Teaching
CIVE580C2 Sediment Transport
Offered in Fall 2024 [Course Syllabus]
This is an introductory course to the mechanics of sediment transport in streams, rivers, estuaries, reservoirs, alluvial fans, and deltas. The main objective of the course is to develop an understanding of the process involved in the initiation of motion, entrainment, suspension, transport, and fate of sediment in the natural environment. The class will also cover concepts of suspended load, bedload, and wash load, as well as transport by turbidity currents. Applications to river engineering problems and morphodynamics of rivers, deltas, and alluvial fans will be provided as examples.
Learning goals:
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Understand the background fundamentals for sediment transport.
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Develop knowledge of contemporary sedimentation issues.
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Apply knowledge of mathematics to scientific and engineering problems related to sediment transport.
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Analyze and interpret sedimentation data.
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Evaluate and solve sediment-related engineering problems.
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Create technical skills and advanced tools for engineering practices in sediment transport.
Picture sources (from left to right):
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Julien, P. Y. (2010). Erosion and sedimentation. Cambridge university press.
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Ke, W. T., Wang, W. L., Liu, H. H., Chang, J. Y., Huang, Y. C., & Capart, H. (2019). Rapid infill of Wushe Reservoir, Central Taiwan: Ten years of field observations. In 3rd International Workshop on Sediment Bypass Tunnels.
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Romans, B. (2009, April 20). Beautiful sediment plumes in the Gulf of Mexico. Wired. https://www.wired.com/2009/04/beautiful-sediment-plumes-in-the-gulf-of-mexico/
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This photo by unknown author is licensed under CC BY
CIVE300 Fluid Mechanics
Offered in Fall 2025 [Course Syllabus]
This is an introductory course in fluid mechanics/hydraulics for Civil Engineers. From water supply to stormwater drainage and flood routing to design of hydraulic structures to pollutant transport, a thorough understanding of civil and environmental engineering systems requires an excellent working knowledge of the fundamentals of fluid mechanics. The course will cover topics of fluid properties, statics, kinematics, and dynamics of fluid motion, including viscous and gravitational effects.
Learning goals:
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Develop a clear understanding of the basic physical principles that govern the static and dynamic behavior of fluids.
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Have the ability to apply analytical and mathematical skills needed to describe and predict fluid behavior.
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An ability to apply fundamental principles and skills to the engineering solution of some practical fluid systems problems such as flow in pipes and open channels.
The above photos by unknown authors are licensed under CC BY
CIVE604 Mixing and Transport in Environmental Flows
Offered in Fall 2026 [Course Syllabus]
This course will introduce physical processes involved in the transport of pollutants by water, including turbulent mixing and diffusion in rivers, pipes, lakes, and the ocean. In the course, students will learn to systematically analyze Environmental flows with scaling, dimensional analysis, and turbulent boundary-layer theory, leading to integral methods for solving flows such as contaminant plumes, density currents, thermal pollution, lake stratification, and salt wedges in estuaries.
Learning goals:
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Identify the advective, diffusive, and dispersive processes governing the fates and transport of pollutants in the environment.
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Develop the skills to represent transport and mixing processes analytically and using simple numerical models.
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Develop analytical and empirical foundations to select and use appropriate numerical tools and instrumentation to study mixing and transport phenomena in the environment.
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Assess potential effects of short- and long-term changes in flow, obstructions, and boundary conditions on the fate and transport of pollutants in the environment.
