Facilities

Experimental facilities

New experimental facilities were developed at the University of Warwick for this project.

An existing wide flume was equipped with a laser induced florescence (LIF) system. For the first time, this new system allowed for the detection of solute at better than millimetre resolution. This took place across a line in 2D space, across the channel width at two locations.

A new deep flume was also constructed, allowing for flow depths of over one metre. It was similarly equipped with the new LIF system.

Combined, these flumes allowed for investigations into full channel width. Partially, they allowed for investigations in great detail into submerged vegetation flow conditions.

The deep flume

The flume is 24 meters long by 1.5 meters deep.

The LIF measurement system

In the laser induced florescence system, a laser cuts across the channel from the side. Any dye passing it fluoresces, making it visible to the camera looking up from under the flume.

Real vegetation

One of the main project objectives was to obtain a set of measurements around real vegetation.