Ocean Wave Basin

The Ocean Wave Basin at the HMRC is 25m long, 18m wide and 1m deep. The wave generation sytem incorporates 40 flap type wedge shaped aluminium paddles attached to the 18m side of the tank. Each of these paddles has a hinge depth of 0.75m and is fitted with an active absorption system. The paddles are dry backed and sealed with a rolling fabric gusset seal, which allows each paddle to move independently. An electric servo-motor drives each paddle via a belt.

The wave generating system is capable of directional irregular seas up to a significant wave height of 0.18m and period of 2.5s. Active absorption is incorporated into the paddle system, this uses a feedback signal to adjust paddle motion. To further minimise the amount of reflected waves in the tank an artificial Enkamat absorption beach is located at the opposite end to the paddles.

Monochromatic, panchromatic and recorded time series can be applied to the device undergoing testing. This allow for the fundamental characteristics of the device to be obtained as well as modelling the device in real sea condition.