Figure 1. AMC Ship Hydrodynamics Centre Model
Test Basin Opening (May 2001)


Figure 2: A recent experiment conducted in the
Basin to quantify the motions and forces
experienced by a moored floating structure.
Photo courtesy of Energetech Australia PTY. LTD


Figure 3 - Vessel Interaction. The Vessel in the
foreground represents a moored vessel while the
vessel in the background represents a passing
vessel.

The Model Test Basin is 35m long, 12.0m wide and the water depth can be varied from empty up to 1.0m deep. The bottom of the basin is very flat providing the ability to conduct experiments in very shallow water depths if required. The combination of the increased width, solid flat bottom, variable water depth, model towing winch and wave generation capability makes this facility very versatile. The Basin is ideally suited for undertaking physical simulations of a wide variety of maritime operations within shallow water environments.

Waves can be produced by an electrically driven wavemaker positioned at the Northern end of the basin. The computer software that controls the 16 individual wavemaker paddles provides the ability to produce a wide variety of wave forms, including: regular waves, most commonly known irregular wave spectra and user defined wave spectra or sequences.

The paddles are of piston type allowing wave generation at almost any water depth. Both long and short crested waves can be generated.

The electric winch system is capable of towing light models (<40kg) up to a maximum speed of approximately 3.75m/s. It can also be geared to tow large models (<600kg) at accurately controlled speeds up to approximately 0.75m/s.

As with most of AMC's facilities, the Model Test Basin is a National facility, making it available to researchers from many Australian research institutions. The basin has been widely utilised by researchers, academic staff and postgraduate and undergraduate students to undertake a wide variety of physical experiments. For example, over the past few years the University of NSW, University of Western Australia, Curtin University of Technology and the Department of Defence have made use of this facility.

The first commercial consultancy was conducted in the Model Test Basin the week following it's official opening in May 2001. Since then, the SHC has conducted many varied commercial consultancy projects for Australian and international clients through the business arm of AMC, AMC Search Ltd. These projects have involved experiments on many types of vessels and maritime structures and regions.

Examples of the type of services offered are given below:

Measurement of sinkage and trim and/or heave force and pitch moment experienced by vessels travelling in restricted water

• Measurement of sway force and yaw moment experienced by a vessel passing alongside lateral banks to determine optimum channel configurations and/or the effect of the lateral banks on ship manoeuvring properties
• Measurement of resistance induced by the effects of restricted water

• Measurement of moored vessel heave, pitch and roll
• Measurement of moored vessel surge force, sway force and yaw moment. Figure 3 shows this sort of experiment being conducted within the Model Test Basin. The model in the foreground represents the moored vessel and the model in the background represents the passing vessel.
• Prediction of moored vessel surge, sway and yaw motions using a mathematical model which accounts for the dynamics of the moored vessel and mooring line and fender forces.

Measurement of sway force and yaw moment experienced by vessels at various lateral and longitudinal separations to simulate an overtaking manoeuvre.

The facility has been utilised during a number of commercial consultancy services in the field of vessel generated waves. These have included:

• The conduct of ship model experiments to measure and predict the characteristics of the waves generated by a vessel operating in either deep or shallow water environments.
• The conduct of full scale onsite measurements of the characteristics of the waves generated by a vessel.
• The rapid prediction of the characteristics of the waves generated by a vessel using validated empirical techniques.
• The development of rational vessel operational criteria in order to minimise the effects of vessel wash.
• The provision of advice on hull form design and operational procedures.

Figure 4. This figure shows the physical modelling of the channel geometry
for a particular Australian shipping port within the model test basin.

From this range of tests an extensive wave wake database has been developed.

Australian Maritime Hydrodynamics Research Centre
Locked Bag 1395
University of Tasmania
Launceston Tasmania 7250
Australia
Phone: +61 (0)3 6335 4732
Fax: +61 (0)3 6335 4720
Email:amhrc@amc.edu.au