bernard-laval | UBC Civil Engineering

Faculty

Professor and Department Head

Dr. Bernard Laval

Dr. Bernard Laval joined the Department of Civil Engineering in June 2002, and currently serves as the Department Head. Additionally, Dr. Laval served as the Associate Head for the Undergraduate Program from 2012-2015 and 2016-2017. His background in Engineering Physics (University of British Columbia) provides him with a very versatile technological base. He has a Masters in Physical Oceanography (McGill University) and a PhD in Environmental Engineering (University of Western Australia). From 1995-1998 Bernard worked as a research scientist developing Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (submersibles) for use as instrument platforms for the study of lakes and coastal waters. Dr. Laval has over 20 years of experience in applied fluid mechanics of inland and coastal waters and has authored several publications on field instrument and numerical model development, as well as description and theory of transport processes in lakes and estuaries.

Research Area / Group

Environmental Fluid Mechanics, Hydrotechnical Engineering

Research Interests

Field and 3D numerical modeling techniques to describe the spatial and temporal variations of physical processes and their impacts on transport in lakes and coastal waters.

Courses

CIVL 215	Fluid Mechanics I Fluid properties, hydrostatics, kinematics, and fluid dynamics: energy and momentum methods with applications. Dimensional analysis, modelling, introduction to flow in pipes and forces on immersed objects.
CIVL 315	Fluid Mechanics II Two dimensional flow around immersed objects; velocity and pressure fields; lift and drag on cylinders and aerofoils; fluid loads on structures and structural response; pumps and turbines; analysis and design of pipeline systems; unsteady flow in pipes; frictionless waterhammer analysis.
CIVL 416	Environmental Hydraulics Application of hydraulic engineering principles to problems of environmental concern. Pollutant transport and dispersion. Mixing in rivers and lakes. Theory of jets and plumes. Design of outfall diffusers.
CIVL 542	Physical Limnology Physical processes that affect the behaviour of lakes, including reservoirs, water filled mine pits, mine tailings ponds and other standing water bodies. Impacts of these processes on water quality, and methods used in the rehabilitation of lakes.
CIVL 543	Turbulent Fluid Dynamics Physical and mathematical models of turbulent flow suitable for engineering estimates and predictions.