The MIT Towing Tank in the Center for Ocean Engineering

The MIT Towing Tank is an experimental hydrodynamics testing facility consisting of a 100 ft x 8 ft x 4 ft testing tank with a functional wave maker and beach, and an 8 ft x 3 ft x 3 ft flow visualization tank.  The 100 ft long tank was originally used for ship model resistance testing, although it has been refitted to accomodate experiments associated with the study of biomimetics in marine creatures and vortex-induced vibrations, while maintaining the original model testing capabilities.  The smaller visualization tank, consisting of a three axis motor system, and outfitted with a high-speed particle image velocimetry (PIV) system, is used primarily for the quantitative visualization of fluid flows. 

MIT Small Tank: The MIT Small Tank is located in 48-015, alongside its larger sibling, the MIT Tow Tank. The small tank is equipped with a velocity-controlled towing carriage which rides along the top structures of the tank, as well as several linear motor, two-axis motor, and data aquisition systems. The tank is also equipped for use with capturing and recording Particle Imaging Velocimetry (PIV) data, complete with an integrated laser, high speed camera, and software system.

Singapore Tank: The Singapore testing tank was constructed during the summer of 2012 to provide the Singapore-MIT Alliance for Research and Technology’s Center for Environmental Sensing and Modeling a state-of-the-art hydrodynamics testing facility.  With a size of 9.6m x 1.2m x 0.8m and equipped with a precision x-y gantry system, the tank allows for the testing of a wide range of model sizes and types.  Constructed with a T-slot aluminum frame for adaptability in mounting experiments, and glass panels for optimal optical clarity, the tank was designed with Particle Image Velocimetry(PIV) as a primary consideration. 

Water Tunnel: The MIT Water Tunnel is located in the Marine Hydrodynamics Laboratory. The water tunnel employs a moving stream of water rather than a moving object as in a towing tank. It has a test section 1.2 meters long by 0.5 meters square through which an extremely uniform stream of water can be moved at speeds up to 10 m/s.  Models of propellers, waterjets, control surfaces, hydrofoils, submersibles and other devices can be tested. The pressure of the water can be adjusted automatically over a wide range in order to scale cavitation characteristics of the object being tested.