Catalog Description: Principles of open channel flow. Analysis and problems of critical, uniform, gradually varied, and rapidly varied flows. Flow over weirs and spillways. Bridge, culvert and multiple openings hydraulics and modeling. Channel transitions. Design and environmental problems. Workshops on river analysis system (HEC-RAS 4.1).

Prerequisites by course: CIV E 444: Applied Hydraulics.

Prerequisites by topic: Calculus, fluid mechanics, hydraulics.

Textbook: Chow, V. T., Open-channel Hydraulics, McGraw-Hill.

Other required material: HEC-RAS User's Manual, Hydrologic Engineering Center, US Army Corps of Engineers.

Course Objectives: Students will be able to:

1. Understand the basic principles governing open channel flow.

2. Utilize established methods and techniques for the calculation of open-channel flow.

3. Develop the ability to design lined, unlined, and vegetated channels.

4. Develop the ability to use packaged computer programs for open-channel flow simulation.

5. Design simple components of hydrologic systems, such as channels, spillways, and culverts.

6. Develop knowledge to meet the standard required for professional registration.

Topics Covered:

1. Introduction (2 lectures)

2. Properties of open channels (2 lectures)

3. Energy and momentum principles (2 lectures)

4. Critical flow (2 lectures)

5. Uniform flow (2 lectures)

6. Channel design (2 lectures)

7. Gradually varied flow (2 lectures)

8. Rapidly varied flow (2 lectures)

9. Unsteady flow (2 lectures)

10. Flood routing (2 lectures)

11. HEC-RAS (2 lectures)

12. Culverts (2 lectures)

13. Sediment transport (2 lectures)

Class Schedule: Two lectures per week: 1-hr each lecture (50 minutes); One laboratory session per week: 2 hr 40 minutes.

Contribution of course to the professional component: Engineering Science: 1 unit (33%). Engineering Design: 2 units (67%).

Course outline: The course is a regular-semester course of 16 weeks of duration. There are three exams: 2 midterms and one final exam. The number of 50-minute lectures is 26; the number of 2-hr 40-minute labs is 13.

Relationship to program outcomes:

1. Outcome 1:  Solve problems in mathematics through differential equations, calculus-based physics, and one additional area of science.

   In all covered topics, students are required to perform calculations which utilize knowledge of mathematics, geometry, physics, calculus, and differential equations. Homework is designed so provide students a good grasp of the fundamentals of open-channel flow, including analysis and design.

2. Outcome 6:  Solve well-defined problems in four technical areas of civil engineering.

   Students are required to analyze and interpret data in connection with applications of (1) open-channel flow, (2) lined, unlined, and vegetated channel design, (3) culvert hydraulics, and (4) flood routing. Students are required to run online computer programs which have as end product the design of an open channel system or component, for instance, a channel or culvert.

3. Outcome 9:  Apply relevant techniques, skills, and modern engineering tools to solve a simple problem.

   Students are required to use models, methods, and techniques currently available to solve open-channel flow problems. They are required to run online programs for the calculation of critical flow, uniform flow, gradually varied flow, and unsteady flow. In addition, they are required to solve two examples using the standard Army Corps of Engineers HEC-RAS model, Version 4.1.

4. Outcome 11:  Recognize the need for and demonstrate an ability to engage in life-long learning and explain the importance of professional licensure.

   Students are taught how to run the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers River Analysis System Version 4.1, January 2010. This is an industry-standrad software that is constantly under improvement. Four versions have been released since 1998. Students are taught that it is important to keep current with developments in the field of hydraulic engineering.

Prepared by: Victor M. Ponce.

Date: May 19, 2014.