Courses
CE 315: Fluid Mechanics
This course introduces students to the field of fluid mechanics that examines the behavior of fluids, both liquids and gases, at rest and in motion. Much of this examination will rely on Newton’s laws of motion, as well as the fundamental principles of conservation of mass, momentum, and energy. If you apply yourself both inside and outside of class, after the course you will be able to perform the following tasks:
1. Use fluid properties such as density, viscosity, vapor pressure and surface tension in fluid
calculations.
2. Measure and calculate pressure in engineered systems.
3. Calculate hydrostatic and buoyant forces on objects.
4. Use the 3 control volumes equations of continuity, linear momentum & energy to solve
fluid problems.
5. Explain the physical differences between laminar and turbulent flow.
6. Utilize Poiseuille’s Law (laminar) & the Moody Diagram (turbulent) to analyze friction
losses in pipes. 7. Estimate head loss, pumping input, and turbine output in hydraulic
systems.
8. Use dimensional analysis and dimensionless numbers (Re and Fr) to evaluate scaling &
modeling issues.
9. Use sound engineering judgment to make appropriate assumptions and perform fluid
mechanical calculations.
CE 351: Water Resources Engineering
Introduce the relationship between hydrology and water resources as it relates to defining water needs, availability, allocation, and development. At the end of this course, the student will:
1. be familiar with the concepts of water resources engineering;
2. calculate energy loss in pipes and fittings using multiple approaches and equations;
3. be familiar with pump types and their benefits and drawbacks;
4. construct a system curve and select a pump based on a given design flow;
5. be familiar with the hydrologic cycle and the equations that describe the processes in the
hydrologic cycle;
6. describe quantitatively and qualitatively precipitation, evapotranspiration, and infiltration;
7. be familiar with the concepts and calculations associated with surface water flow,
including overland flow and open channel flow.
CE 475: Groundwater
Water is the single most important natural resource on our planet, and groundwater is the largest reservoir of Earth’s fresh water. About 2/3 of the population of Washington State relies on groundwater for drinking water. This course will survey groundwater science, water quantity and quality and their interrelationships via subsurface biogeochemistry. The course integrates lab and lecture components. The lab features hands-on laboratory and field exercises, and development and use of mathematical models. Our Groundwater Field Demonstration Site (GFDS) supports investigations of groundwater quantity and quality, and groundwater – surface water interactions. We plan an optional exercise with our UI colleagues: an aquifer pumping test (Topic 3 below) on the UI campus. Dates and times will be announced.