Experimental Methods for Hydrodynamic Characterization of a Very Large Water Tunnel

The methodology for hydrodynamic characterization of a very large water tunnel is described. Results are presented for the U. S. Navy William B. Morgan Large Cavitation Channel in Memphis, Tennessee, the world’s largest water tunnel. Three key characteristics of tunnel velocity were measured: $temporal stability̱$⁠, $spatial uniformity̱$⁠, and $turbulence̱$⁠. The velocity stability at a single point for run times greater than 2 h was measured as $±0.15%$ at the 95% confidence level for velocities from 0.5 to $18m∕s(1.6–59ft∕s)$⁠. The spatial nonuniformity for the axial velocity component was $±0.34$ to $±0.60%$ for velocities from 3 to $16m∕s(9.8–52ft∕s)$⁠. The relative turbulence intensity was measured as 0.2–0.5% depending on tunnel velocity.