Generating a wave of ocean research

Lab investment elevates ocean research

SOUTH AFRICA: A multi-million-rand investment into the Coastal Hydraulics laboratory at the Council for Scientific Research (CSIR) has established the facility as the longest 2D wave flume lab in the southern hemisphere and revitalised the use of a long dormant building.

Used to generate predefined wave conditions to study wave-structure interactions and the performance of coastal structures under design and extreme storm conditions, the new flume is approximately 110 metres in length, 3 m wide and 2 m high, making it ideal for large structures or studies requiring deep water depths.

The laboratory provides vital support to the field of coastal engineering where physical model studies and larger scales introduce uncertainties. The three-axial wavemaker can generate wave heights up to 0.8 m at a water depth of 1.6 m, allowing researchers to test marine designs with minimal scale effects.

Future investment includes plans to add a towing carriage to the facility. “This adds significantly to our capabilities and offerings in coastal engineering,” says Eugéne Mabille, who leads the Coastal Engineering and Port Infrastructure research group at the CSIR.

“Now we can undertake projects at smaller scales and develop technical innovations to protect coastal communities and port infrastructure because we have the capability to generate larger waves,” he adds.

The building was originally designed to research wind-generated waves, but Mabille confirms that it had proved ineffective over time.

“Way back in the 1990s, the building’s use and function changed, and it was used intermittently for small projects. But essentially, the building in which the new flume is housed has been dormant since the 1980s. At the time, it was fitted with huge fans that would blow air across the surface of the water, inducing waves that increased in size over the length of the flume - akin to what would occur in nature,” he explains.

The investment has also provided the opportunity to upgrade the pump room and model hall. According to Mabille the investment is timely as international laboratories are allocating substantial resources to meet the demand for research in wave and tidal energy technologies. He adds that the CSIR has already had enquiries from local and international consultants.

PHOTO: More than a facelift has been achieved with funding from the National Treasury ring-fenced Research Infrastructure programme for renovations and upgrades at the CSIR’s Coastal and Hydraulics Laboratory. (Source: CSIR press releases)

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