Goshen Irrigation District (GID) and Gering-Fort Laramie Irrigation District (GFLID) are stakeholders in the Fort Laramie Canal, part of the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation's North Platte Project. GID manages 85.3 miles of the Fort Laramie Canal. In July 2019, Canal Tunnel No. 2 collapsed, disrupting water deliveries for 44 days. This led to an evaluation of permanent solutions for Tunnel No. 1 and No. 2, and adjacent project siphons (Laramie River and Deer Creek) to determine a preferred solution. In industry, one-dimensional tools offer basic insights into water flow structures, while Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) is crucial for a detailed understanding. CFD provides three-dimensional velocity profiles, revealing complex flow patterns, recirculation zones, and turbulence. This abstract highlights CFD's importance in designing Fort-Laramie Tunnel No. 1 and 2 and assessing Laramie-River and Deer-Creek siphons under maximum discharge conditions. The primary objective was assessing hydraulic conditions at tunnel entrances and exits using CFD. CFD resulted in total hydraulic-head and maximum velocities in three dimensions and at various cross-sections, guiding design decisions for erosion control and structural adjustments, enhancing hydraulic integrity, resilience, and long-term sustainability. Furthermore, Laramie River and Deer Creek siphon capacities were assessed under maximum flow rates. CFD represented detailed flow behavior, considering pressure, velocity, and turbulence. This analysis confirmed their ability to handle design flow and suggested modifications to better meet project requirements. Hence, CFD analysis offered a comprehensive understanding of hydraulic performance, verifying suitability for project requirements, and improving the tunnel and siphon function during maximum flow rate conditions.
