The purpose of this project is to develop a rapid current boom using the submergence plane concept. A first generation prototype was developed and tested. In addition, an experimental program involving standard, vertical oil booms to generate data for comparison with numerical predictions of oil boom failure was conducted. This will compare uniform flow cases without waves. The use of instability delaying techniques (structural, chemical) was investigated. Then the effects of surface waves on oil-containment failure was investigated. These results were included in the model and compared to experimental data
A second year of funding was awarded. Both projects conducted additional testing at Ohmsett during the Summer and Fall of 1998. The revised UNH boom design was not able to duplicate the tow speeds of the first design. Further revisions were made to make the boom more rugged and suitable for commercial manufacture. Flume tank tests at UNH also continued using vertical barriers to simulate oil booms and laminar flow to facilitate the URI modeling efforts. A substantial paper on the URI numerical model called SlickMap was presented at the June 2000 Arctic and Marine Oil Spill Program Technical Seminar. A more robust version of the UNH boom design was tested at the Ohmsett facility in June 2000. The new design looks very promising. The USCG has funded an adaptation of the UNH boom design as a new fast sweep containment boom for use by USCG vessels in spill response.