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Towing Tank
Housing the Ship Boundary Layer and Carriage
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![](assets/Facilities/towtank/icon-hpu.jpg)
The 60 HP hydraulic power unit which powers the SBL and carriage experiments
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![](assets/Facilities/towtank/icon-compcontrol.jpg)
Computer controller for the SBL and carriage
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1. Ship boundary layer |
The SBL sitting inside of the towing tank
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The Ship Boundary Layer Simulator (SBL) consists of two vertical rollers, each powered by two hydraulic motors, which drive a meter-wide stainless steel belt in a loop. The belt can start impulsively from rest and accelerate at up to 3 g while reaching top speeds of up to 15 m/s. This device is used to study turbulent boundary layer development and couette flow in the presence of a free surface.
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![](assets/Facilities/towtank/wl.gif)
The SBL in action
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![](assets/Facilities/towtank/icon-sblCAD.jpg)
CAD drawing from before construction of the SBL
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2. Carriage |
The carriage consists of two moving parts: the "vertical carriage" and the "horizontal carriage." The horizontal carriage rests on a 45 ft-long track that runs the length of the tank. The horizontal carriage is attached to the vertical carriage and can move up and down to simulate a ship's hull hitting a wave.
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![](assets/Facilities/towtank/carriage.jpg)
Carriage with a rigid plate attached
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![](assets/Facilities/towtank/carriage1.gif)
Carriage at 3.0 m/s
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![](assets/Facilities/towtank/carriage2.gif)
Alternate view
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