Date of Award
5-2009
Degree Type
Thesis
Degree Name
M.S.
Degree Program
Engineering
Department
Civil and Environmental Engineering
Major Professor
McCorquodale, J. Alex
Second Advisor
Georgiou, Ioannis
Third Advisor
Barbe, Donald
Fourth Advisor
Cothren, Gianna
Abstract
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.
Recommended Citation
Ischen, Marc, "Using Two-Dimensional Numerical Models to Analyze Hydraulic Effects of Constricted Flows through the Rigolets Pass between Lake Pontchartrain and Lake Borgne" (2009). University of New Orleans Theses and Dissertations. 922.
https://scholarworks.uno.edu/td/922
Rights
The University of New Orleans and its agents retain the non-exclusive license to archive and make accessible this dissertation or thesis in whole or in part in all forms of media, now or hereafter known. The author retains all other ownership rights to the copyright of the thesis or dissertation.