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Carderock, MD., U.S.A. 



DTNSRDC TOWING BASIN, HIGH SPEED 



Ship Performance Department 



David Taylor Naval Ship R&D Center (DTNSRDC) 



"Big Science" Descriptor : High performance craft/torpedo/towed body, 

 high-speed hydrodynamics 



Description of Facility/Instrument : Concrete fresh water basin 2968 

 feet long, 21 feet wide, and 10 feet deep for 1168 feet and 16 

 feet deep for 1800 feet with a pneumatic wavemaker which can 

 generate waves up to 2 feet high and 40 feet long. Three towing 

 carriages operate with top speeds of 35, 50, and 70 knots over 

 the basin on tracks. Typical tests performed on this facility 

 include: resistance, self -propulsion, and static stability in 

 calm water; seakeeping and propulsion evaluations in head or 

 following waves; planar motion experiments; open water propeller 

 characterizations of large propellers; unsteady propeller blade 

 force measurements; hydrodynamic forces on hydrofoils, planning 

 boats, and other high speed craft operating in calm water and in 

 waves; towed body experiments; knot-meter calibrations. 



Date of Construction : 1941, 1947 (doubled length and added 50 knot 

 towing carriage), 1980 (added 70 knot towing carriage). 



Construction Cost : Original : (1941) $4 million 



1984 $$ : $45 million (including three towing 

 carriages) 



Excellent 



Other Information : The Center's Ship Performance Department partici- 

 pates on a continuing basis in activities with the International 

 Towing Tank Conference, American Towing Tank Conference, Inter- 

 national Exchange Program (ABC-17 Ship Hydrodynamics), NATO Ex- 

 change Program, NSMB Co-op Research Program, and miscellaneous 

 experimental work for various foreign companies and governments. 



