Professor Hubert Chanson
Professor

Hubert Chanson

Email: 
Phone: 
+61 7 336 53516

Background

Hubert Chanson is Professor of Civil Engineering at the University of Queensland, where he has been since 1990, having previously enjoyed an industrial career for six years. His main field of expertise is environmental fluid mechanics and hydraulic engineering, both in terms of theoretical fundamentals, physical and numerical modelling. He leads a group of 5-10 researchers, largely targeting flows around hydraulic structures, two-phase (gas-liquid and solid-liquid) free-surface flows, turbulence in steady and unsteady open channel flows, using computation, lab-scale experiments, field work and analysis. He has published over 1,250 peer reviewed publications including two dozen of books. He serves on the editorial boards of International Journal of Multiphase Flow, Flow Measurement and Instrumentation, and Environmental Fluid Mechanics, the latter of which he is currently a senior Editor. He chaired the Organisation of the 34th IAHR World Congress in June 2011 and of the 22nd Australasian Fluid Mechanics Conference in December 2020, both held in Brisbane, Australia.

Availability

Professor Hubert Chanson is:
Available for supervision
Media expert

Fields of research

Civil engineering Engineering Turbulent flows Water resources engineering

Qualifications

  • Doctor of Philosophy, University of Canterbury
  • Doctoral Diploma of Engineering, The University of Queensland
  • Postgraduate Diploma of Nuclear Engineering, Institut National des Sciences et Techniques Nucleaires

Research interests

  • Industrial Two-Phase Flows

    In high-velocity turbulent flows, air bubbles are entrained at the free surface. This process (self-aeration) is caused by the turbulent velocity fluctuations acting next to the free surfaces. The presence of air within the flow increases the bulk of the flow, modifies the momentum shear layers and enhances the air-water gas transfer. The project is based upon new experimental investigations using large-scale experiments. The results enable a better understanding of the fluid mechanics of free-surface air-water flows.

  • Estuarine processes

    Investigation of the hydrodynamics and turbulent mixing in estuarine zones, under micro- and macro-tidal conditions. Field works. Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD), Physical modelling.

  • Mixing and dispersion in rivers and estuaries

    Turbulent mixing in small estuaries with application to water quality modeling

  • Engineering heritage

    History of technology. Historical development of hydraulic engineering and structures, includings dams, spillways, weirs, culverts ...

  • Non-Newtonian fluid dynamics

    Experimental and theoretical study of non-Newtonian fluid flows, including thixotropic fluid flows, dam break, debris flows.

  • Open Channel Flow and Hydraulic Engineering

    Open channel flows are encountered in a wide range of applications from large rivers to roof gutters including irrigation channels. New research investigations include the hydraulic jump flows, undular flows, weir overflow, stepped cascades and supercritical flows. Applications to hydraulic structures cover high-head spillways, stepped chutes, rubber dams, stilling basins and water quality prediction.

  • Hydraulic structures

    Design and operation of spillway systems, incl. high head structures, large dams and overflow sections.

  • Air entrainment in hydraulic structures and industrial applications

    Study of air entrainment and air-water flows in hydraulics structures, hydraulic systems, re-aeration plants and water treatment systems.

  • Tidal bores

    A tidal bore is a surge of water propagating upstream in an estuarine zone when the tidal flow turns to rising and rushes into a funnel shaped river mouth with shallow waters. The bore forms typically during the early flood tide when the tidal range exceeds 4-6 m and the estuary bathymetry amplifies the tidal range with a low freshwater level. Worldwide it is believed that over 450 estuaries are affected by a tidal bore, on all continents except Antarctica. The interactions between tidal bores and mankind are complex. Tidal bores can be dangerous, impacting adversely on man-made structures and endangering lives. They can be also a major touristic and sport attraction. The aim of this research is to characterise the turbulent properties of bore fronts including the coupling between free-surface and velocity fluctuations, and impacts on sedimentary processes and ecology.

Research impacts

Hubert Chanson's publication record includes over 1250 international refereed papers and his work was cited over 6,500 times (WoS) to 22,500 times (Google Scholar) since 1990. His h-index is 43 (WoS), 47 (Scopus) and 75 (Google Scholar). Hubert Chanson has been active also as consultant for both governmental agencies and private organisations, and he delivered numerous invited keynotes worldwide. He chaired the Organisation of the 34th IAHR World Congress in Brisbane, Australia in June 2011 which attracted over 850 participants from more than 45 countries, and the Organisation of the 22nd Australasian Fluid Mechanics Conference in Brisbane, Australia in December 2020 which attracted over 250 participants, despite the COVID-19 pandemic.

His Internet home page is {http://www.uq.edu.au/~e2hchans}. He also developed a gallery of photographs website {http://www.uq.edu.au/~e2hchans/photo.html} that received more than 2,000 hits per months since inception. His open access publication webpage is the most downloaded publication record at the University of Queensland: {http://espace.library.uq.edu.au/list.php?browse=author&author_id=193}.

Search Professor Hubert Chanson’s works on UQ eSpace

968 works between 1988 and 2025
All (968) Journal Article (585) Book Chapter (41) Conference Publication (275) Book (19) Other Outputs (42) Edited Outputs (6)

741 - 760 of 968 works

2003

Conference Publication

Hydraulic Engineering into the 21st Century: the Rediscovery of the Wheel ? (2) New Challenges.

Chanson, H. (2003). Hydraulic Engineering into the 21st Century: the Rediscovery of the Wheel ? (2) New Challenges.. 6th International Conference on Civil Engineering, Isfahan, Iran, 5-7 May, 2003.

Hydraulic Engineering into the 21st Century: the Rediscovery of the Wheel ? (2) New Challenges.

2003

Conference Publication

Hydrodynamic and Ecological Assessment of a Sub-tropical Stream in Eastern Australia

Chanson, Hubert (2003). Hydrodynamic and Ecological Assessment of a Sub-tropical Stream in Eastern Australia. International Conference in Estuaries and Coasts ICEC 2003, Hangzhou, China, 9-11 November, 2003. China: International Research and Training Center on Erosion and Sedimentation; Zhejiang Institute of Hydraulics and Estuary.

Hydrodynamic and Ecological Assessment of a Sub-tropical Stream in Eastern Australia

2003

Conference Publication

Experimental Investigation of Dropshaft Hydraulics: Two-Phase Flow and Acoustics

Chanson, Hubert (2003). Experimental Investigation of Dropshaft Hydraulics: Two-Phase Flow and Acoustics. 30th IAHR Biennial Congress, Thessaloniki, Greece, 24-29 September, 2003. Greece: THEMA.

Experimental Investigation of Dropshaft Hydraulics: Two-Phase Flow and Acoustics

2003

Conference Publication

The Importance of Field Works in the Undergraduate Teaching of Hydraulic Engineering

Chanson, Hubert (2003). The Importance of Field Works in the Undergraduate Teaching of Hydraulic Engineering. 30th IAHR Biennial Congress, Thessaloniki, Greece, 24-29 August, 2003.

The Importance of Field Works in the Undergraduate Teaching of Hydraulic Engineering

2003

Conference Publication

History of Minimum Energy Loss Weirs and Culverts 1960-2002

Chanson, Hubert (2003). History of Minimum Energy Loss Weirs and Culverts 1960-2002. 30th IAHR Biennial Congress, Thessaloniki, Greece, 24-29 August, 2003. Greece: THEMA.

History of Minimum Energy Loss Weirs and Culverts 1960-2002

2003

Other Outputs

Roman Aqueducts: Hydrology versus Hydraulics !?

Chanson, Hubert (2003, 01 01). Roman Aqueducts: Hydrology versus Hydraulics !? IAHR Newsletter 27-28.

Roman Aqueducts: Hydrology versus Hydraulics !?

2003

Journal Article

A change in flow

Chanson, Hubert (2003). A change in flow. International Water Power and Dam Construction, 55 (9), 14-17.

A change in flow

2003

Conference Publication

Hydraulic Engineering into the 21st Century: the Rediscovery of the Wheel ? (1) A Review

Chanson, Hubert (2003). Hydraulic Engineering into the 21st Century: the Rediscovery of the Wheel ? (1) A Review. 6th International Conference on Civil Engineering, Isfahan, Iran, 5-7 May, 2003.

Hydraulic Engineering into the 21st Century: the Rediscovery of the Wheel ? (1) A Review

2003

Journal Article

Tailwater Level Effects on Flow Conditions at an Abrupt Drop

Mossa, Michele, Petrillo, Antonio and Chanson, Hubert (2003). Tailwater Level Effects on Flow Conditions at an Abrupt Drop. Journal of Hydraulic Research, 41 (1), 39-51. doi: 10.1080/00221680309499927

Tailwater Level Effects on Flow Conditions at an Abrupt Drop

2003

Conference Publication

Mixing and Dispersion in Tidal Bores: A Review

Chanson, Hubert (2003). Mixing and Dispersion in Tidal Bores: A Review. International Conference in Estuaries and Coasts ICEC 2003, Hangzhou, China, 9-11 November, 2003.

Mixing and Dispersion in Tidal Bores: A Review

2002

Journal Article

Enhanced Energy Dissipation in Stepped Chutes. (Discussion)

Chanson, Hubert, James, C. S., Main, A.G. and Moon, J. (2002). Enhanced Energy Dissipation in Stepped Chutes. (Discussion). Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers, Water and Maritime Engineering, 154 (4), 343-345. doi: 10.1680/wama.148.4.277.40581

Enhanced Energy Dissipation in Stepped Chutes. (Discussion)

2002

Journal Article

Some aspects of the hydraulic design of Roman aqueducts Certains aspects de la conception hydraulique des aqueducs romains

Chanson, Hubert (2002). Some aspects of the hydraulic design of Roman aqueducts Certains aspects de la conception hydraulique des aqueducs romains. Houille Blanche (6-7), 43-58.

Some aspects of the hydraulic design of Roman aqueducts Certains aspects de la conception hydraulique des aqueducs romains

2002

Journal Article

Air-water flows down stepped chutes: turbulence and flow structure observations

Chanson, H. and Toombes, L. (2002). Air-water flows down stepped chutes: turbulence and flow structure observations. International Journal of Multiphase Flow, 28 (11), 1737-1761. doi: 10.1016/S0301-9322(02)00089-7

Air-water flows down stepped chutes: turbulence and flow structure observations

2002

Journal Article

Certains aspects de la conception hydraulique des aqueducs romains

Chanson, Hubert (2002). Certains aspects de la conception hydraulique des aqueducs romains. La Houille Blanche - Revue Internationale de l'Eau (6/7), 43-57. doi: 10.1051/lhb/2002084

Certains aspects de la conception hydraulique des aqueducs romains

2002

Journal Article

Crib Weirs in Queensland, Australia: Some Heritage with a Solid Operational Record

Chanson, Hubert (2002). Crib Weirs in Queensland, Australia: Some Heritage with a Solid Operational Record. Royal Historical Society of Queensland Journal, 18 (3), 115-129.

Crib Weirs in Queensland, Australia: Some Heritage with a Solid Operational Record

2002

Journal Article

Air-Water Flow Measurements with Intrusive Phase-Detection Probes: Can We Improve their Interpretation?

Chanson, Hubert (2002). Air-Water Flow Measurements with Intrusive Phase-Detection Probes: Can We Improve their Interpretation?. Journal of Hydraulic Engineering, 128 (3), 252-255. doi: 10.1061/(ASCE)0733-9429(2002)128:3(252)

Air-Water Flow Measurements with Intrusive Phase-Detection Probes: Can We Improve their Interpretation?

2002

Journal Article

Experimental Investigations of Air Entrainment in Transition and Skimming Flows down a Stepped Chute

Chanson, H. and Toombes, L. (2002). Experimental Investigations of Air Entrainment in Transition and Skimming Flows down a Stepped Chute. Canadian Journal of Civil Engineering, 29 (1), 145-156. doi: 10.1139/L01-084

Experimental Investigations of Air Entrainment in Transition and Skimming Flows down a Stepped Chute

2002

Journal Article

Comment on 'Incipient Air Entrainment in a Translating Axisymmetric Plunging Laminar Jet'

Chanson, H. (2002). Comment on 'Incipient Air Entrainment in a Translating Axisymmetric Plunging Laminar Jet'. Physics of Fluids, 14 (9), 3367-3368. doi: 10.1063/1.1493789

Comment on 'Incipient Air Entrainment in a Translating Axisymmetric Plunging Laminar Jet'

2002

Conference Publication

Similitude of air entrainment at vertical circular plunging jets

Chanson, Hubert, Aoki, Shin-ichi and Hoque, Ashabul (2002). Similitude of air entrainment at vertical circular plunging jets. 2002 ASME Fluids Engineering Division Summer Meeting (ASME FEDSM'02), Montreal, Canada, 14-18 July 2002. United States: American Society of Mechanical Engineers, Fluids Engineering Division. doi: 10.1115/FEDSM2002-31024

Similitude of air entrainment at vertical circular plunging jets

2002

Journal Article

Historical development of arch dams: from cut-stone arches to modern concrete designs

Chanson, Hubert and James, D. Patrick (2002). Historical development of arch dams: from cut-stone arches to modern concrete designs. Australian Civil Engineering Transactions, CE43, 39-56.

Historical development of arch dams: from cut-stone arches to modern concrete designs

Current funding

  • 2023 - 2026
    Diving into the Desert. Indigenous and Future Floodplain Management
    ARC Linkage Projects
    Open grant

Past funding

  • 2019 - 2022
    Understanding pollutant transport in estuaries and coastal rivers (ARC Discovery Project administered by the Queensland University of Technology)
    Queensland University of Technology
    Open grant
  • 2019 - 2020
    Fish Passage Culvert Research - Upstream fish passage in standard box culvert hydraulic engineering
    Queensland Department of Transport and Main Roads
    Open grant
  • 2017 - 2018
    Hydrodynamics of stepped spillways: energy dissipation and reaeration performances
    Universities Australia - Germany Joint Research Co-operation Scheme
    Open grant
  • 2015 - 2019
    Designing effective fish-friendly waterway culverts: integration of hydrodynamics and swimming performance
    ARC Linkage Projects
    Open grant
  • 2012 - 2016
    Optimum design of hydraulic structures in rural and urban Australia: dealing with floods and droughts
    ARC Discovery Projects
    Open grant
  • 2011 - 2014
    A study of turbulence and influence of anthropogenic inputs in small subtropical estuaries
    ARC Linkage Projects
    Open grant
  • 2008 - 2010
    Turbulence and energy dissipation in stepped spillways and urban drainage systems
    ARC Discovery Projects
    Open grant
  • 2003 - 2006
    A Basic Study of Mixing and Dispersion in Riverine and Estuarine Systems in South-East Queensland
    ARC Linkage Projects
    Open grant
  • 2003 - 2004
    A Basic Study of Mixing and Dispersion in Estuarine Zones
    Australian Academy of Science
    Open grant
  • 2000
    Acoustic signature measurement: application to industrial multiphase flows.
    ARC Australian Research Council (Small grants)
    Open grant
  • 1997
    Collaborative visit to Laboratoire de Mecanique des Fluides et Acoustique Ecole Centrale de Lyon, France
    UQ Travel Grants Scheme
    Open grant
  • 1995
    Hydraulic design of stepped channels and spillways
    UQ External Support Enabling Grant
    Open grant

Availability

Professor Hubert Chanson is:
Available for supervision

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Supervision history

Current supervision

  • Doctor Philosophy

    A Study of Turbulent Secondary Flows in Partially Filled Smooth Circular Pipes

    Principal Advisor

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Hydrodynamic Modelling and Turbulence Manipulation of Low Velocity Zones in Box Culverts to Assist Upstream Passage of Small Body Mass Fish

    Principal Advisor

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Turbulence in hydraulic jump roller: hydrodynamics versus aerodynamics

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Associate Professor Matthew Mason

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Simulating local wind conditions within complex cityscapes

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Associate Professor Matthew Mason

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Wind Loads on Buildings in Experimentally Simulated Thunderstorm Downburst Outflows

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Associate Professor Matthew Mason

Completed supervision

Enquiries

Contact Professor Hubert Chanson directly for media enquiries about:

  • Air-water flow, re-oxygenation
  • Air-water gas transfer
  • Dams and engineering
  • Engineering - dams
  • Engineering - sewers
  • Engineering - spillways
  • Engineering - weirs
  • Engineering heritage dams, hydraulics, spillways
  • Floods - engineering
  • Floods and engineering
  • Fluid mechanics
  • Heritage dams - engineering
  • Hydraulic structures
  • Hydraulics
  • Hydrodynamics
  • Metrology
  • Sewers - engineering
  • Spillway design
  • Weirs

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