2. A self -floating tow assembly, to provide easy attachment of tow 

 cable during field use and to assure proper vertical loading of the boom 

 end. 



3. A bulkhead attachment, compatible with the universal boom 

 connector and capable of maintaining a leak-proof seal at a dock or 

 other vertical surface during vertical tidal variations. 



CEL, sponsored by the Naval Facilities Command, undertook and 

 completed the study of the designs, and then the development and test- 

 ing of the above components. 



DESIGN REQUIREMENTS FOR BOOM HARDWARE 



Hydrodynamic forces experienced by a boom assembly during field 

 use imposed restrictions on the design requirements of the boom connector 

 and tow assembly. Appendix A discusses in detail the theoretical straight- 

 line and catenary hydrodjniamic forces for the boom which had to be 

 considered for any successful design of the hardware. 



All three components (boom connector, tow assembly, and bulkhead 

 attachment) were to be compatible with each other. In addition, the 

 following characteristics were identified as being essential to the 

 design of the standardized boom hardware. 



The boom connector was to have the following characteristics: 



1. Insensitivity to decoupling when subjected to surge and heave 

 forces in the field. 



2. Easy attachment by field personnel from small craft. 



3. Rotational flexibility to reduce bending loads in bidirectional 

 tidal currents. 



4. Fabrication materials resistant to marine corrosion, easily 

 extrusible, and with high strength. 



The tow assembly was also to be fabricated from high-strength, 

 extrusible, corrosion-resistant materials, as was the boom connector. 

 In addition, the design was to include the following characteristics: 



1. Enhanced damping of roll motion. 



2. Good low-speed control of the towed boom end. 



