Engineering Tripos Part IIA, 3D5: Hydraulics, 2025-26
Module Leader
Lecturer
Lecturer
Lecturer
Lab Leader
Timing and Structure
Michaelmas term. 16 lectures and coursework.
Aims
The aims of the course are to:
- Explain some fundamental principles necessary for understanding the common water issues in the world.
- Introduce the basic topics in water resources, open channel flows and groundwater flows.
- Allow students to grasp essential concepts and procedures for analysing hydro-environmental processes and develop skills to solve practical water engineering problems.
- Highlight some of the most pressing water-related global challenges, such as freshwater scarcity, soil erosion, water quality deterioration and flooding, and stress the need for sustainable and integrated management of water resources.
Objectives
As specific objectives, by the end of the course students should be able to:
- Comprehend the scope of water-related topics in civil and environmental engineering
- Appreciate the environmental, social, political and economic implications of water engineering and hydraulic engineering projects
- Understand the hydrologic cycle and the water budget
- Promote nature-based and nature-friendly solutions to water-related problems
- Understand the soil properties and simple models of ground infiltration
- Determine the steady seepage patterns in the porous media
- Evaluate potentials, pore water pressures, and flow quantities in the ground by constructing flow nets
- Calculate the seepage below concrete dams and through embankment & earth dams
- Analyse topics on excavations and seepage, cofferdams and stability
- Draw parallels between groundwater flow and heat flow in porous media
- Understand river hydraulics
- Solve steady flows using the equations of mass, energy and momentum conservations
Content
Hydrology and Water Resources (3L) 2 lectures/week, weeks 1-2 (Dr Borgomeo)
- Global water issues
- Hydrologic cycle
- Water resources
Groundwater, Seepage and Heat Flow in Granular media (8L), 2 lectures/week, weeks 2-6 (Prof SPG Madabhushi)
- Concept of porous media and bulk properties.
- Definitions of potential head, pressure head and pore pressure.
- Groundwater flow and seepage
- Theory of flow nets
- Anisotropic soils and flow nets
- Darcy's law and Hydraulic conductivity
- Laboratory and in situ measurements
- Seepage below concrete dams
- Seepage through embankments and earth dams
- Stability and seepage around excavations
- Coffer dams and their stability
- Fourier’s law and heat flow in porous media
- Parallels between ground water flow and heat flow
- Ground source heat pumps
- Storage and extraction of heat from ground
Open Channel Flows (5L) 2 lectures/week, weeks 6-8 (Prof D. Liang)
- Boundary layer and turbulence
- Flow resistance
- Steady flow in open channels
- Backwater curves
- Water surface profiles in non-uniform flows
Coursework
Labs on underground water and heat flow will take place in Inglis Building Structures Lab, which can be accessed through the big double doors on the Peterhouse roadway or through the corner of the Hydraulics Lab. Sign-up page (http://to.eng.cam.ac.uk/teaching/apps/cuedle/index.php?context=3D5) is activated at the start of Michaelmas. Lab reports should be submitted on the 3D5 Moodle page within 15 days after the experiment.
Learning objectives:
- Axi-Symmetric flow of ground water into a well boring
- Axi-Symmetric heat flow in saturated soil
Practical information:
- The Structures Lab is adjacent to the Robotics Lab.
- This activity doesn't involve preliminary work, but it will be beneficial to read the handouts beforehand.
Full Technical Report:
Students will have the option to submit a Full Technical Report. FTRs can be based on the 3D5 Lab or be an essay on any water engineering issues. FTRs should be submitted on the 3D5 Moodle page. More information on the possible FTR topics will be given in the first lecture.
Booklists
Please refer to the Booklist for Part IIA Courses for references to this module, this can be found on the associated Moodle course.
Examination Guidelines
Please refer to Form & conduct of the examinations.
UK-SPEC
This syllabus contributes to the following areas of the UK-SPEC standard:
Toggle display of UK-SPEC areas.
GT1
Develop transferable skills that will be of value in a wide range of situations. These are exemplified by the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority Higher Level Key Skills and include problem solving, communication, and working with others, as well as the effective use of general IT facilities and information retrieval skills. They also include planning self-learning and improving performance, as the foundation for lifelong learning/CPD.
IA1
Apply appropriate quantitative science and engineering tools to the analysis of problems.
KU1
Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of essential facts, concepts, theories and principles of their engineering discipline, and its underpinning science and mathematics.
KU2
Have an appreciation of the wider multidisciplinary engineering context and its underlying principles.
D1
Wide knowledge and comprehensive understanding of design processes and methodologies and the ability to apply and adapt them in unfamiliar situations.
S1
The ability to make general evaluations of commercial risks through some understanding of the basis of such risks.
S3
Understanding of the requirement for engineering activities to promote sustainable development.
S4
Awareness of the framework of relevant legal requirements governing engineering activities, including personnel, health, safety, and risk (including environmental risk) issues.
E1
Ability to use fundamental knowledge to investigate new and emerging technologies.
E2
Ability to extract data pertinent to an unfamiliar problem, and apply its solution using computer based engineering tools when appropriate.
E3
Ability to apply mathematical and computer based models for solving problems in engineering, and the ability to assess the limitations of particular cases.
P1
A thorough understanding of current practice and its limitations and some appreciation of likely new developments.
P3
Understanding of contexts in which engineering knowledge can be applied (e.g. operations and management, technology, development, etc).
US1
A comprehensive understanding of the scientific principles of own specialisation and related disciplines.
US3
An understanding of concepts from a range of areas including some outside engineering, and the ability to apply them effectively in engineering projects.
Last modified: 07/10/2025 02:46
Engineering Tripos Part IIA, 3D5: Water Engineering, 2023-24
Module Leader
Lecturer
Lecturer
Lab Leader
Timing and Structure
Michaelmas term. 16 lectures and coursework.
Aims
The aims of the course are to:
- Explain some fundamental principles necessary for understanding the common water issues in the world.
- Cover the basic topics in practical hydrology, civil engineering hydraulics, turbulent mixing, and water/waste water treatments.
- Allow students to grasp essential concepts and procedures for analysing hydro-environmental processes and develop skills to solve practical water engineering problems.
- Highlight some of the most pressing water-related global challenges, such as freshwater scarcity, soil erosion, water quality deterioration and flooding, and stress the need for sustainable and integrated management of water resources.
Objectives
As specific objectives, by the end of the course students should be able to:
- Comprehend the scope of water-related topics in civil and environmental engineering
- Appreciate the environmental, social, political and economical implications of water engineering
- Understand the hydrologic cycle and the Earth’s water budget
- Understand simple models of infiltration
- Undertake simple rainfall-runoff calculations over small catchments
- Understand river hydraulics.
- Be aware of a wide range of hydro-environmental issues
- Understand the advective, diffusive, dispersive and reactive processes related to pollutant transports in uniform flows
- Evaluate the impact of large hydraulic engineering projects
- Solve steady flows using the equations of mass, energy and momentum conservations
- Analyse unsteady flows using the method of characteristics.
- Explain the cause of soil erosion and mitigation measures.
- Understand the mechanism of sand particle motion.
- Calculate the sediment transport rate and determine the bed regime.
- Select pipeline systems for water conveyance
- Make appropriate pump selections and design simple pumping systems
- Be aware of the principles and elements of water/wastewater treatments and the key engineering variables for their design
- Notice the limitations of the traditional water supply and sewage treatment systems in a sustainability context
Content
Hydrology and Water Resources (4L) 2 lectures/week, weeks 1-2 (Dr Borgomeo)
- Global water issues
- Hydrologic cycle
- Unit hydrographs
Open Channel Flows, Pollutant and Sediment Transports (12L) 2 lectures/week, weeks 3-8 (Prof D. Liang)
- Boundary layer and turbulence
- Flow resistance
- Steady flow in pipelines
- Water pollution
- Steady flow in open channels
- Pollutant advection,diffusion,dispersion and reaction
- Unsteady flow,flood routing and method of characteristics
- Sediment transport and bed form
- Pipeline systems
- Pumping systems
Coursework
Labs on sediment motion will conducted in Inglis Building Structures Lab, which can be accessed through the big double doors on the Peterhouse roadway or through the corner of the Hydraulics Lab. Sign-up page (http://to.eng.cam.ac.uk/teaching/apps/cuedle/index.php?context=3D5) is activated at the start of Michaelmas. Lab reports should be submitted on the 3D5 Moodle page within 15 days after the experiment.
Learning objectives:
- To gain first-hand experience of open channel flow and sediment transport phenomena.
- To study the threshold condition under which sediments are moved. This condition separates the state of the clear-water flow over an immobile bed from the state where sediment transport and bed deformation take place.
- To investigate the relationship between the bed forms and the flow conditions. This is important because the bed forms have a significant impact on the bed roughness and thus the channel conveyance.
- To appreciate the local scour phenomena around underwater structures.
Practical information:
- Lab sessions will take place in the Structures Lab, Inglis Building Ground Floor, which is adjacent to the Robotics Lab.
- This activity doesn't involve preliminary work, but it will be beneficial to read the handouts beforehand.
Full Technical Report:
Students will have the option to submit a Full Technical Report. FTRs should be submitted on the 3D5 Moodel page.
Booklists
Please refer to the Booklist for Part IIA Courses for references to this module, this can be found on the associated Moodle course.
Examination Guidelines
Please refer to Form & conduct of the examinations.
UK-SPEC
This syllabus contributes to the following areas of the UK-SPEC standard:
Toggle display of UK-SPEC areas.
GT1
Develop transferable skills that will be of value in a wide range of situations. These are exemplified by the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority Higher Level Key Skills and include problem solving, communication, and working with others, as well as the effective use of general IT facilities and information retrieval skills. They also include planning self-learning and improving performance, as the foundation for lifelong learning/CPD.
IA1
Apply appropriate quantitative science and engineering tools to the analysis of problems.
KU1
Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of essential facts, concepts, theories and principles of their engineering discipline, and its underpinning science and mathematics.
KU2
Have an appreciation of the wider multidisciplinary engineering context and its underlying principles.
D1
Wide knowledge and comprehensive understanding of design processes and methodologies and the ability to apply and adapt them in unfamiliar situations.
S1
The ability to make general evaluations of commercial risks through some understanding of the basis of such risks.
S3
Understanding of the requirement for engineering activities to promote sustainable development.
S4
Awareness of the framework of relevant legal requirements governing engineering activities, including personnel, health, safety, and risk (including environmental risk) issues.
E1
Ability to use fundamental knowledge to investigate new and emerging technologies.
E2
Ability to extract data pertinent to an unfamiliar problem, and apply its solution using computer based engineering tools when appropriate.
E3
Ability to apply mathematical and computer based models for solving problems in engineering, and the ability to assess the limitations of particular cases.
P1
A thorough understanding of current practice and its limitations and some appreciation of likely new developments.
P3
Understanding of contexts in which engineering knowledge can be applied (e.g. operations and management, technology, development, etc).
US1
A comprehensive understanding of the scientific principles of own specialisation and related disciplines.
US3
An understanding of concepts from a range of areas including some outside engineering, and the ability to apply them effectively in engineering projects.
Last modified: 02/10/2023 11:24
Engineering Tripos Part IIA, 3D5: Water Engineering, 2020-21
Module Leader
Lecturers
Lab Leader
Timing and Structure
Michaelmas term. 16 lectures and coursework.
Aims
The aims of the course are to:
- Explain some fundamental principles necessary for understanding the common water issues in the world.
- Cover the basic topics in practical hydrology, civil engineering hydraulics, turbulent mixing, and water/waste water treatments.
- Allow students to grasp essential concepts and procedures for analysing hydro-environmental processes and develop skills to solve practical water engineering problems.
- Highlight some of the most pressing water-related global challenges, such as freshwater scarcity, soil erosion, water quality deterioration and flooding, and stress the need for sustainable and integrated management of water resources.
Objectives
As specific objectives, by the end of the course students should be able to:
- Comprehend the scope of water-related topics in civil and environmental engineering
- Appreciate the environmental, social, political and economical implications of water engineering
- Understand the hydrologic cycle and the Earth’s water budget
- Understand simple models of infiltration
- Undertake simple rainfall-runoff calculations over small catchments
- Understand river hydraulics.
- Be aware of a wide range of hydro-environmental issues
- Understand the advective, diffusive, dispersive and reactive processes related to pollutant transports in uniform flows
- Evaluate the impact of large hydraulic engineering projects
- Solve steady flows using the equations of mass, energy and momentum conservations
- Analyse unsteady flows using the method of characteristics.
- Explain the cause of soil erosion and mitigation measures.
- Understand the mechanism of sand particle motion.
- Calculate the sediment transport rate and determine the bed regime.
- Select pipeline systems for water conveyance
- Make appropriate pump selections and design simple pumping systems
- Be aware of the principles and elements of water/wastewater treatments and the key engineering variables for their design
- Notice the limitations of the traditional water supply and sewage treatment systems in a sustainability context
Content
Hydrology (3L) 2 lectures/week, weeks 1-2 (Prof D Fenner)
- Global water issues
- Hydrologic cycle
- Unit hydrographs
Water/Waste Treatments (1L) 2 lectures/week,week 2 (Prof D Fenner)
- Water treatment
- Wastewater treatment
Open Channel Flows, Pollutant and Sediment Transports (12L) 2 lectures/week, weeks 3-8 (Dr D. Liang)
- Boundary layer and turbulence
- Flow resistance
- Steady flow in pipelines
- Water pollution
- Steady flow in open channels
- Pollutant advection,diffusion,dispersion and reaction
- Unsteady flow,flood routing and method of characteristics
- Sediment transport and bed form
- Pipeline systems
- Pumping systems
Coursework
Labs on sediment motion will conducted in Inglis Building Room ISG-86 in the second half of the Term. Sign-up page (http://to.eng.cam.ac.uk/teaching/apps/cuedle/index.php?context=3D5) will activated on Tuesday of Week 0. Lab reports should be submitted on the 3D5 Moodle page within 15 days after the experiment.
Learning objectives:
- To gain first-hand experience of open channel flow and sediment transport phenomena.
- To study the threshold condition under which sediments are moved. This condition separates the state of the clear-water flow over an immobile bed from the state where sediment transport and bed deformation take place.
- To investigate the relationship between the bed forms and the flow conditions. This is important because the bed forms have a significant impact on the bed roughness and thus the channel conveyance.
- To appreciate the local scour phenomena around underwater structures.
Practical information:
- Lab sessions will take place in Room ISG-86, Inglis Building Ground Floor, Centre for Smart Infrastructure & Construction (CSIC) corridor.
- This activity doesn't involve preliminary work, but it will be beneficial to read the handouts beforehand.
Full Technical Report:
Students will have the option to submit a Full Technical Report. FTRs should be submitted on the 3D5 Moodel page.
Booklists
Please refer to the Booklist for Part IIA Courses for references to this module, this can be found on the associated Moodle course.
Examination Guidelines
Please refer to Form & conduct of the examinations.
UK-SPEC
This syllabus contributes to the following areas of the UK-SPEC standard:
Toggle display of UK-SPEC areas.
GT1
Develop transferable skills that will be of value in a wide range of situations. These are exemplified by the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority Higher Level Key Skills and include problem solving, communication, and working with others, as well as the effective use of general IT facilities and information retrieval skills. They also include planning self-learning and improving performance, as the foundation for lifelong learning/CPD.
IA1
Apply appropriate quantitative science and engineering tools to the analysis of problems.
KU1
Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of essential facts, concepts, theories and principles of their engineering discipline, and its underpinning science and mathematics.
KU2
Have an appreciation of the wider multidisciplinary engineering context and its underlying principles.
D1
Wide knowledge and comprehensive understanding of design processes and methodologies and the ability to apply and adapt them in unfamiliar situations.
S1
The ability to make general evaluations of commercial risks through some understanding of the basis of such risks.
S3
Understanding of the requirement for engineering activities to promote sustainable development.
S4
Awareness of the framework of relevant legal requirements governing engineering activities, including personnel, health, safety, and risk (including environmental risk) issues.
E1
Ability to use fundamental knowledge to investigate new and emerging technologies.
E2
Ability to extract data pertinent to an unfamiliar problem, and apply its solution using computer based engineering tools when appropriate.
E3
Ability to apply mathematical and computer based models for solving problems in engineering, and the ability to assess the limitations of particular cases.
P1
A thorough understanding of current practice and its limitations and some appreciation of likely new developments.
P3
Understanding of contexts in which engineering knowledge can be applied (e.g. operations and management, technology, development, etc).
US1
A comprehensive understanding of the scientific principles of own specialisation and related disciplines.
US3
An understanding of concepts from a range of areas including some outside engineering, and the ability to apply them effectively in engineering projects.
Last modified: 30/09/2020 04:17
Engineering Tripos Part IIA, 3D5: Water Engineering, 2024-25
Module Leader
Lecturer
Lecturer
Lab Leader
Timing and Structure
Michaelmas term. 16 lectures and coursework.
Aims
The aims of the course are to:
- Explain some fundamental principles necessary for understanding the common water issues in the world.
- Cover the basic topics in practical hydrology, civil engineering hydraulics, turbulent mixing, and water/waste water treatments.
- Allow students to grasp essential concepts and procedures for analysing hydro-environmental processes and develop skills to solve practical water engineering problems.
- Highlight some of the most pressing water-related global challenges, such as freshwater scarcity, soil erosion, water quality deterioration and flooding, and stress the need for sustainable and integrated management of water resources.
Objectives
As specific objectives, by the end of the course students should be able to:
- Comprehend the scope of water-related topics in civil and environmental engineering
- Appreciate the environmental, social, political and economical implications of water engineering
- Understand the hydrologic cycle and the Earth’s water budget
- Understand simple models of infiltration
- Undertake simple rainfall-runoff calculations over small catchments
- Understand river hydraulics.
- Be aware of a wide range of hydro-environmental issues
- Understand the advective, diffusive, dispersive and reactive processes related to pollutant transports in uniform flows
- Evaluate the impact of large hydraulic engineering projects
- Solve steady flows using the equations of mass, energy and momentum conservations
- Analyse unsteady flows using the method of characteristics.
- Explain the cause of soil erosion and mitigation measures.
- Understand the mechanism of sand particle motion.
- Calculate the sediment transport rate and determine the bed regime.
- Select pipeline systems for water conveyance
- Make appropriate pump selections and design simple pumping systems
- Be aware of the principles and elements of water/wastewater treatments and the key engineering variables for their design
- Notice the limitations of the traditional water supply and sewage treatment systems in a sustainability context
Content
Hydrology and Water Resources (4L) 2 lectures/week, weeks 1-2 (Dr Borgomeo)
- Global water issues
- Hydrologic cycle
- Unit hydrographs
Open Channel Flows, Pollutant and Sediment Transports (12L) 2 lectures/week, weeks 3-8 (Prof D. Liang)
- Boundary layer and turbulence
- Flow resistance
- Steady flow in pipelines
- Water pollution
- Steady flow in open channels
- Pollutant advection,diffusion,dispersion and reaction
- Unsteady flow,flood routing and method of characteristics
- Sediment transport and bed form
- Pipeline systems
- Pumping systems
Coursework
Labs on sediment motion will conducted in Inglis Building Structures Lab, which can be accessed through the big double doors on the Peterhouse roadway or through the corner of the Hydraulics Lab. Sign-up page (http://to.eng.cam.ac.uk/teaching/apps/cuedle/index.php?context=3D5) is activated at the start of Michaelmas. Lab reports should be submitted on the 3D5 Moodle page within 15 days after the experiment.
Learning objectives:
- To gain first-hand experience of open channel flow and sediment transport phenomena.
- To study the threshold condition under which sediments are moved. This condition separates the state of the clear-water flow over an immobile bed from the state where sediment transport and bed deformation take place.
- To investigate the relationship between the bed forms and the flow conditions. This is important because the bed forms have a significant impact on the bed roughness and thus the channel conveyance.
- To appreciate the local scour phenomena around underwater structures.
Practical information:
- Lab sessions will take place in the Structures Lab, Inglis Building Ground Floor, which is adjacent to the Robotics Lab.
- This activity doesn't involve preliminary work, but it will be beneficial to read the handouts beforehand.
Full Technical Report:
Students will have the option to submit a Full Technical Report. FTRs should be submitted on the 3D5 Moodel page.
Booklists
Please refer to the Booklist for Part IIA Courses for references to this module, this can be found on the associated Moodle course.
Examination Guidelines
Please refer to Form & conduct of the examinations.
UK-SPEC
This syllabus contributes to the following areas of the UK-SPEC standard:
Toggle display of UK-SPEC areas.
GT1
Develop transferable skills that will be of value in a wide range of situations. These are exemplified by the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority Higher Level Key Skills and include problem solving, communication, and working with others, as well as the effective use of general IT facilities and information retrieval skills. They also include planning self-learning and improving performance, as the foundation for lifelong learning/CPD.
IA1
Apply appropriate quantitative science and engineering tools to the analysis of problems.
KU1
Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of essential facts, concepts, theories and principles of their engineering discipline, and its underpinning science and mathematics.
KU2
Have an appreciation of the wider multidisciplinary engineering context and its underlying principles.
D1
Wide knowledge and comprehensive understanding of design processes and methodologies and the ability to apply and adapt them in unfamiliar situations.
S1
The ability to make general evaluations of commercial risks through some understanding of the basis of such risks.
S3
Understanding of the requirement for engineering activities to promote sustainable development.
S4
Awareness of the framework of relevant legal requirements governing engineering activities, including personnel, health, safety, and risk (including environmental risk) issues.
E1
Ability to use fundamental knowledge to investigate new and emerging technologies.
E2
Ability to extract data pertinent to an unfamiliar problem, and apply its solution using computer based engineering tools when appropriate.
E3
Ability to apply mathematical and computer based models for solving problems in engineering, and the ability to assess the limitations of particular cases.
P1
A thorough understanding of current practice and its limitations and some appreciation of likely new developments.
P3
Understanding of contexts in which engineering knowledge can be applied (e.g. operations and management, technology, development, etc).
US1
A comprehensive understanding of the scientific principles of own specialisation and related disciplines.
US3
An understanding of concepts from a range of areas including some outside engineering, and the ability to apply them effectively in engineering projects.
Last modified: 31/05/2024 07:29
Engineering Tripos Part IIA, 3D5: Water Engineering, 2017-18
Module Leader
Lecturers
Lab Leader
Timing and Structure
Michaelmas term. 16 lectures and coursework.
Aims
The aims of the course are to:
- Explain some fundamental principles necessary for understanding the common water issues in the world.
- Cover the basic topics in practical hydrology, civil engineering hydraulics, turbulent mixing, and water/waste water treatments.
- Allow students to grasp essential concepts and procedures for analysing hydro-environmental processes and develop skills to solve practical water engineering problems.
- Highlight some of the most pressing water-related global challenges, such as freshwater scarcity, soil erosion, water quality deterioration and flooding, and stress the need for sustainable and integrated management of water resources.
Objectives
As specific objectives, by the end of the course students should be able to:
- Comprehend the scope of water-related topics in civil and environmental engineering
- Appreciate the environmental, social, political and economical implications of water engineering
- Understand the hydrologic cycle and the Earth’s water budget
- Understand simple models of infiltration
- Undertake simple rainfall-runoff calculations over small catchments
- Understand river hydraulics.
- Be aware of a wide range of hydro-environmental issues
- Understand the advective, diffusive, dispersive and reactive processes related to pollutant transports in uniform flows
- Evaluate the impact of large hydraulic engineering projects
- Solve steady flows using the equations of mass, energy and momentum conservations
- Analyse unsteady flows using the method of characteristics.
- Explain the cause of soil erosion and mitigation measures.
- Understand the mechanism of sand particle motion.
- Calculate the sediment transport rate and determine the bed regime.
- Select pipeline systems for water conveyance
- Make appropriate pump selections and design simple pumping systems
- Be aware of the principles and elements of water/wastewater treatments and the key engineering variables for their design
- Notice the limitations of the traditional water supply and sewage treatment systems in a sustainability context
Content
Hydrology (3L) 2 lectures/week, weeks 1-2 (Dr F. A. McRobie)
- Global water issues
- Hydrologic cycle
- Unit hydrographs
Open Channel Flows, Pollutant and Sediment Transports (12L) 2 lectures/week, weeks 2-8 (Dr D. Liang)
- Boundary layer and turbulence
- Flow resistance
- Steady flow in pipelines
- Water pollution
- Steady flow in open channels
- Pollutant advection,diffusion,dispersion and reaction
- Unsteady flow,flood routing and method of characteristics
- Sediment transport and bed form
- Pipeline systems
- Pumping systems
Water/Waste Treatments (1L) 2 lectures/week,week 8 (Dr F. A. McRobie)
- Water treatment
- Wastewater treatment
Coursework
Sign up sheets and handouts will be available on the Inglis Building Mezzanine Floor at the start of the Term.
Sediment transport
Learning objectives:
- To gain first-hand experience of open channel flow and sediment transport phenomena.
- To study the threshold condition under which sediments are moved. This condition separates the state of the clear-water flow over an immobile bed from the state where sediment transport and bed deformation take place.
- To investigate the relationship between the bed forms and the flow conditions. This is important because the bed forms have a significant impact on the bed roughness and thus the channel conveyance.
- To appreciate the local scour phenomena around underwater structures.
Practical information:
- Sessions will take place in Room ISG-86 (Inglis Building Ground Floor, Centre for Smart Infrastructure & Construction).
- This activity doesn't involve preliminary work, but it will be beneficial to read the handouts beforehand.
Full Technical Report:
Students will have the option to submit a Full Technical Report.
Booklists
Please see the Booklist for Part IIA Courses for references for this module.
Examination Guidelines
Please refer to Form & conduct of the examinations.
UK-SPEC
This syllabus contributes to the following areas of the UK-SPEC standard:
Toggle display of UK-SPEC areas.
GT1
Develop transferable skills that will be of value in a wide range of situations. These are exemplified by the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority Higher Level Key Skills and include problem solving, communication, and working with others, as well as the effective use of general IT facilities and information retrieval skills. They also include planning self-learning and improving performance, as the foundation for lifelong learning/CPD.
IA1
Apply appropriate quantitative science and engineering tools to the analysis of problems.
KU1
Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of essential facts, concepts, theories and principles of their engineering discipline, and its underpinning science and mathematics.
KU2
Have an appreciation of the wider multidisciplinary engineering context and its underlying principles.
D1
Wide knowledge and comprehensive understanding of design processes and methodologies and the ability to apply and adapt them in unfamiliar situations.
S1
The ability to make general evaluations of commercial risks through some understanding of the basis of such risks.
S3
Understanding of the requirement for engineering activities to promote sustainable development.
S4
Awareness of the framework of relevant legal requirements governing engineering activities, including personnel, health, safety, and risk (including environmental risk) issues.
E1
Ability to use fundamental knowledge to investigate new and emerging technologies.
E2
Ability to extract data pertinent to an unfamiliar problem, and apply its solution using computer based engineering tools when appropriate.
E3
Ability to apply mathematical and computer based models for solving problems in engineering, and the ability to assess the limitations of particular cases.
P1
A thorough understanding of current practice and its limitations and some appreciation of likely new developments.
P3
Understanding of contexts in which engineering knowledge can be applied (e.g. operations and management, technology, development, etc).
US1
A comprehensive understanding of the scientific principles of own specialisation and related disciplines.
US3
An understanding of concepts from a range of areas including some outside engineering, and the ability to apply them effectively in engineering projects.
Last modified: 28/09/2017 13:10
Engineering Tripos Part IIA, 3D5: Water Engineering, 2021-22
Module Leader
Lecturers
Dr D. Liang and Prof F.A. McRobie
Lab Leader
Timing and Structure
Michaelmas term. 16 lectures and coursework.
Aims
The aims of the course are to:
- Explain some fundamental principles necessary for understanding the common water issues in the world.
- Cover the basic topics in practical hydrology, civil engineering hydraulics, turbulent mixing, and water/waste water treatments.
- Allow students to grasp essential concepts and procedures for analysing hydro-environmental processes and develop skills to solve practical water engineering problems.
- Highlight some of the most pressing water-related global challenges, such as freshwater scarcity, soil erosion, water quality deterioration and flooding, and stress the need for sustainable and integrated management of water resources.
Objectives
As specific objectives, by the end of the course students should be able to:
- Comprehend the scope of water-related topics in civil and environmental engineering
- Appreciate the environmental, social, political and economical implications of water engineering
- Understand the hydrologic cycle and the Earth’s water budget
- Understand simple models of infiltration
- Undertake simple rainfall-runoff calculations over small catchments
- Understand river hydraulics.
- Be aware of a wide range of hydro-environmental issues
- Understand the advective, diffusive, dispersive and reactive processes related to pollutant transports in uniform flows
- Evaluate the impact of large hydraulic engineering projects
- Solve steady flows using the equations of mass, energy and momentum conservations
- Analyse unsteady flows using the method of characteristics.
- Explain the cause of soil erosion and mitigation measures.
- Understand the mechanism of sand particle motion.
- Calculate the sediment transport rate and determine the bed regime.
- Select pipeline systems for water conveyance
- Make appropriate pump selections and design simple pumping systems
- Be aware of the principles and elements of water/wastewater treatments and the key engineering variables for their design
- Notice the limitations of the traditional water supply and sewage treatment systems in a sustainability context
Content
Hydrology (3L) 2 lectures/week, weeks 1-2 (Prof FA McRobie)
- Global water issues
- Hydrologic cycle
- Unit hydrographs
Open Channel Flows, Pollutant and Sediment Transports (12L) 2 lectures/week, weeks 2-8 (Dr D. Liang)
- Boundary layer and turbulence
- Flow resistance
- Steady flow in pipelines
- Water pollution
- Steady flow in open channels
- Pollutant advection,diffusion,dispersion and reaction
- Unsteady flow,flood routing and method of characteristics
- Sediment transport and bed form
- Pipeline systems
- Pumping systems
Water/Waste Treatments (1L) 2 lectures/week, week 8 (Prof FA McRobie)
- Water treatment
- Wastewater treatment
Coursework
Labs on sediment motion will conducted in Inglis Building Structures Lab (shared space with 3D1 and 3C7 Labs). Sign-up page (http://to.eng.cam.ac.uk/teaching/apps/cuedle/index.php?context=3D5) will activated on Tuesday of Week 0. Lab reports should be submitted on the 3D5 Moodle page within 15 days after the experiment.
Learning objectives:
- To gain first-hand experience of open channel flow and sediment transport phenomena.
- To study the threshold condition under which sediments are moved. This condition separates the state of the clear-water flow over an immobile bed from the state where sediment transport and bed deformation take place.
- To investigate the relationship between the bed forms and the flow conditions. This is important because the bed forms have a significant impact on the bed roughness and thus the channel conveyance.
- To appreciate the local scour phenomena around underwater structures.
Practical information:
- Lab sessions will take place in the Structures Lab, Inglis Building Ground Floor, which is adjacent to the Robotics Lab.
- This activity doesn't involve preliminary work, but it will be beneficial to read the handouts beforehand.
Full Technical Report:
Students will have the option to submit a Full Technical Report. FTRs should be submitted on the 3D5 Moodel page.
Booklists
Please refer to the Booklist for Part IIA Courses for references to this module, this can be found on the associated Moodle course.
Examination Guidelines
Please refer to Form & conduct of the examinations.
UK-SPEC
This syllabus contributes to the following areas of the UK-SPEC standard:
Toggle display of UK-SPEC areas.
GT1
Develop transferable skills that will be of value in a wide range of situations. These are exemplified by the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority Higher Level Key Skills and include problem solving, communication, and working with others, as well as the effective use of general IT facilities and information retrieval skills. They also include planning self-learning and improving performance, as the foundation for lifelong learning/CPD.
IA1
Apply appropriate quantitative science and engineering tools to the analysis of problems.
KU1
Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of essential facts, concepts, theories and principles of their engineering discipline, and its underpinning science and mathematics.
KU2
Have an appreciation of the wider multidisciplinary engineering context and its underlying principles.
D1
Wide knowledge and comprehensive understanding of design processes and methodologies and the ability to apply and adapt them in unfamiliar situations.
S1
The ability to make general evaluations of commercial risks through some understanding of the basis of such risks.
S3
Understanding of the requirement for engineering activities to promote sustainable development.
S4
Awareness of the framework of relevant legal requirements governing engineering activities, including personnel, health, safety, and risk (including environmental risk) issues.
E1
Ability to use fundamental knowledge to investigate new and emerging technologies.
E2
Ability to extract data pertinent to an unfamiliar problem, and apply its solution using computer based engineering tools when appropriate.
E3
Ability to apply mathematical and computer based models for solving problems in engineering, and the ability to assess the limitations of particular cases.
P1
A thorough understanding of current practice and its limitations and some appreciation of likely new developments.
P3
Understanding of contexts in which engineering knowledge can be applied (e.g. operations and management, technology, development, etc).
US1
A comprehensive understanding of the scientific principles of own specialisation and related disciplines.
US3
An understanding of concepts from a range of areas including some outside engineering, and the ability to apply them effectively in engineering projects.
Last modified: 04/10/2021 15:51
Engineering Tripos Part IIA, 3D5: Water Engineering, 2018-19
Module Leader
Lecturers
Lab Leader
Timing and Structure
Michaelmas term. 16 lectures and coursework.
Aims
The aims of the course are to:
- Explain some fundamental principles necessary for understanding the common water issues in the world.
- Cover the basic topics in practical hydrology, civil engineering hydraulics, turbulent mixing, and water/waste water treatments.
- Allow students to grasp essential concepts and procedures for analysing hydro-environmental processes and develop skills to solve practical water engineering problems.
- Highlight some of the most pressing water-related global challenges, such as freshwater scarcity, soil erosion, water quality deterioration and flooding, and stress the need for sustainable and integrated management of water resources.
Objectives
As specific objectives, by the end of the course students should be able to:
- Comprehend the scope of water-related topics in civil and environmental engineering
- Appreciate the environmental, social, political and economical implications of water engineering
- Understand the hydrologic cycle and the Earth’s water budget
- Understand simple models of infiltration
- Undertake simple rainfall-runoff calculations over small catchments
- Understand river hydraulics.
- Be aware of a wide range of hydro-environmental issues
- Understand the advective, diffusive, dispersive and reactive processes related to pollutant transports in uniform flows
- Evaluate the impact of large hydraulic engineering projects
- Solve steady flows using the equations of mass, energy and momentum conservations
- Analyse unsteady flows using the method of characteristics.
- Explain the cause of soil erosion and mitigation measures.
- Understand the mechanism of sand particle motion.
- Calculate the sediment transport rate and determine the bed regime.
- Select pipeline systems for water conveyance
- Make appropriate pump selections and design simple pumping systems
- Be aware of the principles and elements of water/wastewater treatments and the key engineering variables for their design
- Notice the limitations of the traditional water supply and sewage treatment systems in a sustainability context
Content
Hydrology (3L) 2 lectures/week, weeks 1-2 (Prof F. A. McRobie)
- Global water issues
- Hydrologic cycle
- Unit hydrographs
Open Channel Flows, Pollutant and Sediment Transports (12L) 2 lectures/week, weeks 2-8 (Dr D. Liang)
- Boundary layer and turbulence
- Flow resistance
- Steady flow in pipelines
- Water pollution
- Steady flow in open channels
- Pollutant advection,diffusion,dispersion and reaction
- Unsteady flow,flood routing and method of characteristics
- Sediment transport and bed form
- Pipeline systems
- Pumping systems
Water/Waste Treatments (1L) 2 lectures/week,week 8 (Prof F. A. McRobie)
- Water treatment
- Wastewater treatment
Coursework
Sign up sheets and handouts will be available on the Inglis Building Mezzanine Floor at the start of the Term.
Sediment transport
Learning objectives:
- To gain first-hand experience of open channel flow and sediment transport phenomena.
- To study the threshold condition under which sediments are moved. This condition separates the state of the clear-water flow over an immobile bed from the state where sediment transport and bed deformation take place.
- To investigate the relationship between the bed forms and the flow conditions. This is important because the bed forms have a significant impact on the bed roughness and thus the channel conveyance.
- To appreciate the local scour phenomena around underwater structures.
Practical information:
- Sessions will take place in Room ISG-86 (Inglis Building Ground Floor, Centre for Smart Infrastructure & Construction).
- This activity doesn't involve preliminary work, but it will be beneficial to read the handouts beforehand.
Full Technical Report:
Students will have the option to submit a Full Technical Report.
Booklists
Please see the Booklist for Part IIA Courses for references for this module.
Examination Guidelines
Please refer to Form & conduct of the examinations.
UK-SPEC
This syllabus contributes to the following areas of the UK-SPEC standard:
Toggle display of UK-SPEC areas.
GT1
Develop transferable skills that will be of value in a wide range of situations. These are exemplified by the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority Higher Level Key Skills and include problem solving, communication, and working with others, as well as the effective use of general IT facilities and information retrieval skills. They also include planning self-learning and improving performance, as the foundation for lifelong learning/CPD.
IA1
Apply appropriate quantitative science and engineering tools to the analysis of problems.
KU1
Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of essential facts, concepts, theories and principles of their engineering discipline, and its underpinning science and mathematics.
KU2
Have an appreciation of the wider multidisciplinary engineering context and its underlying principles.
D1
Wide knowledge and comprehensive understanding of design processes and methodologies and the ability to apply and adapt them in unfamiliar situations.
S1
The ability to make general evaluations of commercial risks through some understanding of the basis of such risks.
S3
Understanding of the requirement for engineering activities to promote sustainable development.
S4
Awareness of the framework of relevant legal requirements governing engineering activities, including personnel, health, safety, and risk (including environmental risk) issues.
E1
Ability to use fundamental knowledge to investigate new and emerging technologies.
E2
Ability to extract data pertinent to an unfamiliar problem, and apply its solution using computer based engineering tools when appropriate.
E3
Ability to apply mathematical and computer based models for solving problems in engineering, and the ability to assess the limitations of particular cases.
P1
A thorough understanding of current practice and its limitations and some appreciation of likely new developments.
P3
Understanding of contexts in which engineering knowledge can be applied (e.g. operations and management, technology, development, etc).
US1
A comprehensive understanding of the scientific principles of own specialisation and related disciplines.
US3
An understanding of concepts from a range of areas including some outside engineering, and the ability to apply them effectively in engineering projects.
Last modified: 03/08/2018 14:48
Engineering Tripos Part IIA, 3D5: Water Engineering, 2022-23
Module Leader
Lecturers
Dr D. Liang and Prof F.A. McRobie
Lab Leader
Timing and Structure
Michaelmas term. 16 lectures and coursework.
Aims
The aims of the course are to:
- Explain some fundamental principles necessary for understanding the common water issues in the world.
- Cover the basic topics in practical hydrology, civil engineering hydraulics, turbulent mixing, and water/waste water treatments.
- Allow students to grasp essential concepts and procedures for analysing hydro-environmental processes and develop skills to solve practical water engineering problems.
- Highlight some of the most pressing water-related global challenges, such as freshwater scarcity, soil erosion, water quality deterioration and flooding, and stress the need for sustainable and integrated management of water resources.
Objectives
As specific objectives, by the end of the course students should be able to:
- Comprehend the scope of water-related topics in civil and environmental engineering
- Appreciate the environmental, social, political and economical implications of water engineering
- Understand the hydrologic cycle and the Earth’s water budget
- Understand simple models of infiltration
- Undertake simple rainfall-runoff calculations over small catchments
- Understand river hydraulics.
- Be aware of a wide range of hydro-environmental issues
- Understand the advective, diffusive, dispersive and reactive processes related to pollutant transports in uniform flows
- Evaluate the impact of large hydraulic engineering projects
- Solve steady flows using the equations of mass, energy and momentum conservations
- Analyse unsteady flows using the method of characteristics.
- Explain the cause of soil erosion and mitigation measures.
- Understand the mechanism of sand particle motion.
- Calculate the sediment transport rate and determine the bed regime.
- Select pipeline systems for water conveyance
- Make appropriate pump selections and design simple pumping systems
- Be aware of the principles and elements of water/wastewater treatments and the key engineering variables for their design
- Notice the limitations of the traditional water supply and sewage treatment systems in a sustainability context
Content
Hydrology (3L) 2 lectures/week, weeks 1-2 (Prof FA McRobie)
- Global water issues
- Hydrologic cycle
- Unit hydrographs
Open Channel Flows, Pollutant and Sediment Transports (12L) 2 lectures/week, weeks 2-8 (Dr D. Liang)
- Boundary layer and turbulence
- Flow resistance
- Steady flow in pipelines
- Water pollution
- Steady flow in open channels
- Pollutant advection,diffusion,dispersion and reaction
- Unsteady flow,flood routing and method of characteristics
- Sediment transport and bed form
- Pipeline systems
- Pumping systems
Water/Waste Treatments (1L) 2 lectures/week, week 8 (Prof FA McRobie)
- Water treatment
- Wastewater treatment
Coursework
Labs on sediment motion will conducted in Inglis Building Structures Lab, which can be accessed through the big double doors on the Peterhouse roadway or through the corner of the Hydraulics Lab. Sign-up page (http://to.eng.cam.ac.uk/teaching/apps/cuedle/index.php?context=3D5) is activated at the start of Michaelmas. Lab reports should be submitted on the 3D5 Moodle page within 15 days after the experiment.
Learning objectives:
- To gain first-hand experience of open channel flow and sediment transport phenomena.
- To study the threshold condition under which sediments are moved. This condition separates the state of the clear-water flow over an immobile bed from the state where sediment transport and bed deformation take place.
- To investigate the relationship between the bed forms and the flow conditions. This is important because the bed forms have a significant impact on the bed roughness and thus the channel conveyance.
- To appreciate the local scour phenomena around underwater structures.
Practical information:
- Lab sessions will take place in the Structures Lab, Inglis Building Ground Floor, which is adjacent to the Robotics Lab.
- This activity doesn't involve preliminary work, but it will be beneficial to read the handouts beforehand.
Full Technical Report:
Students will have the option to submit a Full Technical Report. FTRs should be submitted on the 3D5 Moodel page.
Booklists
Please refer to the Booklist for Part IIA Courses for references to this module, this can be found on the associated Moodle course.
Examination Guidelines
Please refer to Form & conduct of the examinations.
UK-SPEC
This syllabus contributes to the following areas of the UK-SPEC standard:
Toggle display of UK-SPEC areas.
GT1
Develop transferable skills that will be of value in a wide range of situations. These are exemplified by the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority Higher Level Key Skills and include problem solving, communication, and working with others, as well as the effective use of general IT facilities and information retrieval skills. They also include planning self-learning and improving performance, as the foundation for lifelong learning/CPD.
IA1
Apply appropriate quantitative science and engineering tools to the analysis of problems.
KU1
Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of essential facts, concepts, theories and principles of their engineering discipline, and its underpinning science and mathematics.
KU2
Have an appreciation of the wider multidisciplinary engineering context and its underlying principles.
D1
Wide knowledge and comprehensive understanding of design processes and methodologies and the ability to apply and adapt them in unfamiliar situations.
S1
The ability to make general evaluations of commercial risks through some understanding of the basis of such risks.
S3
Understanding of the requirement for engineering activities to promote sustainable development.
S4
Awareness of the framework of relevant legal requirements governing engineering activities, including personnel, health, safety, and risk (including environmental risk) issues.
E1
Ability to use fundamental knowledge to investigate new and emerging technologies.
E2
Ability to extract data pertinent to an unfamiliar problem, and apply its solution using computer based engineering tools when appropriate.
E3
Ability to apply mathematical and computer based models for solving problems in engineering, and the ability to assess the limitations of particular cases.
P1
A thorough understanding of current practice and its limitations and some appreciation of likely new developments.
P3
Understanding of contexts in which engineering knowledge can be applied (e.g. operations and management, technology, development, etc).
US1
A comprehensive understanding of the scientific principles of own specialisation and related disciplines.
US3
An understanding of concepts from a range of areas including some outside engineering, and the ability to apply them effectively in engineering projects.
Last modified: 02/10/2022 17:57
Engineering Tripos Part IIA, 3D5: Water Engineering, 2019-20
Module Leader
Lecturers
Lab Leader
Timing and Structure
Michaelmas term. 16 lectures and coursework.
Aims
The aims of the course are to:
- Explain some fundamental principles necessary for understanding the common water issues in the world.
- Cover the basic topics in practical hydrology, civil engineering hydraulics, turbulent mixing, and water/waste water treatments.
- Allow students to grasp essential concepts and procedures for analysing hydro-environmental processes and develop skills to solve practical water engineering problems.
- Highlight some of the most pressing water-related global challenges, such as freshwater scarcity, soil erosion, water quality deterioration and flooding, and stress the need for sustainable and integrated management of water resources.
Objectives
As specific objectives, by the end of the course students should be able to:
- Comprehend the scope of water-related topics in civil and environmental engineering
- Appreciate the environmental, social, political and economical implications of water engineering
- Understand the hydrologic cycle and the Earth’s water budget
- Understand simple models of infiltration
- Undertake simple rainfall-runoff calculations over small catchments
- Understand river hydraulics.
- Be aware of a wide range of hydro-environmental issues
- Understand the advective, diffusive, dispersive and reactive processes related to pollutant transports in uniform flows
- Evaluate the impact of large hydraulic engineering projects
- Solve steady flows using the equations of mass, energy and momentum conservations
- Analyse unsteady flows using the method of characteristics.
- Explain the cause of soil erosion and mitigation measures.
- Understand the mechanism of sand particle motion.
- Calculate the sediment transport rate and determine the bed regime.
- Select pipeline systems for water conveyance
- Make appropriate pump selections and design simple pumping systems
- Be aware of the principles and elements of water/wastewater treatments and the key engineering variables for their design
- Notice the limitations of the traditional water supply and sewage treatment systems in a sustainability context
Content
Hydrology (3L) 2 lectures/week, weeks 1-2 (Prof F. A. McRobie)
- Global water issues
- Hydrologic cycle
- Unit hydrographs
Open Channel Flows, Pollutant and Sediment Transports (12L) 2 lectures/week, weeks 2-8 (Dr D. Liang)
- Boundary layer and turbulence
- Flow resistance
- Steady flow in pipelines
- Water pollution
- Steady flow in open channels
- Pollutant advection,diffusion,dispersion and reaction
- Unsteady flow,flood routing and method of characteristics
- Sediment transport and bed form
- Pipeline systems
- Pumping systems
Water/Waste Treatments (1L) 2 lectures/week,week 8 (Prof F. A. McRobie)
- Water treatment
- Wastewater treatment
Coursework
Sign-up sheets will be posted on the Inglis Building Mezzanine Floor by 9am on Wednesday of Week 0.
Sediment transport
Learning objectives:
- To gain first-hand experience of open channel flow and sediment transport phenomena.
- To study the threshold condition under which sediments are moved. This condition separates the state of the clear-water flow over an immobile bed from the state where sediment transport and bed deformation take place.
- To investigate the relationship between the bed forms and the flow conditions. This is important because the bed forms have a significant impact on the bed roughness and thus the channel conveyance.
- To appreciate the local scour phenomena around underwater structures.
Practical information:
- Sessions will take place in Room ISG-86 (Inglis Building Ground Floor, Centre for Smart Infrastructure & Construction).
- This activity doesn't involve preliminary work, but it will be beneficial to read the handouts beforehand.
Full Technical Report:
Students will have the option to submit a Full Technical Report.
Booklists
Please see the Booklist for Part IIA Courses for references for this module.
Examination Guidelines
Please refer to Form & conduct of the examinations.
UK-SPEC
This syllabus contributes to the following areas of the UK-SPEC standard:
Toggle display of UK-SPEC areas.
GT1
Develop transferable skills that will be of value in a wide range of situations. These are exemplified by the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority Higher Level Key Skills and include problem solving, communication, and working with others, as well as the effective use of general IT facilities and information retrieval skills. They also include planning self-learning and improving performance, as the foundation for lifelong learning/CPD.
IA1
Apply appropriate quantitative science and engineering tools to the analysis of problems.
KU1
Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of essential facts, concepts, theories and principles of their engineering discipline, and its underpinning science and mathematics.
KU2
Have an appreciation of the wider multidisciplinary engineering context and its underlying principles.
D1
Wide knowledge and comprehensive understanding of design processes and methodologies and the ability to apply and adapt them in unfamiliar situations.
S1
The ability to make general evaluations of commercial risks through some understanding of the basis of such risks.
S3
Understanding of the requirement for engineering activities to promote sustainable development.
S4
Awareness of the framework of relevant legal requirements governing engineering activities, including personnel, health, safety, and risk (including environmental risk) issues.
E1
Ability to use fundamental knowledge to investigate new and emerging technologies.
E2
Ability to extract data pertinent to an unfamiliar problem, and apply its solution using computer based engineering tools when appropriate.
E3
Ability to apply mathematical and computer based models for solving problems in engineering, and the ability to assess the limitations of particular cases.
P1
A thorough understanding of current practice and its limitations and some appreciation of likely new developments.
P3
Understanding of contexts in which engineering knowledge can be applied (e.g. operations and management, technology, development, etc).
US1
A comprehensive understanding of the scientific principles of own specialisation and related disciplines.
US3
An understanding of concepts from a range of areas including some outside engineering, and the ability to apply them effectively in engineering projects.
Last modified: 27/10/2019 12:43
Engineering Tripos Part IIA, 3D2: Geotechnical Engineering II, 2018-19
Leader
Lecturers
Dr S Haigh and Prof Viggiani
Lab Leader
Dr S Haigh
Timing and Structure
Lent term, 16 lectures.
Prerequisites
3D1
Objectives
As specific objectives, by the end of the course students should be able to:
- Use plastic deformation mechanisms, compatibility factors, and equilibrium factors to predict structural distortions by scaling up shear stress-strain curves
- Use the Cam Clay model to predict changes of stress and volume in simple shear and triaxial tests.
- Predict the onset of yield, failure and ultimate critical states of soil elements subject to any stress path.
- Recognise the origins of the undrained strength (“apparent cohesion”) of clay, and estimate excess pore pressures induced by shearing
- Recognise the origins of the super-critical strength (“true cohesion”) of overconsolidated soils in terms of interlocking and dilatancy
- Assess the influence of effective stress history on the current state of lateral earth pressure.
- Derive and plot stress distributions around expanding or contracting cavities.
- Analyse the pressuremeter test using elasticity and plasticity, and be able to deduce strength and stiffness parameters from a test curve.
- Analyse the stability of, and settlement due to, tunnel construction.
- Generate appropriate values of shear stiffness, or mobilised shear strength, for soils with power law stress-strain curves beyond their linear-elastic limit.
- Recognise the potential sources of brittleness in soils, and suggest appropriate stress path triaxial tests to better define the problem
- Diagnose the delayed failure of overconsolidated clay slopes, and suggest counter-measures.
- Diagnose quick clay flowslides, and suggest counter-measures.
- Assess the stability of slopes.
Content
Whereas module 3D1 was concerned chiefly with the limiting equilibrium of plastic soil bodies and soil consolidation, 3D2 aims to address ground deformations and to avoid brittle failures. Soils are an order of magnitude more compliant than steel or concrete, so designers have to limit the mobilisation of soil strength to keep ground strains small enough to guarantee the serviceability of adjacent structures. Furthermore, some soils are inherently brittle, and their strength can deteriorate if they are permitted to strain excessively; this can lead to unexpected catastrophic failures. In geotechnical engineering, therefore, strains are often more important than stresses.
The Cam Clay model of soil behaviour is introduced to link concepts of consolidation and shearing, to envision drained and undrained soil behaviour within a single conceptual framework, to distinguish between yielding and failure, and to contrast stress paths that lead to brittle softening with those that lead to stable hardening. These comparisons and contrasts are central to the correct characterisation of soils for geotechnical decision-making. They are the subject of the first examples paper.
The module continues with the characterisation of in situ stress states as a function of the previous stress history of the site, and considers the stress paths which they will follow as a result of construction. Pressuremeter testing of soils gives data of their in situ stress-strain behaviour which can also be assessed via triaxial tests on samples trimmed from high-quality cores. Such stress-strain data can be applied within plastic deformation mechanisms to the prediction of ground displacements in the design and construction of tunnels, retaining walls and foundations. These strain-related issues are addressed in the second examples paper.
Particular materials, stress paths, and changes in environmental conditions can lead to catastrophic failures. The key to avoiding such failures is either to improve the ductility and continuity of materials and structures, or to take the utmost care in controlling soil strains in service. This is the subject of the third examples paper.
Topic 1: Basics: Soil Stress-strain, 3D Stresses & strains and their invariants, Prof K Soga
Stress/strain invariants and soil behaviour (Lecture 1)
Typical stress-strain behaviour of sand and clay, Dilation, contraction and critical state, total and effective stress, 3D stresses and strains, strain and strain invariants, stress paths.
Direct shear, simple shear and triaxial test (Lecture 2)
Different laboratory test methods to evaluate stiffness and strength of soils. Undrained and drained tests.
Topic 2: The Cam Clay model, Prof K Soga
Shearing of soils: work and dissipation, yield surface and normality (Lecture 3)
Taylor’s work equation, recast in terms of shearing resistance comprising friction and dilation angles. Yield surface in effective stress space. Normality principle guarantees maximum dissipation, providing a plastic flow rule. Derivation of the Cam Clay yield surface.
Critical states,normal compression, and yield (Lecture 4)
A Cam Clay yield surface projected over an elastic swelling-line on a specific volume plot. Derivation of a critical state line parallel to a normal compression line; 3D state surface of shear stress, effective normal stress and specific volume.
Understanding drained and undrained shearing using Cam-clay model (Lecture 5)
Drained shearing of soil at a given density, but from points of normal consolidation and overconsolidation; different peak angles, same ultimate angle. Undrained shearing from same points; different peak undrained strengths, same ultimate strength. Remoulded undrained strength is due to friction, with effective stresses modified by excess pore pressures induced by shearing; is only a function of density.
Stress-strain relationship (Lecture 6)
Development of stress-strain relationship of Cam clay model. Application of numerical programs for modern geotechnical analysis.
Topic 3: In situ stresses, stress paths, and pressuremeter testing , Prof R J Mair
Stress history dictates in situ lateral earth pressure (Lecture 7)
Sedimentation, burial, erosion, and variations of water table. Overconsolidation ratio, definition of earth pressure coefficient and its variation with stress history. Influence of lateral extension due to an adjacent excavation.
Stress paths for retaining walls and foundations (Lecture 8)
Use of vertical and horizontal equilibrium equations to estimate total stress paths due to simplified cases of vertical loading or horizontal unloading. Correlation with effective stress paths dictated either by undrained or drained soil conditions. Predicting the approach of soil states to limiting strength envelopes.
Stress paths and triaxial tests (Lecture 9)
TaylorStress paths in the ground arising from a variety of construction processes, and relating to a range of representative locations. The capability of assessing soil response in appropriate triaxial stress path tests on representative samples recovered from the field.
The pressuremeter test (Lecture 10)
Meynard and Self-Boring Pressuremeters. Kinematics of cylindrical expansion in soil shearing at constant volume; derivation of strains. Radial equilibrium equation. If soil were linear elastic – cavity pressure versus cavity strain, shear modulus. Radial and circumferential stress changes at the cavity boundary, zero excess pore pressures.
Inferring soil stiffness and strength from a pressuremeter test (Lecture 11)
Gibson and Anderson solution for perfectly elastic-plastic soil. Cavity pressure versus logarithm of expansion ratio. Estimating undrained strength both from plastic gradient, and from extrapolated limit pressure. Alternative solution for power-law soil; Bolton and Whittle solution for unload-reload loops.
Application of pressuremeter data to tunnel design and construction (Lecture 12)
Tunnelling technology, face support, ground loss, settlement trough, lining pressure. Equivalent radial contraction of a cylindrical cavity. Estimating ground loss as a function of tunnel support. Stability of a tunnel face.
Topic 4: Avoiding catastrophic soil failures - Prof K Soga
Deterioration of overconsolidated clays – delayed failure of slopes (Lecture 13)
Example: Skempton’s London Clay slopes and LUL embankments. Analysis: cyclic mobilisation of internal friction in excess of critical state angle leading to ultimate failure. Need to design for critical state friction and worst pore water pressures. The error of relying on “true cohesion”.
Quick clay flowslides – origins and avoidance (Lecture 14)
Example: Rissa landslide. Analysis: structure of quick clays, wetter than liquid limit, but peculiarly quasi-stable. Role of isostatic uplift, sodium ion concentration reducing due to fresh water leaching.
Slope stability analysis (Lecture 15 & 16)
Analysis methods to assess the stability of slopes in sands and clays. Infinite slope, effect of groundwater flow, embankment construction.
Examples papers
There will be three examples papers directly related to the lecture course, given out in weeks 1, 5 and 7.
- In situ state, stress paths, pressuremeter tests.
- The Cam Clay model.
- In situ states, stress paths, pressuremeter tests and ground movements.
Coursework
One laboratory exercise on Soil classification.
[Coursework Title]
Learning objectives:
Practical information:
- Sessions will take place in [Location], during week(s) [xxx].
- This activity [involves/doesn't involve] preliminary work ([estimated duration]).
Full Technical Report:
Students will have the option to submit a Full Technical Report.
Booklists
Please see the Booklist for Part IIA Courses for references for this module.
Examination Guidelines
Please refer to Form & conduct of the examinations.
UK-SPEC
This syllabus contributes to the following areas of the UK-SPEC standard:
Toggle display of UK-SPEC areas.
GT1
Develop transferable skills that will be of value in a wide range of situations. These are exemplified by the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority Higher Level Key Skills and include problem solving, communication, and working with others, as well as the effective use of general IT facilities and information retrieval skills. They also include planning self-learning and improving performance, as the foundation for lifelong learning/CPD.
IA1
Apply appropriate quantitative science and engineering tools to the analysis of problems.
KU1
Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of essential facts, concepts, theories and principles of their engineering discipline, and its underpinning science and mathematics.
KU2
Have an appreciation of the wider multidisciplinary engineering context and its underlying principles.
E1
Ability to use fundamental knowledge to investigate new and emerging technologies.
E2
Ability to extract data pertinent to an unfamiliar problem, and apply its solution using computer based engineering tools when appropriate.
E3
Ability to apply mathematical and computer based models for solving problems in engineering, and the ability to assess the limitations of particular cases.
P1
A thorough understanding of current practice and its limitations and some appreciation of likely new developments.
US1
A comprehensive understanding of the scientific principles of own specialisation and related disciplines.
US2
A comprehensive knowledge and understanding of mathematical and computer models relevant to the engineering discipline, and an appreciation of their limitations.
Last modified: 13/09/2018 14:39
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