Facilities
The following experimental research facilities are available:
- 20m x 5m tilting flume for basic shallow and atmospheric flow studies, with a wave maker for marine energy and coastal studies
- General-purpose wave flumes
- Environmental test chambers for ventilation studies
- Rotating table for geophysical flows
- PDA systems for spray flow analysis
- 500g Tonne, 7m diameter, centrifuge: capable of accelerations to 100g, with a maximum model size of 1m by 2m by 0.6m deep. Models are fully instrumented and have the capability of real-time analysis of electronic and video data
- Geo-environmental columns for the modelling of solute transport and fate processes at unit and multi-gravity
- Mesoscale test columns and test beds for contaminant transport and sorption studies
- Mesoscale test rigs for the modelling of geotechnical engineering processes for terrestrial and offshore applications
- Modern soil mechanics laboratory, equipped for a wide range of soil testing and characterisation
- Lighting laboratory with photometric bench and photmeters.
The rigs, other than the flumes, are in small enclosed areas well suited for safety requirements, particularly laser use.
Computing is largely done through individual PCs with parallel processing available through the Mason Centre and the national computing service HPCx. The CFD software STAR-CD/COMET is available for academic use.