Using Two-Dimensional Numerical Models to Analyze Hydraulic Effects of Constricted Flows through the Rigolets Pass between Lake Pontchartrain and Lake Borgne

The objective of this study was to determine if numerical models commonly used for large scale applications could also be used to model flow through flood control structures in the Rigolets Pass between Lake Borgne and Lake Pontchartrain. For this purpose a small scale physical model was built. It showed that bi-stable flow can develop downstream of a constriction. Small changes in the distribution of the approaching flow significantly impacted flows downstream of the constriction. This behavior could not be properly reproduced by a small scale 2-dimensional RMA2 model of identical dimensions. A large scale RMA2 model of the Rigolets testing possible locations and geometries of flood control structures showed that this pass is very sensitive to variations in the cross sectional flow area. Even minor reductions can significantly increase headlosses and velocities. To reduce negative impacts a flood control structure should be built in a wide and shallow area of the pass.

Name thesis:degree_name

M.S.

Level thesis:degree_level

Thesis

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Civil and Environmental Engineering

Year

2009

Author dc:creator

• Ischen, Marc

Contributors dc:contributor

• McCorquodale, J. Alex
• Georgiou, Ioannis
• Barbe, Donald

• RMA2
• The Rigolets
• Flood Control Structures
• Hydrodynamic Modeling
• Storm Surge

Repository record dc:identifier

https://scholarworks.uno.edu/td/922

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:scholarworks.uno.edu:td-1903