Characterization of the Bubble Flow and Transom Wave of the R/V Athena I

The bubble flow and transom wave associated with the naval research vessel Athena I was characterized during a field experiment conducted in June 2005 by several research groups. The bubbly flow around the passing ship was documented by stationary divers using underwater cameras. The free surface behind the ship was characterized in the near field using Quantitative Visualization, a laser-imaging technique developed and used by the Naval Surface Warfare Center, Carderock Division. The far-field transom wave was quantified usin LIDAR instrumentation operated by the Scripps Institution of Oceanography. Results from the near and far-field measurements in the stern, along with images of from underwater video, are given in the report. The overall objective of the current experiment was to obtain full scale qualitative and quantitative breaking wave field data of the naval combatant surface ship for use in CFD code development and validation.