The beam centrifuge, located at the Centre for Offshore Foundation Systems (COFS) at the School of Civil & Resource Engineering (CRE), UWA, turns 20 years old this year. A reception hosted by the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Alan Robson, was held at the centrifuge laboratory, followed by a dinner which was held in April.

Since 1989 COFS and CRE have had numerous international academic collaborations through centrifuge projects, including Deltares, University of Cambridge, the National University of Singapore and the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology. There has also been major industry projects from virtually every corner of the world including the Euripides piles (UK), Tai Po LNG pipeline (Asia), Gwang Yang bridge (South Korea), Hong Kong LNG pipeline (Hong Kong), PSVM field pipeline (Africa), Maari platform (New Zealand) and around Australia such as pipeline design for Gorgon/Janz and Pluto, pile investigation for North Rankine A and Goodwyn and suction caisson validation for Laminara.

Since COFS was established in 1997 there have been 37 industry projects and 16 projects funded through ARC, providing a total of $2.89 million and $4.5 million respectively.

COFS is the only place in the southern hemisphere to have both a beam and drum centrifuge and also has the added benefit of having its own electronics laboratory and workshop to custom design and build equipment as needed.

For further information please email Mark Cassidy (Director Centre for Offshore Foundation Systems) on (+61 8) 6488 3732 or visit www.cofs.uwa.edu.au.