The Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

DLBA is continuing to support the Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University in their effort to modernize the ocean engineering laboratory in Norris Hall.  Over the last year, we have been working with the customer to develop a concept that meets their performance objectives.  The project has recently moved into the detailed design and construction phase, and our team is working to have the new towing carriage up and running by the fall 2021 semester.

Virginia Tech’s existing tow carriage is over sixty years old, and this upgrade will improve the test capabilities of the laboratory significantly.  The maximum carriage speed will double from 10 ft/sec to 20 ft/sec, and the maximum acceleration will increase from 2 ft/sec² to 15 ft/sec².  The towing carriage will be unmanned when operating, which is also a change from the existing system.  An artist’s impression of the new carriage is provided in the images below.