Physical modelling
The hydraulics laboratories at WRL are the largest and most comprehensive in Australia. WRL occupies 3.8 ha of land immediately downstream of Manly Dam, and has 4 fully equipped laboratories for research and specialist consulting studies. The laboratories contain a variety of standard facilities in addition to open space, which is used for project specific construction of large scale physical models.
WRL is NATA certified for Quality Assurance and guarantees that commercial activities are executed with strict regard to quality, time, budget, and in accord with authorised contractual agreements.
Physical modelling facilities
All wave flumes and the wave basin can be operated with monochromatic or irregular waves, defined by spectral or time series wave parameters, or by a pre-recorded wave signal. WRL has instrumentation to measure wave properties such as height and period, and also to measure wave induced force and pressure loading and overtopping. Wave generation, data recording, and data analysis is undertaken using the GEDAP/NDAC software package.
WRL has an extensive collection of model concrete armour units that can be used for armour stability testing, and regularly has armour units produced for specific project requirements.
Key areas
- Wave forces on coastal and marine structures
- Armour protection of seawalls and breakwaters
- Bed scour and movement
- Wave run-up and overtopping
- Wave reflection and absorption
- Motion and forces for floating marina units
- Water circulation and penetration
- Wave energy device testing
- Offshore breakwaters
- Shoreline changes about coastal construction
- Shoreline and wave climate effects
- Wave penetration of harbours
Example projects
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Working with Tonkin+Taylor, more than 3,000 model Hanbar blocks were tirelessly hand placed by our engineers to build a 1:40 scale physical model in our wave basin.
Consisting of two 450 m long training walls, the developement is currently being constructed on the north shore of New Zealand, as part of the Ōpōtiki Harbour Development Project.
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Wave flume modelling is a unique tool that can be used to replicate extremely complex coastal and hydraulic processes. Ohau Point in New Zealand is one of these locations. In our 3 m wave flume we tested a scale section of 150 m of coastal road, fronted by complex reef bathymetry. The modelling investigated waves and overtopping processes to help improve safety at the turbulent site. Modelled options included crown walls (with extreme wave loading) and detailed concrete armour units placement and stability assessment.
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In 2019 we completed quasi-3D physical modelling of a breakwater upgrade design for Beca NZ of Apia Harbour in Samoa. This modelling investigated various aspects of the upgrade including interfacing of new Xbloc armour units with existing rock and concrete cube armouring.
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WRL completed a physical modelling investigation for Stantec, supporting the design of a breakwater for a new harbour construction. The program was conducted with 2D and quasi-3D flume modelling, and investigated a range of parameters for the new marine facilities development, including nearshore wave processes, armour stability and wave transmission through overtopping and diffraction.
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For Beca NZ, we built a physical model of a concrete block armoured revetment under a piled wharf. The stability of block armour was tested at a scale of 1:30 under extreme wave scenarios, and subsequently under vessel propeller wash (both azipods and bow thrusters).
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In 2021 we completed 2D wave flume modelling for the Tuvalu Coastal Adaptation Project (TCAP), looking at wave-driven coastal inundation risks for Nanumaga Island. The modelling included simulation of cyclone-generated wave events, and analysis of wave and water level processes across the fringing coral reef.
The results from the modelling were used to further understand inundation and wave runup levels during extreme events, and to explore the effectiveness of berm-top-barriers as a solution for reducing wave overtopping risks.
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WRL conducted several physical modelling projects in collaboration with SMEC for the Port of Townsville Limited, on the coastal defence structures and channel upgrade at Northern Australia’s largest container and automotive port in Queensland.
Breakwater and bund wall upgrades: 2D and quasi-3D physical modelling project to inform design upgrades to an existing breakwater and crest of bund wall. Modelling allowed armour sizing optimisation and design validation.
Channel capacity upgrade: 2D, quasi-3D and full 3D physical modelling for a navigation channel expansion and land reclamation project. The modelling included analysis and optimisation of rock armoured revetment structures, as well as analysis of wave amplification effects associated with the modified navigation channel alignment.
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In 2020 we completed 2D physical modelling in our 1.2 m wave flume to measure the pressures and total force exerted upwards on a cantilevered walkway on top of a proposed vertical seawall.
A range of water levels, wave heights and wave period combinations were tested, ensuring that the walkway can be designed to withstand maximum wave uplift forces of 70 tonnes per square metre during extreme cyclonic conditions.
