Hi there, I'm currently having my thesis at this stage and my research is about evaluating detention basins in terms of reducing peak discharge by utilizing hec-hms, and then for the validation, I'll be using hec-ras for it. Would it work ? The parameters and data needed are still to be determined but again I'm still working things out
In my experience, I use hec-ras to simulate discharge with a certain return period on a river body or channel. So the data I need is the measurement data of crossing channels or rivers with a distance of 50 meters, then run with a certain return period discharge.
It would absolutely work, Arnold! HEC-HMS is perfect for evaluating the effectiveness of detention basins. Chapter 11 of their technical reference manual (Hydrologic Engineering Center, 2022) goes in detail about how you can use reservoirs to model the detention and attenuation of hydrograph caused by a detention pond. Notable exceptions are if the outflow is controlled by a backwater effect or if the reservoir is gated.
You could use HEC-RAS to model the water levels (steady flow modeling) and/or dynamics (unsteady flow modeling) of the reservoir. If you need any guidance, refer to the HEC-RAS user's manual (Brunner, 2022) parts on storage areas, as well as the HEC-RAS hydraulic reference guide (Brunner, 2022) on modeling spillways. You might also find the overflow gates example useful, as contained in the HEC-RAS application's guide (Brunner et al., 2021).
In both cases, you would need good data, as you mentioned – make sure you get good quality topographic bathymetric surveys and a reliable storage-outflow relationship. Precipitation data would also be necessary for input in the meteorologic setup of your reservoir model. If you need theoretical help with the basics, refer to the lumped flow routing chapter on our Hydrology bible (Chow; Maidment; Mays, 1988). Good luck!
References (in Elsevier Harvard style format):
Brunner, G.W., Warner, J.C., Wolfe, B.C., Piper, S.S., Marston, L., 2021. HEC-RAS applications guide (Computer program documentation No. CPD-70). U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Davis.
Brunner, G., 2021. HEC-RAS hydraulic reference manual (Computer program documentation No. CPD-69). U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Davis.
Brunner, G., 2021. HEC-RAS user’s manual (Computer program documentation No. CPD-68). U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Davis.
Chow, V.T., Maidment, D.R., Mays, L.W., 1988. Applied Hydrology, McGraw-Hill series in water resources and environmental engineering. McGraw-Hill, New York.
Hydrologic Engineering Center, 2022. HEC-HMS technical reference guide (Computer program documentation No. CPD-74B). U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Davis.
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