A moving PIV system for ship model test in a towing tank

A moving particle image velocimetry (PIV) system was successfully developed and used in a large towing tank for ship model tests to observe velocity fields near ship models. The experimental method involved adjustable optical devices for various test conditions and a special particle-seeding device. The streamwise and cross-streamwise flow fields of a yacht model and a tanker model were measured. Ship type, bottom shape, and towing speed were found to be the causes of problems affecting optical access and image quality. Possible solutions, deeper optical ducts, dark painting color, and pre-processed analysis method, were proposed and discussed.