the Academic NEST

Language: English - ISBN-10: 0415482542 - ISBN-13: 978-0415482547 ...

Mechanistic models are often employed to simulate processes in coastal environments. However, these predictive tools are highly specialized, involve certain assumptions and limitations, and can be manipulated only by experienced engineers who have a thorough understanding of the underlying principles. This results in significant constraints on their manipulation as well as large gaps in understanding and expectations between the developers and users of a model.

Recent advancements in soft computing technologies make it possible to integrate machine learning capabilities into numerical modelling systems in order to bridge the gaps and lessen the demands on human experts. This book reviews the state-of-the-art in conventional coastal modelling as well as in the increasingly popular integration of various artificial intelligence technologies into coastal modelling. Conventional hydrodynamic and water quality modelling techniques comprise finite difference and finite element methods. The novel algorithms and methods include knowledge-based systems, genetic algorithms, artificial neural networks, and fuzzy inference systems.

Different soft computing methods contribute towards accurate and reliable prediction of coastal processes. Combining these techniques and harnessing their benefits has the potential to make extremely powerful modelling tools.

Historically, much harm has been done by well-meaning coastal engineering attempts, which seemed like good ideas on paper but which failed to allow for practical issues. For this reason, it is vital that theories and models are well grounded in practice. This second edition brings the models and examples of practice up to date. It has expanded coverage of tsunamis and generating energy from waves to focus both on the great dangers and the great opportunities that the ocean presents to the coastal zone. With an emphasis on practice and detailed modelling, this is a thorough introduction to all aspects of coastal processes, morphology, and design of coastal defences. It describes numerous case studies to illustrate the successful application of mathematical modelling to real-world practice. A must-have book for engineering students looking to specialize in coastal engineering and management.

Recent advances in technology have permitted the construction of large dams, reservoirs and channels. This progress has necessitated the development of new design and construction techniques, particularly with the provision of adequate flood release facilities. Chutes and spillways are designed to spill large water discharges over a hydraulic structure (e.g. dam, weir) without major damage to the structure itself and to its environment. At the hydraulic structure, the fl ood waters rush as an open channel flow or free-falling jet, and it is essential to dissipate a very signifi cant part of the fl ow kinetic energy to avoid damage to the hydraulic structure and its surroundings. Energy dissipation may be realised by a wide range of design techniques. A number of modern developments have demonstrated that such energy dissipation may be achieved (a) along the chute, (b) in a downstream energy dissipator, or (c) a combination of both.

The magnitude of turbulent energy that must be dissipated in hydraulic structures is enormous even in small rural and urban structures. For a small storm waterway discharging 4 m3/s at a 3 m high drop, the turbulent kinetic energy flux per unit time is 120 kW! At a large dam, the rate of energy dissipation can exceed tens to hundreds of gigawatts; that is, many times the energy production rate of nuclear power plants. Many engineers have never been exposed to the complexity of energy dissipator designs, to the physical processes taking place and to the structural challenges. Several energy dissipators, spillways and storm waterways failed because of poor engineering design. It is believed that a major issue affecting these failures was the lack of understanding of the basic turbulent dissipation processes and of the interactions between free-surface aeration and flow turbulence.

In that context, an authoritative reference book on energy dissipation in hydraulic structures is proposed here. The book contents encompass a range of design techniques including block ramps, stepped spillways, hydraulic jump stilling basins, ski jumps and impact dissipators.

210 pages
Publisher: CRC Press; (November 29, 2013)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0415621119
ISBN-13: 978-0415621113

Small Dams: Planning, Construction and Maintenance has been written to provide a practical approach and guide to determining catchment yield and the amount of water required in a dam, advising on selecting and working with engineers and contractors, as well as outlining the cause of dam failures and how to remedy problems quickly. It also covers relevant legislation, environmental and ecological issues.

Employing the principles in this book, in conjunction with heeding the advice of suitably experienced and qualifi ed engineers and contractors, will reduce the risk of failure and help to ensure the long term success of any small dam in question. Small Dams will be an invaluable resource for anyone who owns a dam, and a useful reference for agencies, contractors and engineers.

The author, Barry Lewis, has over forty years of experience as an engineer and has written extensively on farm dams, soil conservation, catchment management and the environmental impact of dams both on and off streams. He was also directly involved in the licensing and regulating of small dams in Australia.

Exposes You to Current Industry-Standard Tools: Open channel flow is covered in essentially all civil and environmental engineering programs, usually by final-year undergraduate or graduate students studying water resources.

Fundamentals of Open Channel Flow outlines current theory along with clear and fully solved examples that illustrate the concepts and are geared to a first course in open channel flow. It highlights the practical computational tools students can use to solve problems, such as spreadsheet applications and the HEC-RAS program. It assumes a foundation in fluid mechanics, then adopts a deliberately logical sequence through energy, momentum, friction, gradually varied flow (first qualitative, then quantitative), and the basics of sediment transport.

Taps into Your Innate Ability to Understand Complex Concepts Visually Open channel flow can be understood through just a few simple equations, graphs, and computational tools. For students, the book comes with downloadable animations that illustrate basic concepts visually with synchronous graphical presentation of fundamental relationships. For instructors, PowerPoint slides and solutions to end-of-chapter problems are provided.

Delivers simple but powerful software animations * Conveys material in three ways (analytical, graphical, computational/empirical) to aid multiple types of learners and improve overall accessibility * Includes new fundamental equation for alternate depths * Discusses flow transients supported by animations and calculations * Emphasizes applications of common and useful computational tools

Developed by an author who has been teaching open channel flow to university students for the past fifteen years, Fundamentals of Open Channel Flow provides you with a detailed explanation of the basics of open channel flow using examples and animation, and offers expert guidance on the practical application of graphical and computational tools.

Liquan Xie ... 320 pages - Publisher: CRC Press (November, 2013) ...
Language: English - ISBN-10: 1138001309 - ISBN-13: 978-1138001305 ...

Hydraulic research is developing beyond traditional civil engineering, since the number of natural hazards increased in recent years, and so did the extent and scope of structural safety assessment and environmental research. Hydraulic Engineering II contains 44 technical papers from the 2nd SREE Conference on Hydraulic Engineering (CHE 2013, Hong Kong, 2-3 November 2013, including the Third SREE Workshop on Environment and Safety Engineering, WESE 2013), discusses recent advances and issues, and identifies challenges associated with engineering applications in hydraulic engineering. The contributions showcase recent developments in the areas of hydraulic engineering and environmental engineering, and other related fields.

The sections on hydraulic engineering mainly focus on river engineering and sediment transport, flood hazards and innovative control measures, rainfall modelling, dam safety, slope stability, environmental hydraulics and hydrology, while the contributions related to environmental issues focus on environmental prediction and control techniques in environmental geoscience, environmental ecology, water pollution and ecosystem degradation, applied meteorology, coastal engineering, safety engineering and environmental pollution control. Hydraulic Engineering II will be invaluable to academics and professionals in both hydraulic and environmental engineering.

Fluid Dynamics via Examples and Solutions provides a substantial set of example problems and detailed model solutions covering various phenomena and effects in fluids. The book is ideal as a supplement or exam review for undergraduate and graduate courses in fluid dynamics, continuum mechanics, turbulence, ocean and atmospheric sciences, and related areas. It is also suitable as a main text for fluid dynamics courses with an emphasis on learning by example and as a self-study resource for practicing scientists who need to learn the basics of fluid dynamics.

The author covers several sub-areas of fluid dynamics, types of flows, and applications. He also includes supplementary theoretical material when necessary. Each chapter presents the background, an extended list of references for further reading, numerous problems, and a complete set of model solutions.