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  2. River Dynamics and Hydrological Engineering Laboratory

River Dynamics and Hydrological Engineering Laboratory

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Scientific domain PE10: Earth System Science SH7: Human Mobility Environment and Space
Keywords bars channel control drainage platform free sheet hydrology irrigation river dynamics rivers sewer system sewerage sewerage system sinks slopes spillway and dam platform spillways stepped spillway transport in canals urban hydrology
Home partner institution (UPC) Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya
Website

Website

Technical staff available Yes
Remote access details No
Remote access available No
Open to external users Yes
Equipment
  • Hydraulic tilting channel: 20 x 0.6 x 0.6 (m), maximum slope 4%. Flow rate: 0.150 m3/s
  • Drainage inlet platform: Street section at 1:1 scale. Maximum longitudinal slope: 10% and maximum transverse slope: 2%. Flow rate: 0.25 m3/s
  • Stepped spillway: Reduced model (ƛ=15) Prototype: H. 75 m. Stepped height: 1.20 m. Slope: 51.34º. Width of face: 45 m. Prototype flow rate: 350 m3/s
  • Platform of spillways and dams. Platform surfaces: upper 45 m2 (9 x 5) and lower 30 m2 (6 x 5). Flow rate: 0.25 m3/s
  • Indoor laboratories (B0 and D1) with 864 m2 of surface area and a flow rate of 0.40 m3/s
  • Outdoor laboratory with a surface area of 1.050 m2 and a flow rate of 0.60 m3/s
Open access to updated information database No
Online booking system details No
Online booking system available No
Description

River Dynamics and Hydrological Engineering Laboratory is a joint laboratory of river dynamics and hydrological engineering, with several lines of consolidated research in river hydrodynamics, urban hydrology, reservoir dynamics, dam hydraulics, irrigation canal control and sedimentary dynamics.

The laboratories occupy a total area of about 2,000 m2, which is partly covered and partly in the open air, where various piping and pumping systems are available to supply the facilities with flows of up to 400 l/s.

In hydraulic engineering, physical modelling is crucial, due to:

  • Advances in monitoring techniques (laboratory and field) of hydraulic phenomena.
  • Simultaneous use of physical and numerical models for specific studies.
  • Calibration and validation of numerical models based on physical experimentation or direct observations.