Here’s a fun fact. The US Navy owns its very own Indoor Ocean. It uses one of the biggest and most sophisticated wave pools on Earth to test all of the ships that are part of the naval fleet. https://t.co/xOg9GQEntU
— Pool Magazine (@magazine_pool) December 2, 2022
The United States Naval Surface Warfare Center houses one of the largest wave pools in the world. The facility allows them to create waves with specific frequencies and amplitudes. The US Navy has been testing all its ships, platforms and moored system in realistic sea conditions at Indoor Ocean, NSWC Carderock, since 1962.
The basin measures approximately 240′ x 180′ and contains 12 million gallons water. It is 20 feet deep. It also holds the record for the largest dome in the world.
Indoor Ocean Used To Predict Ship Performance
The Navy uses this facility to predict the performance of their full-size ships in open ocean. They test their stability and control in vessel that simulates real-world wave conditions. The US Navy’s maneuvering and seakeeping basin is also known as MASK. It is where it tests its fleet. Constructed in 1962 and renovated in 2013.
Indoor Ocean was upgraded from 21 slow, inefficient pneumatic domes with 216 paddles. Operators now have more control and independence. The renovated facility produces results that are 99 percent more accurate than the previous.
The facility’s engineers evaluate ship motions and efficiency. MASK researchers then can use this information in order to refine a vessel’s design and maximize its performance. The testing also helps to establish operational guidelines for crew members and ensure the ship’s correct configuration.
In a YouTube video uploaded to the Department of Defense, Calvin Krishen, a NSWC engineer, stated that there are many types of waves. Waves are unique in different places. They differ depending on whether you are near shore or far from shore. All of these types of waves can be programmed to our satisfaction.
For better ships, test and analyze
Engineers conduct rigorous testing and build vessels on a smaller scale to test their performance in open ocean conditions. The analysis at NSWC Carderock allows ship designers to make the necessary adjustments to ensure that they perform well in real-world conditions.
How this enormous wave pool works
The wave pool’s machine is a paddle system, which runs along two walls of the pool. There are 216 wavemakers that can produce waves of different sizes, ranging from -45 to 135 degrees.
The paddle system can be programmed to perform choreographed movements. It produces reproducible, perfectly-sized and high-frequency waves. The force transducers produce air bellows which travel across the pool in specific angular movements. This motion is similar to fingers moving across keys on a piano.
Wave pools can be found all around the globe, but the Indoor Ocean is unique in its ability to produce reproducible waves with a specific frequency and amplitude. Wave conditions can vary from one place to another. MASK is capable of reproducing the conditions in different locations around the world at different times of the year.
What is the need to upgrade?
The outdated technology of the old pneumatic-powered wave systems was not available. Navy needs a facility that can perform the rigorous testing required by engineers. In the past, the testing group had to move their models to the ocean to study the weather and recreate perfect wave conditions.
Designers today create models up to 30 feet long. To simulate future work conditions, operators submerge them into turbulent MASK waters.
The most important part of the new high tech system is its precise computer controls. The computer can be programmed to simulate a specific marine environment. Operators can program a 3D model to represent the waveform they desire.
Jon Etxegoien (Head of Naval Architecture & Engineering), stated that “We can nail, on scale, all the conditions around the world.” “So it’s more than just that we can do some type of rogue ocean states. We can actually do what they can expect in North Atlantic, South Pacific, littoral regions, and that kind of thing.” That’s what gives us an advantage. This is not just a general sea condition; it’s the exact location of where they will be operating.
Visit the place where the US Navy tests its ships
Is it shocking and amazing that the United States military has the most powerful wave pool in the entire world. It’s not true. It is a source of immense pride for us to know that dedicated professionals are responsible for the most thorough testing and analysis of the vessels in our naval fleet.
Featured photo credit: Department of Defense
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@bubba.edu Did you know the US Navy has an Indoor Ocean? 🌊🇺🇸 #education #engineering #water #redditstories #CapCut ♬ Elevator Music – Bohoman
