Hydraulics Laboratory

Facilities Location: 309 Colton Hall
Lab PI: Dr. Michel Boufadel

The CEE Hydraulics Laboratory is designed to complement the lecture portions of two water-oriented courses: Fluid Mechanics (CE 320) and Applied Hydrogeology (CE 618).

The specific objectives of the Hydraulics Laboratory course are to provide the student with an opportunity to:

• Explore the fundamental principles of fluid mechanics through experimentation  
• Demonstrate and analyze key hydraulic phenomena using hands-on physical devices  
• Apply computer modeling as a practical tool for solving hydraulics problems  
• Investigate engineering design principles for pipe networks, open channel systems, and ground water regimes

Experiment Design: 

Many real world hydraulic phenomena can be easily simulated at a reduced laboratory scale. This is due to the fact that fluids adhere quite closely to the principles of engineering similitude. Thus, the experiments in the CEE Hydraulics Laboratory provide an excellent opportunity for students to visualize and analyze the very same hydraulic phenomena they are studying in the classroom and will apply as practicing engineers.

Most of the experiments are designed to be performed by the students groups of four persons. These group experiments are fully interactive and involve: (1) set-up; (2) operation; (3) measurement; (4) adjustment; (5) data gathering; and (6) data reduction. The group approach also teaches the value of teamwork in problem solving during the laboratory period, as well as after class as data are exchanged and reduced. A few of the experiments are performed as class demonstrations during which each group is assigned a single data set to analyze. Later, towards the end of the period, the groups report their results to form a collective body of data.

The experiments have been designed to introduce the students to a wide variety of fluid measurement systems. Some of the experiments require direct "hands-on" measurement utilizing graduated containers and a stopwatch. At the other end of the technology spectrum are experiments that feature electronic pressure and flow transducers linked to a PC-controlled data acquisition system. Eventually, it is planned to incorporate computerized control in two of the experiments. Classic fluid measuring systems are also used including rotameters, bordon-tube gages, weirs, sight-glasses, and hook-and-point gages.

Selected experiments require that the students analyze their experimental results using commercial design software. For example, the "Piping Network" experiment will require a Hardy Cross type analysis using Hydronetâ which is a Windowsâ -based software currently used by practicing engineers. Also, the Groundwater Modeling experiment introduces the student to Visual Modflowâ which is a state-of the-art program based on the USGS’s finite difference groundwater solver.