Model: ____________________

Reviewer: ____________________
Date: ____________________
EXAMPLE
Review of RAS Model
Open model
□ Open geometry editor and zoom in on modeled reach.
□ View cross section spacing, cross section widths, effective area option locations,
location of structures.

Run model
□ If output file does not exist, run multiple profiles spanning range of flows of interest:
□ 10-yr
□ 50-yr
□ 100-yr
□ 500-yr
□ Historical event: Date: ____________ Q = __________ cfs
□ Other _________ cfs
Summary of Errors, Warnings, and Notes
□ It may be useful to print out this file for easier reference while reviewing the model.
□ Check for Error Messages. (Correct errors and re-run.)
□ Note the Warnings for individual cross sections and determine if changes such as
adding more cross sections will improve the model.
□ Flag locations where there is Divided Flow.
□ Review other Warnings
Profile plots
□ Plot multiple profiles (plot attached? ___ yes ___ no).
□ Are water surface profiles approximately parallel?
□ Does critical depth occur at any section?
□ Are there any sharp changes in the WS and EGL profiles?
(Zoom in on any water surface or channel invert points that look strange.)
□ Plot the bank elevations. Are they regular from section to section?
□ Plot levee crown elevations. Are they regular from section to section?
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 Model: ____________________
Reviewer: ____________________
Date: ____________________
□ Plot top width as a function of distance and check for “spikes” in plot.
□ Plot top average velocity as a function of distance and check for “spikes” in plot.
Plot cross sections
□ Are there any spikes in station-elevation data?
□ Are bank stations at appropriate locations?
□ Are levees at appropriate locations?
□ Do the Manning’s n values look consistent with the bank stations and upstream and
downstream sections?
□ Do the ineffective flow area designations look appropriate and consistent with banks
and upstream and downstream sections? Zoom in on any points that look
strange.
□ Do the cross sections extend above the water surface? Are they too high?
X-Y Z Perspective Plot
□ Review the entire reach. Look at each individual profile separately.
□ Does the top width change in a reasonable way from cross section to cross section?
(Large changes in top width may indicate the need for additional cross sections.
Note that divided flow areas do not show up on these plots.)

Comments: ____________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________
□ Look at plots that span only a few cross sections and display multiple profiles. Is
there consistency between the profiles?

Bridge Data
□ Review the plots of the bridges. Highlight the weir, low chord, and piers on the bridge
editor plot.
□ Review the Bridge Modeling Approach. Bring up the standard profile plot and use it to
judge if the computed water surface consistent with the way the bridge loss is
being computed? (Plot attached ___ yes ___ no.)
□ Bring up the Bridge Only and Bridge Comparison Tables and review the calculated
losses for the individual profiles and the method used for bridge loss calculation.
□ Is the Ineffective Flow Area Option being applied correctly?
□ Do the Stations and Elevations as entered on the Bounding Cross Sections appear
to be consistent with the bridge geometry?
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 Model: ____________________
Reviewer: ____________________
Date: ____________________
□ Check the data on the Deck/Roadway Data Editor and Bridge Width Table (on the
Geometric Data editor).
□ Do the distances between the bridge and bounding cross sections appear
reasonable?
□ Does the bridge width appear reasonable?
Geometric Data Editor Tables
□ Review the Summary Input tables on the Geometric Data editor. Check the following:
□ Manning’s n
□ Reach lengths
□ Coefficients (expansion and contraction) – are they higher at bridges?
□ Node names. Should additional names be added to identify particular cross
sections to make them easier to find?

Tabular Data
□ View the Standard Table 1. Compare values for adjacent sections for the following.
Do they change in a consistently from section to section?
□ EGL Slope
□ Top Width
□ Velocity
□ Froude Number.
□ Compare Friction loss and Contraction and Expansion loss between profiles and
from section to section (Standard Table 2).
□ Flow Distribution: Does the flow in the Left Overbank, Channel, and Right Overbank
change markedly from section to section (Standard Table 2)?
□ If there is divided flow, does the amount of flow in the overbanks change from
section to section.
□ Does divided flow extend for several cross sections?

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 Model: ____________________
Reviewer: ____________________
Date: ____________________

Other Comments

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