Evening star., 1938-09-11

1000 long; deep basin 81 feet wide,
20 feet deep and 700 feet long; wide.
shallow basin, 81 feet wide, 10 feet
deep and 300 feet long; and turning
basin 80 feet wide and 10 feet deep
With radius of 10 feet. The basin
building also houses facilities for
fitting out models preparatory to test
and racks for model storage.
10000 Yards Of Concrete Needed.
Design Of the buildings is unique
in a number Of respects. both struc-
turally and architecturally. The struc-
lures are all chiefly of reinforced
concrete. the project consuming some
10000 cubic yards Of concrete. The
laboratory and shop buildings are
two stories. the Office buildings three
stories. with tower and the three
buildings form a continuous unit $40
feet long by 54 feet wide The project
is said to be one of the first examples
of large. rigid frame reinforced con-
crete building designed and construct
ed In this country.
The exterior finish OF the buildings
will be Of pre-cast exposed aggregate
concrete panels, type Of construc-
tion new in this country. The pre-
cast panels serve as exterior forms for
the poured structural concrete. The
panels are 2 inches thick and will give
the architectural effect of cast stone
facing rather than a drab gray con-
crete finish, it was explained.
A feature Of the museum will be
picture panels in color of . similar
type Of exposed aggregate concrete.
Six of these panels will be. in effect,
paintings in concrete Of naval ships
which show definite steps in naval
progress in propulsion and hull de-
sign. One Of these panels, of the
U. S. S. Constitution. now is on tenn
porary exhibition in the Navy Depart
! ment, together with model of the
entire model basin grounds and
buildings.
Artificial Light Provided.
The basin building is about 1900
feet long by lib feet wide over the
long basins and $50 feet wide over the
turning basin. The roof over the 49,
foot section is a reinforced concrete,
three-hinged barrel arch, which is q
world pioneer type Of construction.
Artificial light will be used entirely in
the basin buildings and no windows
are provided. This will permit con-
slant light conditions for precision
work. Constant temperature also will
be maintained both to increase accu-
racy of test work and to prevent con-
densation on the under side of the
solid concrete roof.
Some of the models will be tested
under self-propulsion. but majority
will be towed through the water by
electrically driven steel carriages
spanning the basins and running on
rails on the basin side walls. So pre-
else were the requirements in laying
these rails that they are laid to con-
form with the curvature Of the earth
which, of course, Is the same as the
surface of the water in the tanks when
still.
Since the 1,0O0-foot basin is regard
ed as too short for entirely satisfac-
tory speed testing. it is planned even
tually to extend this basin to an ulti-
mate length Of about $500 feet and
the buildings have been designed and
constructed with this in view.
On completion OF the new basin
equipment and personnel Of the Wash
ington Navy Yard basin will be moved
to the new plant. Additional person.
mel will be employed to an estimated
total of about $50.
Construction Of the new basin ha!
been especially needed in view of th'
fact that practically all of the foreigr
, maritime powers now have new or re-
constructed testing basins in which
improvements Of designs for thei
commercial shipping and navies. ar
constantly being developed. German.
has three basins at Hamburg: France
has a new basin at Paris: Italy ha
basins at Rome and Spezia: Englan,
has one at Hasler and q ligh-spee,
basin at Eeddington. and Holland, Nor
/. way, Russia and Japan also have mod
en- facilities. : ------ -