Guidelines for physical modelling of mobile sediment

Physical model hydraulic experiments and model tests that use mobile sediments are performed in many laboratories across the world. This paper presents the main results from a set of guidelines on the physical modelling of sediment dynamics, which synthesised and documented procedure, practice and experience of partners in the EU collaborative project HYDRALAB-III. It does not attempt to cover all aspects of physical modelling, as these are already adequately covered by existing books, but draws together aspects in which the partners involved have a special expertise, particularly recent developments after most of the standard texts were published. Although many physical model mobile-bed tests are successfully completed, the need for improvements in data-basing is emphasised so that results are easier to re-use. The development and widespread adoption of appropriate standards for meta-data should be encouraged.