- To get familiar with the applied theories of scale modelling for hydrotechnical projects (river, coastal, hydraulic structures, and hydromechanics).
- To determine when scale modelling should be performed compared to field, analytical, and numerical methods.
- To interpret the results of physical modelling.
- To avoid common pitfalls in physical modelling of hydrotechnical phenomena involving interaction of water with sediment and/or structures.
- Hands-on class exercises, group tests, and demonstration on scale models
- Educational video clips
- Real-life case studies
- Softcopy of technical literature
- Four hydrotechnical investigation methods: analytical, scale modelling, field, and computational
- Physical understanding of Reynolds, Froude, Weber, and Mach numbers.
- Choosing the right scale
- Laboratory and instrumentation requirements
- Measurement of discharge, velocity, pressure, depth, and force
- Visualization methods
- Scale modelling with live demonstration for:
- Hydraulic structures: Dams, spillways, gates, etc.
- Erosion and sedimentation.
- Coastal and marine projects
- Hydromechanical structures and pressurized flow
- River engineering
- Flood studies
- Case studies in physical modelling (video demonstration)
- Desk-study problems and solutions
- Special topics:
- Distorted models
- Critique of reports on physical modeling
- Common mistakes in physical modelling
- Five take-away messages
- Engineering, hydrotechnical, and environmental professionals from engineering firms or provincial and federal authorities with 0–20 years of experience dealing with implementation or interpretation of physical modelling.
- Graduate students working on experimental research topics involving laboratory models.
Senior Hydrotechnical Consultant (US and Canada)
Dr. Saied Saiedi, P.Eng., is a civil engineer with 32 years of engineering and academic experience in Iran, Australia, Malaysia, Canada, and USA. His hydrotechnical interests cover a wide range: free surface flow (hydraulic structures, hydropower plants, sediment transport, river engineering), coastal structures and processes, floating offshore structures, flood studies, and dam safety review. He has developed, managed, and reviewed several numerical and physical modelling works.
Dr. Saiedi designed and oversaw the construction of a flume for river and wave studies at Water Research Laboratory (UNSW, Sydney, Australia) in 1991–1992. The facility has been since used for many projects involving riverine flows and coastal waves. He also developed a numerical model for alluvial flows called COUPFLEX (see ASCE Journal of Hydraulics, May 1997). The model was one of the first efforts in computational modelling of sediment-laden flows in ‘fully coupled’ mode, followed by several modellers later.
For several years in the 2000’s, Dr. Saiedi served NAHRIM (National Association of Hydraulic Research in Malaysia) as the senior adviser for coastal engineering projects. Also, while working for PETRONAS (Malaysian national oil and gas company), he trained several groups of engineers from various engineering disciplines to enter the realm of offshore engineering through five applied courses. In 2006–2008, Dr. Saiedi conceptually designed and oversaw the construction of a large wave flume and a large wave basin at UTP (PETRONAS’ university) for applied research projects in the areas of coastal and offshore engineering.
While working in Canada and the US, Dr. Saiedi has led or participated in design and investigations for many hydropower plants (HPP) and dam facilities in Canada and overseas. Sample projects include: Site C Dam (BC, Canada), I1K Power Transmission Line (Saskatchewan, Canada), Kemano Hydropower Plant (BC, Canada), Tapoco HPP Scheme (USA), Karcham-Wangtoo & Vishnuprayag & Baspa–II HPP’s (India), Boron Mining Operations (CA, USA), Kokish River HPP (BC, Canada), John Hart Gen. Station Replacement Project (BC, Canada), Skaha Lake & McIntyre Dams (BC, Canada), Waneta Dam (BC, Canada), Brilliant Dam (BC, Canada), Similkameen Dam (BC, Canada), Seymour Dam, East Toba & Montrose HPP’s (BC, Canada), Stave Falls HPP (BC, Canada), and Nimisila Reservoir and Dam (OH, USA).
With his concurrent academic experience over the years as an Associate Professor in Civil Engineering, Dr. Saiedi has shared his vast hydrotechnical experience with professional engineers in Canada (BC) and USA (MI, NY, NJ) through short courses. He was the Director of Progress International Consultants (Vancouver), Hydrotechnical Discipline Lead (Western North America) of Hatch based in Vancouver, and Technical Adviser (Canada) to ATB Riva Calzoni, an international provider of hydromechanical equipment for hydropower dams. While working as a consultant (with Bergmann Associates, Tetra Tech, etc.) in the US, Dr. Saiedi has led since early 2017 the hydrotechnical investigations for the design of the Gordie Howe International Bridge across Detroit River, projects on dam safety review, and protection of coastal structures (Lake Michigan, Lake Ontario, Florida).
