About Us

The Istanbul Technical University Large Cavitation Tunnel (ITUKAT) was designed by Maritime Advanced Research Centre (CTO S.A.) andIstanbul Technical University(ITU)within the scope of the Cavitation Tunnel and Maneuvering Test System (KATMANSIS) LST-TKY Project, aimed at improving the hydro-acoustic characteristics of Turkish naval vessels, and was manufactured by GURDESAN Inc..The project was supported by the Presidency of Defence Industries (SSB) under the Technology Acquisition Obligation (TKY) framework of the Amphibious Ship (LST) Procurement Contract signed between ITU, ARI Teknokent Inc., and the joint venture of ANADOLU Shipyard Industry and Trade Inc. (ADIK) – ALYANS Ship Leasing and Maritime Inc..The dedicated tunnel building housing ITUKAT was constructed with TKY support provided by ASELSAN, under a contract signed by ITUNOVA.

The aforementioned projects have been completed by the academic staff of the Istanbul Technical University (ITU) Faculty of Naval Architecture and Ocean Engineering, under the organization of the project manager, Prof. Dr. Ömer Gören.

ITU Large Cavitation Tunnel (ITUKAT), which became operational at the end of 2021, ranks seventh globally in terms of flow rate among its counterparts, boasting a large test section measuring 5.5 m x 1.5 m x 1.2 m (Length x Width x Height) and a maximum flow velocity of 16.5 m/s attainable within the test section. The tunnel is propelled by a 1 MW electric motor.

ITU Large Cavitation Tunnel (ITUKAT) is equipped with measurement devices of international standards. Special design propeller dynamometers, a special design hydroacoustic chamber, PIV (Particle Image Velocimetry), LDA (Laser Doppler Anemometry), and contra rotating propeller dynamometers are among the wide range of equipment options available in ITUKAT.

In addition to its size, ITU Tunnel (ITUKAT) provides facilities for experiments with all types of propellers and surface/underwater vehicles, thanks to its flow uniformity in the test section, low turbulence, and acoustic noise characteristics, as well as its pressurization and vacuum capacity in the test section, and the measurement devices it contains.

ITU Tunnel is managed with a joint structure through a protocol signed between Istanbul Technical University (ITU), the Presidency of Defense Industries (SSB), and TRtest Inc.

ITUKAT Founding Team:

Prof. Dr. Omer Goren (Project Manager)
Prof. Dr. Emin Korkut
Prof. Dr. U. Oral Unal
Asst. Prof. Burcu Erbas
Dr. Çağatay Sabri Koksal
Res. Assist. MSc. Cagri Aydin