The U.S. Coast Guard Academy Circulating Water Channel

Abstract

In 1974 it was determined that the Marine and Ocean Engineering programs at the Coast Guard Academy were suffering from the lack of a facility to allow students to do experimental work in the area of fluid mechanics and ship hydrodynamics. A study was conducted to develop and evaluate the options, and this resulted in the design and construction of a free-surface circulating water channel (CWC) with the associated instrumentation. This CWC has a test section 2 ft deep by 4 ft wide by 12 ft long and a maximum velocity in excess of 8 ft/sec (Froude No. >1). The technique of using a vertical loop circulation with a 3-to-1 compression section prior to water entry into the test section and the use of turning vanes to inhibit separation of the flow stream have resulted in a uniform velocity profile quite suitable for the experimental work by the Academy and the Research and Development Center.