Physical Modeling Basin

Built in 1905, the physical model basin was the first towing tank owned and operated by an educational institution in the United States.  Remodeling activities began during 1962 and continued in 1980 and 1990. Since 2001, the capabilities have been under continual upgrade and improvement. The model basin is equipped to facilitate a full range of classical and innovative experimental procedures consisting of but not limited to the following:

  • conventional ship resistance and propulsion testing• advanced six-degree-of-freedom seakeeping tests
  • flow-visualization using video and lasers
  • three component laser Doppler velocimetry
  • Model motion tracking using an infrared optical tracking system
  • directional stability, related to towing, using  laser tracking
  • maneuvering tests

The model basin is equipped with its own machine shop, model building facility, and electronics laboratory that are operated by skilled technical professionals. In addition to supporting the construction of accurate models of ships, barges, offshore  structures, and specialized vehicles, platforms, and fixtures, this staff is responsible for providing and maintaining a full suite of model testing equipment that includes the following:

  • Ultrasonic and capacitance wave probes
  • Accelerometers
  • Level sensors
  • 3D optical imagers
  • Phantom V9.1 high speed, high resolution large storage imagers
  • String potentiometers
  • LVDTs and RVDTs
  • Load cells
  • Pressure transducers
  • Flow meters
  • Custom-built equipment to facilitate specialized testing activities

The towing tank is equipped with an electrically driven, computerized wedge-type wavemaker that is capable of generating regular waves (wave periods between 0.5 and 2.0 seconds) and irregular waves from stored time records or from direct computer output.

Principal characteristics of towing tank.

ItemDescription
Carriage drive system type and total power Four 5kW brushless servo motors using computer control for optimum speed regulation
Tank length 109.7 meters (360.0 feet)
Tank width 6.7 meters (22 feet)
Tank depth
(to edge of trough)
Tank depth (to edge of trough)		 3.05 meters (10.0 feet)
Typical water depth 3.2 meters (10.5 feet)
Carriage type Manned bridge and unmanned trailer.
Carriage speed (min. and max.) 0.08 to 6.10 m/s (0.25 to 20.0 ft/s)
Wavemaker type and class Plunger type capable of generating regular and irregular waves; computer generated for any spectrum.
Wave making parameters Wave Period – 0.5 to 2.0 seconds
Wave length – 0.39 to 6.24 meters (1.3 to 20.5 feet)
Maximum wave height – 0.46 meters (1.5 feet)
Run time cycle Variable depending on the type of test and size of model (typically 15 minutes without waves and 30 minutes with waves)

towtank cleanup600

Figure. Physical Modeling Basin (Towing Tank)

swingtable600

Figure. Swing Table

room113600

Figure. Model Staging Area


Did you know?
  • Between them, Cooley and Sadler taught all the courses in the maritime program; but Cooley's increasing administrative duties left little time for his courses in marine engineering.
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