Maneuvering and Seakeeping Basin Wave Characterization Study

A series of experiments aimed at characterizing the wavefield generated by the new multi-directional wave making system in the Maneuvering and Seakeeping (MASK) Basin at the Naval Surface Warfare Center Carderock Division in West Bethesda, MD are described. These experiments were focused on the repeatability of phase resolved seaways, the spatial variability of wave parameters throughout the basin, and the stationarity of the wavefield over the span of 2 hours. Two different wave spectra were run repeatedly over a two week test window covering 21 discrete locations with one fixed array of sensors as a control. The results from the test show that when sampling at the same location and running the same wave condition, the phase resolved seaway exhibits a coherence of over 95% between 0.25 and 0.75 Hz. The spatial variability of the wave statistics proved to be within 5% of the average values throughout the tank, with a larger deviation over the 35ft deep trench section.