Product Description

This text covers the full range of material needed by civil engineering students in their study of hydraulics. It begins by covering the fundamental material with which it is important to get to grips before progressing to more advanced study. Detailed explanation of these fundamentals gives the reader a clear understanding of what happens, as well as why, when and where. The author is careful to match the mathematics to the level needed by students at this level, and a range of pedagogical devices are used to reinforce the learning.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #47830 in Books
• Published on: 2001-10-19
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 640 pages

About the Author
LES HAMILL is a senior lecturer in civil engineering at the School of Civil and Structural Engineering, University of Plymouth.

Customer Reviews

"Understanding Hydraulics" - I do now!
Unlike many of todays technical textbooks, the use of the word 'understanding' is not a misnomer.
The format of the book employs a question and answer theme to work through from the basic principals of hydraulics (hydrostatics, pipeline flow, open channel flow etc) to demonstrating and using more complicated theory (hydraulic structures and models etc). This is done with an imaginary student (Spike) asking the questions and a learned Professor answering them.
I found this text to compare favourably with it's counterparts, many of the recommended texts for Civvil Engineering and Environmental Engineering degree courses fail to display the clarity and easy to read format that this textbook demonstrates. "Fluid Mechanics" by B.S.Massey,is used by many university students. The scope of the subject matter is superior to most other texts. Unfortunately it assumes too much prior knowledge and fails to simplify complicated derivations. Although "Understanding Hydraulics" does not cover all the fields that Massey does the easy to read format and unconvoluted style promotes understanding. There are also plenty of examples, which are always a winner with students!
It is not only suitable for students, I will be using it in industry and find the modernised language refreshing.
Overall I would give this 9/10, with the only criticism I have being that there could have been more subjects covered(e.g. sediment transport). Or maybe that could be another book!

'Understanding Hydraulics" - I do now too!
Excellent book for anyone needing to understand hydraulics and engineering hydrology. Invaluable. My favourite.

PS: The chapter on engineering hydrology and particulary about surface runoff is much better and has more info than Shaw's Hydrology. Well illustrated section on hydrographs and stats analysis. Also it contains info on groundwater and well hydraulics.

Well written
I think this is a great book for anybody studying Hydraulics, nicely written, plenty of examples and self test questions.