Surface Water Hydraulics
Surface water hydraulics covers the characterisation of open channel or pressure flow, including the depth, velocity, flood hazard, and capacity of flowing water to move sediment
Our training options and resources cover the first principles of fluid mechanics and applications for flood modelling and computational fluid dynamics
Training Options
On-demand training: principles
Our Hydrology and Hydraulics Essentials training series includes four fundamental courses covering open channel flow, hydraulic structures, scour, and sedimentation with worked examples and supporting materials. The four hydraulics courses build on our four surface water hydrology courses. Register any time and complete at your own pace. Content and pricing details are available at the registration links below:
Hydrostatics and Open Channel Flow
1D, 2D, and 3D Flow
Hydraulic Structures
Flood Hazard and Scour
- Hydrostatic pressure
- Potential and kinetic energy
- Steady and unsteady flow
- Conservation of momentum
- Subcritical and supercritical
- and more
- Mannings equation
- Saint Venant equations
- Modelling limitations
- Boundary conditions
- Flow transitions
- and more
- Reynolds Number
- Moody diagrams
- Pipe networks
- Bridge and culvert hydraulics
- Pumps and turbines
- and more
- Probability distributions
- Histograms
- Plotting position
- Flood frequency analyses
- Regional regression equations
- and more
Use coupon code “hydroschool-10” at checkout to receive a 10% discount on all on-demand training courses
On-demand online course:
Developing rating curves from measurements and models
Join us for a 3-part on-demand online rating curves course. Investigate standard and emerging techniques for optimising gauge locations, collecting valid stream gauge data in the field, and applying 1D, 2D, and 3D modelling techniques to develop, refine, and calibrate rating curves.
Take a deep dive into the “black box” of what’s behind a rating curve. Step through worked examples from scratch, take virtual field trips to existing and prospective gauging sites, and work out confidence bands for compiled stage vs. discharge data from measurements and models.
Part 1: Measurements
- Introduction to stream gauges
- Virtual site visit to gauge installation sites
- Selecting optimal gauging locations for rating curve development
- New technology for flow measurements
- Installation techniques and selection criteria to minimise equipment malfunction
- Analysing measurements for errors
Part 2: Models
- Differences between rating curves in steady flow and unsteady flow models
- Looping or hysteresis: storage and backwater
- Differences between rating curves in 1D, 2D, and 3D models
- Worked example: extract flow and elevation results
- Worked example: develop your own rating curves
- Using model results to optimise gauging locations
Part 3: Calibration and Validation
- Interpreting rating curves that have been developed from flow measurements
- Interpreting rating curves that have been extracted from model results
- Setting up sensitivity runs to estimate confidence levels for rating curve data
- Calibrating hydraulic models to measured gauging station observations
- Using hydraulic models to interpolate and extrapolate rating curve data from measured calibration points
Use coupon code “hydroschool-10” at checkout to receive a 10% discount on all on-demand training courses
On-demand training: Applications
On-demand training is available for a range of surface water hydraulic modelling software. Sign up any time and complete at your own pace.
HEC-RAS is a free hydraulic modelling program that computes 1D and 2D flow. Our HEC-RAS training series provides the theoretical background and practical applications for setting up flood models from scratch. Workshop material is provided. Content and pricing details are available through the registration links below.
Create a HEC-RAS flood model from scratch
Add bridges, culverts, and dams to a HEC-RAS flood model
Run dam breach scenarios in HEC-RAS with Monte Carlo analyses
Create mobile boundary HEC-RAS models with debris flow
Our 8-part HEC-RAS Master Class builds on our HEC-RAS Essentials course with additional skills, including terrain modification, sensitivity analyses, export options, troubleshooting, and more.
Use coupon code “hydroschool-10” at checkout to receive a 10% discount on all on-demand training courses
Additional on-demand training for hydraulic modelling.
Use coupon code “hydroschool-10” at checkout to receive a 10% discount on all on-demand training courses
In-person training courses
Contact us to enquire about any upcoming in-person training courses in your city.
View details on our upcoming live course being held in conjunction with the 2024 FMA conference in Brisbane:
Custom training
Don’t see your city? Can’t make the date? Suggest a course in your area by submitting the EOI form, and we’ll try our best to make it happen!
Our teaching partners can customise an in-house course to be delivered in your offices. Our instructors cover any 1D, 2D, or 3D hydraulic modelling software.
We can provide a customised online training program suited to your organisation’s project needs and technical backgrounds. Training can be arranged for individuals or groups.
Free Resources
Webinars
Featured surface water hydraulics webinars:
Tutorials
Featured tutorials for surface water hydraulics:
Our teaching partner, Dr. Hubert Chanson, has prepared a series of free tutorial videos covering fluid mechanics and hydraulic structures. View the video series below or register for our on-demand courses with workshop materials, exercises, and solutions prepared by Dr. Hendriks.
Articles
Featured surface water hydraulics articles:
Thursday, 7 August, 2022
Friday, 31 August, 2022
Tuesday, 5 July, 2022
Monday, 12 Sep, 2021
Wednesday, 15 Apr, 2020
Tuesday, 16 Dec, 2017
Featured surface water hydraulics journals:
Forums
Selected online forums for surface water modellers
- Hydraulic/Hydrologic Modelers Forum: Online forum for water modellers
- The RAS Solution Forum: Interact with other HEC-RAS users with questions, tips, tricks, and bug fixes
- HEC-RAS LinkedIn: Online group for HEC-RAS users
- HEC-RAS Facebook: Online group for HEC-RAS users
- TUFLOW FV Wiki: Online resources for TUFLOW FV
- Dam Breach Assessment LinkedIn: Online group for dam breach modellers
- Sediment Transport LinkedIn: Online group for sediment transport modeller
Selected user conferences and industry forums for surface water hydraulics
- International Riversymposium, Vienna, Austria, November 2022
- Hydrology and Water Resources Symposium, Brisbane, Australia, December 2022
- Floodplain Management Australia, Sydney, Australia, May 2023
- ICMW 2023, International Conference on Mine and Water, Los Angeles, USA, October 2023
Selected industry journals for surface water hydraulics