Wave Tank Experiment

First test of the wave burst concept:

To build a sculpture that lives in the ocean and that is designed to do amazing and joyful things when waves hit it.

Nature makes great wave breaks along rocky shores, but the best ones destroy themselves quickly due to erosion and high impact.

The Wave Burst is designed for efficient conversion of wave energy into geysers and sprays. The real ones will be built of high grade reinforced concrete.

This first experiment was conducted with modelling clay to evaluate shapes that are effective for focusing and directing breaking waves.

As simple as it is, the results are encouraging. We observe water jets that are frequently more than five times the height of the incoming wave.

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• waves
• wave
• tank
• sculpture
• geyser
• spray
• Ingalls
• ram
• burst

[DanielIngalls]

I just made it out of plywood. If you make it big like mine (16 inches high and wide and 12 feet long) then you need to make it strong (use screws and very strong legs) as it will weigh a great deal when full. I suggest much smaller for science fair (1/2 of each dimension makes 1/8 the total weight). I just lined it with plastic for waterproofing, but paint and caulk could work too. Good luck!

[DanielIngalls]

I junked the paddle in the video and made another one. I just wedged a board in the bottom of the tank with a hinge and the paddle that you see (just a piece of plywood. I then used a windshield wiper motor from an old car (available from junk yards).

Of course, to get started you can do the paddle completely by hand and it will do just fine.

[TheBeyblader7627]

Cool! Can u tell me how u did that cuz i am doing the same thing 4 science fair

[TheBeyblader7627]

Awesome!

[frankefc9]

how I can do the paddle?

[numanszied]

veryy cool!!

[natingalls]

That's cool, Pop. I think you will notice as you go micro to macro that the edges will begin to smooth out. The time it takes for the water to fall from it's maximum height to the earth should increase as the actual peak increases, the weight of water & gravity remain constant. Looking forward to future developments.