Hoskin Environmental
Hoskin Geotechnical
Hoskin Instrumentation
Fluid Mechanics & Hydraulics in the Modern Lab
Teaching fluid mechanics with the Armfield F1 Hydraulics Bench and C Series flumes.
A deep dive into how Canadian universities teach fluid mechanics with the Armfield F1 Hydraulics Bench, its accessories, and the C Series multi-purpose teaching flumes. Includes application notes from civil and mechanical engineering departments across the country.
What students learn
Fluid statics
Pressure measurement, hydrostatic forces on plane and curved surfaces.
The continuity and energy equations
Bernoulli demonstrations, jet trajectory, orifice and nozzle flow.
Momentum
Impact of a jet, force on stationary and moving vanes.
Pipe flow
Friction factor, fittings losses, pipe networks in series and parallel.
Pumps and turbines
Centrifugal pump performance curves, Pelton and Francis wheel demonstrations.
Open-channel hydraulics
Weirs, sluice gates, hydraulic jumps, and sediment transport using the C Series teaching flumes.
The Armfield range
The hub-relevant Armfield equipment Hoskin Scientific supplies and services in Canada:
F1-10 Hydraulics Bench
The base unit. A self-contained recirculating water supply with a built-in volumetric measuring tank, instrumentation, and electrical service for any F1 accessory.
F1-15 Bernoulli Apparatus
Demonstrates the application of Bernoulli's equation to converging-diverging flow, with manometer-tapped pressure points along a transparent test section.
F1-16 Impact of a Jet
Direct measurement of the force exerted by a water jet on flat, conical, and hemispherical vanes. The classic momentum demonstration.
F1-17 / F1-18 / F1-19 Flow Measurement
Orifices, nozzles, Venturi tubes, and rotameters; pipe friction across smooth and roughened pipe sections.
F1-22 Pelton & Francis Demonstrations
Small-scale impulse and reaction turbine demonstrations driven from the F1-10 bench.
F1-26 Pumps in Series & Parallel
Two centrifugal pumps with valves and instrumentation for series and parallel operation experiments.
C4-MKII Multi-Purpose Teaching Flume
Tilting glass-sided flume with interchangeable accessories for weirs, sluice gates, sediment transport, and open-channel hydraulic jumps.
Canadian application notes
Concordia University runs Armfield research flumes for graduate-level sediment transport and structural-hydraulic interaction work, including a 17 m by 0.6 m by 1.2 m research flume referenced in Armfield literature. The University of Ottawa uses a tilting recirculating Armfield flume in its civil engineering hydraulic lab. Queen's University's Hydraulic Lab uses Armfield flumes for sediment transport and scour studies. Hoskin Scientific has supported these installations with Canadian-side commissioning, calibration, and parts.
Why specify through Hoskin Scientific
- Pre-purchase consultation — matching equipment to course learning outcomes and lab utilities.
- Quotation in CAD — including landed cost, duty handling, and trade-compliant documentation for grant and tri-council purchasing.
- Installation and commissioning — on-site, by Hoskin technicians familiar with Canadian electrical and water service standards.
- Service, calibration, and parts — held in Canada to minimise downtime during the academic year.
Explore the six Armfield hubs
Frequently asked questions
What is included in the Armfield F1-10 Hydraulics Bench?
A self-contained recirculating water supply with built-in volumetric measuring tank, pump, and instrumentation. The F1-10 is the base unit for any F1 accessory.
Can the F1 Series teach pump performance?
Yes. The F1-26 supports series and parallel centrifugal pump operation experiments with full instrumentation.
What size of teaching flume should we specify?
The C4-MKII multi-purpose flume is available in 2.5 m, 5 m, and longer custom configurations depending on the experiments and lab space.
Are accessories available for sediment transport experiments?
Yes. Both the C Series flumes and larger research flumes can be configured with sediment transport accessories including sediment feeders and recirculation systems.
Get a Quote on Your fluid mechanics Lab
Whether you are spec'ing a brand-new fluid mechanics teaching lab or expanding an existing F1 setup, our engineering education team can help you scope the bench, accessories, and flume for your curriculum.
Contact our Education team
