Precision Weld Repair of Worn Joints In A Towing Basin Track

This report describes the development and implementation of a procedure to repair the surface of the support track for a hydrodynamic test carriage at the Naval Surface Warfare Center's, Bethesda, Maryland ship-model towing basin. About 50 years of use had caused localized wear at the track joints, wear that was limiting the precision of hydrodynamic tests. Because of its special shape and precise installation, replacing the original track was not economically feasible. A welding electrode was found that could match the original properties of the track surface, and a repair procedure was developed that rebuilt the track ends to their original geometry and properties. After the repair, accelerometer measure­ments on the carriage showed that the repair reduced the vibration due to the wear by over 75 percent, an improvement that returned the track to well within an acceptable range for the hydrodynamic tests.