Applied Physics Seminar: "Physics of Adaptive Composite Marine Structures in Multiphase Flows"

Composites are used in numerous marine technologies, including propulsive devices and control surfaces for marine vessels, advanced hull forms, sails, offshore platforms, unmanned surface and subsurface vehicles, and renewable energy harvesting devices. It is possible to take advantage of the anisotropic properties of composites to enable passive morphing capabilities to improve performance. Moreover, active materials can be embedded inside composites to enable active shape morphing capabilities, harvest flow kinetic energy, mitigate/control flow-induced vibrations, as well as enable in situ sensing and control. However, care is needed in the design and testing of adaptive composite marine structures, as the resonance characteristics, hydroelastic instability boundaries and governing instability mechanisms can change substantially in multiphase flow. Here, we examine the physics governing the dynamic response and stability of adaptive marine structures in multiphase flow. We will also summarize the state-of-the-art and current challenges in the field of adaptive composite marine structures.