Free Surface Flows Course | IIT Kharagpur | Civil Engineering Hydraulics
Course Details
| Exam Registration | 31 |
|---|---|
| Course Status | Ongoing |
| Course Type | Core |
| Language | English |
| Duration | 12 weeks |
| Categories | Civil Engineering |
| Credit Points | 3 |
| Level | Undergraduate/Postgraduate |
| Start Date | 19 Jan 2026 |
| End Date | 10 Apr 2026 |
| Enrollment Ends | 02 Feb 2026 |
| Exam Registration Ends | 20 Feb 2026 |
| Exam Date | 24 Apr 2026 IST |
| NCrF Level | 4.5 — 8.0 |
Master the Dynamics of Water: A Deep Dive into Free Surface Flows
Understanding the behavior of water in rivers, canals, and coastal environments is a cornerstone of civil and environmental engineering. If you're looking to build a robust foundation in this critical area, a new opportunity has emerged. We are excited to highlight a comprehensive 12-week course on Free Surface Flows, expertly delivered by a leading academic from one of India's premier institutions.
Your Guide: Learn from an Esteemed Expert
This course is instructed by Prof. Mohammad Saud Afzal, an Assistant Professor in the Department of Civil Engineering at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kharagpur. Prof. Afzal is a recognized researcher whose work bridges traditional hydraulics with cutting-edge computational techniques.
His research expertise spans:
- Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD)
- Hydraulics of Sediment Transport
- Coastal Engineering
- Application of Machine Learning & AI in Hydraulics
An alumnus of IIT Kanpur, TU Delft, and the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), Prof. Afzal is particularly known for his advanced numerical analysis techniques in sediment transport and hydraulics. Learning from an instructor with such a strong academic and research pedigree ensures you gain both theoretical knowledge and insights into modern engineering applications.
Course Overview: What You Will Learn
This undergraduate/postgraduate level course is meticulously structured over 12 weeks to take you from fundamental concepts to advanced applications in open channel hydraulics.
ABOUT THE COURSE: This course provides an in-depth exploration of Free Surface Flows, covering essential topics including uniform flow, critical flow, gradually varied flow, rapidly varied flows, spatially varied flows, and unsteady open channel flows. It is designed to help students develop a superior understanding of environmental open channel flow phenomena.
Who Should Enroll?
INTENDED AUDIENCE: This course is ideally suited for:
- UG, PG, and PhD students in Civil Engineering.
- Students from Mechanical, Agricultural, and Ocean Engineering departments.
- Applied mathematicians interested in the theoretical analysis of civil engineering hydraulics.
PREREQUISITE: A fundamental understanding of Fluid Mechanics is required to fully benefit from this course.
Detailed 12-Week Course Layout
| Week | Topic |
|---|---|
| Week 1 | Introduction to the basic concepts |
| Week 2 | Critical flows |
| Week 3 | Problems on critical flows |
| Week 4 | Uniform flows |
| Week 5 | Problems on uniform flow computations |
| Week 6 | Gradually varied flows (GVF) |
| Week 7 | Problems on gradually varied flows |
| Week 8 | Spatially varied flows |
| Week 9 | Rapidly varied flows (RVF) |
| Week 10 | Gradually varied unsteady flows |
| Week 11 | Rapidly varied unsteady flows |
| Week 12 | Problems on open channel transients |
Recommended Textbooks for In-Depth Study
To complement the lecture material, Prof. Afzal recommends two authoritative texts that are considered standards in the field:
- Open Channel Flow by K. Subramanya, Tata McGraw Hill.
- Open-Channel Flow by M. Hanif Chaudhry, Springer Nature Switzerland AG (2022).
Why This Course is Essential for Aspiring Engineers
Mastering free surface flow principles is not just an academic exercise; it's a practical necessity. The concepts covered in this course are directly applicable to:
- Designing efficient irrigation canals and drainage systems.
- Modeling flood propagation and developing mitigation strategies.
- Analyzing sediment transport in rivers and coastal areas.
- Designing hydraulic structures like dams, weirs, and spillways.
- Understanding environmental flows in natural waterways.
By the end of this 12-week journey, you will have a comprehensive understanding of both steady and unsteady open channel flow, empowering you to tackle complex real-world problems in water resources and environmental engineering.
This course represents a unique chance to learn a complex and vital subject from a distinguished faculty member at IIT Kharagpur. Whether you are a student aiming to solidify your core knowledge or a professional seeking to refresh and update your skills, this structured program on Free Surface Flows is an invaluable educational resource.
Enroll Now →