UNIVERSITY OF MAURITIUS

FACULTY OF ENGINEERING

FIRST SEMESTER EXAMINATIONS

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2012
PROGRAMME

BEng (Hons) Civil Engineering (Full-Time)

BEng (Hons) Civil Engineering (Part-Time)

MODULE NAME
DATE

Fluid Mechanics II/ Fluid Mechanics III

Monday

MODULE CODE

10 December 2012

TIME
NO. OF
QUESTIONS SET

13:30 15:30 Hrs

6

CIVE 3104

DURATION
NO. OF QUESTIONS
TO BE ATTEMPTED

INSTRUCTIONS TO CANDIDATES
Answer Any Five (5) Questions

CIVE 3220(5)/

2 hours
5

FLUID MECHANICS II/ FLUID MECHANICS II CIVE 3220(5)/CIVE 3104

Answer Any Five (5) Questions

Question 1
(a)

With the help of outline diagrams, explain the formation of temporary and
permanent springs.
[5 marks]

(b)

Explain how the hydrological data collection is influenced by the accuracy of the
water balance calculations, with reference to appropriate examples.
[8 marks]

(c)

Daily rainfall is collected at 12 stations and the average daily rainfall is estimated
by both the thiessen polygon method and the method of isoheyts. How do these
two methods compare with regards to accuracy?
[7 marks]

Question 2
(a)

The flow rate of a river is estimated by the current meter gauging method.
Explain how the process behind this method enables a relatively accurate
estimation of flow. State 2 measures that should be taken to ensure better
estimates of flow rate.
[10 marks]

(b)

Discuss 5 factors you would consider when selecting an appropriate site to set up
a river gauging station.
[5 marks]

(c)

A rating curve has been derived for a particular river gauging station. Heavy
rainfall damaged the river channel at the station, justify the validity of this rating
curve, after this rainfall event.
[5 marks]

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FLUID MECHANICS II/ FLUID MECHANICS II CIVE 3220(5)/CIVE 3104

Question 3
(a)

Describe the procedures behind the measurements of the following: Infiltration

rate and Evaporation rate.
[6 marks]

(b)

Five observation wells were used to map the groundwater flow directions within
a region, as follows:
OW
No.

Eastings

Northings

1
2
3
4
5

2
5
4
6
1

10
9
2
5
3

Depth to
groundwater level
(m)
23
12
56
89
35

Surface
elevation of
OW (m)
215
235
612
504
401

Illustrate the groundwater flow direction.

[10 marks]
(c)

Explain how the map in part (b) can be used as a decision making tool, while
considering possible allocation of a permit for groundwater abstraction for a wet
textile industry.
[4 marks]

Question 4
(a)

A flow rate of 50m3/s of water flows in a rectangular channel 8m wide with a

depth of 0.5m. Show that a hydraulic jump is likely to occur.
[5marks]

(b)

Calculate the depth after the jump and the head loss.
[10 marks]

(c)

Show by applying Newtons Laws that when a hydraulic jump occurs in a

rectangular channel, the depth after the jump is:

h2= h1 [ {(1+8Fr12)} - 1] / 2
[5 marks]

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FLUID MECHANICS II/ FLUID MECHANICS II CIVE 3220(5)/CIVE 3104

Question 5
(a)

A rectangular channel is 1.2m wide and narrows to 0.6m in a venturiflume. The

depth of entrance and throat are 0.6m and 0.55m respectively. Calculate the flow
rate given that Cd = 0.88.
[10marks]

(b)

A slightly rough brick-lined trapezoidal channel (n = 0.017) carrying a discharge

of Q = 25 m3/sec is to have a longitudinal slope of S0 = 0.0004. Derive the
proportions of an efficient trapezoidal channel section having a side slope of 1.5
horizontal: 1 vertical.
[10 marks]

Question 6
(a)

A rectangular channel is 3.2m wide and must carry 5m3/s of water with the
minimum specific head. Calculate the depth of flow and mean velocity?
[7 marks]

(b)

If the channel in (a), must carry flow at constant depth, calculate the slope of the
bed, taking Mannings constant as 0.022. Assuming same flow depth as in (a).
[8 marks]

(c)

Illustrate the flow profiles of mild slope and steep slope channels.
[5 marks]

END OF QUESTION PAPER

/ph

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