Located at the new Southampton Boldrewood Campus of the University of Southampton the new towing tank is the first to be built in the UK for 50 years and it incorporates the latest technology for wave making, towing and wave subduing.
The new tank has a length of 138 metres, a width of 6 metres and a water depth of 3.5 metres. These are compact dimensions but the latest wave making and wave subduing technology plus an advanced towing carriage design make the take much more capable than earlier towing tanks. The wave making system can create a wide range of unidirectional sea state simulations and the wave subduing equipment along the side of the tank means higher efficiency because repeat towing tests can be carried out much sooner after the previous test.
The lightweight aluminium towing carriage is a monocoque structure. Weight saving has been maximised and the lightweight combined with the cable towing system allows high speeds to be simulated within the length confines of the tank. Internet streaming equipment allows clients to view the testing and results from anywhere in the World.
The Wolfson Unit has been operating for over 45 years mainly using rented space on other towing tanks. This new facility will enable them to offer a better and more efficient service and to expand the range of services that they can offer to clients. The Wolfson Unit is widely used by yacht, workboat and military designers for hull and propulsion evaluation.
By Dag Pike
