268 



Carderock, MD., U.S.A. 



DTNSRDC TOWING BASIN, SHALLOW WATER 



David Taylor Naval Ship R&D Center (DTNSRDC) 



"Big Science" Descriptor ; Surface ship resistance and propulsion 

 characterization 



Description of Facility/Instrument : Concrete fresh water basin 1192 

 feet long, 51 feet wide, and 22 feet deep, including a shallow 

 water section 303 feet long and 10 feet deep which can be used 

 to simulate rivers, canals, and restricted channels. A towing 

 carriage operates over the basin on tracks at speeds up to 18 

 knots. Typical tests performed on this facility include: resis- 

 tance and self-propulsion in calm water; open water propeller 

 characterizations; self-propelled model steering maneuvers; 

 unsteady propeller blade force measurements; wake surveys; 

 knotmeter calibrations under simulated dynamic conditions; 

 vertical planar motion experiments; hydrodynamic forces on 

 submerged bodies, foils, etc.; towed body experiments; 

 longitudinal wave cut experiments. 



Date of Construction : 1941 



Construction Cost : Original : $4 million 



1984 $$ : $25 million 



Present International Cooperation 



Nationallty(s) of Ownership : U.S. 

 Nationality(s) of Operational Funding : U.S. 

 Natlonality(s) of Management Staff : U.S. 

 Nationality(s) of Researchers : U.S. 



Potential for Future International Cooperation : 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 Programs (ABC-17 Ship Hydrodynamics), NATO 

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

 experimental work for various foreign companies and governments. 



