Hydraulics | CENV2008 | University of Southampton

Module overview

This module continues to develop the fundamental themes on fluid mechanics introduced in the module FEEG1003 “Thermofluids” and applies them to the study of incompressible fluids in adiabatic conditions. It will focus on problems associated with water flowing in closed conduits (e.g. pipes) and open channels (e.g. rivers). The material that will be taught includes a good balance between theoretical principles (i.e. mass, momentum and energy conservation principles) and their application to real problems in hydraulic engineering. In dealing with closed conduit flows students will learn how to use these principles to find ways of delivering a required flow rate to some chosen locations under prescribed conditions. When studying open channel flows, students will learn how to predict water levels for a given channel geometry, bed condition (i.e. bed roughness and slope) and flow rate.

The module represents a pre-requisite to CENV3061, Engineering Hydrology and CENV6155 Hydraulic Engineering and Sediment Transport.

Linked modules

Pre-requisites: FEEG1003 and MATH1054

Aims and Objectives

Learning Outcomes

Transferable and Generic Skills

Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:

Group work/team work
Problem analysis and problem solving
Report writing

Subject Specific Intellectual and Research Skills

Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:

Devise solutions for problems involving open channel and pipe flows
Determine the capacity of pipelines, establish the pressures and the energy gradients along the pipe
Identify and interpret situations in hydraulics in a way that is relevant to design
Analyse and predict the behaviour of sub-critical and supercritical open channel flows
Analyse simple and complex pipeline systems, including pipe networks

Knowledge and Understanding

Having successfully completed this module, you will be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of:

Working principles of pumps commonly used in hydraulic engineering
Different type of flows (i.e. uniform-non uniform, steady-uinsteady, gradually varied-rapidly varied)
Mass, momentum and energy principles governing pipe and open channel flows

Subject Specific Practical Skills

Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:

Carry out and present engineering calculations
Exercise technical judgement and make decisions
Operate systems used in a hydraulics laboratory

Syllabus

OPEN CHANNEL HYDRAULICS

Uniform flow, the Chézy and Manning equations
Applying these equations to determine the discharge in a channel or the sizing of a channel for a particular discharge
Design guidelines including the concept of the best hydraulic section
Non-Uniform Flow including Specific Energy and Critical Depth
Understanding the possible types of flow, Sub-critical and super-critical as well as Critical, Mild and Steep slopes
Flow measurement, Weirs and Flumes
Transitions through Critical Depth, Control Points
The Hydraulic Jump
The Equation of Gradually Varied Flow
Flow Profiles
Profile Evaluation, the Direct Step Method and the Standard Step Method

PIPE FLOW

Equations for pipe discharge: the Darcy-Weisbach and the Colebrook-White equations.
Solving the Colebrook-White equation
Minor head losses
Pipes in Series and in Parallel
Pipe Networks, the Hardy-Cross solution
Unsteady flows in pipes: the water hammer

TURBOMACHINERY

Overview of Turbines
Rotodynamic Pumps, Characteristics
Understanding how the head developed by a pump is used and dissipated
Matching the Pump and the Pipeline

Learning and Teaching

Teaching and learning methods

The module is divided into 12 lectures devoted to pipe flows 4 lectures devoted to turbo-machinery and 20 lectures devoted to open channel flows. Lectures are interspersed with tutorials where you will be supported in learning the pipe network software EPANET, which you will be expected to use for one of the assessments of this module. Some extra tutorials will be also delivered to help you to conduct the laboratory experiments which you are also expected to carry out for another assessment of this module.

Study time
Type	Hours
Practical classes and workshops	6
Completion of assessment task	12
Demonstration	2
Tutorial	2
Lecture	30
Follow-up work	4
Wider reading or practice	6
Preparation for scheduled sessions	6
Revision	82
Total study time	150

Resources & Reading list

General Resources

Lecture notes and module online resources..

Assessment

Summative

This is how we’ll formally assess what you have learned in this module.

Breakdown
Method	Percentage contribution
Final Assessment	50%
Continuous Assessment	50%

Referral

This is how we’ll assess you if you don’t meet the criteria to pass this module.

Breakdown
Method	Percentage contribution
Set Task	100%

Repeat

An internal repeat is where you take all of your modules again, including any you passed. An external repeat is where you only re-take the modules you failed.

Breakdown
Method	Percentage contribution
Set Task	100%

Repeat Information

Repeat type: Internal & External