Introduction
A theoretical research was conducted to demonstrate and to understand several fundamentals of hydraulics. This lab entailed information gathering and analysis of hydraulic fundamentals. It employed the use of both primary sources and secondary sources to collect relevant information on the selected topics on hydraulic fundamentals. The aim of the lab was to research and understand several fundamentals of hydraulics. The fundamentals were identified, defined and described in a non-technical manner. Additionally, the importance of the hydraulic fundamentals was briefly discussed. The scope of the lab was confined to a list of hydraulic fundamentals which included hydraulic head, the density of water, energy grade line, unit weight of water, hydrodynamics, hydrostatics, role of pressure in hydraulics, the role of incompressibility of water, the role of energy in hydraulics and hydraulic grade line. The information required for the research and understanding of hydraulic fundamentals were gathered from both primary and secondary sources. The primary source included an interview with a professional engineer while the secondary sources included peer-reviewed journals and books on hydraulics.
Methodology
The lab objectives and tasks were completed through secondary research and primary data collection techniques. Hydraulic fundamentals were identified, defined and described using information gathered from both primary and secondary sources. An interview with a professional engineer provided primary source of information for the lab. Additionally, most of the topics on hydraulic fundamentals were research through the use of peer-reviewed journals and books on hydraulics. The secondary data gathering methods employed through the use of books and peer-reviewed journals provided both basic and in-depth understanding of the topic.
Only sources relevant to hydraulics were selected and used for the research. Each topic on hydraulic fundamentals was thoroughly researched, defined, described and analysed. Most of what was not clear from the secondary sources were elaborated through an interview with a professional engineer. The results of the data collection and analysis were recorded and compiled a memo.
Results of analysis
Hydraulic Head
Hydraulic head is the value that assesses the quantity of mechanical energy store and available in a body of water like a river, lake or stream. It is the same as the water level in a non-flowing body of water. In other words, hydraulic head is the height of a non-flowing water column above an indiscriminate point (Lee et al. 51). It is the measurement of the water level when at the section of the water body where water is not in motion. According to Engineer Gregory, hydraulic head is normally measured in meters. It is imperative to point out that hydraulic head is directly proportional to the energy of the water at a precise location. Water sections with high hydraulic head tend to possess more energy while those with low hydraulic head tend to possess less energy.
Hydraulic head plays a very significant role in hydraulics since it determines the amount of energy stored in specific locations of a water body. It is majorly applied in hydroelectric facilities to harness the energy of different water levels (Monin and Akiva 35). The amount of energy collected highly depends on the difference between hydraulic heads in the reservoir and the tailwater below the dam. The amount of energy that can be harnessed from two different sections of a water body depends on the difference in the two hydraulic heads. More energy is harnessed when the difference between the heads is big.
Energy Grade Line
Energy grade line is normally drawn above the hydraulic grade line. It is used to signify the altitude of energy head of water flowing in a channel, conduit or pipe. It is imperative to point out that energy grade line is marked above the hydraulic grade line at a distance equivalent to the velocity head of the water or fluid flowing at each point along the channel or pipe (Lee et al. 53). The grade line can also be used to indicate the total amount of energy available to the water or fluid. It is worth noting that energy grade line remains at a constant level for a fluid flow devoid of any energy losses due to components or friction.
Hydraulic Grade Line
Hydraulic grade line is a measure of the flow of fluid energy and is considered as the line that coincides with the level of flowing fluid at any given point along an open pipe or channel. In closed channels flowing under pressure, the hydraulic grade line is the level to which water rises in a vertical tube at any given point along the channel. It is determined by computing the difference between the energy grade line and the velocity head (Monin and Akiva 37).
Hydraulic grade line is the level that water flowing under pressure in a closed pipe would rise to in the case a small vertical pipe is connected to the channel. It is also considered as one velocity head below the energy grade line. Engineer Gregory adds that its importance in hydraulics is to help the designer in determining the acceptability of a proposed drainage system or an evaluation of an existing drainage system. It determines the acceptability by instituting the height to which water will rise when the system is functioning.
Density of Water
According to Monin and Akiva (45), the density of water is the measure of its mass about its unit volume. It is the mass per unit volume of water. It is determined by computing the quotient of the mass and the volume of the fluid. In most cases, the density of water is expressed in gramme per cubic centimetre. The density of pure water is estimated to be around 1g/cm3. It is imperative to point out that the density of water plays a significant role in hydraulics. It is employed in the calculation of several fundamentals of hydraulics. Several hydraulic factors such as pressure rely on the density of water. Additionally, the density of water is significantly used to determine the value of fresh water head. The pressure head of fresh water assumes a directly proportional relationship with the density of water. It is worth noting that the density of water varies depending on salinity and temperature in equal measure. As a consequence, calculation of fresh water had depended on the density of water inside the piezometer.
Engineer Gregory explains that the unit weight of water as the amount of force exerted by a unit mass of water as a result of gravitational forces. The weight affects the mass of the water, which in turn affects the density of water. It is imperative for the calculation of several hydraulic factors, including density of water and fresh water head.
Hydrostatics
Hydrostatics is a concern with the study of incompressible fluids that are at rest. It incorporates the study of situations under which fluids at rest are in steady equilibrium contrasting to fluid dynamics which deals with fluids in motion (Lee et al. 53). This field of study is significant to hydraulics and the design of equipment for transporting, using and storing fluids. It elaborates on different fluid behavior such as the change in atmospheric pressure with altitude.
Hydrodynamics
As opposed to hydrostatics, hydrodynamics is the study of fluids in motion. It elaborates on the behavior of fluids in motion, such as the change in pressure along different channel cross-sections. Hydrodynamics explains the characteristics of fluids in motion as well as the forces acting on solid objects immersed in fluids. It is used to study different flows of fluids in motion, such as laminar flow and turbulent flow. These attributes of fluids in motion are employed in dam design, computational fluid dynamics, hydropower, pumps and fluid control circuitry.
Role of pressure in hydraulics
Hydraulics relies on the pressure transfer property of incompressible fluids. The force transmitted from one point of incompressible fluids to another section depends on upon the pressure transfer principle. An increase in pressure at any given point in a confined liquid or air results to increase at every other section in the channel (Monin and Akiva 64). The force transfer, water head, energy head and hydraulic head depend on the pressure of the fluid. As a consequence, pressure is very significant to hydraulics given that it determines almost every aspect.
Role of energy in hydraulics
Engineer Gregory (2016) asserts that energy is transferred from one section of the fluid to the other depending on the difference in energy heads at the sections in question. It plays a significant role given that hydraulics seeks to understand and convert the energy stored in fluids to usable energy. Similar to pressure, an increase in energy at any given point in a confined liquid or air results to increase at every other section in the channel
Role of incompressibility of water
The incompressibility of water is a fundamental factor in hydraulics given that the transfer of pressure from one section of water to the other relies on incompressibility. It one imperative attributes of water that allow it to be used for hydraulics. It is crucial for water to be incompressible for pressure and force to be transmitted from one section to another (Lee et al. 53). Changes in one point of water cannot be directly proportional to any other section of water without the incompressibility attribute. It is significant for water to be incompressible, so as to allow equal transfer of pressure through the fluid.
Two predominate sources of energy in hydraulics
According to Eng. Gregory, the two predominate sources of energy in hydraulics include pressure displacement and height displacement. Energy is released when fluids are forced through small cross-sections which increase their pressure thus increasing their force. Additionally, energy is dissipated when fluid move from higher hydraulic head to lower hydraulic head. The difference in hydraulic head between the two sections within a fluid results in energy dissipation.
Discussion
The collected results are correct given that they were obtained from reliable sources such as peer-reviewed journals, books and a professional engineer. There are several studies that have been done on these subjects. As a result, there were several sources and vast information on the subjects to collect, analyse and present. The major problem encountered during the research was the daunting task of reading through several sources before compiling the information into the relevant outcome.
Works Cited
Gregory Mark, Eng. “Hydraulic Fundamentals” Telephone interview. 6 Sept. 2016.
Monin, Andreĭ Sergeevich, and Akiva M. Yaglom. Statistical fluid mechanics, Volume II: Mechanics of Turbulence. Vol. 2. Courier Corporation, 2013. Print.
Lee, Eun-Sug, et al. "Application of weakly compressible and truly incompressible SPH to 3-D water collapse in waterworks." Journal of Hydraulic Research 48.S1 (2010): 50-60. Print.
