Comparative Hydrodynamic Analysis by Using Two−Dimensional Models and Application to a New Bridge

Abstract

This document develops a methodology that evaluates the impact on the environment of the rivers produced by the creation of civil infrastructures. The methodology is based on the two-dimensional hydrodynamic calculation by using shallow water equations both in the conditions prior to the creation of the infrastructure, and in the new conditions after the infrastructure is created. Subsequently, several characteristics, such as water depth and velocity, among others, are compared between the initial and final conditions, and a two-dimensional zoning of the changes observed is obtained. The methodology herein presented is useful to verify the impact that the implantation of different infrastructures around the river currents could produce. In addition, it is also relevant for carrying out a study taking into account different infrastructure options related to river currents, as well as for selecting the most suitable one. By using the methodology presented, changes on the regime of the currents caused by the infrastructures can be deduced, including a qualitative and quantitative zoning of the changes, with a special emphasis on some characteristics, such as depth and velocity. The methodology is applied in a case study for the creation of a road bridge over the Jalon River in Spain.

Hydraulic Modeling of Bridges in Two-Dimensional Shallow Water Models

“…The capabilities of current 2D river flow models avoid the need of including empirical contraction and expansion coefficients, since the 2D flow patterns generated by the bridge opening and piers can be directly resolved by the model (Costabile et al, 2014Mateo-Lázaro et al, 2020). Thus, the main problem when including bridges in a 2D model is how to include the effect of the deck on the flow.…”