EEC-9872851 ROESSET This award to the National Science Foundation Engineering Research Center entitled "Offshore Technology Research Center (OTRC)" at Texas A&M University/University of Texas is to enhance the current generation capability in its unique wave model basin facility. The OTRC will upgrade their wave basin current generation capability through an increase in flow capacity by installing larger capacity pumps and motors as well as additional manifolds. Upgrading the current generation capability will enable the OTRC to research structural designs for deepwater applications that are subject to surface and deep currents - affecting hull motions and forces on tethers, risers, and mooring lines. The proposed increase in flow capacity will enable the OTRC to produce more homogeneous currents over an extended volume with better control of the variation with depth, thus providing a better representation of the environmental actions on deep water. With the new equipment installed, the wave basin will continue to be used for both research and educational projects.
