Advancing Marine Technology for Naval and Commercial Ships Using the Alfond W2 Ocean Engineering Laboratory
Principal Investigator: Krish Thiagarajan (Mechanical Engineering, UMaine)
Partner: General Dynamics Bath Iron Works
Abstract: Naval and commercial boat building industries form the backbone of the State of Maine’s marine economy. With support from a GA, the proposed project seeks to eliminate unpredictable, natural factors by testing a US Navy Combatant model in wind and waves at UMaine’s Harold Alfond W2 Ocean Engineering Laboratory. This measurement will complement the wind wave tests of an ocean tanker model currently being tested at W2. Results disseminated through published products will establish confidence in the boat building industry both in Maine and beyond for performing experiments at the W2. This will enable new collaborations with boat builders and create opportunities for the proposers to seek funding from state, federal, and private industries for research that can improve the competitiveness for numerous Maine boat-building.