Browsing by Author "Hernick, Matthew"

Now showing 1 - 5 of 5
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    Design Considerations for Embankment Protection During Road Overtopping Events
    (Minnesota Department of Transportation, 2017-06) Marr, Jeffrey D.G.; Hernick, Matthew; Gabrielson, Robert; Mielke, Sara
    This report describes the research conducted by the University of Minnesota and project partners on roadway embankment overtopping by flood water. Roadway overtopping is a major safety concern for Minnesota transportation managers because of the potential for rapid soil erosion and mass wasting resulting in partial or complete failure of the roadway embankment. This multi-year research study focused on various aspects of the roadway embankment overtopping. A robust literature survey was performed to identify research, reports and other published knowledge that would inform the project. A field- based research campaign was developed with the goal of collecting data on the hydraulics associated with full-scale overtopping events. Finally, a series of laboratory experiments were conducted at the St. Anthony Falls Laboratory, University of Minnesota to study the hydraulic and erosional processes associated with embankment overtopping and in particular study of three slope protection techniques under overtopping flow. The largest component of the research project was the laboratory hydraulic testing, which focused on bare soil (base case) and three slope protection technologies. A full- scale laboratory facility was constructed to carry out the testing. Three erosion protection techniques were examined including 1) armored sod, 2) turf reinforcement mat, and 3) flexible concrete geogrid mat. Overtopping depths of up to 1-ft were used to determine the failure point of the protection technique and soil on both the 4h:1V and 6V:1H slopes. The full project report details the testing of each protection technique as well as observations and findings made during the testing.
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    An Experimental and Numerical Study of Long-throated Flumes
    (2020-11) Herb, William; Hernick, Matthew
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    Minnesota Guide for Stream Connectivity and Aquatic Organism Passage through Culverts
    (Minnesota Department of Transportation, 2019-01) Hernick, Matthew; Lenhart, Christian; Kozarek, Jessica; Nieber, John
    This guide assists Minnesota culvert designers in identifying, selecting, and implementing appropriate designs for maintaining aquatic organism passage (AOP) and stream connectivity at road-stream intersections. It was synthesized from existing literature and culvert design documents, a survey of Minnesota practitioners, research, and input from local, regional, and national experts. Culvert designs that create excessive velocity, physical barriers, or shallow depth can disrupt AOP and may be detrimental to the continuity of water flow, sediment, and debris transport vital to stream health. Conversely, the recommended culvert designs in this guide account for stream parameters such as slope and substrate that vary across Minnesota landscapes. A set of best practices captures critical design elements based on stream characteristics, which can be summarized as follows: 1.) Design the culvert to be similar to the stream channel (reference reach) by matching its slope, alignment, bankfull width, and flow depth to maximize AOP; 2.) Provide a continuous sediment bed with roughness similar to the channel, while maintaining continuity of sediment transport and debris passage, and; 3.) Design for public safety, longevity, and resilience. Culvert design that improves AOP and accounts for sediment transport is expected to reduce long-term maintenance costs and increase culvert life span.
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    Thinking Inside the Box (Culvert): Developing a Low-Cost, Easy-to-Install Retrofit Prototype for Fish Passage
    (Center for Transportation Studies, University of Minnesota, 2024-05) Kozarek, Jessica; Hernick, Matthew
    This project addresses a need to develop a low-cost, easy-to-install, and safe culvert retrofit for fish passage. Culverts can create barriers to fish movement due to fast-flowing water with no resting areas, shallow flow, and/or lack of cover. While new culvert design guidance addresses these concerns, many existing culverts have known fish passage issues that are not slated for replacement. We previously investigated a potential solution, using mussel spat rope, a fibrous plastic rope that has been demonstrated to facilitate fish passage in New Zealand. This design showed promise in laboratory, fish, and field trials. However, despite interest, concerns over the release of plastic into the environment have inhibited its use. Therefore, we leveraged this experience to investigate new solutions with benefits similar to the installation of mussel spat rope (i.e., low-flow resting areas, cover, and minimal impact to culvert capacity) but that are made with bio-based sustainable materials. The goals of this project were to 1) identify appropriate materials and 2) design and test protypes in flume experiments. We have several viable prototype designs ready for field-scale testing and/or deployment made with a range of non-plastic materials.
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    Use of Mussel Spat Rope for Fish Passage in Culverts
    (Minnesota Department of Transportation, 2018-03) Kozarek, Jessica; Hernick, Matthew
    Culverts can act as barriers to fish and aquatic organism passage by a number of mechanisms including insufficient water depth or excess velocity, perched culvert outlets, excess turbulence or behavioral barriers. In Minnesota, maintaining unimpeded fish passage is a concern due to our high-quality fisheries; however, much of the fish passage research in the United States has been conducted on the coasts with anadromous species. Many different methods have been used in Minnesota and nationally to facilitate passage including retrofitting existing culverts. In larger culverts, methods such as baffles or weirs have been installed to create resting areas for fish in culverts with high velocities, but these can be costly, difficult to install in tight culverts, can create maintenance issues, and may only be applicable to larger fish species. Recent research from New Zealand demonstrated the effectiveness of mussel spat rope in facilitating fish passage in steep, perched, or high-velocity culverts. The installation of these ropes in Minnesota box culverts was investigated as a low-cost, low-maintenance method to facilitate fish passage, specifically focusing on 1) the hydrodynamic performance of the ropes, 2) the use of these ropes by Minnesota fish species, and 3) evaluation of field installations in typical box culverts. This project used a combination of physical laboratory measurements on rope hydrodynamics, fish laboratory experiments on use of ropes, and two field demonstration sites. Ropes created low-velocity areas and cover that were utilized by small fish to navigate shallow flows over smooth boundaries.