Aeration Effects on Impact: Drop Test of a Flat Plate

Abstract

Aeration effects on impact have been investigated by dropping a flat plate onto the water surface, in which the water is aerated to various degrees. An experimental study has been carried out in the newly commissioned Ocean Basin at Plymouth University’s COAST Lab. The falling block comprises a rigid impact plate connected to two driver plates and its total mass can be varied between 32 kg and 52 kg. The impact plate is 0.25m long, 0.25 m wide and 0.012 m high. The impact velocity is varied between 4 m/s and 7 m/s. Preliminary results of the impact tests are presented here. Visualised results show that there are significant differences between jet formation after impact of the plate in pure water and in aerated water. There is significant reduction of the maximum pressures from those measured in pure water to those measured in aerated water.