Effect of cable and towbody parameters on tension and cable length when towing at 200 m depths and 10 knots

Abstract

This paper presents the results of a simulation study on steady state towing of a towbody at a depth of 200 meters and a speed of 10 knots. BCABLE, a three-dimensional dynamic cable simulation program was used to study the effect on tension and cable length of the cable parameters of specific gravity, diameter, and drag coefficients (Including cable fairings), and towbody parameters such as weight, lift and drag. This study is applicable to route survey operations for mine countermeasures (MCM) and other side scan sonar search and survey operations using the new multi-beam side scan sonars.<>