MIT Towing Tank Wave Absorber

The MIT Towing Tank features a wave maker that allows researchers to test their designs in waves, and for hydrodynamics classes to apply their knowledge in a laboratory setting. However, without anything to absorb the waves at the opposite end of the towing tank, the waves reflect off the back wall. With help from the Wolfson Unit Consultants and undergraduate researchers, I designed and built a wave absorbing structure and installed it in the MIT Towing Tank.

The wave absorber was built out of a stainless steel frame, which connected to plastic forming parts for a stainless steel sheet metal top. The shape of the top was designed by Wolfson Unit for our structure. The design is shown below and the final assembly is also shown below.