CIEM: Maritime Research and Experimentation Flume (large scale)
The CIEM is a large-scale wave flume designed for the simulation of processes in harbour, coastal and oceanographic engineering, as well as maritime and environmental phenomena.
It has been recognised as a Large-Scale Infrastructure by the Directorate-General for Research of the European Commission since 2006, being the first of its kind in Europe and comparable only to a similar wave flume in Japan.
The combination of wave and current generation makes this infrastructure particularly suitable for large-scale controlled hydraulic experiments in coastal, harbour and oceanographic engineering. It enables the study of coastal morphodynamics, sediment transport and wave–structure interaction under experimental conditions close to real scale, as well as the development of applied research in areas such as aquaculture and wave-energy technologies.
The CIEM wave flume is designed to operate with both fixed and mobile beds, and is equipped with transparent side windows that allow the visualisation of phenomena occurring near the bed.
The working scales typically range from 1:2 to 1:20.
| Main characteristics of the CIEM |
| Parameter | Description / Value | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| Total length | 100 m | Large-scale wave flume for coastal and harbour research |
| Internal width | 3 m | Uniform rectangular section |
| Total height | 4.5 m | Allows operation under different water depths |
| Water depth at the generation area | 2.0 – 3.5 m | Adjustable according to test conditions |
| Wave generator | Wedge-type | Suitable for intermediate-water waves |
| Maximum regular wave height | 1.40 m | With a still water level (SWL) of 2.65 m |
| Wave period | ~2–6 s | Under standard laboratory conditions |
| Wave types | Regular and irregular | Parametric spectra or real time series can be defined |
| System control | Hydraulic and PC-controlled | Dedicated software for data generation and recording |
| Current generator | Bidirectional up to 2 m³/s | Simulation of coastal and harbour flows |
| Absorption system | Second-order active absorption | Reduction of wave reflections |
| Bed type | Fixed or mobile | Compatible with natural sediment beds |
| Side windows | Transparent glass | Direct visualisation of near-bed phenomena |
| Working scales | 1:2 to 1:20 | Depending on the type of experiment |
| Measurement equipment | Water-level sensors, including resistive, acoustic, pressure and LiDAR sensors; force sensors, with 1 and 6 degrees of freedom; pressure sensors; velocity sensors; sediment concentration sensors; 3D LiDAR scanning; mechanical profiler; and motion-tracking systems. | Synchronised data acquisition |
Force and pressure tests: measurement of hydrodynamic forces and pressures exerted by waves on a structure.
Tests with sediment and a structure to analyse overtopping and coastal flooding processes on the Catalan coast.
Installation and commissioning of a point-absorber-type float in the flume for the study of wave–device interaction.
1:20 scale tests of a rubble-mound breakwater with concrete blocks to study armour stability and overtopping processes under wave action.
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