A water tunnel is an experimental facility used for testing the hydrodynamic behavior of submerged bodies in flowing water. It functions similar to a recirculating wind tunnel, but uses water as the working fluid, and related phenomena are investigated, such as measuring the forces on scale models of submarines or lift and drag on hydrofoils. Water tunnels are sometimes used in place of wind tunnels to perform measurements because techniques like particle image velocimetry (PIV) are easier to implement in water. For many cases as long as the Reynolds number is equivalent, the results are valid, whether a submerged water vehicle model is tested in air or an aerial vehicle is tested in water. For low Reynolds number flows, tunnels can use oil instead of water. The advantage is that the increased viscosity will allow the flow to be a higher speed (and thus easier to maintain in a stable manner) for a lower Reynolds number.
Often, a tunnel will be co-located with other experimental facilities such as a wave flume at a Ship model basin.
Because it is a high-speed phenomenon, a special procedure is needed to visualize cavitation. The propeller, attached to a dynamometer, is placed in the inflow, and its thrust and torque is measured at different ratios of propeller speed (number of revolutions) to inflow velocity. A stroboscope synchronized with the propeller speed "freezes" the cavitation bubble. By this means, it is possible to determine if the propeller would be damaged by cavitation. To ensure similarity to the full-scale propeller, the pressure is lowered, and the gas content of the water is controlled.
Cavitation in fluid mechanics and engineering normally is the phenomenon in which the static pressure of a liquid reduces to below the liquid's vapor pressure, leading to the formation of small vapor-filled cavities in the liquid. When subjected to higher pressure, these cavities, called "bubbles" or "voids", collapse and can generate shock waves that may damage machinery. These shock waves are strong when they are very close to the imploded bubble, but rapidly weaken as they propagate away from the implosion. Cavitation is a significant cause of wear in some engineering contexts. Collapsing voids that implode near to a metal surface cause cyclic stress through repeated implosion. This results in surface fatigue of the metal, causing a type of wear also called "cavitation". The most common examples of this kind of wear are to pump impellers, and bends where a sudden change in the direction of liquid occurs.
École Centrale de Nantes, or Centrale Nantes, is a grande école – a French engineering school – established in 1919 under the name of Institut Polytechnique de l'Ouest. It provides Bachelor, Graduate, Master, and PhD Programmes based on the latest scientific and technological developments and the best management practices.
Supercavitation is the use of a cavitation bubble to reduce skin friction drag on a submerged object and enable high speeds. Applications include torpedoes and propellers, but in theory, the technique could be extended to an entire underwater vessel.
National Cheng Kung University is a public research university located in the East District of Tainan, Taiwan. Founded in 1931 during Japanese rule as an engineering college, the university is one of the oldest institutions of higher education in Taiwan.
National Central University is a public research university with long-standing traditions of the Republic of China based in Taiwan. It was founded in 1902 in Nanjing; initially located in Miaoli after moving to Taiwan, it relocated to Zhongli in 1962 and developed into a comprehensive university. NCU is the first university in Taiwan to research industrial economics and economic development. NCU is a member of AACSB. NCU is one of the six national universities in research selected by the Ministry of Education, organized into eight colleges.
A ship model basin is a basin or tank used to carry out hydrodynamic tests with ship models, for the purpose of designing a new ship, or refining the design of a ship to improve the ship's performance at sea. It can also refer to the organization that owns and operates such a facility.
National Taipei University of Technology is a public university in Taipei, Taiwan. It is a member of the Global Research & Industry Alliance (Gloria) of the Ministry of Science and Technology and accredited by AACSB. Located in the Daan district of Taipei, the school was established in 1912 as the School of Industrial Instruction, one of the earliest intermediate-higher educational institutions in Taiwan.
National Taiwan Ocean University is a national university in Zhongzheng District, Keelung, Taiwan. NTOU is a member of University System of Taipei.
National Sun Yat-sen University is a public research university located in Sizihwan, Kaohsiung, Taiwan. NSYSU is listed as one of six national research universities, and one of four universities that make up the Taiwan Comprehensive University System, a research-led university alliance in Taiwan.
Marine engineering is the engineering of boats, ships, submarines, and any other marine vessel. Here it is also taken to include the engineering of other ocean systems and structures – referred to in certain academic and professional circles as "ocean engineering". After completing this degree one can join a ship as an officer in engine department and eventually rise to the rank of a chief engineer. This rank is one of the top ranks onboard and is equal to the rank of a ship's captain. Marine engineering is the highly preferred course to join merchant Navy as an officer as it provides ample opportunities in terms of both onboard and onshore jobs.
William B. Morgan is an American naval architect and renowned expert in propeller design.
The Emerson Cavitation Tunnel is a propeller testing facility that is part of the School of Engineering at Newcastle University.
The National Penghu University of Science and Technology is a public university located in Magong City, Penghu, Taiwan. It is one of the few higher education institutions located outside of Taiwan Island.
National Yang-Ming University (NYMU) was a public research university in Shipai, Beitou District, Taipei, Taiwan.
National Dong Hwa University (NDHU) is a national research university located in Hualien, Taiwan. Established in 1994, NDHU offers sixth widest range of disciplines in Taiwan, including the sciences, engineering, computer science, environmental studies, oceanography, law, arts, design, humanities, anthropology, social sciences, education sciences, music, and business.
National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University (NYCU) is a public research university in Taipei and Hsinchu, Taiwan. It was created in 2021 through the merger of National Chiao Tung University and National Yang-Ming University. At present, there are 19 colleges, 74 university/college level research centers, and 1 hospital in Yilan.
NDHU College of Science and Engineering is an interdisciplinary school of science and engineering of National Dong Hwa University. Established in 1995, NDHU CSAE was founded with Hsia Yu-Ping, the Chair Professor of Yale University and California Institute of Technology, as Founding Dean, which is the second interdisciplinary school of Science and Engineering in Taiwan.
NDHU Department of Computer Science and Information Engineering is a research-intensive school of Computer Science within NDHU College of Science and Engineering and widely regarded as top 5 academic department of computer science in Taiwan. NDHU CSIE has Taiwan's largest percentage of international students, with more than one-third coming from countries outside of Taiwan.