Hydraulic engineering
Structural measures, technical interventions and construction in the area of groundwater, surface water and the coast are all referred to as hydraulic engineering. The basic principles of hydraulic engineering are taught in this chapter.
Open-channel flow involves, amongst other things, the management of watercourses for the purpose of navigability, damming of lakes for power generation and/or storage of drinking water and flood protection measures.
Experimental flumes are used in teaching and research to demonstrate and study the main phenomena of open-channel flow at the laboratory scale. The GUNT experimental flumes demonstrate flow conditions in open channels with a rectangular cross-section. There are a variety of models that are used in the experimental flumes that cover topics such as control structures, change in cross-section, discharge measurement and waves.
Experimental section for performing flow experiments in open flumes with lengths of 2,5m or 5m available, closed water circuit and inclination adjustment
Learning objectives/experiments
- uniform and non-uniform discharge
- flow formulae
- flow transition (hydraulic jump)
- together with optionally available models
- flow over control structures: weirs (sharp-crested, broad-crested, ogee-crested)
….
- flow over control structures: weirs (sharp-crested, broad-crested, ogee-crested)
Experimental section for performing flow experiments in open flumes with lengths of 5m, 7,5m, 10m or 12,5m available, closed water circuit and inclination adjustment
Learning objectives/experiments
- uniform and non-uniform discharge
- flow formulae
- flow transition (hydraulic jump)
- together with optionally available models
- flow over control structures: weirs (sharp-crested, broad-crested, ogee-crested)
….
- flow over control structures: weirs (sharp-crested, broad-crested, ogee-crested)
Experimental section for performing flow experiments in open flumes with lengths of 5m, 7,5m, 10m or 12,5m available, closed water circuit and inclination adjustment
Learning objectives/experiments
- uniform and non-uniform discharge
- flow formulae
- flow transition (hydraulic jump)
- together with optionally available models
- flow over control structures: weirs (sharp-crested, broad-crested, ogee-crested)
….
- flow over control structures: weirs (sharp-crested, broad-crested, ogee-crested)
Experimental section for performing flow experiments in open flumes with lengths of 16m, closed water circuit and inclination adjustment
Learning objectives/experiments
- uniform and non-uniform discharge
- flow formulae
- flow transition (hydraulic jump)
- together with optionally available models
- flow over control structures: weirs (sharp-crested, broad-crested, ogee-crested)
….
- flow over control structures: weirs (sharp-crested, broad-crested, ogee-crested)
This subsection investigates the transport of sediments in flowing watercourses. When talking about sediment transport, we distinguish between suspended matter and bed-load transport.
Compact experimental flume for modelling small river courses; inclination of the experimental flume adjustable
Learning objectives/experiments
- bed-load transport in open channels
- investigate influencing variables of bed-load transport
- flow velocity
- inclination
- ripple formation on the river bed
….
Starting conditions for bed-load transport
Learning objectives/experiments
- observation of
- starting conditions for bed-load transport
- how flow velocity affects bed-load transport
- ripple and dune formation on the river bed
- fluvial obstacle mark of bridge piers (scour formation and siltation)
….
Observation of bed formation; visualisation of flow with contrast medium
Learning objectives/experiments
- bed-load transport in open channels
- subcritical and supercritical flow
- formation of ripples, dunes and antidunes
- how flow velocity affects bed-load transport
- fluvial obstacle mark (siltation/scour formation)
….
Investigation of sediment migration with and without structures
Learning objectives/experiments
- bed-load transport in open channels
- how flow velocity affects bed-load transport
- ripple formation on the river bed
- observing the formation of meanders
- fluvial obstacle marks on structures
….
Solid/liquid separation in a sedimentation tank, visualisation of flow conditions
Learning objectives/experiments
- basic principle for the separation of solids from suspensions in a sedimentation tank
- determine the hydraulic loading rate
- influence of the following parameters on the separation process:
- concentration of solids
- flow rate
….
Seepage flows and groundwater flows are water movements in a permeable subsoil (sand, gravel, etc.) This includes the seepage and retention of precipitation. In hydraulic engineering it is the seepage through earth dams or the seepage under barrages in particular that are of importance.
Visualisation of streamlines in a Hele-Shaw cell, ink as contrast medium
Learning objectives/experiments
- visualisation of streamlines in
- flow around drag bodies: cylinder, guide vane profile, square, rectangle
- flow through models: nozzle contour, sudden contraction or enlargement
- flow separation, flow with 90° deflection
- modelling the flow around bodies by overlaying parallel flow and sources and/or sinks
….
Three-dimensional investigations; demonstration of lowering of groundwater; investigation of excavation pits
Learning objectives/experiments
- determining the groundwater level
- lowering of groundwater level via two wells
- groundwater flow on excavation pits
- groundwater studies under concentric load on the substrate
Graphical determination of flow nets; investigation of water pressure on structures
Learning objectives/experiments
- determining flow nets in permeable media graphically
- streamlines under a sheet pile
- streamlines through an earth dam
- drainage at an open ditch
- determining the pressure curve at a foundation
….
Investigation of precipitation-discharge relationships, storage capacity of soils, seepage flows and groundwater flows
Learning objectives/experiments
- investigating transient processes
- effect of rainfall of varying duration on the discharge
- storage capacity of a soil
- investigating steady processes
- investigating seepage flow
….
- investigating seepage flow
Seepage flows and groundwater flows in soils; sediment transport and obstacles in running waters
Learning objectives/experiments
- investigating transient processes
- effect of rainfall of varying duration on the discharge
- storage capacity of a soil
- investigating steady processes
- seepage flow
….
- seepage flow
Correlations between precipitation and seepage; various drainage methods
Learning objectives/experiments
- effect of precipitation of varying duration or intensity on soils with different saturation
- record hydrographs after precipitation
- compare natural drainage with drainage via drainage pipe
- influence of rainwater retention basin on the hydrograph
Fundamentals of filtration: Darcy’s equation
Learning objectives/experiments
- fundamentals of filtration: Darcy’s equation
- depth filtration with different bulk solids and suspensions
- cake filtration with different suspensions
- identification of characteristic filtration values