Date of Award

5-4-2026

Degree Type

Capstone Project

First Advisor

Professor Bahram Nassersharif

Abstract

Marine biofouling, defined as the unwanted accumulation of biological organisms on submerged surfaces, leads to increased hydrodynamic drag, fuel consumption, corrosion, and maintenance costs for marine vessels and infrastructure. Amphiphilic antifouling coatings have emerged as a promising environmentally friendly alternative to traditional coatings due to their ability to resist both hydrophobic and hydrophilic fouling organisms. Despite their potential, a key limitation in advancing these coatings is the lack of a standardized, controlled, and repeatable method for evaluating performance under dynamic flow conditions representative of real marine environments. This project focused on the design, fabrication, and validation of a laboratoryscale device capable of testing amphiphilic antifouling coatings under controlled hydrodynamic shear. Over the course of the academic year, Team 5 progressed from initial problem definition and concept generation to the development and testing of a functional prototype. Early efforts included establishing customer requirements, conducting literature and patent reviews, analyzing marine fouling mechanisms, and identifying gaps in existing testing standards. Multiple design concepts were generated and evaluated using engineering analysis, leading to the selection of a rotating test assembly capable of exposing coated samples to repeatable flow conditions. The final device consists of a watertight housing containing a motor-driven rotating shaft connected to a test disk for mounting coated panels. Key engineering challenges addressed throughout the project included motor selection and sizing, structural stability, sealing of rotating interfaces, and mitigation of leakage under submerged conditions. Iterative design improvements were implemented, including redesign of the internal motor mount for accessibility, optimization of wire routing to prevent tangling, and adjustment of the buoyancy and anchoring system to improve stability during operation. Fluid dynamic considerations were incorporated to ensure the device produced representative shear forces on test surfaces. Prototype testing was conducted in a controlled water environment to evaluate device performance, watertight integrity, and operational reliability. Results demonstrated that the device can consistently generate rotational motion and maintain structural integrity under testing conditions, though minor leakage and stability issues informed further refinements. These outcomes validate the feasibility of the design as a baseline platform for dynamic antifouling coating evaluation. Overall, this project delivers a functional and scalable test device that addresses a critical gap in antifouling coating evaluation. The system provides a foundation for future work, including extended-duration testing, deeper water deployment, and adaptation for a wider range of environmental conditions, supporting the continued development of sustainable marine coating technologies.

Comments

Team Name: Team 5

Company Sponsor: Naval Undersea Warfare Center

Document Reference: URI-MCE-2026-FDR-005

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