FLUID MECHANICS AND PIPE HYDRAULICS - 2021/2

Module Overview

 

Understanding the flow and forces of water, wind and other fluids is essential for civil and environmental engineers. It has applications in diverse domains such as bridge design, hydro-electric power, sub-sea engineering, waste water management, wind loading on buildings, hydraulic structures and many more.

This module introduces the fundamental principles of static and dynamic fluid mechanics and their applications to solve typical engineering problems. The module covers the design and analysis of pipe networks in more detail. In these engineering problems, inter-connecting pipes, reservoirs and pumps are used to transport fluids, e.g. oil or water, at specified (steady) flow rates and pressures. These theoretical concepts are reinforced by practical applications in the laboratory. Here, the lab sessions investigate fundamental fluid properties and energy losses in pipe fixtures and fittings. Unsteady flows are also introduced through a demonstration of water hammer, which is the propagation of a high pressure wave through a pipe. In industrial pipe networks, water hammer can cause major problems including noise, vibration and even fractured pipes.

 

Module provider

Sustainability, Civil & Env Engineering

Module Leader

HUGHES Susan (Civl Env Eng)

Number of Credits: 15

ECTS Credits: 7.5

Framework: FHEQ Level 4

Module cap (Maximum number of students): N/A

Module Availability

Semester 1

Prerequisites / Co-requisites

Normal entry requirements for the degree programme in Civil Engineering

Module content

The first part of the module covers fluid mechanics, including the following topics:

• Hydrostatics (forces on surfaces, submerged bodies, gates etc.)


• Buoyancy (stability of submerged and floating bodies)


• Fluid kinematics (streamlines and continuity)


• Fluid dynamics (Bernoulli’s equation, flow through orifices and venturi meters)


• Momentum equation (impacting jets, forces on pipe bend)

The second part of the module covers pipe hydraulics, including the following topics:

• Introduction to unsteady flows, pipe surge and water hammer


• Introduction to pipe flow, Reynold’s number and Darcy’s Equation


• Friction and Energy losses in pipes


• Basic and advanced pipe flow networks and reservoir problems.

This module is within the core subject of Fluid Mechanics, and the threads of Design (especially pipe networks) and Health and Safety Risk Management (especially in the laboratory sessions).

 

Assessment pattern

Alternative Assessment

The alternative assessment for the pipe network test is a coursework assignment covering the same content. The alternative assessment for the laboratory reports is a report based on given observation data.

Assessment Strategy

The assessment strategy is centred on three units of assessment.

1. The end-of-semester examination provides students with the opportunity to demonstrate their understanding of fundamental concepts in fluid mechanics and their ability to apply this understanding to solve basic engineering problems (Learning outcomes 001, 002 and 003).


2. The in-semester class test specifically test the understanding of a numerical method for the analysis of pipe systems: the Hardy-Cross method (Learning outcome 003).


3. The two laboratory reports assess the ability of students to conduct and analyse practical experiments, and to effectively communicate their findings in a technical report (Learning outcomes 004 and 005)

Where appropriate, tutor support, comment and feedback will be given in the tutorial sessions and lectures. Students will receive written feedback on the laboratory reports and pipe network test.

Module aims

• introduce fundamental principles and equations governing statics and dynamics in fluid mechanics
• introduce key principles of the design and analysis of pipe networks for fluid transport
• learn how physical principles are used to create instruments that measure pressure and flow in dynamical systems
• combine theoretical knowledge and mathematical skills to solve engineering problems
• introduce practical experiments and how to conduct them safely in a fluid mechanics lab

Learning outcomes

Methods of Teaching / Learning

The module is delivered principally by lectures and supported by weekly tutorials. There are two laboratory classes (held in smaller groups) which include orifice and free jet flows, Bernoulli’s theorem, pipe surge and water hammer (unsteady flows). At the end of the module there is also a revision session.

 

Indicated Lecture Hours (which may also include seminars, tutorials, workshops and other contact time) are approximate and may include in-class tests where one or more of these are an assessment on the module. In-class tests are scheduled/organised separately to taught content and will be published on to student personal timetables, where they apply to taken modules, as soon as they are finalised by central administration. This will usually be after the initial publication of the teaching timetable for the relevant semester.

Reading list

https://readinglists.surrey.ac.uk
Upon accessing the reading list, please search for the module using the module code: ENG1073

Programmes this module appears in

Please note that the information detailed within this record is accurate at the time of publishing and may be subject to change. This record contains information for the most up to date version of the programme / module for the 2021/2 academic year.