Project BryceFloat - Floating Wind Challenge UMass Team

Our team of five mechanical engineering seniors designed and fabricated a moored floating structure capable of supporting and stabilizing a Vevor 400W wind turbine. Project BryceFloat aims to withstand wind, waves, currents and wear caused by the ocean environment. Now, we just need your help to bring our Senior Capstone Project to the international competition, the Floating Wind Competition, at Plage Napoleon near Marseille, France.

The competition judges entries based on power generation efficiency, structural integrity, foundation stability, transportation and installation, and material & fabrication cost. During our process we were inspired by existing structures to design a floating structure which is buoyed at all three corners with the turbine at the center via a pyramid. We modelled the hydrostatic stability, completed catenary mooring system analysis and ran FEA analysis on a 3D printed part. We purchased reliable, customer off-the-shelf parts to reduce budget and ensure quality pieces. 

Although our fabrication costs are within budget, flights and lodging for our time in France needs a lot of financial assistance! We’re hoping to raise $10,000 to cover flights for our five team members, accommodations over the course of the competition as well as transportation in France.

Every donation counts and gets us one step closer to sharing our creation with the international team and organizers of the Floating Wind Challenge. Thank you!