Making Waves: Ocean Modelling with Absorbing Wavemakers

Synopsis

Shows wavemaking facilities built at Edinburgh University Department of Engineering in connection with the Edinburgh Wave Power Project. The wide tank (30 metres wide scaled to represent 3km of ocean) with a bank of 82 computer-controlled wavemaking paddles, is shown as a versatile machine capable of modelling complex fully realistic multidirectional seas, the apparent randomness of which can be indefinitely repeated for experimental purposes. The problem of reflected waves, common to all wave tank models, is illustrated and its solution demonstrated with visual material. The force and velocity of the reflected waves themselves are used as a feedback to dampen the command signal creating new waves, thus enabling the wavemaker to absorb reflections at the same time as it generates new waves.

Language

English

Country

Great Britain

Medium

Video; Videocassette. VHS. col. 18 min.

Year of production

1984

Availability

Sale; 1996 sale: £30.00 (+VAT +p&p)

Notes

Archival interest.

Uses

3rd year BSc students taking a one-term course on coastal geomorphology - useful at two levels: 1) Demonstration of components of complex ‘real’ seas; 2) Use of models in research related to ocean waves.*

Subjects

Engineering; Physics

Keywords

wave mechanics; wave power; waves

Credits

Producer

Colin Anderson; Jamie Taylor

Cast

Susie Maguire

Production Company

Name

Black Duck Productions

Name

University of Edinburgh Wave Power Project

Sponsor

Name

C & N Electrical Industries

Distributor

Name

Learning on Screen - the British Universities and Colleges Film and Video Council

Email

services@bufvc.ac.uk

Web

http://bufvc.ac.uk External site opens in new window

Phone

020 3743 2345

Address

York House
221 Pentonville Road
London
N1 9UZ

Notes

The Learning on Screen distribution library is currently only available in part. Please contact us with any individual queries. The two series of InterUniversity History Film Consortium films which make extensive use of archive footage been digitised for free, online viewing by UK HE institutions - see Learning on Screen InterUniversity History Film Consortium Films (qv).