Design of a Large Water Tunnel

Citation

Davis, Thomas V. (1948) Design of a Large Water Tunnel. Engineer's thesis, California Institute of Technology. doi:10.7907/H8HZ-D718. https://resolver.caltech.edu/CaltechETD:etd-12222008-143224

Abstract

A ten-foot-diameter water tunnel is discussed as to feasibility and design, and consideration is narrowed to the working section -- nozzle, throat and diffuser. A non-cavitating nozzle shape is calculated by systematizing the method suggested by Hue-Shen Tsien. Structural design is approached on the basis of a six-hundred-foot static pressure head; and an additional half- full design loading is calculated as a Fourier expansion. The analysis of the structure is broken down into a number of elasticity problems. The cylindrical throat is analyzed by membrane theory for the high-head condition; and stresses at and in the supporting rings are thoroughly investigated. More involved methods considering transverse shear and bending are used to check the stability of the shell when only partially full. Membrane theory is applied to the conical diffuser and to the double-curved nozzle to determine the stress state in both under the high-head condition. Shell thicknesses and member sizes have been selected throughout from this analysis.

Thesis Files