575.708.81 - Open Channel Hydraulics

Expanded Course Description

Prerequisites

Course Structure

The course materials are divided into modules which can be accessed by clicking Modules on the menu. A module will have several sections including the overview, content, readings, discussions, and assignments. You are encouraged to preview all sections of the module before starting. Most modules run for a period of seven (7) days, exceptions are noted in the Course Outline. You should regularly check the Calendar and Announcements for assignment due dates.

Course Topics

Module 1: Basic Principles of Open Channel Flow
Module 2: Specific Energy, Critical Flows
Module 3: Flow Measuring Structures
Module 4: Specific Energy and Momentum Equations
Module 5: Applications of Energy and Momentum Equations
Module 6: Uniform Flow Part 1
Module 7: Uniform Flow Part 2
Module 8: Gradually Varied Flow Part 1
Module 9: Gradually Varied Flow Part 2 and HEC-RAS Application
Module 10: Hydraulic Structures Part 1
Module 11: Hydraulic Structures Part 2
Module 12: Flow in Alluvial Channels and Channel Bed Stability

Course Goals

Upon successful completion of the course, the participants will be able to design artificial open channels for conveyance of open channel flows for various channel bed conditions and be able to use and apply the U.S. Corps of Engineers HEC-RAS computer software to natural open channels.

Course Learning Outcomes (CLOs)

• Apply the principles of fluid mechanics to establish formulations of flows in open channels.
• Apply energy equation to calculate physical properties of flow and flow behavior in open channels.
• Apply momentum equation to calculate and to determine the flow regimes in open channels.
• Perform manual computations to determine normal flow depth and velocity for various prismatic channel bed cover conditions
• Analyze normal, gradually-varied, and rapidly-varied flows in open channel systems.
• Proficiency in manual computations of gradually-varied and rapidly-varied open channel flows in prismatic channels.
• Apply the HEC-RAS computer program software for numerical computations of one-dimensional gradually-varied flows in irregular and natural channels with complex geometry.
• Analyze flow behavior in culverts using manual computations to identify the flow regime.
• Design a selected number of hydraulic structures applied along open channels.
• Analyze natural channel beds for stability and potential for scouring and design and apply proper erosion protection.
• Evaluate the hydraulic structures failures as an awareness tool for consequence of improper design and maintenance issues.

Textbooks

Required

Other Materials & Online Resources

U.S. Corps of Engineers (USACE) computer software HEC-RAS and its manuals will be available from the government website to be downloaded to personal computers, free of charge, for use in this course.

Required Software

Microsoft Excel

Student Coursework Requirements

This is a full 14-weeks semester course presented in 12-week summer semester; consequently, resulting in a faster pace than a normal semester. Also, the course provides 10% additional work for students who desire to push their grades higher (review Grading section for details).

It is expected that the class will take approximately 8–12 hours per week in addition to listening to the lectures and attending the Office Hours. The required time varies mostly due to the student’s background in the subject matter. Work includes reading the assigned sections of the textbook as well as some additional readings; reviewing the course notes; and completing the weekly assignments.

Grades to the weekly assignment will be as follows:

• Complete correct work shown on all problems (100%)
• Good effort demonstrated on majority of problems, minor errors (75%)
• Mediocre effort on majority of problems (50%)
• Work not submitted or late work submitted (0%)

1. Assignments - Assignments will normally be assigned every week, and solutions will generally be posted the following week. You will submit your assignments through the course site. Homework is graded on correctness and showing details of computations. It is important that you compare your work to the posted solutions and understand and practice the differences.
   
2. Laboratory Experiments - Laboratory experiments will be assigned based on the publicly published instructional videos available on the web. Students will be required to turn in laboratory reports throughout the semester based on their understanding of the assigned open channel hydraulics experiments.
3. Exam 1 -I will use an open-book Exam to assess your ability to solve problems and will cover the first one-third of the course. This exam will be open-book / open-notes, and you will have 48 hours to complete the exam, starting at 11:59 AM Eastern time on Friday of the Module. Collaboration is NOT allowed on the exam.
4. Exam 2 - I will use an open-book Exam to assess your ability to solve problems and will cover the first two-third of the course. This exam will be open-book / open-notes, and you will have 48 hours to complete the exam, starting at 11:59 AM Eastern time on Friday of the Module. Collaboration is NOT allowed on the exam.
5. Exam 3 -I will use an open-book Exam to assess your ability to solve problems and will cover the entire course material. This exam will be open-book / open-notes, and you will have 48 hours to complete the exam, starting at 11:59 AM Eastern time on Friday of the Module. Collaboration is NOT allowed on the exam.
6. Term Project -The students are required to turn in the computer modeling and solution to a real life open channel problem using USACE HEC-RAS computer software. Through this work, students will learn the HEC-RAS software, computer data entry, execution of the computer program, tabulation of the results, and submitting a short report regarding their work. Collaboration is allowed on the Term Project.
7. Discussions - This Discussions will be open throughout the semester to initiate technical discussions regarding topics of interest among all of us. Selective Discussion topics will be posted during the course period as related to modules’ subject matters. Everyone is encouraged to participate. The participation and contributions will be considered to move grades upward, if the final grade is on a borderline.
8. Weekly Office Hours - This course will provide a weekly office hour. The topics covered include but are not limited to: providing guidance to solving problems of weekly assignments, answering technical questions regarding the course, reviewing a selected solution of previous weekly assignment, and providing guides for performing the Lab assignments, exams, and other technical issues of interest.
9. Preparation and Participation - This course will require you to actively participate in the learning process. While, online courses are convenient in that you don’t need to travel to the campus and sit in a classroom for three hours, but they require more effort on the part of the students in return for that convenience. You are encouraged to log into the course website continuously for updates and perform assignments on time. 

Grading Policy

(1) 10% additional is bonus to encourage 110% performance by students while grading is based on 100%. In other words, if a student earns a total of 98 points or more out of 110 points in this course, that equates to an A+ as the final grade. 

For totals which fall at limits of the grades (e.g. 89.4%), instructor will use class participation and discussions to round up overall student’s grade. 

Course Policies

Assignments, reports, and exams are expected to be turned in the course site as indicated in the assignment. They will be considered late if they are received after the specified time. No submissions via email are allowed. Special circumstances (e.g., temporary lack of internet access) can be accommodated if the student informs the instructor in advance. Assignments that are unjustifiably late will have the grade reduced or not be graded for lateness at instructor’s discretion.

Students are expected to participate/submit the assigned work to receive a final grade for the course:

• Assignments
• Labs
  
• Exam 1
• Exam 2
• Exam 3
• Term Project
  
• Preparation and Participation

Academic Policies

Deadlines for Adding, Dropping and Withdrawing from Courses

Students may add a course up to one week after the start of the term for that particular course. Students may drop courses according to the drop deadlines outlined in the EP academic calendar (https://ep.jhu.edu/student-services/academic-calendar/). Between the 6th week of the class and prior to the final withdrawal deadline, a student may withdraw from a course with a W on their academic record. A record of the course will remain on the academic record with a W appearing in the grade column to indicate that the student registered and withdrew from the course.

Academic Misconduct Policy

All students are required to read, know, and comply with the Johns Hopkins University Krieger School of Arts and Sciences (KSAS) / Whiting School of Engineering (WSE) Procedures for Handling Allegations of Misconduct by Full-Time and Part-Time Graduate Students.

This policy prohibits academic misconduct, including but not limited to the following: cheating or facilitating cheating; plagiarism; reuse of assignments; unauthorized collaboration; alteration of graded assignments; and unfair competition. Course materials (old assignments, texts, or examinations, etc.) should not be shared unless authorized by the course instructor. Any questions related to this policy should be directed to EP’s academic integrity officer at ep-academic-integrity@jhu.edu.

Students with Disabilities - Accommodations and Accessibility

Johns Hopkins University values diversity and inclusion. We are committed to providing welcoming, equitable, and accessible educational experiences for all students. Students with disabilities (including those with psychological conditions, medical conditions and temporary disabilities) can request accommodations for this course by providing an Accommodation Letter issued by Student Disability Services (SDS). Please request accommodations for this course as early as possible to provide time for effective communication and arrangements.

For further information or to start the process of requesting accommodations, please contact Student Disability Services at Engineering for Professionals, ep-disability-svcs@jhu.edu.

Student Conduct Code

The fundamental purpose of the JHU regulation of student conduct is to promote and to protect the health, safety, welfare, property, and rights of all members of the University community as well as to promote the orderly operation of the University and to safeguard its property and facilities. As members of the University community, students accept certain responsibilities which support the educational mission and create an environment in which all students are afforded the same opportunity to succeed academically. 

For a full description of the code please visit the following website: https://studentaffairs.jhu.edu/policies-guidelines/student-code/

Classroom Climate

JHU is committed to creating a classroom environment that values the diversity of experiences and perspectives that all students bring. Everyone has the right to be treated with dignity and respect. Fostering an inclusive climate is important. Research and experience show that students who interact with peers who are different from themselves learn new things and experience tangible educational outcomes. At no time in this learning process should someone be singled out or treated unequally on the basis of any seen or unseen part of their identity. 
 
If you have concerns in this course about harassment, discrimination, or any unequal treatment, or if you seek accommodations or resources, please reach out to the course instructor directly. Reporting will never impact your course grade. You may also share concerns with your program chair, the Assistant Dean for Diversity and Inclusion, or the Office of Institutional Equity. In handling reports, people will protect your privacy as much as possible, but faculty and staff are required to officially report information for some cases (e.g. sexual harassment).

Course Auditing

When a student enrolls in an EP course with “audit” status, the student must reach an understanding with the instructor as to what is required to earn the “audit.” If the student does not meet those expectations, the instructor must notify the EP Registration Team [EP-Registration@exchange.johnshopkins.edu] in order for the student to be retroactively dropped or withdrawn from the course (depending on when the "audit" was requested and in accordance with EP registration deadlines). All lecture content will remain accessible to auditing students, but access to all other course material is left to the discretion of the instructor.