Design Hub and Design Climate Collaborate on Wave Tank Project

Recently, our DesignHub team worked on an interesting project in collaboration with Design Climate. The goal was to create a wave tank to demonstrate how seaweed can reduce shoreline erosion by slowing down ocean waves.

The Project: A Hands-On Demonstration Tool

Design Climate approached the Design Hub with a request for a demonstration device: a wave tank that could show the effect of seaweed on wave dynamics. The team needed to design a system where waves could be generated, measured, and then analyzed to see how much they were mitigated by seaweed.

Building the Wave Tank

Bryce Fitzpatrick, the student manager of DesignHub, led the construction, which involved several tools and techniques available at the Co-Lab:

• Laser cutters were used to create the acrylic panels that formed the tank.

• 3D printers helped build a device that measures wave impact using a magnet and an inductive coil.

• An Arduino-powered servo motor controlled the wave generation system.

The resulting tank successfully demonstrated the desired effect, providing a simple yet effective way to visualize how seaweed reduces wave energy.

Using the Tank

The wave tank has already been used at two events: Duke University’s Energy Week and a smaller campus tabling event. At these events, the tank served as a practical example of how design and engineering can contribute to environmental solutions, while also promoting the work of Design Climate.

A Practical Outcome

This project highlights the kind of collaborative work supported by the Design Hub, where students can apply their skills to real-world challenges. The wave tank offers a tangible way to explore environmental concepts and encourages further conversations around design and sustainability.

For more about the Energy Week event, read the WRAL article.