New Tools for Coast Guard Research of the Rough Water Performance of Personal Flotation Devices (PFDs).
1997
Macesker, Bert | Gareau, Gilles
Prepared in collaboration with Transport Canada, Ottawa, Onario.
Show more [+] Less [-]This report presents a progress overview of the joint U.S. Coast Guard and Transport Canada sponsored project to develop new research tools for evaluating personal flotation devices. The calm water method of testing has been a safe method for determining the gross in-water characteristics of an attached PFD. However, calm water testing practices cannot address the effects of wave action on PFDs. The U.S. Coast Guard and Transport Canada entered into a Joint Research Project Agreement (JRPA) in 1992 to develop new research tools to improve our understanding of the complicated effects of rough water on the performance of PFDs. A computer simulation program was developed by adapting the Articulated Total Body (ATB) human body dynamics program to a water forces environment. This program is called the Water Forces Analysis Capability (WAFAC). A sophisticated Sea Water Instrumented Manikin (SWIM) has been constructed and will be evaluated as a standard for testing PFDs and will be used to validate the computer simulation program.
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