Abstract:

A Fluid, Hydraulics, and Hydrology Laboratory is essential for providing Civil Engineering students with hands-on experience, enabling them to apply theoretical principles from water resources management courses in a practical setting. This paper shares the experience of developing a much-needed Fluid, Hydraulics, and Hydrology Laboratory in the Department of Engineering at the University of Tennessee at Martin. The developed laboratory is the latest addition to the curriculum as a core requirement for civil engineering students. The comprehensive efforts involved, setting up the laboratory, purchasing the equipment, including a description of experimental methods are presented in this work. Fluid mechanics studies water and other fluids under different conditions. On the other hand, Hydrology examines the water cycle and its components, while hydraulics investigates the movement of water in different physical systems. The laboratory provides hands-on experience and allows students to visualize and understand complex concepts in all three areas. The laboratory is equipped with a 5-meter Flume with different Hydraulic Structures (e.g. Gates, Spillways, Siphon, Culverts, Weirs, and a Wave Generator), Hydraulic Benches, Bernoulli Apparatus, Pipe Loss Display, Reynolds Number Apparatus, and a Rainfall Simulator. This lab is used to examine different research topics that are related to flood control. Currently, we are evaluating and testing different types of Low Impact Development (LID) techniques by utilizing Rainfall Simulator to investigate infiltration and runoff. The newly constructed laboratory not only benefited engineering students but also served as a valuable recruiting tool for prospective students. Positive feedback was received from our students and professional visitors. The students’ feedback highly emphasized the benefits of this laboratory to reinforce the theoretical learning outcomes in the related courses which lacked the hands-on and visual experience of the principles of fluids, hydraulics and hydrology. Several departments on campus showed interest in collaboration as it aligns with their research needs. Developing a new engineering laboratory demands extensive preparation, dedication, and can present challenges at times, but the rewarding achievements undoubtedly make the effort worthwhile.

Keywords:

Fluid, Hydraulics, Hydrology, laboratory, Civil, Engineering, Hands on.