The first set of wave tank tests at Aalborg University have been finalised successfully.
Experiments using the wave tank at Aalborg University have been completed as part of the COHSI-WEC project to better understand the hydrodynamics of flexible sails.
The wave tank testing focused on generating data for the validation of the state-space and computational fluid dynamic (CFD) models that are being developed within the COHSI-WEC project. To achieve this a bespoke wave tank model was designed with a range of instrumentation enabling the data collected from the wave tank to be compared with that from the numerical models. This particular testing campaign investigated both a solid sail, to provide a reference case, as well as a perforated sail intended to provide a preliminary indication of how the flexible sails may reduce the forces so that the sails and Wavepiston technology can be designed to survive storms.
The wave tank data has provided confidence in the use of the numerical models for design as the difference between the wave tank and numerical model results was typically less than 10%.
The focus of the next wave tank testing campaign and associated numerical modelling is a more in-depth investigation into elastohydrodynamics and how the sail flexibility may be optimised for design.
