Name: ………………………………………..

Student number: …………………

TECHNICAL HYDRAULICS – Exam October 2020

Important notes:
All calculations can be done on the accompanying scrap paper. These notes
however, will NOT be considered in the assigning of the points.
Most answers need to be filled in on the multiple choice answer page. The matching
multiple choice question is indicated in the question [MC#]. Do not forget to fill in
your student number on the multiple choice answer sheet.
The other, drawing related questions need to be answered on the attached figures.
Do not forget to write your name and student number on the figure answer sheet.
In the rest of this exam, assume the gravitational acceleration to be g = 9.81 [m s 2],
water’s kinematic viscosity to be = 1 10 6 [m2 s 1] and water’s density to be
= 1 103 [kg m 3].

Question 1 (44/133 points)

A mountain torrent has a slope of Jf = 0.25, and a trapezoidal cross section of bottom width
of Bbottom = 3 [m], both banks inclined at an angle = 30 [°] and maximum flow depth
Dmax = 1.5 [m] (see sketch). The Manning Strickler roughness coefficient is estimated at
Ks = 25 [m1/3 s 1]. The torrent flows through a village, where the law imposes that the torrent
must have sufficient capacity for the 100 year discharge HQ100, which is the discharge that
has a probability of occurring once every century. Hydrologists have estimated that
HQ100 = 10 [m3 s 1].

Dmax

Bbottom
The hydraulic engineer will estimate what the existing maximum flow capacity of the torrent
is, i.e. the maximum discharge without the risk of overtopping of the flow over the banks.
1. [MC1] As a first approximation, one could assume that there is always
normal flow in the torrent, and that there is no overtopping as long as the
water surface for normal flow remains below the crest level of the banks.
Calculate the maximum flow capacity Qmax,1 based on this method. (6 points)
2. [MC2] Calculate the critical flow depth Dc,1 for this maximum flow
capacity Qmax,1. (6 points)
3. [MC3] Identify the flow regime (steep slope or mild slope). (2 points)

This method is overly optimistic, because the water surface is not stable and flat in reality,
but irregular and wavy. Moreover, any obstacle in the flow may give rise to increases in
water surface elevation. It is quite common to estimate the flow capacity in mountain
torrents based on the assumption of critical flow instead of normal flow.

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Name: ……………………………………….. Student number: …………………

4. [MC4] Calculate the maximum flow capacity Qmax,2 based on the

hypothesis of critical flow. (6 points)
5. [MC5] Calculate also the normal flow depth Dn,2 for this maximum flow
capacity Qmax,2. (6 points)

Due to bank reinforcement works, a dry zone needs to be created along a short stretch of
the torrent, cutting off both banks from the flowing water. As indicated in the figure, two
straight dividing walls will be placed on the flat bottom part of the torrent. The hydraulic
engineer is tasked with finding out the best placement of these walls, so that the dry zone is
as large as possible, while not posing any danger of overtopping, should HQ100 occur during
the works.

W
6. [MC6] Calculate the specific energy of the normal flow depth for the 100
year discharge Es(Dn,HQ100) for the unperturbed reach upstream of the
narrowing. (8 points)
7. [MC7] What is the minimum width W that the narrowed channel needs to
have so that the flow is not perturbed upstream (in other words: so that
the specific energy of the normal flow upstream of the narrowing, is not
smaller than the specific energy of the critical flow inside of the narrowed
reach) for HQ100? (10 points)

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Name: ……………………………………….. Student number: …………………

Question 2 (26/133 points)

A pipe and a pump are used to transport water up from a stream into a manmade channel
for irrigation purposes. During the design process, two options are considered: option 1 in
which the pipe outflow releases a jet in the air and option 2 where the pipe outflow is
located under water. In both cases, the pipe has a diameter of D = 0.3 [m] and an equivalent
roughness of ks = 3.6 10 3 [m]. The pipe is not straight, but includes several bends, which
introduce minor energy losses parameterized by a loss coefficient K = 0.7 [ ] (in total). Minor
energy losses at the pipe inflow can be neglected.

In design option 1, the pipe has a length of L1 = 60 [m]. In design option 2, the pipe has a
length of L2 = 65 [m] and its underwater outflow induces additional minor losses which are
parameterized by a loss coefficient K = 1 [ ]. A sketch of the side view of both designs is
shown below.
option 1
460 masl
458 masl
Q
455 masl

450 masl

option 2
460 masl
458 masl
Q
455 masl
453 masl
450 masl

During operation, the pipe has to transport a discharge of at least Q = 0.3 [m3 s 1].
1. [MC8] Calculate the minimum energy head the pump needs to produce in
design option 1. (9 points)
2. [MC9] Calculate the minimum energy head the pump needs to produce in
design option 2. (9 points)

A scale model of both designs is built as a test. The lab pump is able to produce 1/10th of the
discharge projected for the real case.
3. [MC10] The scale model is based on a so called Reynolds similarity, which
means that the Reynolds number is the same in the real case and in the
laboratory scale model. Determine the pipe diameter in the laboratory
scale model. (4 points)
4. [MC11] Determine the pipe roughness ks in the model so that also the
Darcy Weisbach friction coefficient is conserved. (4 points)

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Name: ……………………………………….. Student number: …………………

Question 3 (30/133 points)

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Water is pumped out of a pipe with cross sectional area S1 = 0.05 [m ] at a velocity of
V1 = 3 [m s 1] before it hits a stationary plate that is tilted at an angle = 35 [°] relative to
the incoming jet. The incoming jet is split into two outgoing jets. Assume that the effects of
gravity (i.e. the weight of the fluid) can be neglected, and that energy losses can also be
neglected. The jet is surrounded by air at atmospheric pressure. The figure pictures the top
view of the jet exiting the pipe and hitting the plate.

flow

1. [MC12] Which of the following statements concerning the velocities of

the incoming and outgoing jets is always correct due to conservation
principles: V1 = V2 + V3, V1 = V2 = V3, 2V1 = V2 + V3, or V2 = 2V3? (4 points)
2. [MC13] Which of the following statements concerning the cross sectional
areas of the incoming and outgoing jets is always correct due to
conservation principles: S1 = S2 + S3, S1 = S2 = S3, 2S1 = S2 + S3, or S2 = 2S3? (4 points)
3. [MC14] Calculate the x component of the total force Fflow the jet exerts on
the plate. Assume that S2 = 2S3. (9 points)
4. [MC15] Calculate the y component of the total force Fflow the jet exerts on
the plate. Assume that S2 = 2S3. (9 points)
5. [MC16] Calculate the magnitude of the angle between the direction of
the total force Fflow and the incoming jet. (4 points)

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Name: ……………………………………….. Student number: …………………

Question 4 (33/133 points)

A semi circular shaped plane is partly submerged in water as shown in the following figure.
The water level on the left is DL = 2 [m], the water level on the right is DR = 4 [m]. Note that
all considerations for your calculations are per unit width.

DR

y
DL
x

(0,0)

1. Draw the pressure distribution on both sides of the structure in the

attached sketch. (6 points)
2. [MC17] Compute the horizontal component of the force on the structure
Fh. (8 points)
3. [MC18] Compute the vertical component of the force on the structure Fv. (8 points)
4. [MC19] Compute the magnitude of the total resultant force FT. (3 points)
5. [MC20] Compute the angle of the total resultant force with respect to
the vertical (y direction). (3 points)
6. [MC21] Compute the action point of the total resultant force, taking the
origin where the semi circle touches the bottom. (5 points)