Exploratory Testing Of A Sea Water Instrumnted Manikin (SWIM) And Computer Simulation Software For Evaluating Personal Floatation Devices

Abstract

This report presents an overview of the joint U.S. Coast Guard and Transport Canada-sponsored project to develop new research tools for evaluating personal floatation devices (PFDs). The U.S. Coast Guard and Transport Canada entered into a Joint Research Project Agreement (JARPA) in 1992 to develop new research tools to improve the understanding of the complicated effects of rough water on the performance of PFDs. Two tools were developed: (1) a computer simulation program called the Water Forces Analysis Capability (WAFAC) which simulates human body movement in a water environment, and (2) a sophisticated Sea Water Instrumented Manikin (SWIM) which can be used in the water to gather information on how the body reacts to the water environment. Preliminary testing of these two tools took place at the Institute for Marine Dynamics in St Johns, Newfoundland, Canada, in February and March of 1999. Testing of the SWIM was completed for a variety of simple cases in still water and in simple wave fronts. The same tests were simulated using the WAFAC computer model and some test data from SWIM. The results of the comparison of these tests, real and simulated, will help to establish continuity between the two tools. The testing identified some problems with the sensors having inadequate ranges for these tests. General agreement for rise times to the surface for bottom release tests was established. There was approximate agreement in heave amplitude and frequency, while other tests required the adjustment of coefficients. It was determined that better measurements of the center of gravity and buoyancy are needed for baseline inputs for the WAFAC program.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Oct 01, 1999
Accession Number
ADA378923

Entities

People

  • Bert Macesker
  • Robert C. Desruisseau
  • Tariq Shams

Organizations

  • United States Coast Guard Research & Development Center

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Sensors

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Air Force
  • Buoyancy
  • Cameras
  • Coast Guard
  • Computer Simulations
  • Computers
  • Coordinate Systems
  • Data Acquisition
  • Horizontal Orientation
  • Life Jackets
  • Measurement
  • Medical Personnel
  • Pressure Transducers
  • Sea Water
  • Survival Equipment
  • Test And Evaluation
  • United States

Readers

  • Aerospace Test and Evaluation
  • Marine Hydrodynamics
  • Oceanography.