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Hydro Elasticity Lab

Dr. Ikeda-Gilbert instructs undergraduate AOE student, Rebecca Keller, and graduate AOE student, Zhongshu Ren on how to properly focus one of two high-speed Phantom VEO 710S cameras in preparation for a flexible wedge drop test.
Dr. Ikeda-Gilbert instructs undergraduate AOE student, Rebecca Keller, and graduate AOE student, Zhongshu Ren on how to properly focus one of two high-speed Phantom VEO 710S cameras in preparation for a flexible wedge drop test.
Dr. Ikeda-Gilbert shows AOE undergraduate student, Rebecca Keller, what regions are important to focus on
Dr. Ikeda-Gilbert shows AOE undergraduate student, Rebecca Keller, what regions are important to focus on.
AOE students Rebecca Keller and Zhongshu Ren observing an experimental run.
AOE students Rebecca Keller and Zhongshu Ren observing an experimental run.
Hydroelasticity Laboratory group picture.
Hydroelasticity Laboratory group picture.

The Hydroelasticity Laboratory is an experimental Fluid-Structure Interaction facility for Ocean structures in the Kevin T. Crofton Department of Aerospace and Ocean Engineering. The focus of this group is to understand fundamental physics of various fluid-structure interaction problems. One important problem that is currently being studied is of slamming impacts on high-speed planing craft, those vessels which are hydrodynamically loaded. The first phase of the experiment, which is shown in the photos, is of a flexible wedge drop experiment. Measurements are taken of hydrodynamic pressure, kinematics of the structure, and strain. Currently, the water tank is being redesigned to be larger in size to accommodate different types of experiments and to not restrict the jet resulting from the wedge impact. The new tank will also support flow visualization experiments. Another phase of the slamming experiment will be conducted in the Tow Tank facility and will allow for more degrees of freedom to be examined. Please contact Dr. Ikeda-Gilbert (cikeda@vt.edu) for more information.