Scaled Physical Modeling of Inundated Roadways

This research proposal focuses on the scaled physical modeling of inundated roadways using dimensional analysis techniques. The project aims to design a 3D printed physical model of a floodway at Causeway Bargara QLD 4670 and analyze open channel flow. The proposal includes the objective, introduction, background, importance of flood control, project rational, description and scope, equipment and tools, inclusions, exclusions, assumptions, and conclusions.

Scaled Physical Modeling of Inundated Roadways 1
Research Proposal for Masters of Engineering (Civil)
On
Scaled Physical Modeling of Inundated Roadways
By Student’s Name
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Scaled Physical Modeling of Inundated Roadways 2
Scaled Physical Modeling of Inundated Roadways
Objective
The overall objective of this project is to use the dimensional analysis techniques to design a
scaled physical model of a floodway that can be 3D printed and inserted into the flow channel at
the Causeway Bargara QLD 4670 (Hanslow 2018).
Introduction and Background
History of Causeway Bargara
It is a coastal town situated 13km in the north-east side of the Bundaberg. It is known to be the
largest coastal town within the region and Bargara forms the mouth of the makeable Burnet
River. Moreover, Bargara town formed the administrative seat and center of operation for the
former Burnett Shire management. Previously, the area was termed as sandhills and this was
due to the existence of the overall unstable sand formation in its coastal shores. This
happened in the decades of 1880s and formed the basis of land development in the area.
Li et al. (2018) noted that early land purchasers in the area found traces of sand drifts which
backed up in the houses incorporated with some marum planted grass back in the 1920s.
However, the existing land behind the parametric sandhills mainly denoted to in complete
contrast. Thus, the area under appraisal mainly summarized indicated in the diagram below

Scaled Physical Modeling of Inundated Roadways 3
Figure showing the Causeway Bargara QLD 4670 area (Davies 2014)
Importance of Flood Control
Infrastructure networks in most are considered as the essential and fundamental cities
backbone. Effective measures of ensuring that there is proper resilience of the infrastructure
network are the vital and key aspect which the government and the local authorities are currently
working on. This is important since the norm will not only help in improving the economic
viability of the city but also will ensure that the city is livable. According to Rodrigues and
Notteboom (2013) transport network in the city is essentially important and it helps in supporting
both the community wealth and the safety of people living in the area. In line with global
context, the transport network assists in increasing the overall reliant off people, information as
well as the goods movement (Li et al. 2018 p.126).
However, the unpredictable changes in the climatic conditions and daily prevalent pose
imminent challenges to the transport network within the city. In addition, increased
interdependence as well as rapid urbanization continues to impact heavily on the overall built
environment, assets alongside assets by compiling pressure on the parameters. Concurrently, the

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particularly evident is manifested in the makeable urban are whenever the transport system have
been subjected and affected by the imminent weather-related hazards such as floods. This
analysis mainly depicted as shown in the diagram below
Figure showing the portion of flooded Causeway Bargara QLD 4670 (Segovia 2018 p. 75)
Project Rational
Carrying out this project is not only important but also viable based on the area location and the
prevailing climatic conditions.as depicted in this background information. Flooding affects the
major roads in the area and thus, interferes with not only the human safety but also impacts
heavily on the economic viability of the city.
Description and Scope
Open Channel Flow
For an open channel with a uniform depth flow, the depth of the overall flow is taken to be
constant and thus, denoted by . This analysis is treated as a parametric uniform depth.
In most instances, the overall uniform flow at the depth is often accomplished by carrying out
adjustments in the bottom slope in order to ensure that bottom slope have a precise and equal
magnitude as the energy line. In essence, the physical losses and those of potential energy

Scaled Physical Modeling of Inundated Roadways 5
depicted as the fluid flows considered to be the same and balanced with those dissipated by
energy as a result of the viscous effects (El-Ghorab 2013 p.175). Consider the figure below with
a makeable open channel flow and taken into consideration that the cross-section is constant in
line with the size and the shape. Given that the wetted perimeter is denoted by p while the
cross-sectional area is given as A, then the change and the resultant new parameters may be
given and defined as the overall hydraulic radius. This is illustrated in the equation below
(Segovia 2018 p. 75).
………………………………………. (1)
Also, the figures depicting the analysis mainly represented using the below diagrams as shown
Figure showing the hydraulic radius concept (Song 2018)
Conversely, the fluid tries to adhere to the overall surface of the solid and thus, the actual
velocity dissipated is non-uniform. Moreover, the maximum velocity is often recorded on the
free surface and thus, tends to change zero in a situation in which the wetted perimeter is
anticipated in terms of wall shear stress. However, the wall shear stress is denoted as .
Manning and Chezy Equations
There are fundamental relations and principles often used in determining the overall rate of
uniform flow in a system. This relation is grounded on the semi empirical. Furthermore, the
semi empirical analogies are governed by both the manning and the Chezy equations.
Considering the control volume flow having a makeable volume flow rate Q, and its weight
marked W, as indicated in the figure below. Thus, the depth of the flow is depicted to be uniform
and this can be referenced using the continuity equation . Thus, the overall x- momentum
equations for the control volume often computed using the expression below

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Thus, figure illustrates the overall fluid flow in the control volume in line with the open channel.
Figure showing the control fluid flow in open channel and control volume (Ritz, Dähnke and
Fischer 2018)
Since, the flow is often uniform, then the hydrostatic pressure in line with the pressure forces
at both ends of the makeable control volume is denoted as . Thus, the analysis mainly
expressed as follows
In the equation above, refers to the specific weight whereas .
However, the flow in the open channel in most cases is known to be turbulent however; in rare
situations laminar is encountered. Conversely, the Reynolds numbers is anticipated to be large
and thus, the flows dissipated in line with the wall shear stress is established to be
proportional to the overall dynamic pressure. This can be expressed as
In this case, K is demarcated to be the constant and its value depends highly on the pipe
roughness (Salinas 2018 p.173).
Thus, equating the preceding equations above one obtains

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The above equation is denoted as defined as the Chezy equation and in the equation C is
demarcated as the Chezy coefficient. Furthermore, the coefficient can also be determined
empirically and in such scenarios it is denoted as
.
Dimensional Analysis
According to Goldstein (2017) dimensional analysis forms and parcel of the useful parameters
used in the identification and the overall context of the dimensional consistency in line with the
governing equations in fluid flow. The dimensional consistency is often applied in dealing with
the equations which have dimensions. Thus, the dimension as a tool may be applied and useful
in the following contexts:
 It helps in organizing the data and in giving in-depth understanding of the relationships
which may seems not to be elaborate in the broader perspective.
 Also, the dimensions helps in dealing with the units in ensuring some of the parameters
are eliminated and thus, the resulting output is applicable in terms of the system units
 Also, dimensions helps in computing and developing the calculation context for the
application scale factors in line with the physical models (Yan, Baldassarre, and
Pappenberger 2018 p.79). Notably, in the open channel inundate design, four independent
variables are expected to be considered in the approach. Some of the element and
variables mainly include pipe diameter, fluid density, fluid velocity as well as viscosity.
Thus, the dimensional analysis on the fluid flow at the causeway mainly computed in line
with the expression below
Equipment and Tools
According to Javernick (2018) the techniques and equipment used in this project will be specific
goal oriented and will aim at achieving the objective of the project. Although, this project is
grounded on the physical model of the inundated floodway, it will also take into consideration

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the analysis on the open channel flow. The analysis on the physical model such as the gravels
and the fauna and flora is paramount in this analysis and project design. This will ensure that the
stability and the overall turning and sliding moments of the bridge is maintained and thus,
making the project viable and applicable. Furthermore, considerations and measures pertaing the
open channel system is also incorporated in the analysis and this will ensure that system stability
and suitability is adhered too in the long run. The hydraulic behaviors of the flood flow as a fluid
mainly taken into consideration in line with the evaluation and appraisal of their effects using
various equations (Rolfe, Gregg and Tucker 2011 p.88).
Inclusions
The project will aim at the physical model of the inundated floodway including the
analysis of the physical model that is fauna, flora and the gravels. It will also take into account
the analysis on the open channel flow to ensure that the system suitability and stability is
attained.
Exclusions
The project will only focus on the physical model of the inundated floodway and take
into consideration the analysis on the open channel flow to enable turning and sliding of the
bridge.
Assumptions
Some of the assumptions incorporated in the designing of this project include:
i. Flooding of the causeway is considered to be in open channel and the fluid is flowing
uniformly
ii. That the mainly independent variables to be considered in the modeling include velocity,
density and viscosity of the fluid flow as well as the diameter of the draining pipe.
iii. That the temperature of the fluid is presumably uniform at all times.
Conclusions
In conclusion, it is evidential to note that physical modeling plays an essential role when it
comes to the analysis of the floodways in the roads. The physical models help in establishing the

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hydrostatic pressure and the hydrostatic behaviors which need to be incorporated in the design
analysis. These hydrostatic behaviors must be incorporated in the designing of the causeway for
the flood as this will ensure that there is proper discharge of the excess water and thus, the road
is free from flooding and induction at all times.
References
Davies, H., 2014. A journey through the records: The Queensland heritage register and migrant
places. Queensland History Journal, 22(6), p.458.
El-Ghorab, E.A., 2013. Physical model to investigate the effect of the thermal discharge on the
mixing zone (Case Study: North Giza Power Plant, Egypt). Alexandria Engineering
Journal, 52(2), pp.175-185.
Goldstein, R., 2017. Fluid mechanics measurements. Routledge.
Hanslow, D.J., Morris, B.D., Foulsham, E. and Kinsela, M.A., 2018. A Regional Scale Approach
to Assessing Current and Potential Future Exposure to Tidal Inundation in Different Types of
Estuaries. Scientific reports, 8(1), p.7065.
Javernick, L., Redolfi, M. and Bertoldi, W., 2018. Evaluation of a numerical model's ability to
predict bed load transport observed in braided river experiments. Advances in Water
Resources, 115, pp.207-218.

Scaled Physical Modeling of Inundated Roadways 10
Li, N., Yamazaki, Y., Roeber, V., Cheung, K.F. and Chock, G., 2018. Probabilistic mapping of
storm-induced coastal inundation for climate change adaptation. Coastal Engineering, 133,
pp.126-141.
Ritz, S., Dähnke, K. and Fischer, H., 2018. Open-channel measurement of denitrification in a
large lowland river. Aquatic Sciences, 80(1), p.11.
Rolfe, J., Gregg, D. and Tucker, G., 2011. Valuing local recreation in the Great Barrier Reef,
Australia. Environmental Economics Research Hub, Crawford School of Economics and
Government, Australian National University, Canberra, p.88.
Salinas, J.S., Shringarpure, M., Cantero, M.I. and Balachandar, S., 2018. Mixing at a sediment
concentration interface in turbulent open channel flow. Environmental Fluid Mechanics, 18(1),
pp.173-200.
Segovia, P., Rajaoarisoa, L., Nejjari, F., Puig, V. and Duviella, E., 2018. Modeling of
interconnected flat open-channel flow: application to inland navigation canals. In Advances in
hydroinformatics (pp. 75-90). Springer, Singapore.
Song, D., Song, B., Hu, H., Du, X., Du, P., Choi, C.H. and Rothstein, J.P., 2018. Effect of a
surface tension gradient on the slip flow along a superhydrophobic air-water interface. Physical
Review Fluids, 3(3), p.033303.
Yan, K., Di Baldassarre, G. and Pappenberger, F., 2018. Flood Hazard Mapping in Data‐Scarce
Areas: An Application Example of Regional Versus Physically Based Approaches for Design
Flood Estimation. Global Flood Hazard: Applications in Modeling, Mapping, and Forecasting,
pp.79-86.

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