US Navy's MASK wave pool - timelapse of the construction скачать в хорошем качестве

US Navy's MASK wave pool - timelapse of the construction

The recently renovated US Naval Surface Warfare Centre's "manoeuvring and seakeeping" (MASK) basin simulates wave conditions to test the stability and control of scale models up to 9 metres in length so the Navy can predict how the full-scale vessels will perform on the ocean. The improvements to this Maryland facility -- which has been testing the seaworthiness of warships and subs since 1962 -- mean that MASK can generate a multitude of different kinds of waves, at any angle, and with 99 per cent precision. The results provide far more realistic conditions than its predecessor. It can also now be used to explore new ways to extract energy from ocean waves, to test breakwaters and beach-protection architecture, and to fine-tune emergency helicopter landings. The pool's first tests are scheduled for this year. Credit: US Navy