Judy Maksoud
International Editor
LISBON, Portugal -- A lot of the ideas being researched and developed by the US Navy today will become practical concepts in five, 10, 15, or even more years. Dr. Patricia Gruber, director of research at the Office of Naval Research, US, told participants at the International Offshore and Polar Engineering Conference the government is pursuing an enormous number of concepts. "Our portfolio represents literally thousands of projects," she said.
The naval technology strategic plan consists of four areas of focus, Gruber said. They are platform design, life cycle affordability, operational environment, and power and energy.
Platform design and naval engineering includes research that will lead to reduced platform weight, which translates into reduced fuel costs, Gruber said. One of the primary areas of research is cellular structures. Another is the use of composites for construction.
A representative project, Gruber said, is the use of composite materials in the bow and stern of a hull structure, which reduces weight and increases fatigue life. The key challenge to applying the use of composite materials, she said, is developing reliable joints between the composites at the bow and stern with the main hull, which will still be made of steel.
Life cycle cost primarily addresses corrosion, Gruber said, noting that more than $4 billion is spent each year dealing with corrosion. Research at ONR is directed toward developing corrosion resistant alloys and coatings.
The third area of focus Gruber discussed was operational environment, which includes meteorology modeling and prediction. Wave research is another operational environment focus, Gruber said, because ship response and safe offloading are of paramount importance.
The final focus area Gruber presented was power and energy, which includes engines and fuel cell R&D, logistical fuel R&D, increasing platform efficiency, and logistics fuel management.
Gruber explained that the many R&D projects she presented represent only the tip of the iceberg and that many of the concepts will only enter the mainstream if industry becomes involved.
"A lot of the research we fund will transition in 15 years," Gruber said. "Some will never transition. The Navy relies on industry to commercialize new concepts."
7/2/2007
