Shallow-water basin

The shallow-water wave basin is a specialized facility for coastal research. It comprises of 8 large piston-type wave paddles and a perforated parabolic beach enhanced with geotextile material. Its plan dimensions are 26m by 6m and the water depth at the paddle can vary between 0.4m and 0.8m. The bed of the basin is equipped with mounts that allow the installation of a wide range false beds. The adjustable bed can be flat, sloping (1:250-1:5) or complex (e.g. trapezoidal) and can be fixed or mobile (sand). The wave basin can generate long- and short-crested waves as well as currents. The facility generates currents as a recirculation flume using a constant head with natural flow. It is also equipped with a high-speed, digitally controlled carriage that spans the full width of the tank. As such, this versatile facility can be used as a wave basin to study combined wave-current wave basin, a towing tank with maximum depth of 1m or a recirculating flume. Present research in the shallow water wave basin includes coastal hydrodynamics, wave-structure interaction (e.g., breakwaters), testing of marine renewable devices as well as beach evolution.