College - Author 1
College of Engineering
Department - Author 1
Mechanical Engineering Department
Degree Name - Author 1
BS in Mechanical Engineering
College - Author 2
College of Engineering
Department - Author 2
Mechanical Engineering Department
Degree - Author 2
BS in Mechanical Engineering
College - Author 3
College of Engineering
Department - Author 3
Mechanical Engineering Department
Degree - Author 3
BS in Mechanical Engineering
College - Author 4
College of Engineering
Department - Author 4
Mechanical Engineering Department
Degree - Author 4
BS in Mechanical Engineering
Date
12-2021
Primary Advisor
Eileen Rossman, College of Engineering, Mechanical Engineering Department
Abstract/Summary
Within this Final Design Review (FDR) report, the COILReef™ Senior Project concludes with all updates reflecting results after testing. The COILReef™ is a device ideated by Cal Poly Professor Roger Benham. It aims to provide a removeable, low-cost solution to dissipating ocean wave energy, thereby reducing coastal erosion in sensitive areas. Current permanent solutions cost millions of dollars, take years to construct, and sometimes produce undesirable and unintended effects. The work presented in this document provides the foundational research, testing, and steps taken by the team to evaluate the feasibility of the COILReef™ design as a viable solution to reducing coastal erosion.
The team developed an understanding of stakeholder needs/wants and current solutions for preventing coastal erosion through background research. The research also included a patent search and technical research pertaining to the subject. The team defined the problem statement and scope of work that will be assessed which includes various analysis techniques including a boundary diagram, Quality Function Deployment (QFD), Gantt chart, ideation, controlled convergence analysis, and Failure Modes and Effects Analysis (FMEA). A project timeline with key milestones was defined and a plan was created to meet deliverable deadlines throughout the duration of the project.
To evaluate the feasibility of the COILReef™, the team executed theoretical simulation using CFD software as well as physical testing of prototypes in a waterpark wave pool as well as in a smallscale wave tank. The prototypes were built with high and low parameters for four design factors as follows: coil diameter, coil spacing, depth of placement, and incident angle of wave impact. The coil diameter was selected based on wave height, with the high parameter being equal to the incoming wave height, and the low parameter being equal to one half of the incoming wave height. The coil spacing dimensions were selected with a high parameter of eight inches, and a low of four inches. These parameters were selected intuitively with enough of a difference between the high and low to obtain a noticeable difference in the results. The high parameter for the depth of placement was at the water’s surface, and the low parameter was at a depth equal to one half of the wavelength where the orbital wave particle motion becomes negligible. Lastly, the incident angle of impact was chosen intuitively so that the coil was parallel to the incoming wave height for the low parameter, and at an angle of 45 degrees to the incoming wave for the high parameter. Based on tests conducted with all combinations of high and low parameters, the data suggested that a significant decrease in wave height was achieved by the prototype placed at the water’s surface parallel to the incoming wave with the diameter equal to the wave height and a coil spacing of four inches. It is the team’s recommendation that these results should be treated as preliminary and corroborated with further testing.
URL: https://digitalcommons.calpoly.edu/mesp/627