MHL: Marine Hydrodynamics Laboratory

Professor Guy Meadows has been a faculty member at the University of Michigan since 1977. His areas of research include; field and analytical studies of marine environmental hydrodynamics with emphasis on mathematical modeling of nearshore waves, currents and shoreline evolution, active microwave remote sensing of ocean dynamics including wave/wave, wave/current, wave/topographic interactions with recent work in signatures of surface ship wakes and naturally occurring ocean surface processes and the development of in situ and remote oceanographic instrumentation and data acquisition systems designed to measure the spatial and temporal structure of coastal boundary layer flows.

Hans Van Sumeren received his BSE and MSE in Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering from the University of Michigan. His research interests include field, laboratory and analytical studies of marine environmental hydrodynamics, marine hydrodynamics, and underwater operations with emphasis on physical modeling of marine structures, marine vessels and nearshore/shoreline evolution. The development of in situ and remote oceanographic and laboratory instrumentation and data acquisition systems focusing on environmental monitoring in extreme operating conditions. Developing "commercial off the shelf" (COTS) strategies to solve complex problems in the marine environment.

Ed is the supervisor of the electronics facility. He has expertise in software/hardware relating to motion controls. He has a wide range of programming skills and a strong capability in circuit design, analysis and development. Performs activities concerned with design, testing, and manufacture of instrumentation and electronic components, products, and systems, and in development of applications of products to commercial, industrial, military, and scientific uses. Ed has a strong background in the development and application of robotics, dynamometry and the implementation of a wide variety of transducers.

As the laboratory administrator she handles all of the research and grant proposal preparation and accounting. She is responsible for all time keeping and intra-university employee business.

Dave works with both electronics and mechanical fabrication at the laboratory and assists in all projects. He is an expert in underwater systems fabrication and has been responsible for the MHL environmental monitoring buoy developments. He is the main tow tank carriage operator and is familiar with the tow tank experimental techniques and procedures. Dave handles much of the undergraduate laboratory course set up and works closely with the students.

Heidi Purcell holds a BSE in Civil and Environmental Engineering as well as a MSE in Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering from the University of Michigan. As Technical Coordinator for Alliance for Coastal Technologies she is responsible for the Great Lakes Chapter's sensor technology verifications and demonstrations. Research activities include nearshore hydrodynamics and current systems, observing systems, and buoy technologies.

Joe is the shop facilities supervisor and coordinates activities in this area. He is a machinist and a certified welder/brazer in Gas Tungsten Arc (TIG) welding, Shielded Metal Arc (Stick) welding and Metal Inert Gas (MIG) welding. He can weld all types of metals and across a broad range of material thicknesses. Joe designs and fabricates specialized dynamometry and other testing equipment for both laboratory and field investigations. Joe handles the majority of the precision machining and woodworking tasks in the shop and prepares all the models that are tested in the facility.

Nick handles the composite lay-up and fabrication activities as well as the remote control systems in the laboratory. He assists in the machine shop along with the model and field testing programs. He is an experienced certified motor mechanic. His extensive mechanical skills have played an essential part in the upkeep and repair of the lab's shop, research and field equipment.

Steve is a graduate of the University of Michigan, Department of Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering, B.S.E. 1987. He served in the Unites States submarine force as an officer aboard the USS Baltimore (SSN-704) from 1988 - 1992, and served an additional five years in the naval reserve following active duty. He has worked in commercial industry for nine years for the Mead Paper and Applied Extrusion Technologies in the areas of reliability engineering, maintenance, plant engineering and management. He has recently earned his PhD in Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering from the University of Michigan, with a concentration in hydrodynamic ship design and optimization. His other areas of research interest include water wave mechanics, marine vehicle dynamics and complex system analysis utilizing adaptive heuristics.