Experimental Determination of Hydrodynamic Loading for Ten Cable Fairing Models

Abstract : The David W. Taylor Naval Ship Research and Development Center has undertaken the measurement of the two-dimensional hydrodynamic loading on faired cable models as the first part of a program to improve towing configuration prediction capability. The experimental approach consists of measuring the normal and tangential hydrodynamic force components on models towed in the high speed basin over a range of speeds, cable angles, and wetted lengths, using a special Cable Fairing Dynamometer. From these measurements the drag coefficients and hydrodynamic loading functions are obtained. To date, ten fairing models have been so characterized. The value of these loading functions to configuration prediction remains to be demonstrated by correlation with at-sea measurements.