Defining WSPRO Parameters for HEC-RAS Bridge Modeling

In GeoHECRAS, the WSPRO Parameters data panel of the Bridge & Culvert Data dialog box allows the user to compute the water surface profile through a bridge by solving the energy equation. This article describes how to use the WSPRO Parameters data panel.

Follow the steps below to use the WSPRO Parameters data panel:

1. Select the WSPRO Parameters option from the Roadway Crossing Specifications dropdown combo box of the Bridge & Culvert Data dialog box.
   
2. The WSPRO Parameters data panel will be displayed.
   

The following sections describe how to interact with the WSPRO Parameters data panel of the Bridge & Culvert Data dialog box.

Select Bridge Opening (Multiple Opening Roadway Crossing Only)

In this section, the user can select the bridge opening type from the Select bridge opening dropdown combo box.

Embankment & Abutment Data

In this section, the user can define the embankment and abutment data of the selected bridge opening. The user can select the type of abutment from the Abutment type dropdown combo box. The Abutment type dropdown combo box lists the following abutment types.

For Embankment top elevation and Abutment toe elevation entries, the user can click on the […] pick buttons to define the left and right elevations of the bridge opening. The Abutment Slope (V:H) field is used for entering the slope of the abutments. This slope is taken as the horizontal distance divided by the vertical distance.

By clicking on the […] pick button next to the Embankment top width entry, the user can enter the width of the top of the road embankment in the area of the bridge opening.

The Projected opening centroid station at approach XS allows the user to enter their own centroid stationing value for the approach cross section.

Wing Wall Data

In this section, the user can define the various data of the wing wall, such as wing wall type, angle, length, and wing wall entrance rounding radius. The user can select the type of wing wall from the Wing wall type dropdown combo box. The Wing wall type dropdown combo box lists the following wall types.

On selecting the Angular Wing Walls type, the software enables the Wing wall angle and Wing wall length fields, as shown below. Clicking on the […] pick button allows the user to define the wall angle and wall length from the map view.

On selecting the Rounded Wing Walls type, the software enables the Wing wall length and Wing wall entrance rounding radius fields, as shown below. Clicking on the […] pick button allows the user to define the wall length and wall entrance rounding radius from the map view.

Guide Bank Data

In this section, the user can define the various guide bank data, such as guide bank type, skew angle, length, and offset value. The user can select the type of guide bank from the Guide bank type dropdown combo box. The Guide bank type dropdown combo box lists the following bank types.

On selecting the Straight Guide Banks type, the software enables the Guide bank length and Guide bank offset fields, as shown below. Clicking on the […] pick button allows the user to define the bank length and offset value from the map view.

On selecting the Elliptical Guide Banks type, the software enables the Guide bank skew angle and Guide bank length, as shown below. Clicking on the […] pick button allows the user to define the bank skew angle and bank length from the map view.

Contraction & Expansion Losses (Optional)

This is an optional section and allows the user to turn on contraction and expansion losses at locations that are traditionally not included in the WSPRO methodology.

The user can turn on contraction and expansion losses individually at the following locations: approach cross section, guide bank (if guide banks exist), upstream outside of the bridge, bridge upstream internal cross section, and bridge downstream internal cross section.

Other Options

In this section, the user has options to define whether piers are continuous through the bridge openings and use the geometric mean friction slope averaging technique through the bridge computations (from the exit to the approach section). By default, the Piers are continuous through the bridge opening and Use Geometric Mean friction slope method checkboxes are checked.