HYD08004 2019 Hydraulics 401H

Analyse and predict catchment runoff and river design discharges by manipulating hydrographs and the storage equation. 

Define, quantify and formulate the concepts of the groundwater flow. Apply principles to solving problems involving water abstraction and groundwater contamination.

Analyse and interpret flow behaviour in open channels, utilise data to design hydraulic structures and river channels and predict subsequent flow behaviour.

Define, quantify and formulate the concepts of wave theory. Apply principles to solving problems involving wave prediction and behaviour.

Design a system or structure to meet the specific needs resulting from the analyses and interpretation of data.

Derive and apply solutions from a knowledge of hydraulics, sciences engineering science and mathematics.

Display the ability to identify, formulate, analyse and solve engineering type problems.

Recognise and advice on any limitations or shortcomings associated with the interpretations of laboratory and field test data.

Lecture and project.

10% Continuous Assessment

20% Project

70% Exam.

Resubmit Project

Resit exam.

1. Specific Energy, critical velocity, critical depth, critical slopes,  Froude Numer and wave celerity, the hydraulic jump and rapidly varied flow, application of the energy and momentum principle to rapidly varied flow, energy dissipation in Hydraulic Jumps.
2. General equations of gradually varied flow, gradually varied flow surface profile, the direct step method, standard step method.
3. Hydraulic Structures.  Analysis and design of sluice gates, flumes, spillways, stilling basins, lateral discharge structures.
4. The hydrological cycle. Meteorological data. Evaporation. Transpiration. Infiltration. Percolation. Surface runoff. Catchment characteristics. Rainfall/runoff correlation. Flow rating curves. Volume and duration of runoff. Flood Study Update Depth Duration Frequency Model.
5. Hydrograph Analysis. Components of a natural hydrograph. Baseflow. Unit hydrograph. Derivation of the unit hydrograph. The instantaneous unit hydrograph. Synthetic unit hydrographs. Estimation of Flood Frequencies and Flood Hydrographs using the Flood Study Update, Flood Study Report & Flood Estimate Handbook.
6. Flood Routing. The storage equation. Reservoir routing. Impounding reservoir design. Frequency analysis, flood and drought forecasting. Flood protection methods. Catchment Flood Risk Assessment and Management Plans. Flood risk policy and assessment in Ireland.
7. Aquifer types. Porosity. Heads and gradients. Permeability. Storage coefficient Darcy's Law. General equation of flow.
8. Groundwater movement. Heads and gradients. Permeability. Storage coefficient Darcy's Law. General equation of flow. Well/aquifer hydraulics. Steady radial flow. Non-equilibrium state. Pumping tests. Aquifer and well loss coefficients. GSI data base, aquifer mapping and definition in Ireland.
9. Coastal Engineering; Wave motion, wave energy and wave power, refraction, shoaling, breaking and sea bed friction, standing waves, wave diffraction, the surf zone, wave prediction.
10. Coastal Structures; sediment transport, sea defence/ coastal protection, seawalls, groynes and beach replenishment, artificial headlands, permeable breakwaters. Irish coastal protection strategy study.  

Indicative Projects  

1. Students will be required to carry out a significant project on hydraulic modelling of a river catchment. This will include surveying sections of a river catchment and measuring catchment flow rates for calibration purposes. The student will predict flood returns using the FSU, FSR and FEH methods and use HECRAS flood modelling software to predict catchment reaction flow rates and river levels to future extreme events.