Experimental Study on the Effect of Marine Growth on Wave-Structure Interaction of Thin Plates

Abstract Experiments to compare drag forces on flat plates with smooth surface finish and those incorporating nature inspired marine growth structures over a range of inclinations in steady and periodic flows were performed in a wave flume. Wave amplitude and wave period were major variables of the study, denoted by Keulegan-Carpenter numbers and frequency parameter values, respectively. Results indicate phase shift of measured mean force signals with respect to incoming wave, and significant force profile distortion at higher wave periods for all models. Specific inclination angle of plates’ leading edge with regards to wave cycle was also found to result in lower forces over the range of test conditions, and marine growth models exhibiting lower force magnitudes in comparison to reference models.