Courses | VD Academic Affairs

Characteristics of water, air and their contaminants, environmental equilibrium chemistry, environmental chemical kinetics, transport processes and reactor models, water quality issues in the natural environment, water supply and pollution control systems, treatment processes, physical process, chemical process, biological process, air quality, solid wastes and residues.

Basic characteristics of soils, soil compaction, permeability and seepage, effective stress principle, stresses in a soil mass, consolidation theory and settlement, shear strength of soils, introduction to geo-synthetics, various laboratory experiments are performed to illustrate the basic principles of soil mechanics.

This course is designed to present to undergraduate students the principles and tools of the broad area of transportation engineering and systems. This includes traffic and highway engineering with laboratory work involved once a week. Mathematical models and concepts for the study of transportation systems are presented. Some basic concepts of transport economics and optimization are introduced in this course.

Analysis of indeterminate structures by classical methods i.e. consistent deformations method using flexibility matrices, slope-deflection method, and moment distribution method. Static and kinematic indeterminacy, direct stiffness matrix method for trusses, beam and frames. Coordinate transformation and assembling technique using element approach with computer applications.

This course introduces students to the fundamental principles of design of reinforced concrete structural elements. This course discusses properties of concrete as a structural material, behavior of reinforced concrete structural elements such as beams and one way slab. The course covers design specifications required for elements experiencing shear and flexure behavior, and serviceability requirements. The course includes design of reinforcements in concrete for bond and development length for various conditions. The design specifications are according to the building code of practice of American Concrete Institute (ACI).

Introduction to coastal engineering, linear wave theory, dispersion, kinematic & dynamic properties of waves, shoaling, refraction, diffraction, wave run-up, overtopping and reflection, wind waves and statistics, wave forecasting, astronomical tides, wave pressure, wave forces on circular piles and seawalls.

Applications of basic wave theory and numerical models to coastal problems, short- and long-term wave analyses, wave-induced processes: mass transport, sediment motion, longshore currents and sediment transport, wave setup and set-down, wave run-up and overtopping, and wave scour, response of sheltered bays, marinas, and harbors to wave agitation, coastal structures: types, functionality, limitations, design factors, breakwater design principles and groin systems, modeling and scaling laws in coastal engineering, applications/predictions based on computer software systems.

Atmospheric air movement dynamic, Physics of particle motion, Mathematical modeling of sand flux, Physical modeling of sand flux (wind tunnel), Sand accumulation and erosion, Computer exercises. Field trips.

Water quality and standards, Population studies. Plant layout. Design of physical, chemical and biological processes for water and wastewater treatment. Water desalination. Water reuse. Disposal methods and processing of biosolids. Development of design parameters based on laboratory and pilot plant data.

Principles of hydraulics of open channels including energy and momentum approaches, concepts of critical flow, surface roughness and velocity distribution, theory and application of uniform, gradually varied, and rapidly varied flows, Elements of unsteady open channel flow.

Groundwater occurrence, Mechanics of flow through porous media, Darcy's law, ground flow equation, groundwater storage, steady and unsteady groundwater flow to wells, estimation of aquifer parameters, regional groundwater flow, groundwater flow in coastal aquifers, response of groundwater flow to pumping (steady, unsteady, leaky, and non-leaky), numerical and analytical models for groundwater flow, management of groundwater resources, case studies.

Design and analysis of hydraulic systems such as open channels, street gutters, culverts, water supply networks, pumps and storage tanks, drainage and flood control components, storm sewers, sanitary sewers.

An environmental engineering course that emphasizes student's ability to integrate knowledge gained in basic sciences, fluid mechanics, and water resources to control various types of environmental pollution and conserve resources. Evaluation and analysis of environmental quality factors, population and resource use, air pollution, water pollution, solid waste management, thermal pollution, noise pollution, radiation, energy and the environment, and environmental impact of development projects.

Use of computers in the analysis of water resources and environmental engineering problems. Computation of uniform and non-uniform flows in open channels, culvert design and hydraulics. Storm sewer systems modeling and design.

An introduction to groundwater and well hydraulics with emphasis on groundwater contaminations processes (point source and non-point source), groundwater quality standards, basic reactions influencing groundwater chemistry, saltwater intrusion modeling, coastal aquifers management, hydraulic control in groundwater wells, and groundwater remediation.