School of Civil and Structural Engineering - Academic Staff

Updated: Sunday, November 11, 2001

Academic Staff - Civil Engineering

Dr Les Hamill Dr Les Hamill
School of Civil and Structural Engineering,
Palace Court, Palace Street
Plymouth, Devon, PL1 2DE, UK

Tel: +44 (0)1752 233656
Fax: +44 (0)1752 233658
e-mail: L.Hamill@plymouth.ac.uk

Introduction
I am the Sub Dean responsible for Recruitment within the Faculty of Technology and a Senior Lecturer in the School of Civil and Structural Engineering. I am also the Senior Admissions Tutor for the School.
1975: BSc (Hons) Civil Engineering, Teesside Polytechnic

1978: PhD Hydrogeology, Teesside Polytechnic

1984: Chartered Engineer, CEng

1984: Member of the Institution of Civil Engineers, MICE

1985: Member of the Chartered Institution of Water and Environmental Engineering

Teaching
My teaching in the School of Civil Engineering includes hydraulics, hydrology and environmental engineering. I also teach on the Extended Engineering (Foundation) course.

Research
My research interests were initially in hydrology and hydrogeology, but recently have been in bridge hydraulics. This involves the hydraulic performance of bridges, particularly arch bridges. Inappropriately designed bridges (old or new) can exacerbate flooding and may lead to the bridge being damaged or destroyed as a result of scour and structural failure.

Publications
Recent publications include the following:
Hamill, L. (1993) A guide to the hydraulic analysis of single-span arch bridges. Proc Instn Civ. Engrs, Mun. Engr., 98, Mar., 1-11.

Hamill, L. (1995) Understanding Hydraulics. Macmillan (366p)

Hamill, L. (1997) Improved flow through bridge waterways by entrance rounding. Proc Instn Civ. Engrs, Mun. Engr., 121, Mar., 7-21.

Hamill, L. (1998) Bridge Hydraulics. E. & F.N. Spon, (355p) November 1998.
Hamill, L. (2001) Understanding Hydraulics, 2nd Edition. Palgrave, Basingstoke (608p) October 2001. ISBN 0333779061

Book cover - Bridge Hydraulics by Les Hamill
Abstract: Bridge Hydraulics.
"Most new roads involve the design of bridges across rivers and streams. For reasons of economy, the size of the openings must be kept reasonably small, yet must be large enough to pass floods. Getting this balance right has taxed engineers in all parts of the world for centuries. Similarly, existing bridges may have to be investigated to determine their contribution to flooding or susceptibility to scour. How can a bridge waterway be analysed and designed? Is there a hydraulic difference between a rectangular and an arched opening? By how much does a bridge exacerbate flooding upstream? How can scour be evaluated and adequate protection afforded? This book answers these questions and many more.
This modern compilation brings together numerous research and professional studies into one well written and easy-to-use volume. It is the only comprehensive guide to the analysis and design of bridge waterways. It includes examples and case studies based on laboratory models and existing bridges.
Bridge Hydraulics will be a valuable reference for practising engineers concerned with bridges over rivers, and will assist greatly in the production of authoritative analyses and effective designs."

Book cover - Understanding Hydraulics by Les Hamill
Abstract: Understanding Hydraulics, 2nd Edition.
"The first edition of this popular book was published in 1995 and has been reprinted three times. The second edition became available in October 2001. In addition to the content of the first edition, it now covers non-uniform flow, gives an introduction to unsteady flow, and includes new chapters on hydraulic structures (dams, spillways, sluice gates, bridges and culverts) and engineering hydrology. The latter includes an introduction to the new Flood Estimation Handbook and the evaluation of surface and groundwater resources."
Click here to read more about this book or to buy a copy of this book.

Other Activities
Other activities include undertaking market research in schools to determine students' perceptions of engineering and the factors which influence student choice (in collaboration with the University of Plymouth Business School). I have for many years organised a model structures competition for schools in Devon and Cornwall (which is sponsored by Costain Civil Engineering and has a first prize of £500). In the past I have been a member and chair of the Devon and Cornwall Branch of the Institution of Civil Engineers and a member of the Devon and Cornwall Engineering Council Regional Organisation.

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Academic Staff - Civil Engineering
		Dr Les Hamill School of Civil and Structural Engineering, Palace Court, Palace Street Plymouth, Devon, PL1 2DE, UK Tel: +44 (0)1752 233656 Fax: +44 (0)1752 233658 e-mail: L.Hamill@plymouth.ac.uk
Introduction I am the Sub Dean responsible for Recruitment within the Faculty of Technology and a Senior Lecturer in the School of Civil and Structural Engineering. I am also the Senior Admissions Tutor for the School. 1975: BSc (Hons) Civil Engineering, Teesside Polytechnic 1978: PhD Hydrogeology, Teesside Polytechnic 1984: Chartered Engineer, CEng 1984: Member of the Institution of Civil Engineers, MICE 1985: Member of the Chartered Institution of Water and Environmental Engineering
Teaching My teaching in the School of Civil Engineering includes hydraulics, hydrology and environmental engineering. I also teach on the Extended Engineering (Foundation) course.
Research My research interests were initially in hydrology and hydrogeology, but recently have been in bridge hydraulics. This involves the hydraulic performance of bridges, particularly arch bridges. Inappropriately designed bridges (old or new) can exacerbate flooding and may lead to the bridge being damaged or destroyed as a result of scour and structural failure.
Publications Recent publications include the following: Hamill, L. (1993) A guide to the hydraulic analysis of single-span arch bridges. Proc Instn Civ. Engrs, Mun. Engr., 98, Mar., 1-11. Hamill, L. (1995) Understanding Hydraulics. Macmillan (366p) Hamill, L. (1997) Improved flow through bridge waterways by entrance rounding. Proc Instn Civ. Engrs, Mun. Engr., 121, Mar., 7-21. Hamill, L. (1998) Bridge Hydraulics. E. & F.N. Spon, (355p) November 1998. Hamill, L. (2001) Understanding Hydraulics, 2nd Edition. Palgrave, Basingstoke (608p) October 2001. ISBN 0333779061
		Abstract: Bridge Hydraulics. "Most new roads involve the design of bridges across rivers and streams. For reasons of economy, the size of the openings must be kept reasonably small, yet must be large enough to pass floods. Getting this balance right has taxed engineers in all parts of the world for centuries. Similarly, existing bridges may have to be investigated to determine their contribution to flooding or susceptibility to scour. How can a bridge waterway be analysed and designed? Is there a hydraulic difference between a rectangular and an arched opening? By how much does a bridge exacerbate flooding upstream? How can scour be evaluated and adequate protection afforded? This book answers these questions and many more. This modern compilation brings together numerous research and professional studies into one well written and easy-to-use volume. It is the only comprehensive guide to the analysis and design of bridge waterways. It includes examples and case studies based on laboratory models and existing bridges. Bridge Hydraulics will be a valuable reference for practising engineers concerned with bridges over rivers, and will assist greatly in the production of authoritative analyses and effective designs."
		Abstract: Understanding Hydraulics, 2nd Edition. "The first edition of this popular book was published in 1995 and has been reprinted three times. The second edition became available in October 2001. In addition to the content of the first edition, it now covers non-uniform flow, gives an introduction to unsteady flow, and includes new chapters on hydraulic structures (dams, spillways, sluice gates, bridges and culverts) and engineering hydrology. The latter includes an introduction to the new Flood Estimation Handbook and the evaluation of surface and groundwater resources." Click here to read more about this book or to buy a copy of this book.
Other Activities Other activities include undertaking market research in schools to determine students' perceptions of engineering and the factors which influence student choice (in collaboration with the University of Plymouth Business School). I have for many years organised a model structures competition for schools in Devon and Cornwall (which is sponsored by Costain Civil Engineering and has a first prize of £500). In the past I have been a member and chair of the Devon and Cornwall Branch of the Institution of Civil Engineers and a member of the Devon and Cornwall Engineering Council Regional Organisation.
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