SMS:SRH-2D Channel Calculator

The Channel Calculator dialog is used to generate an estimated water surface elevation on an "Exit-H" boundary condition. The tool is used to compute and assign a normal or critical water surface elevation for the outflow boundary condition. A composite roughness value, slope, and flow are specified when using this tool. SMS extracts a ground elevation cross section from a specified underlying elevation data source (mesh) that is used to compute the area and wetted perimeter.

When using this option, the tool will snap the arc to the mesh and apply in the same manner that the boundary condition will apply in SRH-2D.

Note that the units selected in the SRH-2D Assign BC dialog will affect the units displayed and used in the Channel Calculator dialog. Select the same unit system as the selected dataset.

Channel Calculator for Populating a Constant WSE

SRH-2D Channel Calculator dialog for a constant

This dialog is reached through the Populate Using Channel Calculator button in the SRH-2D Assign BC dialog when the "Exit-H (subcritical outflow)" option is selected and the Water Elevation (WSE) is set to "Constant". The dialog is used to generate a best estimate water surface elevation constant value.

• Type – Select either a normal or critical depth.
  • "Normal depth" – Depth of water under conditions of steady, uniform flow.
  • "Critical depth" – Depth of flow where energy is at a minimum discharge.
• Ground Elevation Dataset – Brings up a Select Tree Item dialog were an elevation dataset can be selected as wel as any time steps in the dataset can be chosen. Note that the unit system selected on the SRH-2D Assign BC dialog need to match the units of the selected dataset.
• Units – Can select either "U.S. Units" or "SI Units (Metric)".
• Composite Mannings N – Enter a roughness value.
• Slope – Water surface slope. Available only for "Normal depth".
• Flow – Enter a constant flow value.
• Freebouard (optional) –
• Messages and Warnings – Displays any messages or warnings. Typically, this will display missing input that needs to be completed.
• Plot – Generates a plot of the WSE flow after the required values have been entered.
• Results – Displays the final calculated water-surface elevation based on the entered flow.

Populate for Rating Curve

SRH-2D Channel Calculator dialog for a rating curve

This dialog is reached through the Populate Using Channel Calculator button in the SRH-2D Assign BC dialog when the "Exit-H (subcritical outflow)" option is selected and the Water Elevation (WSE) is set to "Rating Curve". The dialog will generate a best estimate of the rating curve variables. The variables will be automatically entered for the rating curve in the XY Series Editor when exiting this dialog.

• Type – Select either a normal or critical depth rating curve.
  • "Normal depth rating curve" – Depth of water under conditions of steady, uniform flow.
  • "Critical depth rating curve" – Depth of flow where energy is at a minimum discharge.
• Ground Elevation Dataset – Brings up a Select Tree Item dialog were an elevation dataset can be selected as wel as any time steps in the dataset can be chosen. Note that the unit system selected on the SRH-2D Assign BC dialog need to match the units of the selected dataset.
• Units – Can select either "U.S. Units" or "SI Units (Metric)".
• Composite Mannings N – Enter a roughness value.
• Slope – Water surface slope. Available only for "Normal depth rating curve".
• Populate Flows – Generate the flow values by entering the following values and clicking the Add button.
  • Min – Minimum flow value.
  • Max – Maximum flow value.
  • Delta – Percentage difference.
  • Add – Generates the flow rating curve based on the Populate Flow inputs. The values are shown in the Flow (Q) table.
• Flow (Q) – Table that shows the populated flow values that will be used in the rating curve. Values in the table can be manually edited. New values can be added using the button and deleted using the button.
• Plot – Generates a plot of the WSE flow.

Related Topics

• SRH-2D Boundary Conditions
• SRH-2D Boundary Conditions Coverage