Project
Using physical model testing to inform breakwater design
NIRAS was appointed to design and carry out physical model testing for the new western breakwater at Port of Hirtshals, providing the evidence needed to inform key design decisions before construction.
June 30, 2026
- SECTORS: Ports, Marine & Coastal
- COUNTRIES: Denmark
- CLIENT: Port of Hirtshals
Acting as lead advisor and project coordinator, NIRAS worked closely with Port of Hirtshals, Aalborg University and independent technical specialists to develop, test and refine the proposed breakwater design through an extensive laboratory testing programme.
The testing focused on the use of Cubipods® concrete armour units. While the system offers a number of potential advantages over more traditional armour units, there was limited experience of how it would perform under some of the site's more demanding conditions, including oblique wave attack, long period depth limited waves and the low lying roundhead geometry.
Over the course of a month, a series of physical model tests were carried out to assess the performance of the design under a wide range of wave conditions. The results were used to verify design assumptions, identify opportunities for refinement and optimise the arrangement of the armour units before the design progressed.
The collaborative approach, combining engineering design, physical testing and independent technical review, provided confidence in the final solution and helped reduce uncertainty ahead of the next stage of the project.
By investing in physical model testing early in the design process, the project team was able to make informed design decisions based on measured performance rather than theoretical assumptions alone, reducing risk and helping ensure the breakwater will perform as intended over its design life.
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