This course covers a wide range of physical effects involved in the dynamics of water in the environment. It identifies the foundations of the models used by engineers or researchers in particular for managing water in the environment. It aims at developing physical intuition; deep understanding and critical thinking of students, discussing which effects are rigorously taken into account, modelled or ignored. Its purpose is two folds:

• Explore practical problems of environmental fluid mechanics to identify basic concepts useful for the engineer or the researcher in environmental sciences.
• Illustrate the modelling approach in Fluid Mechanics designed to understand and control the natural environment while developing a detailed understanding of these models.

Introduction

I. Foundations
1. Fluid physics, the forces, the pressure in the incompressible flow and viscosity.
2. Simple example Poiseuille flow, dimensional analysis and equations Pi theorem, the Reynolds number, viscous flow.

II. Underground Flow
3. Flow in a fault and asymptotic expansion, Darcy law.
4. Groundwater flow, fluidization limit.

III. River hydraulics
5. Turbulence and friction flow loaded with particles.
6. Open Channel Hydraulics, waves and flooding projections.

IV. Marine Hydrodynamics
7. Surface waves.
8. Refraction of waves and coastal morphodynamics.
9. Plumes and underwater flows.

Requirements : none

Evaluation mechanism : Three hours written exam

Last Modification : Friday 1 April 2011