Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) News
Printer Friendly VersionSwRI to design crew pressure hull for next-generation deep submergence research vehicle
San Antonio — January 5, 2006 — Southwest Research Institute has been awarded an 18-month, $1.5 million contract by the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution to design the crew pressure hull for a replacement human-occupied ocean research submersible.
The proposed submersible is the next-generation replacement for Alvin, which was originally designed and built more than 40 years ago. Today’s Alvin, with its titanium hull, can descend to depths of 4,500 meters, reaching approximately 63 percent of the ocean floor. The new vehicle will be capable of depths up to 6,500 meters (approximately 22,000 feet), allowing access to 99 percent of the ocean floor.
"This project was awarded to us based, in part, on a concept study completed at SwRI about a year ago," said Project Manager B.K. Miller, a program manager in the Structural Engineering Department in SwRI's Mechanical and Materials Engineering Division. "We are also highly experienced in the design, development and evaluation of marine systems. We tested the original Alvin pressure hull, and we are nearing completion of the design, fabrication and testing of a new submarine crew rescue hull for the U.S. Navy."
The concept for the crew pressure hull is a spherical design with five viewports, a 20-inch hatch and penetrations for associated electronics. The hull will be designed to hold three people — a pilot and two scientists. Its spherical shape is the ideal design to withstand deep submergence pressures because there is a uniform force of compression.
The new submersible must be essentially the same weight and size of Alvin to be compatible with existing launch systems. These constraints have presented some unique material challenges.
"Obviously the hull material has to be strong so it can withstand the pressures of deep water. At the same time, it has to be light enough to meet the weight constraints. We plan to use a titanium alloy — Ti 6-4 ELI — and will contract with companies experienced with the forming, welding and testing of this material," Miller added.
For more than 40 years, SwRI has been involved in the design, development, fabrication and evaluation of marine systems including human occupancy pressure vessels, deep ocean pressure vessels, autonomous underwater vehicles and remote-operated vehicles. For more information, visit structuralsystems.swri.org or contact Miller at (210) 522-3442 or benjamin.miller@swri.org.
For more information, contact Deborah S. Deffenbaugh, Communications Department, (210) 522-2046, Southwest Research Institute, PO Drawer 28510, San Antonio, TX 78228-0510.
