Large scale wave flume

Length: 97m

Width: 2m

Maximum depth: 2.7m

Waves: Long-crested irregular waves with significant heights up to 0.7m. Wave absorbing paddle (active wave absorption)

Beaches: High-efficiency passive wave absorbers give less than 5% reflection over a wide range of depth, wave period and wave height, plus active wave absorption

Currents: Various options using thrusters and pumps

Drainable: Yes

Access: 1-ton gantry crane

Data acquisition: Up to 64 channels at 1000 samples per second

NRC's Large Scale Wave Flume (LWF) is often used to test two-dimensional sections of coastal structures and study coastal processes at large scale and high Reynold's number. Large scale testing ensures that wave breaking processes and turbulence are accurately reproduced, which leads to improved modelling of processes such as wave loading of structures, wave runup, and the internal flows in breakwater armour and filter layers. Studies in the facility are typically conducted at scale factors on the order of 1:5 or 1:10 ¬ leading to highly accurate and reliable results.

Contact

Noel Murphy
Telephone: 709-772-4939
Email: Noel.Murphy@nrc-cnrc.gc.ca