What Do Students Need in Hydraulic Design Projects?

Abstract

As engineering curriculums strive to meet Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology 2000 design criteria as well as the demands of prospective employers, educators must often develop and incorporate design projects into courses. Unfortunately, in the fluid mechanics/hydraulics disciplines, textbooks do not often provide sufficient design examples, leaving professors with little resources in this area. This paper presents hydraulic engineering design projects for use in the undergraduate classroom that mirror consulting practice. In addition to the presentation of the projects, the paper discusses enhancements to the design-oriented learning experience in the areas of written communication, computer competency, and synthesis and application of hydraulic engineering concepts.