Scale modelling of an Erosion Control Armoured Block

The company requested the production of a large number (Approximately 600plus) of scale models in the required material for testing.

A meeting took place with ECPS to understand what they were trying to achieve and what Design+ could do to help them with essential product testing.

With the year round concern of storms affecting Ireland’s coastline such as Hurricane Ophelia in 2017, ECPS are focused on a long term solution to combat this increasing problem. Manufacturing a scale model of their concept had proven to be very difficult until ECPS. Reaching out to Design+ gave them a real world solution to this issue and allowed them to validate their design.

Having evaluated the objective of ECPS, Design+ were able to 3D print a series of scale models to the client’s specification. These models were used to create a reusable silicone mould with a vacuum casting machine. This reusable mould was then used with a concrete mix to recreate a number of scaled models that were an exact scaled replicate of their product for use in a wave tank. The client was able to take the reusable mould away and reproduce as many of these models as needed to conduct essential testing of their product at Marine and Renewable Energy Institute in University Cork. (MAREI).