ABSTRACT
Modern hydraulics encompasses a wide range of water flow phenomena that can be categorized into two fundamental classes: wall-bounded shear flows and free-shear flows. Each class can be further subdivided into canonical and non-canonical flow types and patterns. To varying degrees, hydraulic flows can be approximated using canonical flow types or their combinations. This attribute explains the long-lasting attraction in studying such flows, many features of which remain poorly understood. Non-canonical flow types often attract even more attention due to their practical significance for specific situations, although theoretical analyses of such flows are highly challenging. This chapter presents brief definitions of ordinary (canonical) hydraulic flows and describes their main features and subsequently focuses on key turbulence concepts and descriptive frameworks equally important and applicable to all types of hydraulic flows. It discusses open-channel and complex flows and covers governing equations, flow structure, sediment transport, and vegetation effects, among other issues.
