IIT-M unveils Asia’s largest shallow wave basin research facility, redefining marine research and innovation
Located at the 'Discovery' Satellite campus in Thaiyur, approximately 36 kilometers from IIT-M, this state-of-the-art facility boasts a multi-directional shallow wave basin, expertly designed to simulate complex wave and current interactions
Asia’s largest shallow wave basin research facility unveiled by IIT Madras
CHENNAI: In a ground-breaking development, the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras has inaugurated Asia’s largest Shallow Wave Basin Research Facility, a cutting-edge lab that aims to revolutionise marine research and innovation in the country.
Located at the ‘Discovery’ Satellite campus in Thaiyur, approximately 36 km from IIT-M, this facility boasts a multi-directional shallow-wave basin, designed to simulate complex wave and current interactions.
According to IIT-M, this setup enables researchers to conduct studies on various coastal structures, including harbours, offshore platforms, and inland waterways. “The facility’s versatility and advanced capabilities make it an ideal platform for both fundamental research and application-oriented projects. Researchers can leverage this facility to investigate critical aspects such as sediment transport, mobile bed modelling, stability of armour units, and hydraulic and hydrodynamic performances,” a release issued by IIT-M read.
Furthermore, the facility allows for the examination of wave impact loading and the determination of relevant design aspects in the face of climate change. Professor K Murali, Department of Ocean Engineering, IIT-M, said: “This facility will catapult IIT-M to the forefront of international marine research, enabling us to undertake complex projects that were previously beyond our reach.”
Echoing this sentiment, Professor V Sriram from the same department, added, “This facility was developed indigenously with the majority of the wavemaker’s fabrication taking place within IIT-M. This underscores our institution’s commitment to innovation and self-reliance.”
The facility has garnered international acclaim, with Professor Torsten Schlurmann from Leibniz University of Hannover, Germany, hailing it as a “significant milestone in the pursuit of knowledge and innovation”. Schlurmann, a long-term collaborator with IIT-M, observed that it would elevate IIT-M’s stature as a world-class institution for marine science and engineering, facilitating ground-breaking research and international collaboration.
“As India embarks on an ambitious plan to develop new ports and augment its maritime infrastructure, this facility is poised to play a vital role in informing policy decisions and driving innovation in the sector,” added IIT-M.