Challenging hydraulic structures of the twenty-first century – from bubbles, transient turbulence to fish passage

Hydraulic structures are man-made waterworks interacting with the rainfall run-off to store and convey water, or mitigate impact of run-off. Current approaches in hydraulic structure design tend be conservative, not much differing from ancient designs. Modern often designed based upon simplistic concepts optimize their performances. However, today’s engineers must embrace a number new challenges, emerging response quickly growing world population, changing climate, evolving agriculture, industrial needs. Herein, challenges reviewed using diverse examples air entrainment at structures, transient turbulence during surge events conveyance upstream fish passage road crossings. It is argued that many technical solutions satisfactory, e.g. terms sustaining aquatic flora fauna, fluid–structure interactions operational constraints. Indeed, current massive for twenty-first century engineers. The rely engineering innovation, excellence research quality education universities, complemented by indispensable between engineers, scientists water stakeholders.