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Laboratory Facilities

Flood Plain Simulation Facility

The Flood Plain Simulation Facility is used to research the factors affecting the mechanics of flow in a channel of water, such as:

• The mechanics of flow over the flood plain to provide data on the natural undeveloped condition,
• the effect of unsteady flows on the space-time distribution of water on the flood plain,
• the effect of encroachments on the passage of water, and
• the transport of waterborne materials.

The flow of water in a channel is determined by a variety of interrelated factors such as the width, depth, channel slope, type of roughness elements, channel meanders, channel braiding, and groundwater inflow or outflow.

The Flood Plain Facility can also be used in the testing and evaluation of stream gaging equipment and methodologies.

The test facility is comprised of a simulated flood plain with a low-water channel. The flood plain is 300 ft wide, 3 ft deep, and approximately 4500 ft long. The low-water channel is trapezoidal; 10 ft wide at the bottom, 1 ft deep with 2:1 side slopes, and about 4500 ft long.

Pumping capacity is available to deliver 225-cfs in three 75-cfs steps to the head box of the Flood Plain Simulation Facility. The total discharge can be bypassed through two 36-in. lines. A gate valve with programmable operator is provided to divert portions of the total flow in a known time sequence. The total outflow from the facility can be measured with a 25-ft Parshall flume or a weir plate installed on the end of the sill in the tail box. A head box is provided to distribute the flow from the pumps to the test channel. A series of hand-operated gates allows the experimenters to vary the flow distribution.

For additional information contact Kirk Thibodeaux (228-688-1508).