Hydraulic structures

Hydraulic structures

When water must be managed, moved or used, some form of hydraulic

structure is needed. This simple fact requires that engineers develop efficient
hydraulic structures; e.g., for – reservoirs; water, waste-water or storm-water
conveyance; control of sediment, air, chemical, and woody debris transport;
and, the well-being of the environments in which water-engineering activities
occur. Efficient designs of hydraulic structures involve considerations of the
material behavior of water, fluid mechanics, thermodynamics, weather
forecasting, as well as attention to the form and physical performance of the
structures used.

The department is renowned for its research into the design of many types of
hydraulic structure. This research involves the department’s extensive
education programs in hydraulic engineering and hydrology, and engages
CSU’s wide-ranging expertise in water-related areas; e.g., Atmospheric Science
and Watershed Science. Current and recent research topics include reservoir
spillways, alluvial-channel stability, hydropower facilities, levees, bridge
waterways, slope-protection techniques, water intakes, and kayak courses. The
figures show research activities on spillway performance, wave-overtopping of a
grassed levee and the design of sediment-trapping structures for use in a
braided channel. An insight into various projects is available at the website for
CSU’s Hydraulics Laboratory;