Author(s): Silver Yance; Nilantha Karunarathna; Giorgis Hadzilacos

Linked Author(s): Nilantha Karunarathna

Keywords: Bridge analysis; 1D/2D hydrodynamic modelling; Floodplain

Abstract: To meet the expansion in capacity at Abbot Point Coal Terminal, CoalConnect (an alliance comprising GHD, KBR, Leighton Contractors and QR Network) is working with Queensland Rail (QR) to increase railway capacity between Goonyella and Abbot Point. The Northern Missing Link (NML), a 69km-long new railway between the Goonyella and Newlands rail systems, will include about 70 culverts and 11 bridges. Two major creeks along the NML are Suttor Creek and Middle Creek. Owing to limited survey data originally, a RAFTS rainfall-runoff model and a steady state 1D HECRAS model were applied. However, complexities in the floodplain led to additional data collection and the development of a 1D/2D fully hydrodynamic model using SOBEK. The increased understanding provided by the 2D model allowed for significant savings on bridge design. This paper provides an overview of the hydrologic and hydraulic investigations undertaken for the NML, details the flood investigations for Suttor and Middle creeks, and compares the 1D and 2D modelling approaches used.

DOI:

Year: 2011