Hydraulic Laboratory (TU Graz)

Graz University of Technology

Graz | Website

Open for Collaboration

Short Description

The hydraulic laboratory of the Institute of Hydraulic Engineering and Water Resources Management is divided into two laboratory areas. The experimental floor covers approximately 1,100 m² and provides a usable length of 60 m. This allows large-scale hydraulic structures on major rivers, such as the river Salzach, to be reproduced at model scale, including the required upstream and downstream reaches.

The low-head area is connected by a large stepped section, known as the “Riesentreppe”, to the smaller medium-head area located approximately 9 m below. The available elevation difference makes this area particularly suitable for full and partial models with substantial vertical dimensions, such as those used for investigations of pumped-storage hydropower plants.

An elevated reservoir with a usable volume of 70 m³ supplies both laboratory areas and provides a maximum steady-state pressure head of 15 m. This enables experiments requiring high flow rates and constant pressure conditions, particularly where Reynolds-number effects are relevant. Water is supplied by a central pumping station comprising four staged pump units with a maximum total discharge capacity of 1,000 l/s.

A second experimental facility of the Institute is located at Inffeldgasse and has been in operation since 2009. It provides a total floor area of approximately 2,500 m², with dimensions of 25 × 100 m. Designed as an outdoor laboratory, the facility is primarily operated during the summer months and is particularly well suited for large-scale physical models of major rivers.

The water supply system comprises four pumps, each with a maximum discharge capacity of 250 l/s. Water is drawn from a low-level reservoir with a storage volume of 1,000 m³. The return flow is conveyed through a 400 mm diameter pipeline and subsequently passes through a sediment separation system.

Contact Person

Univ.-Prof. Dipl.-Ing. Stefan Haun, Ph.D.

Research Services

Experimental investigation of hydraulic and hydraulic engineering problems, including high- and low-head systems, flood protection measures, and river engineering applications.

Methods & Expertise for Research Infrastructure

The research infrastructure enables the experimental investigation of complex hydraulic and river engineering problems using physical model studies. The methodological expertise covers the design, construction, and operation of scaled hydraulic models, as well as the measurement and analysis of flow, pressure, and discharge conditions. The Institute has extensive research experience in high- and low-head hydraulic systems, hydropower, flood protection, and river engineering. The infrastructure supports both fundamental research and applied model studies for the analysis and optimization of hydraulic structures and river engineering measures.

In addition to laboratory-based experimental investigations, the Institute has a comprehensive range of mobile measurement equipment for collecting hydraulic and morphological data in the field. This equipment enables the direct measurement of flow velocities, water levels, discharge, and other relevant morphological parameters in rivers and at hydraulic structures. Field data are used both to characterize real-world flow conditions and as a basis for the design, calibration, and validation of physical and numerical models. The combination of field measurements, physical model studies, and extensive technical expertise enables a comprehensive approach to a wide range of hydraulic and river engineering challenges.