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Overset simulation of the NASA Crew Exploration Vehicle (CEV)
Applied Research Laboratory at Penn State
The Applied Research Laboratory at Penn State is an integral part of one of the leading research universities in the nation and serves as a university center of excellence in Defense science and technologies, with a focus in naval missions and related areas. As a DoD-designated, Navy UARC (University Affiliated Research Center), ARL maintains a long-term strategic relationship with the Navy and provides support for the other services.
Computational Mechanics Division
The mission of the Computational Mechanics Division is to provide fidelity CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamics) design and analysis to our Navy and non-Navy sponsors, employing state-of-the-art CFD methods and advanced physics modeling.
The Garfield Thomas Water Tunnel (Download PDF)
The Garfield Thomas Water Tunnel is a unique experimental facility for hydrodynamic research and testing. The
48-inch (1.2-meter) diameter water tunnel enables the research staff to conduct basic and applied investigations in the fields of cavitation, hydroacoustics, turbulence, transition,
hydrodynamic drag, and hydraulic and subsonic turbomachinery. Instrumentation and testing methods have been developed to study noise, vibration, vehicle dynamics, and the interaction
between the propulsor and vehicle body.
Built at the Penn State in 1949, in cooperation with the United States Navy, the Garfield Thomas Water Tunnel was designed to determine the best hydrodynamic design of the combined torpedo shape and propeller to operate at high advance speeds with low cavitation. Subsequently, submarine hulls and propulsors were incorporated into the research. Over the years many new designs have been tested and developed for use by the Navy, including the pump jet propulsor used on the Mk 48 and Mk 50 torpedoes.
A major overhaul of the main drive components was completed in 1988. The test console was also given a major upgrade in 1988, including a new control panel and data acquisition
system. The Garfield Water Tunnel, located at Penn State's Applied Research Laboratory, is currently in operation, and guided tours are available to the public.
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