Interactive engineering model
Compound channel rising-stage explorer
Raise water from the main channel onto two floodplains and compare subsection conveyance and velocity.
Preparing the 3D model...
A cutaway compound valley carries one water surface divided at the vertical interfaces into a main channel and two floodplains, each shaded by its own velocity. Floodplain width and bank geometry reshape the ground, and each subsection roughness slider changes the bed stone or overbank vegetation it stands for. Geometry controls are pedagogical because the calculator accepts measured subsection properties rather than reconstructable bank geometry.
Focus the 3D view and use the arrow keys to orbit, plus or minus to zoom, and Home to reset the view.
Text explanation and non-WebGL fallback
A cutaway compound valley carries one water surface divided at the vertical interfaces into a main channel and two floodplains, each shaded by its own velocity. Floodplain width and bank geometry reshape the ground, and each subsection roughness slider changes the bed stone or overbank vegetation it stands for. Geometry controls are pedagogical because the calculator accepts measured subsection properties rather than reconstructable bank geometry.
Important: Pedagogical geometry controls — verify the divided-channel inputs from surveyed subsection area and wetted perimeter.
The numeric controls and readouts remain usable if WebGL is unavailable. Drag or swipe the 3D view to orbit and use a wheel or pinch gesture to zoom. With the 3D view focused, use the arrow keys to orbit, plus or minus to zoom, and Home to reset. The complete numeric lesson is also keyboard-accessible in the adjacent controls and readouts. This model is an educational aid and does not replace applicable design standards or professional review.