Marine section

  • Physical modeling of wave-structure interaction, including behavior of breakwaters and coastal protection structures, wave energy generation devices, sediment transport and wave generation and propagation.
  • Wave energy extraction and resources management.
  • Numerical simulation of power take-off systems based upon oscillating water column technology.
  • Analysis of coastal processes and morphodynamics by means of numerical modeling, field measurements and data analysis techniques.
  • Numerical modeling of coastal morphodynamics, including wave modeling (SWAN, DELFT3D), coastal response (XBeach, XBeach-G) and wave-structure interaction (IH2VOF, ARTEMIS).
  • Working with nature solution including uncertainty analysis and sustainable management approaches.
  • Hydro- and morphodynamics of deltas and estuaries by means of numerical modeling, field data and theoretical approaches oriented to the sustainable management of ecosystems.
  • Assessment of the impact of human interventions (i.e. river damming, hard-engineering or dredging, among others) on coastal systems.
  • Data post-processing and analysis of processes and consequences using different software and programming languages (QGIS, Python, among others)

Wave-Current Flume

The wave generation flume, also equipped with current generation, is dedicated to the study of the behavior of structures or devices under the influence of waves, currents or the combination of both agents (opposing and following currents).

The flume has a length of 23 m, a width of 0.65 m and a depth of 1 m.

The piston type wavemaker is equipped with an active wave absorption system to avoid unwanted re-reflections of waves at the wave paddle. The system allows for the generation of regular waves, theoretical and measured natural wave spectra, focused waves and solitary waves. It can generate waves with periods from 0.8 to 8 seconds.

Tilting Flume

This facility is dedicated to the study of the hydraulic phenomena in open channels: dam spillways, energy dissipation and hydraulic jump, changes in the geometry of the section, erosion of the streambed and sediment transport.

The flume has a length of 8 m, a width of 0.49 m and a depth of 0.55 m.

Wave Basin

This facility is a multidirectional wave basin dedicated to the physical modelling of harbors, beaches or devices under oblique wave attack.

The overall wave basin dimensions are 21 m in length, 9 m in width and 1 m depth. The generation system consists of 16 piston wave paddles (each 0.56 m wide and 1 m high) equipped with an active reflection absorption system, which effectively eliminates re-reflections of waves. It can generate regular and irregular waves, nature-like long and short crested wave spectra and solitary waves.

 

Numerical modeling

  • Modeling of the hydro- and morphodynamics of coastal and transitional areas (SWAN, Delft3D, XBeach).
  • Modeling of hydrodynamics and computation of pressures in the vicinity of ports and coastal protection structures (IH2VOF, ARTEMIS).
  • Implementation of methodological techniques to assist managers such as:
    • wave climate simulation
    • stochastic multi-criteria analysis and risk analysis of management/optimization strategies
    • assessment of the uncertainty with Monte Carlo simulations
  • Development of user-friendly tools specifically designed and adapted to meet requirements set by administrations and/or companies.