Fluvial hydraulics

lgciv2053  2022-2023  Louvain-la-Neuve

Fluvial hydraulics
5.00 credits
30.0 h + 15.0 h
Q2
Teacher(s)
Soares Frazao Sandra;
Language
English
> French-friendly
Prerequisites
Good prior knowledge of basic hydraulics or fluid mechanics, and good knowledge of open-channel flows (uniform flow, critical depth, flow profiles) as taught for example in LGCIV2051.
Main themes
  • Characterization of the fluvial environment
  • Sedimentology: erosion criteria and sediment transport
  • Fluvial morphology
Learning outcomes

At the end of this learning unit, the student is able to :

1 Contribution to the acquisition and evaluation of the following learning outcomes of the programme in civil engineering: AA1.1, AA1.2, AA1.3, AA2.1 et AA2.2, AA6.2, AA6.
More specifically, at the end of the course, the student will be able to:
  • Calculate a flow in a natural river taking into account the sediment roughness and the influence of bedforms
  • Evaluate the sediment transport in a river
  • Use of a flow calculation software (HEC-Ras)
  • Design river training works to improve the river morphological stability
Transversal learning outcomes: links are made in the course to physical geography, geopolitics and history.
 
Content
1. Introduction : definition of fluvial hydraulics, types of rivesr
2. Sedimentology
  • Definitions, general river morphology, bedforms
  • Modes of sediment transport
  • Non-dimensional variables of sedimentology
    • Velocity distribution, mean velocity, shear velocity
    • Dimensional analyssis and characteristic numbers
  • Threshold for erosion of sediment bed
    • Velocity criterion and river equilibrium profile
    • Shear stress criterion : Shields and van Rijn diagrams
  • Bed roughness in natural rivers, stage-discharge relation : Einstein’s analysis
  • Bed-load sediment transport
    • Transport principles of du Boys
    • Analysis of Meyer-Peter and Müller
    • Other current approaches (Einstein, Bagnold, etc.)
  • Suspended load sediment transport
    • Transport equations
    • Equilibrium concentration profile (theory of Vanoni–Rouse)
    • Suspended load (Einstein’s integration)
3. Morphological evolution of rivers
  • Sedimentologic equilibrium
    • Practical formulae : regime theories
    • Bank stability, stable cross-section shape
  • Morphological response to river training works
  • Helical flow in meanders
4. River training works
  • Principles : Fargue’s laws and rules
  • Local works : surface panels, bandalling, bottom panels, bottom sills, bank protection
  • River works : banks, longitudinal dikes, groynes, sills
  • Channelization
5. Examples
Teaching methods
The teaching activities are organized as follows:
  • Ex-cathedra courses for the main theory
  • Practical exercises
  • River flow calculation project using HEC-Ras
  • Well illustrated examples and field cases taken from the literature or from the experience of the professor
Evaluation methods
Continuous evaluation though homework assignments (60%).
Oral examination with preparation time (40%), based on a list of questins available on Moodle.
Online resources
Available on Moodle: powerpoint slides, partial lecture notes and other useful documents.
MOOC course on the edX platform: “Hydraulique fluviale 2: sediments et morphologie fluviale”.
Bibliography
Notes de cours
Jansen et al., "Principles of river engineering"
Chang, “Fluvial processes in river engineering”
Faculty or entity
GC


Programmes / formations proposant cette unité d'enseignement (UE)

Title of the programme
Sigle
Credits
Prerequisites
Learning outcomes
Master [120] in Civil Engineering
GCE2M
5