RFS/Sea
Hydrodynamics & Physical Model TestingWhere Ship & Ocean Hydrodynamics Are Put to the Test
Richmond Field Station is home to UC Berkeley's FLOW Lab Physical Model Test Facility — a 64-meter tow tank giving researchers and companies rare, real-world access to hydrodynamics testing, wave generation, and marine systems validation.
What the Sea Testbed Unlocks
- A 64 m tow tank (2.40 m wide, 1.80 m deep) with manned and unmanned carriages
- Wave-maker generation for sea-state and seakeeping trials
- On-site model-building and electrical shops to build and instrument test articles
Who This Is For
Naval architects and ship hydrodynamics researchers, marine robotics and AUV/USV teams, wave and tidal energy developers, and companies seeking commercial-grade physical model testing.
The Platform
The SEA layer at RFS is anchored by Berkeley's FLOW Lab, directed by Professor Omer Savas, with the Physical Model Test Facility co-directed by Professor Simo Mäkiharju. The facility's tow tank features a manned carriage (up to 1.75 m/s) and an unmanned carriage (up to 8 m/s, 12 m/s for select tests), plus a wave maker capable of roughly 10 cm amplitude waves at up to roughly 1 Hz. An observation pit and model-building and electrical shops round out the site, which supports undergraduate and graduate education, faculty research, and commercial testing.
How to Access the FLOW Lab Tow Tank
Contact the FLOW Lab
Reach out to the Physical Model Test Facility's co-director to scope your test program, timeline, and equipment needs.
Establish Sponsorship
Academic work is anchored through a UC Berkeley sponsor (PI); commercial testing is arranged directly with the facility.
Facility & Safety Review
Coordinate carriage speed, wave conditions, and model-building needs with facility staff ahead of your test window.
Schedule Your Test Run
Book tow tank time, build and instrument your model in the on-site shop, and run your test program on the carriage.
Deployment & Use Cases
Hydrodynamics validation for hull forms, foils, and marine structures; wave energy device characterization; and AUV/USV maneuvering trials — from early-stage research through commercial-grade physical model testing.
What's Available
Tow tank access with manned and unmanned carriages, wave-maker sea-state generation, model-building and electrical shops, and direct collaboration with FLOW Lab faculty and staff.