Summary
As an R&D project to develop a new type of wave tank at Running Tide, I researched, designed, & built an 8 foot long wave tank with a custom wave absorber. I synthesized the findings of this project into a 5 page report, which can be found below.
After conducting research into wave mechanics and absorption methods, I got to work designing the wave tank. The main component for this project was the wave absorber—a 6 foot long curved aluminum weldment to absorb the wave energy at one side of the tank. I designed 5 iterations of the absorber, performing wave force and cyclic load calculations to inform the design of structural components. I also designed the paddle and motor linkage, which would produce the waves. After completing a design review, I created engineering drawings of the structure, which was then fabricated to spec by Running Tide's in-house team. I then installed all components into the acrylic tank, and ran tests to characterize the tank's capabilities. For a higher-detail description of this project, see the report below.
The completed tank generating traveling waves.
The underside of the structural weldment.
Installing the structure inside the acrylic tank.
The completed wave absorber structure inside the tank.