Wave Lab

The Wave Lab is a state-of-the-art facility for fluid dynamics and water-structure interaction research. Its centerpiece is a 6,300-gallon, 35’×3’×3’ Plexiglas wave tank equipped with a computer-controlled wave maker capable of generating various linear or nonlinear, surface or internal waves with height up to 18’’ including gravity, rogue, soliton, tsunami and other storm waves. Computer-controlled (VFD) flow up to 3 ft/s can be produced with six pumps, complemented by an adjustable beach and a 5° flume for simulations of rip tides, rivers, currents, shear and sediment transport studies.

The Wave Lab now supports federally funded projects, a Navy research lab (ONR) partnership, local industry partnerships and educational outreach, with ongoing research highlights displayed on-site. The Lab can host projects on fluid dynamics, AUV, SUV, mini-subs, waves, currents and water-structure interaction research. It can host up to 12 people working teams and 50 visitors at a time.

The goals of this lab include scientific research on the following topics:

• Shear stress between rivers and currents and their solid bed, sediment transport, land loss and erosion
• Sea-ice dynamics in the Arctic (with ONR)
• Interaction between ocean waves and sea-ice floes (with ONR)
• Formation of ice spiral in the Arctic Ocean
• Nonlinear water waves, solitons, solitary waves and soliton rain
• Interaction between nonlinear surface waves and bathymetry (with ONR)
• Leidenfrost liquids research and nonlinear patterns for super-cooling
• Water vortices and water funnels dynamics
• Studies of formation and prediction of rogue waves in the ocean
• Macro-algae dynamics in Indian River Lagoon (with IRLNEP)
• Wing in the wave over the sea surface
• Landau damping effect in water
• High power ultrafast EMN pulse generation (with AFOSR)

Equipment List

• Advanced fluid dynamics diagnostics
• Laser particle image velocimetry (PIV)
• Stereo-photogrammetry
• Wave gauges
• High-speed imaging
• Integrated LabVIEW/National Instruments and Automation Direct controls
• Electric step drives for wave generation
• 3D printers
• Visible and IR lasers
• Compressed air and shock-wave tubes system
• Mechanical/electronics workshop with Tektronix oscilloscopes and all necessary equipment