1D Bridges

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Introduction

The following section looks at bridges using the 1D component of TUFLOW. Reference should also be made to the section on 1D bridges in the TUFLOW Manual. For information on bridges in the 2D domain please see the following section on 2D hydraulic Structures and Module 6.

1D Bridge channels do not require length, Manning's n, divergence or bed slope (so they are effectively zero-length channels in terms of conveyance) and rely on a reasonable estimate of energy losses associated with re-expansion of water after the vena-contracta (often referred to as entrance losses), expansion of water downstream (exit losses), pier losses, bridge deck and guard rail losses. Other factors include accounting for occurrence of bridge deck pressure flow and the effects of bridge skew and multiple bridges (shielding effects of an upstream bridge on a downstream bridge).

Care must be taken when choosing the approach to modelling the bridge and setting appropriate loss values.

TUFLOW offers two 1D bridge channels, B and BB. BB channels were introduced for Build 2016-03-AA and are a more advanced solution than B channels, which are retained for legacy models. By default, BB channels are superior to B channels as they: (a) adjust the entrance and exit losses every timestep according the approach and departure velocities (in the same manner as for other structures such as culverts); (b) automatically simulates pressure flow conditions. The only loss coefficients required to be specified for BB channels are those due to any piers, and the bridge deck when it is submerged and not under pressure flow.

Note: For TUFLOW Builds prior to 2020-10-AA, if the BB bridge is linked directly to a 2D domain (typically via a SX link), there is no adjustment of entrance / exit losses on the sides connected to 2D (adjustment of losses according to approach/departure velocities is the default from 1D to 1D to 1D. This capability was introduced for 2D to 1D to 2D, losses can be automatically adjusted based on the approach/departure 2D velocities across the SX connections by setting Structure Losses SX == ADJUST in Build 2020-10-AA onwards. In the case of 2D connections, refer to the links from the TUFLOW Library below for a discussion on the intricacies and challenges of taking into account contraction and expansion losses for 1D structures connected directly to 2D domains. For B bridges the default is not to adjust losses (please refer to the manual for more information).

https://www.tuflow.com/Download/Presentations/2012/2012%20Aust%20Workshops%20-%20TUFLOW%20Modelling%20Bends,%20Structures%20and%20Obstructions.pdf https://www.tuflow.com/Download/Publications/Modelling%20of%20Bends%20and%20Hydraulic%20Structures%20in%20a%202D%20Scheme,%20Syme,%202001.pdf

As a typical rule-of-thumb, if the channel upstream &/or downstream of the bridge is modelled in 1D then the bridge should also be modelled in 1D. Ideally any change in the channel from ESTRY 1D to 2D or vice-versa should also occur at a structure (i.e. bridge, culvert, etc) to facilitate the transition in solution schemes. The images below displays a typical preferred setup, however as is the case with hydraulic modeling your particular model situation may be different and therefore not always conform to these ideals.

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  1D channel to 1D bridge to 1D channel
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  1D channel to 1D bridge to 2D channel
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  2D channel to 1D bridge to 1D channel

Example of a bridge that could be modelled in 1D

London, UK (pht: Rohan King)

Loss Theory

Pier Losses

Peir loss coefficients are treated as a direct energy (form) loss and can be derived from information in publications such as Hydraulics of Bridge Waterways (FHA, 1978 or AUSTROADS, 2019).

Energy loss estimates from bridge piers or other obstructions, vertical or horizontal, that do not cause upstream controlled flow regimes like pressure flow, are dependent on the ratio of the obstruction's area perpendicular to the flow direction to the gross flow area of the bridge opening, the shape of the piers or obstruction, and the angularity of the piers/obstruction to the flow direction. For example, using FHA (1978) the approach is:

1. Calculate the ratio of the water area occupied by piers to the gross water area of the constriction (both based on the normal water surface) and the angularity of the piers. These inputs are used to calculate "J" in the FHA documentation.
2. Use the FHA (1978) Incremental Backwater Coefficient for Piers data to calculate Kp. This is the value that will be entered into the bridge's LC (loss vs height) table as the energy or form loss coefficient. For piers or obstructions that are non-uniform in dimensions or shape the LC table can be used to vary the losses with height accordingly noting that losses will need to be proportioned with depth to reflect the combined effect of the different obstruction shapes/dimensions.
   



Deck Losses and Pressure Flow

For the legacy B channels, the deck loss coefficient was fixed at a value of 1.5625, which is derived from the discharge coefficient in Hydraulics of Bridge Waterways of 0.8 (1.56 = 1/0.8^2) to approximate pressure flow conditions. Whilst this is reasonable when the bridge deck experiences pressure flow, it will over-estimate the losses once the bridge deck starts to drown out and flow returns fully to downstream controlled. Further details on how the value of 1.56 was derived can be found here.
Due to the above limitation of B channels, BB channels were developed to automatically switch into and out of pressure flow conditions. For pressure flow, a default discharge coefficient of 0.8 is used which the user can modify using the 1d_nwk HConF_or_WC attribute. Once water commences to surcharge the bridge deck, TUFLOW tests for pressure flow or drowned flow every timestep by choosing the flow regime that gives the lower flow. For drowned bridge flow the 1d_nwk WConF_or_WEx attribute (default = 0.5) can be used to set the energy loss due to the bridge deck/rails if no LC (energy loss versus height) table is specified. When pressure flow occurs a flow regime of "P" is reported in the _TSF layer. For more information on theory and options for B and BB bridges see Section 5.7.2 in the TUFLOW Manual.

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Irregular shaped bridges

In the UK arch shaped bridges can often be seen on waterways, whereas in Australia these types of structures are quite uncommon. Modelling an irregular shaped bridge utilises the hydraulic properties elevation-width (CS/HW) type cross section and an irregular type culvert.


Methodology

1. Create a 1d_tab HW (height vs width) .csv file for each standard shape (ie. set up a database of the irregular shapes). For the height value you can start at a value of zero so that height becomes depth (this might making the .csv files easier). As the height increases the width changes to reflect the particular irregular shape you are modeling. In the example below, the width at the top of the arch (2.1m) is set to a small value of 0.001m as opposed to zero as the HW becomes NA past the top of the irregular shape.


GIS example set up:

2. Any number of 1d_tab lines can reference the same .csv file, ie. you don't need to have a unique .csv file for every 1d_tab line.

3. One option is to copy and paste the 1d_tab lines across each pipe (if you use a two vertex 1d_tab line there is no requirement that the 1d_tab line is snapped to the 1d_nwk pipe line - they just need to intersect). Each line will need to reference the relevant standard irregular shape HW .csv file (this could be automated using SQL Select if you have an attribute on the pipe to indicate which irregular shape it is).
4. The inverts of the pipes should raise or lower the standard irregular shape cross-section to the appropriate height.




Real world examples


London, UK (pht: Rohan King)


Useful Forum Posts

Setting up an irregular 1D culvert.

Typical check files used

The table below highlights some of the commonly used check files when reviewing 1D bridges. The full list of TUFLOW check files can be found here.

Filename prefix / suffix
_1d_bc_tables_check.csv
_1d_ta_tables_check.csv
_hydroprop_check.mif _hydroprop_check_L.shp
_inverts_check.mif _inverts_check_P.shp
_iwl_check.mif _iwl_check_P.shp
_nwk_C_check.mif _nwk_C_check_L.shp
_nwk_N_check.mif _nwk_N_check_P.shp
_xsl_check.mif _xsl_check_L.shp

















Any further questions please email TUFLOW support: support@tuflow.com

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