The utmost importance of the physical hydraulic scale model is accepted and recognized as available empirical design formulae/codes and computer simulations alone are not sufficient to ensure the desired performance of hydraulic structures. As every river is different from the other in terms of hydraulic behaviour and sediment transport, model study becomes essential to ensure the sustainability and reliability of designed headworks in a proposed location. Physical hydraulic modelling is important for:

• Determining the optimum design of hydraulic structures.
• Providing possibilities for hydrodynamic/sedimentation experimental research on problems that cannot be solved through theoretical or numerical analysis.
• Providing visualization of hydraulic phenomena associated with any water resources projects to management, decision makers, managers, developers, investors and those concerned.
• Providing opportunities for training in applied hydraulics for hydraulic design, sediment management and experimental research.
• In brief, avoiding the failure in performance of hydraulic structures that may lead to significant losses of revenue due to losses in power generation and increased costs of maintenance.

Hydro Lab is proud to be the only research organization in Nepal having the capacity, expertise and experience for conducting physical hydraulic model studies in the following areas:

• River works and water conveyance system
• Weirs, levees and dams
• Intake and settling basins
• Spillway and energy dissipation systems
• Reservoir flushing and other sediment management options for reservoir sustainability

As of March 2025, Hydro Lab has conducted physical hydraulic model studies of the headworks of the following projects: