Towing Tank Upgrade 2005

---

Over the period January to June 2005 the Towing Tank underwent a major upgrade. The primary task was the extension in the length of the tank from 60 metres to 100 metres and an increase in the maximum carriage speed available.

A complete new wing has been added to the Northern end of the existing Swanson building on the Newnham Campus of AMC. The extension to the existing Towing Tank is located within the basement of this new wing. Also in the basement is a new workshop for the Towing Tank and offices for Ship Hydrodynamics Centre Staff. Additional classrooms, staff offices, computer laboratories among other facilities will be provided within the Ground and First floors of the new wing. Design of the building extension is being undertaken by ARTAS a local architecture and engineering firm.

In addition to the physical increase in length of the tank there are many other tasks undertaken as part of the Towing Tank upgrade. These include:

• Improved quality of carriage ride (upgrade of rails)
• New workshop and model preparation area
• New wet dock for model set up purposes
• Improved overhead crane provision
• Increase in model storage capacity
• Addition of viewing port in side wall of tank
• Upgrade of wavemaker control system
• Carriage redevelopment to achieve the following:
• Improved access on and off
• Modifications to digital drive control system
• Improved viewing access
• Major service of drive motors, gearboxes, brakes
• Installation of new test rig base frame
• Allow capability for installation of AMC's Horizontal Planar Motion Mechanism (HPMM)

The bulk of the mechanical design required for the above tasks has been undertaken in house.