Coastal Hydrodynamics and Hazards - James M. Kaihatu

Teaching

Some challenges of Zoom lecturing from home during the 2020 quarantine.

Statement

I generally teach courses that involve the study of surface waves, sediment motion and fluid dynamics. I also regularly teach classes in undergraduate numerical methods and computer programming and engineering vector dynamics.

When I teach an undergraduate class, I keep in mind that I am training future engineers. These students will need the tools they will eventually use for their engineering work after graduation. I not only provide these tools, but also give them the theory behind the development of these tools. With this knowledge, they are able to determine what to use in different scenarios. I also find the underlying common concepts throughout all the various topics in a course, and use that as a framework so that the students are able to see the evolution of their learning. My teaching in undergraduate courses is quite directed and use a small number of sources for the class material. When I teach graduate students, however, my approach changes. In this case I emphasize the theory; an eventual practicing engineer is not going to learn the foundational underpinnings of their engineering practice anywhere else. Even in graduate courses with significant engineering content, the theory is never far away. I also use a wide variety of sources so that the students can see how different solution approaches can work.

Current Teaching Information

  • Semester: Fall 2024
  • Course(s): CVEN 465 MW 1500-1615 HEB 104
  • Office Hours: T 0930-1100; R 1330-1500 –  or by appointment
  • Course information on Canvas

Courses Taught:

  • OCEN 671 – Ocean Wave Mechanics: Fall 2006, Fall 2007, Fall 2008, Fall 2015, Fall 2016
  • CVEN 311 – Fluid Dynamics: Spring 2007, Spring 2008, Spring 2009, Spring 2010, Spring 2011, Fall 2017, Fall 2018, Spring 2019, Spring 2020, Spring 2023
  • OCEN 682 – Coastal Sediment Processes: Spring 2008, Spring 2010, Spring 2013
  • CVEN 302 – Computer Applications in Engineering and Construction: Spring 2009, Fall 2016, Fall 2017, Spring 2018, Fall 2019, Summer 2020, Fall 2020, Fall 2022, Spring 2024, Spring 2025
  • OCEN 675 – Nonlinear Wave Dynamics: Fall 2009, Fall 2011, Fall 2013, Spring 2017, Spring 2021
  • OCEN 674 – Ports and Harbors: Fall 2010
  • OCEN 400 – Basic Coastal Engineering: Fall 2011, Fall 2012, Fall 2013, Fall 2014, Fall 2015, Fall 2021
  • OCEN 672 – Coastal Engineering: Spring 2012, Spring 2013, Spring 2014, Spring 2015, Spring 2016
  • CVEN 689 – Special Topics: Sediment Transport Mechanics and Modeling: Spring 2019
  • CVEN 465 – Coastal Resilience: Fall 2020, Fall 2022, Fall 2023, Fall 2024
  • CVEN 363 – Engineering Mechanics: Dynamics: Fall 2021, Spring 2022

Course Details:

  • OCEN 671 – Ocean Wave Mechanics: Fall 2006, Fall 2007, Fall 2008. Fall 2015, Fall 2016: This is a graduate-level introduction to ocean wave mechanics, with an emphasis on linear wave theory and its uses, though nonlinear wave theory will be touched upon toward the end of the semester. We also cover the transformation of waves over varying bottom topography (refraction, shoaling, and diffraction) and wave breaking in shallow water. An introduction to irregular waves, including statistics, analysis techniques and the concept and calculation of wave spectra, will be offered. Toward the end of the semester we will also discuss mean properties of linear waves, such as mass flux, momentum flux, radiation stress, and wave setdown and setup. PREREQUISITE: OCEN 362 or equivalent.
  • CVEN 311 – Fluid Dynamics: Spring 2007, Spring 2008, Spring 2009, Spring 2010, Spring 2011, Fall 2017, Fall 2018, Spring 2019, Spring 2020, Spring 2023: This is an undergraduate-level fluid mechanics course. Topics include: properties of fluids; hydrostatic pressure; the Bernoulli equation; conservation of mass and momentum; dimensionless analysis; viscous flow in pipes; boundary layer concepts; friction and pressure drag. PREREQUISITES: CVEN 302 or registration therein; MATH 251, CVEN221.
  • OCEN 682 – Coastal Sediment Processes: Spring 2008, Spring 2010, Spring 2013: This is a graduate-level elective course introducing sediment transport concepts in the coastal region. Topics include: wave averaged fluid motions, sediment characteristics and sources, sediment transport mechanisms, longshore and cross-shore transport, wave and current boundary layers, bed load, suspended load, beach morphology. PREREQUISITE: OCEN 671 or equivalent.
  • CVEN 302 – Computer Applications in Engineering and Construction: Spring 2009, Fall 2016, Fall 2017, Spring 2018, Fall 2019, Summer 2020, Fall 2020, Fall 2022, Spring 2024, Spring 2025: This is an undergraduate-level numerical methods course. It emphasizes both the development of the numerical methods and their implementation as structured programs. We cover numerical methods for: integration and differentiation; matrix manipulation and solution of linear systems of equations; curve fitting and data modeling; ordinary differential equations; boundary value problems; eigenvalue problems. PREREQUISITES: ENGR 112; MATH 308 or registration therein.
  • OCEN 675 – Nonlinear Wave Dynamics: Fall 2009, Fall 2011, Fall 2013, Spring 2017, Spring 2021: This is a graduate-level introduction to nonlinear ocean waves, an advance over linear wave mechanics. We cover relevant mathematical techniques (primarily perturbation theory), and their application to the analysis and solution of nonlinear wave mechanics in deep and shallow water. PREREQUISITE: OCEN 671 or equivalent.
  • OCEN 674 – Ports and Harbors: Fall 2010: This is a graduate-level course concerning the design and characteristics of ports, marinas and harbors. Topics include: site selection; design of wharves, quays, jetties, breakwaters, navigation channels and other elements of ports; harbor dredging and sedimentation; environmental and economic considerations; fishing, recreation and small craft harbor design. PREREQUISITE: Approval of instructor.
  • OCEN 400 – Basic Coastal Engineering: Fall 2011, Fall 2012, Fall 2013, Fall 2014, Fall 2015, Fall 2021: This is an undergraduate-level course in coastal engineering. The course details the application of ocean wave theory and fluid mechanics principles to the basics of coastal engineering theory and design. Topics include: Basics of wave motion; wave refraction, diffraction, shoaling and reflection; wave forecasting; shoreline processes and sediment transport; design of coastal structures; planning of coastal processes; basics of risk assessment. PREREQUISITE: OCEN 300 or approval of instructor; CVEN 311.
  • OCEN 672 – Coastal Engineering: Spring 2012, Spring 2013, Spring 2014, Spring 2015, Spring 2016: This is a graduate course in coastal engineering. Graduate-level ocean wave theory and fluid mechanics principles are applied to the solution of coastal engineering problems. Topics include: Brief review of wave motion, propagation and transformation (refraction, diffraction, shoaling, breaking); nearshore circulation and wave-averaged flow; wave statistics and spectra; tides; coastal meteorology and storm surge; shoreline process and sediment transport; design of coastal structures; basics of port and harbor layout; risk assessment and use in design. PREREQUISITE: OCEN 671.
  • CVEN 689 – Special Topics: Sediment Transport Mechanics and Modeling: Spring 2019. This is a graduate level course on sediment transport mechanics in civil engineering applications. Topics include: sediment characteristics and composition, overview of boundary layer mechanics, forces on particles, bed load, suspended load, bedforms and bed level changes, riverine transport, coastal sediment transport, urban runoff, fate and transport of contaminated sediment, commonly-used models in civil engineering. PREREQUISITE: CVEN 311 or approval of instructor.
  • CVEN 465 – Coastal Resilience: Fall 2020, Fall 2022, Fall 2023, Fall 2024. This is an undergraduate-level design course in coastal engineering, with an emphasis on civil engineering applications in this field. Topics include: basics of ocean wave motion, transformation, and dissipation; tides and water level fluctuations; coastal meteorology, storms, and hurricanes; wave data analysis and determination of design conditions; shoreline processes and sediment transport; considerations in coastal resilient design. PREREQUISITE: CVEN 311 or approval of instructor.
  • CVEN 363 – Engineering Mechanics: Dynamics: Fall 2021, Spring 2022. This is an undergraduate level course in the application of first principles to model dynamic particles and rigid body systems with ordinary differential equations, using solutions to models employing analytical and numerical approaches. Applications include the interpretation of solutions and performance measures, linear vibrations, and the evaluation of the dynamic behavior of civil engineering systems to natural hazards. PREREQUISITE: CVEN 302, CVEN 305, and MATH 308.