Water engineering
We focus on river mechanics and sediment transport, collaborate with researchers worldwide, and further our knowledge with cutting-edge facilities.
*New applicants/students interested in this specialisation should apply for the Master of Civil Engineering
Our research
Some current research projects include:
- Experimental study of abutment scour countermeasures, undertaken in collaboration with US colleagues
- An investigation of the phenomenon of sediment transport on the smallest scale – looking at turbulent flow entraining single bed particles
- A project aimed to identify and understand the mechanics involved in the formation and growth of submerged particle waves
- Physical model study of hydraulic issues relating to a canal estate development
- Investigating flow and depositional processes of clay-rich turbidity currents
- Laboratory study of patterns in gravel-beds and the surrounding flow field
Water Engineering Laboratory
The Water Engineering Laboratory is located within the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering. We are a hub for experimental, field and numerical initiatives to tackle our water resources problems. We are a world-leading academic research and consulting laboratory, hosting a range of sophisticated equipment that measures flow depths and velocities based on acoustic, ultrasonic, laser and imaging systems; as well as underwater topographies and forces on objects. Our expertise include:
- River, coastal and estuarine hydrodynamics and sediment transport
- Civil engineering hydraulics and hydraulic modelling
- River and coastal engineering
- Ecohydraulics
- Catchment hydrology
Facilities and instruments
Our water is supplied through a reservoir – header tank ring main system (one 250 mm supply line, three 150 mm supply lines and one 100 mm high pressure supply line). We can supply a maximum flow 250 l/s to anywhere in the laboratory. All laboratory supply lines are equipped with Krohne magflow meters. We have two calibration pits of 5.3 m/2 and 21 m/2 for accurate flow measurements in addition to the magflow metres. The head at laboratory floor level is 14.2 m, and a high pressure pump delivers 22 l/s @ 150 m head.
The Water Engineering Laboratory is comprised of a variety of Open Channel Flumes, Wave Flumes and modelling space.
- 1500 Flume
- 43m L x 1.5m W x 1.1m D glass sided
- Variable slope up to 1.5%
- Recirculating water and sediment
- Flow rates up to 1000l/s
- 2400 Flume
- 21m L x 2.4m W x 0.5 m D
- Variable slope up to 2%
- Recirculating water and sediment
- Flow rates up to 1200l/s
- Recessed test section glass sided 4.8m long
- 600 Flume
- 20m L x 0.54m W x 0.55 D acrylic flume
- Variable slope up to 1.1%
- Features a recessed sediment sump with a mobile platform
- Water supplied through the internal laboratory recirculating supply
- Downstream weir to control water level
- 450 Flume
- 20m L x 0.45m W x 0.43 D glass sided
- Variable slope up to 1.1%
- Features a recessed sediment sump with a mobile platform
- Water supplied through the internal laboratory recirculating supply
- Downstream weir to control water level
- 440 Flume
- 13.5m L x 0.44m W x 0.38m D glass sided
- Variable slope up to 1.8%
- Recirculating water and sediment
- 400 Flume
- 4m L x 0.4m W x 0.4m D acrylic flume
- Recirculating water
- Wave Flume
- 17m L X 1.2m W x 1.8m D
- Wave frequency and amplitude
- Intermittent waves
- Water supplied through the internal laboratory recirculating supply 170l/s
- 1.2m x 1.2m clear panel
- Tsunami Channel
- 17m L x 1.2m W x 0.8m D
- Bore height, velocity and duration
- JR3 3 axis force measuring
- Modelling space and commissioned one-off designs
- Turbidity flume and basin
- 5m L x 0.4m W x 0.6m D acrylic flume
- 580 mm long lock-box and release gate, with 580 mm long and 660 mm deep sump
- 2445 mm L x 2415 mm W x 1040 mm D acrylic basin
- 595 mm and 400 mm wide lock-box and release gate
- Oil flume
- 10m L x 0.4m W x 0.2m D glass sided
- Variable slope
- Water or viscous fluid flows
- Flow rates up to 80L/s
- One off designs
- Dropshaft models at 1:10 scale
- Roxburgh spillway model 1:50 scale
- Leith River 1:25 scale
- Instruments
- Wave probes up to 1.2m long
- Ultrasonic depth meters
- Seatek Multiple Transducer array - depth meters
- Acoustic Doppler Velocimeter (ADV)
- PIV
- Microsonic Ultrasonic distance surface measuring
- HydroSurveyor, Portable nine-beam 3.0 MHz/1.0 MHz/0.5 MHz acoustic Doppler velocity and bathymetry measurement system for use from moving boats and other floating platforms
- Guelph Permeameter Kit
Our people
- Dr Heide Friedrich (Group leader)
- Professor Bruce Melville
- Dr Asaad Shamseldin
- Dr Colin Whittaker
- Geoff Kirby (technical officer)
PhD students
- Jane Groom
- Ehsan Hendi
- Gabriel Spreitzer
- Lu Wang
- Renske van Scheltinga