Apparatus and method for aerodynamic testing of moving ships

Abstract

Example embodiments provide a modeling apparatus comprising a model ship configured for use in a wind tunnel, the model ship comprising a hull and a superstructure, a water surface plane representing a water surface in which the model ship operates, and a resonance control mechanism comprising a support structure, a pitch actuation mechanism, and a pitch control mechanism. The support structure is connected to the model ship and provides a pitch axis about a joint traversing the model ship. The pitch control mechanism tunes the natural frequency of the model ship to a desired value. The pitch actuation mechanism imparts oscillatory pitching motions to the model ship.