ASCE has honored M. Hanif Chaudhry, Ph.D., P.E., P.Eng., BC.WRE, Dist.M.ASCE, with the 2024 Hydraulic Structures Medal for contributions to advancement of numerical and physical modeling of flows with application to design and operation of hydraulic structures, innovative use of prototypes for model verification, and dissemination of new knowledge in engineering manuals and books, workshops and short courses.
Chaudhry is world-renowned for his research in the modeling of hydraulic transients in closed conduit and free surface systems. He developed the most complicated computational models for simulating transient flows in closed conduits with hydraulic turbine and pump. He has published over 130 journal articles and authored two highly cited books: Applied Hydraulic Transient and Open Channel Flow. Chaudhry’s journal articles published in ASCE’s Journal of Hydraulic Engineering were the “most downloaded” in 2011 and “most read” in 2013.
He is a leader of academic programs at the University of South Carolina, serving as the associate dean for International Programs, and director of Engineering Management Program. He is very active in professional service, serving as an associate editor for the Journal of Hydraulic Engineering for 38 years, and as chair of EWRI Computational Hydraulic Committee. He was the recipient of the 2008 Hunter Rouse Hydraulic Engineering Award and Lecture, the highest award to a hydraulic engineer in ASCE. He was elected a fellow of ASCE in 1998, and chosen as a Distinguished Member in 2016. Chaudhry has an exemplary career of research, education, and service to the hydraulic engineering field, and serves as an inspiration for young professionals.
The Hydraulic Structures Medal is awarded to an individual or individuals for significant contributions to the advancement of the art and science of hydraulic engineering as applied to hydraulic structures.