Acquisition of A Modular Wave Tank for Fundamental and Applied Research in the New UNC Multiscale Fluid Dynamics Lab

这项由重大研究仪器(MRI)赠款支持的收购包括一个模块化的波浪水箱以及相关的造波和数据采集仪器，该仪器将安装在北卡罗来纳大学的新流体实验室。建议的模块化波浪水箱的设计考虑到了最大的灵活性。许多流体力学发生在多个尺度上，而它们之间的非线性耦合是理论和实验科学中最具挑战性的特征之一。有了这个仪器，PI团队和参与者将能够探索现象，其中一些是在现有的数学流体实验室或海洋科学系在野外实验中新发现的，这是前所未有的。从分层射流中的混合及其与内波的产生和相互作用，到分层流体中颗粒的沉积及其夹带现象，到具有强迫和破裂的从深到浅地形的大内孤立波传播，再到表面波运动的边界层泥沙传输，新仪器使许多实验成为可能，以保证未来许多年的密集使用。新波箱的模块化设计使每个模块可以服务于不同的目的，并允许在不同的模块中同时进行实验。这将优化时间共享和资源利用。水的破坏力由巨大的自然力量驱动，最近发生的悲惨事件痛苦地说明了这一点。海啸和风暴潮夺走了无数人的生命，造成了数千亿美元的损失。减轻这些不可控自然力量的影响的主要手段是准确的预测和预测，这反过来又依赖于对正在发挥作用的物理现象的基本理解。实验和数学建模的紧密结合越来越被认为是研究这一系列流体问题的最成功的方法。拟议的仪器致力于研究控制模拟这些自然事件的水的动力学的相关物理过程，最终目标是提高预测能力。流体运动的视觉吸引力及其数学建模的挑战将进一步将拟议的仪器扩展为能够吸引聪明的本科生从事科学职业的基本教育工具，从而提高我国劳动力在这些国家利益领域的能力。

The acquisition supported by this Major Research Instrumentation (MRI)grant consists of a modular wave tank and related wave making and data collectinginstrumentation to be housed in the new Fluids Lab at the University ofNorth Carolina. The proposed modular wave tank has been designed withmaximum flexibility in mind. Much of fluid mechanics takes place across multiple scales, and theirnonlinear coupling is arguably one of the most challenging features oftheoretical and experimental science. With this instrument the team of PIs andparticipants will be able to probe into phenomena, some of them newly discoveredin the existing Mathematics Fluid Lab or in field experiments by Marine Science faculty, as neverbefore. From mixing in stratified jets and their generation andinteraction with internal waves, to sedimentation of particles in stratified fluids and theirentrainment phenomena, to large internal solitary wave propagation from deep toshallow topography with forcing and breaking, to boundary layer sedimenttransport by surface wave motion, the host of experiments that the new instrumentationmakes possible is such as to guarantee intensive usage for many years to come.The modularity of the new wave tank is designed so that each module can serve a differentpurpose, as well as allowing simultaneous experiments to take place in thedifferent modules. This will optimize time sharing as well as usage of resources.The destructive powers of water, set in motion by large natural forces, have been painfullyillustrated by the tragic events that marked the recent past. Tsunamis andhurricane surges have taken untold lives, and cost hundreds of billions ofdollars in damage. The primary means to mitigate the effects of these uncontrollablenatural forces is accurate prediction and forecast, which in turn relies on fundamentalunderstanding of the physical phenomena at play. Close integration of experimentaland mathematical modelling is becoming more and more recognized as the mostsuccessful approach to study this range of fluids problems. The proposed instrumentationis dedicated to the study of the relevant physical processes that govern the dynamics ofwater emulating these natural events, with the ultimate goal of improving predictive capabilities.The visual appeal of fluid motion and the challenge of its mathematical modelingwill further extend the proposed instrumentation into a primary educational tool ableto attract bright undergraduate students to careers in the sciences, thereby increasingthe competency of our workforce in these fields of national interest.