CE 34300 – Elementary Hydraulics Laboratory

Credits and contact hours:

  • 1 credit
  • Laboratory that meets 1 time per week for 180 minutes per meeting for 15 weeks

Specific course information:

  • Catalog description: The laboratory covers basic concepts in analysis of experimental data and methods in hydraulic measurements. Simple laboratory experiments illustrating the principles of hydraulics are performed.
  • Prerequisites: Undergraduate level CE34000 Minimum Grade of C- [may be taken concurrently]
  • Course status: Required course

Specific Goals for the course:

  • Student learning outcomes - Upon successful completion of this course the student shall be able to:
    • Perform simple experiments involving flow phenomena in pipes and open channels
    • Perform elementary analysis of experimental data, including the verification of empirical correlations
  •  Relationship of course to program outcomes
    • Outcome 1: An ability to identify, formulate, and solve complex engineering problems by applying principles of engineering, science, and mathematics.
    • Outcome 6: An ability to develop and conduct appropriate experimentation, analyze and interpret data, and use engineering judgment to draw conclusions.

Topics - The standard set of laboratory experiments/topics are:

  • Analysis and Presentation of experimental data
  • Measurement of fluid properties
  • Hydrostatics, fluid pressure and forces
  • Flow visualization
  • Measurement of flow discharge: the Venturi meter
  • Measurement of flow discharge: the orifice meter
  • Measurement of flow discharge: sharp-crested weirs
  • Momentum conservation: forces on a vane
  • Drag forces and the drag coefficient: terminal velocities of spheres
  • Turbulent velocity profile in an air pipe
  • Pipe friction losses and the Moody diagram
  • Pumps in pipe systems with minor losses: pump and system curves
  • Specific energy and alternate depths in open channels: flow over a sill
  • Specific force and sequent depths in open channel flows: the hydraulic jump

At the discretion of the instructor/coordinator, some of the above may be combined or omitted, and other material substituted.