Model-Scale and Full-Scale Measurements on Ship Waves

The measurement of ship-generated waves in tow tanks has been well established and several techniques have been developed and are commonly in use at tow tank facilities worldwide. The measurement of the wave field around a full-scale ship in the field has only recently been undertaken. Each of these situations presents a set of constraints and issues for the instrumentation and measurement technique to deal with. This paper will discuss free-surface measurement at full and model scales, and the methods currently being used and developed at Naval Surface Warfare Center, Carderock Division to measure model and full scale ship generated waves.