Abstract
This study establishes a lab-scale fluid analogy of horizontal axis turbines (HAT) for application in marine hydrokinetic (MHK) research. Following the literature and actuator disk theory, a perforated plate (PP) is a commonly used representation of a horizontal axis turbine for simulations and theoretical analyses. This method has been implemented experimentally, but the influence of PP geometry on performance is not completely characterized. Researchers aim to establish a relationship between PP porosity and coefficient of power (CP) or coefficient of drag (CD), enabling accurate and precise modelling of characterized MHK devices at lab-scale. Experiments will be conducted in a hydraulic flume, where Laser Doppler Velocimetry (LDV) will generate planar velocity profiles upstream and downstream of the PP. A force gauge mounted on a moment arm will measure drag forces. A consistent hole pattern and plate size ensures comparable results to quantify how PP porosity influences CP and CD, providing data to support MHK device characterization. These findings will be leveraged in future research to support appropriate PP design selection.