The fifth edition of the book is not just a reprint of former editions; it also includes revisions and updates of the main chapters. The book is structured in two parts: the first part covers the basic hydraulic principles and their applications. The second part shows wide use of the hydraulic principles and their relationship to real-world applications. The book is an attractive tool for teaching hydraulics and fluid mechanics at the undergraduate and graduate level; motivating and challenging the reader with numerous practical examples.
The chapters of the book are structured using modern educational concepts including objectives, theoretical explanations with illustrative figures and diagrams, fully calculated practical examples and short summaries. In addition, each chapter has several realistic examples for self-study, with answers and supplementary references for further reading.
The first three chapters focus on the fundamentals of fluid mechanics dealing with the basic theory of hydrostatics, and flow behaviour of ideal and real fluids. The chapter on real fluids defines viscosity, the Reynolds number and the boundary layer concept. The implications of the boundary layer concept for flow separation, drag forces and cavitation are explained. Pressurised and non-pressurised flow in pipes is presented with historical development and the resulting equations that are used for the most common design problems in steady-state flow conditions. The fundamental concepts of open channel flow under uniform, rapid varied, gradually varied and unsteady flow conditions based on energy and momentum concepts are shown. Typical engineering problems in subcritical, critical and supercritical flow are discussed.
Unsteady flow conditions in pressurised pipelines systems including the surge effect (water inertia) and water hammer effect (water compressibility) are included in Chapter 6, in an introductory manner. The differential equations defining the conservation of mass and the momentum equation developed for unsteady compressive flow in pipes are used further in the book as examples for computational hydraulics.
The design of hydraulic machines is not the main topic for civil and environmental engineers, but a sound basic understanding of pump and turbine operation helps engineers in preliminary equipment selection, estimation of main dimensions and minimal machine setting heights.
Chapter 8 describes the principle of water wave theory, covering linear wave theory, wave transformation, attenuation and surf zone processing. Furthermore, the influence of wind on wave intensity and shape and the influence of climate change on sea level rise are presented.
The fundamental models describing sediment transport in water as a bed load, suspended load and total load in rivers are introduced and illustrated through worked examples. The limitations and accuracy of these models in rivers and especially in estuaries are described.
Surface water hydrology with prediction of the outflow response and flood events in rural and urban environments is introduced, with special attention to the definition of the ‘design' events helping engineers by defining the loads on their structures. The methods for flood estimation in gauged catchments by frequency analysis techniques, and rainfall–streamflow modelling techniques are presented. Flood routing using the reservoir and channel routing technique is used for the prediction of flood waves along the watercourse. Flood and reservoir safety is discussed in connection with the design flood and defined with the statistical return period and probable maximum flood estimation.
Computational hydraulics is becoming an increasingly used tool in the design of complicated hydraulic problems. The selection of the appropriate model for a given application, recognising the limits of such models and especially the critical analysis of the numerical and graphical output is a challenge for the engineer and must be interpreted in the light of experience. The differential equations of conservation flows are transformed in the finite difference schemes and with defined boundary and initial conditions used for solving unsteady problems by explicit and implicit schemes.
Analytical and computational hydraulic models are very convenient in hydraulic design. However, some problems could be so complex that no adequate model could be formulated or unique input parameters are needed for model preparation. An alternative, in such cases, is the use of scale model experiments. The theory of physical hydraulic modelling gives an overview of the techniques and mathematical tools used to define the relationship between model behaviour and the full-scale prototype. Dealing with dimensional analysis involving more variables depends on the correct identification of all the factors governing the analysed physical event, and the proper use is illustrated on a wide spectrum of typical hydraulic examples.
In the second part of the book the practical examples of hydraulic engineering, such as pressurised flow in the pipeline system and distribution systems in steady state and unsteady or transient conditions, are presented. Also the solution of typical problems concerning hydraulic structures such as different types of weirs, flumes, spillways, energy dissipaters, control gates, inlets and outlets are discussed with examples. The last two chapters deal with river and channel engineering and with coastal engineering applications. The chapters integrate hydraulic steady and unsteady flows, hydrology and sediment transport in solving typical problems in the field of river engineering, such as the stable bed of alluvial channels and the meandering or flooding mechanisms of flood plains. For coastal engineering applications, the action of waves on beaches, sediment transport on beaches, shore evolution modelling and shoreline management planning with wave modelling and coastal defence principles and techniques are discussed.
This book is an excellent standalone reference for education in the field of hydraulics and fundamentals of fluid mechanics. The book gives theoretical considerations and encourages students to learn by inspiring them with insights into the real world of engineering. The book is also useful for practical engineers, providing a good overview of realistic hydraulic engineering problems and their solutions.
