Towing tank facilities for ship and offshore model testing

Test vessels and offshore structures in towing tank facilities under extreme weather, wave and current conditions.

The towing tank supports teams working with vessels and offshore structures that need model testing before the construction phase begins. The need arises when a design must be assessed under extreme weather, wave and current conditions in a controlled physical environment. Without this test basis, important questions about behaviour in water may remain unresolved at a stage where the design is still being developed. The facility is part of our expertise area Maritime and offshore engineering.

Engineers prepare towing tank model testing of a vessel under controlled hydrodynamic conditions. — The towing tank facility is a hydrodynamic testing environment.

Target group and benefits

Support teams developing vessels and offshore structures with towing tank tests.

The facility supports organisations that require model testing in water as part of their technical development work. It is relevant when teams need to investigate how a design behaves in waves and currents. The facility is also used for physical testing under either deep- or shallow-water conditions, depending on the model and the hydrodynamic task.

Explore our unique towing tank facilities

Contact us to find out how you can benefit from our unique facilities for hydrodynamic testing of vessels and offshore structures.

Use cases

Use towing tank model tests to examine vessel and offshore structure behaviour in water under defined hydrodynamic conditions.

Model testing in extreme weather, wave and current conditions

Use the towing tank to test ship and offshore structure models under extreme weather, wave and current conditions before construction begins. This is relevant when a project requires physical observation of how a design behaves under demanding hydrodynamic conditions.

Testing for propulsion, seakeeping and manoeuvrability

Carry out model tests when a project needs to examine behaviour in water in relation to propulsion, seakeeping or manoeuvrability. The towing tank enables observation of model response in waves and currents during hydrodynamic development work.

Investigations linked to dynamic positioning and VIM

Use the facility for hydrodynamic investigations linked to dynamic positioning and VIM model testing, where behaviour in current and water movement must be examined through physical model tests. This supports project work that requires controlled observations of motion and response in water.

Testing in deep-water or shallow-water conditions

Set up model tests in either the deep-water towing tank or the shallow-water tank, depending on the hydrodynamic task. This is relevant when the required test environment depends on water depth and the model must be examined in conditions that match the project need.

Facility specifications

Use deep-water and shallow-water towing tank specifications to match water depth, towing speed, wave height and measurement accuracy to the test task.

Deep water towing tank

Measures 240 x 12 x 5.5 m, providing a long towing tank with 5.5 m water depth for model testing in deep-water conditions.

Speed range 0 to 14 m/s

Supports towing speeds from 0 to 14 m/s in the deep-water tank, allowing tests across a broad speed range.

Accuracy ±0.2% of actual value

Provides a stated accuracy of ±0.2% of actual value, giving users a defined measurement basis for test work.

Maximum wave height 0.9 m

Allows wave generation up to 0.9 m in the deep-water tank where wave conditions are part of the test.

Shallow water towing tank

Measures 25 x 8 x 0 to 0.8 m, enabling model testing where shallow-water depth is part of the required setup.

Speed range 0 to 2 m/s

Supports towing speeds from 0 to 2 m/s in the shallow-water tank for lower-speed test conditions.

Accuracy ±0.2% of actual value

Provides the same stated accuracy of ±0.2% of actual value in the shallow-water tank, supporting consistent measurement conditions

Facility setup

Configure towing tank testing in deep- or shallow-water environments so the setup matches the model, water depth and hydrodynamic conditions required for the task.

Water depth as part of the setup

Choose between the deep-water towing tank and the shallow-water tank according to the water depth required for the test. This is relevant when water depth is an important part of the hydrodynamic test environment.

Speed matched to the test task

Plan the test within the speed range of the selected tank so the setup reflects the operating conditions that need to be examined. This helps align the physical test with the purpose of the model test.

Wave conditions in the deep-water tank

Include wave conditions in the setup when the deep-water towing tank is used for tests where waves form part of the required environment. This supports model testing under combined wave and current conditions.

Locations

Find the towing tank facility in Lyngby

Lyngby

Hjortekærsvej 99

2800 Kgs. Lyngby

Phone: +45 43 25 14 00

E-mail: Info@forcetechnology.com

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Reach out to Jesper Grundsøe for more information.