

Surcharging and Overflows
CSO events
basement backups
Potential Backups
The Process

Development of Alternatives
• Where are the problem areas?
• What are the options?

– Increase capacity?
– Reduce flow?
…Both?
• And how do we assess the impact?

Hydraulic Grade Line (HGL) Profiles
existing condition
after I/I reduction

with relief sewers

with relief sewers and I/I reduction

Level of Protection (LOP)
existing condition
Level of Protection (LOP)
with relief and storage

Development of Alternatives
Okay, so it would work.

…But is it optimal?
The Process

But first…
• Some real life context
• A lunch break (at some point)
• 2:00 – Wet-Weather Freakonomics

Questions?
Comments?

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Hydraulic Modeling:

The Black Art

• Hydraulics – principles that govern the behavior

• Hydrodynamics – computations that dictate the

Bernoulli Equation Manning’s Formula

Continuity Equation Momentum Equation

Engines / Solvers – computerized algorithms that

Continuity Equation Momentum Equation

short time step = more accurate

less accurate more accurate

Explicit : Implicit :: diesel : gasoline

InfoSWMM : EPA SWMM5 ::

Model Network Underground (pipes) Underground and overland

Main Concern Backups / Overflows Flooding

Conditions Dry and wet weather Wet weather only

Overflow Gone from system Goes to overland network

*combined sewer models – a bit of

• Stage 1: Building the Physical Model

• Stage 1: Building the Physical Model

• Full model – All sewers in

• Skeletal model – Only

• link – path along which flow moves between nodes

• catchment – hydrological boundary; turns rain into runoff

Other TIN elevation Silt depth Parcel count

• Stage 1: Building the Physical Model

How does meter data feed the

• Deconstructs RDII into an elemental unit

Observed RDII RTK Unit Model RDII

• Consistent with RDII narrative

• Stage 1: Building the Physical Model

• Meter basins subdivided

• Part of storm and combined sewer models

• catchment = drainage area

Catchments Sub-basins (polygons) Drainage areas (blobs)

Delineation property boundaries contours

Basis Flow monitoring data Physical catchment properties

Methods RTK NRCS, SWMM, Rational, others

Imperviousness (CN, C value,

• Stage 1: Building the Physical Model

Used to test and refine

• Variable rainfall capture

• Roots and debris

• Stage 1: Building the Physical Model

slow flow  silting  capacity loss

< 3.0 = undersized

• Typically 24-hr. events

10-yr, 30-min. storm

10-yr, 60-min. storm

10-yr, 12-hr. storm

10-yr, 24-hr. storm

overflows / overland flooding

• Stage 1: Building the Physical Model

• Where are the problem areas?

• What are the options?

• And how do we assess the impact?

after I/I reduction

with relief sewers

with relief sewers and I/I reduction

with relief and storage

Okay, so it would work.

• Stage 1: Building the Physical Model

• Some real life context

• A lunch break (at some point)