Decade of data delivered by our Fast Flow Facility
To celebrate the impact made by our Fast Flow Facility in its first 10 years, we’ve put together a mini-film.
Since the Fast Flow Facility was officially opened on 30 October 2014, it has delivered data to optimise engineering designs, helping to keep offshore structures safe and stable in the complex ocean environment. By increasing the economic viability of wind foundation designs through improved stability, our facility has contributed to the growth of the offshore industry, supporting the transition to net zero.
The 75 m long flume, designed to simulate the interaction of waves, currents and sediments at large scale, has helped address the major challenge of scour – erosion on the seabed which can undermine structures’ stability. We’ve tested a host of novel scour protection systems, explored innovative foundation designs, and looked at cable congestion and cable protection systems too. We’ve even ensured that offshore wind farms can be built safely by investigating how unexploded ordnance moves on the seabed.
As wind farms started building in deeper waters, the Fast Flow Facility’s strong currents and waves also proved suitable for investigating floating foundations.
Another innovative use of the facility was to host our third generation tsunami generator for research into design of coastal protection to better withstand the forces exerted by tsunami waves.
We’ve welcomed many collaborators and clients to make the most of the facility, and its success has of course depended on them and our own teams who have used it. We intend to continue refining the facility – for example, we recently added a towing carriage – to allow us to stretch the boundaries of what we can use it to achieve.
Given what the Fast Flow Facility has already helped us do, we believe it will play a vital role in our sustainable future.
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