Naval Surface Warfare Center

About: Naval Surface Warfare Center is a facility organization based out in Washington D.C., District of Columbia, United States. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Radar & Sonar. The organization has 2855 authors who have published 3697 publications receiving 83518 citations. The organization is also known as: NSWC.

A probabilistic model updating algorithm for fatigue damage detection in aluminum hull structures

Abstract: The use of aluminum alloys in the design of naval structures offers the benefit of light-weight ships that can travel at high-speed. However, the use of aluminum poses a number of challenges for the naval engineering community including higher incidence of fatigue-related cracks. Early detection of fatigue induced cracks enhances maintenance of the ships and is critical for preventing the catastrophic failure of the hull. Furthermore, monitoring the integrity of the aluminum hull can provide valuable information for estimating the residual life of hull components. This paper presents a model-based damage detection methodology for fatigue assessment of hulls that are instrumented with a long-term hull monitoring system. At the core of the data driven damage detection approach is a Bayesian model updating algorithm enhanced with systematic enumeration and pruning of candidate solutions. The Bayesian model updating approach significantly reduce the computational effort by systematically narrowing the search space using errors functions constructed using the estimated modal properties associated with the condition of the structure. This study proposes the use of the Bayesian model updating technique to detect damage in an aluminum panel modeled using high-fidelity finite element models. The performance of the proposed damage detection method is tested through simulation of a progressively growing fatigue crack introduced in the vicinity of a welded stiffener element. An experimental study verifies the accuracy of the proposed damage detection method using an aluminum plate excited with a controlled excitation in the laboratory.

Added Mass Coefficients for Submerged Bodies by a Low-Order Panel Method

Abstract: The added mass coefficients for two and three-dimensional submerged bodies were calculated using a low-order panel code. The source and dipole strengths, and the panel surface area for each panel, were used to compute the integrals needed for added mass in all six degrees of motions. Several applications of this method were used in comparing the results with the theoretical, when available, experimental or other numerical results. The method was found to be successful in predicting the added mass coefficients using relatively low numbers of panels.

Test methods and response surface models for hot, humid air decontamination of materials contaminated with dirty spores of Bacillus anthracis ∆Sterne and Bacillus thuringiensis Al Hakam.

Abstract: Aims To develop test methods and evaluate survival of Bacillus anthracis ∆Sterne or Bacillus thuringiensis Al Hakam on materials contaminated with dirty spore preparations after exposure to hot, humid air using response surface modelling. Methods and results Spores (>7 log10 ) were mixed with humic acid + spent sporulation medium (organic debris) or kaolin (dirt debris). Spore samples were then dried on five different test materials (wiring insulation, aircraft performance coating, anti-skid, polypropylene, and nylon). Inoculated materials were tested with 19 test combinations of temperature (55, 65, 75°C), relative humidity (70, 80, 90%) and time (1, 2, 3 days). The slowest spore inactivation kinetics was on nylon webbing and/or after addition of organic debris. Conclusions Hot, humid air effectively decontaminates materials contaminated with dirty Bacillus spore preparations; debris and material interactions create complex decontamination kinetic patterns; and B. thuringiensis Al Hakam is a realistic surrogate for B. anthracis. Significance and impact of the study Response surface models of hot, humid air decontamination were developed which may be used to select decontamination parameters for contamination scenarios including aircraft.

Laser dispersion and ignition of metal fuel particles.

Abstract: The development of a laser-shock technique for dispersing Al metal fuel particles at velocities approaching those expected in a detonating explosive is discussed. The technique is described in detail by quantifying how air drag affects the temporal variation of the velocity of the dispersed particle plume. The effect of particle size is incorporated by examining various poly-dispersed commercial Al powders at different dispersion velocities (390-630 m/s). The technique is finally tested within a preliminary study of particle ignition delay and burn time, where the effect of velocity is highlighted for different particle sizes. It was found that plume velocity exhibits a modified exponential temporal profile, where smaller particles are more susceptible to air drag than larger ones. Moreover, larger particles exhibit longer ignition delays and burn times than smaller ones. The velocity of a particle was found to significantly affect its ignition delay, burn time, and combustion temperature, especially for particles in the diffusion-controlled regime. Shorter ignition delays and burn times and lower temperatures were observed at higher particle velocities. The utility of this technique as a combustion screening test for future, novel fuels is discussed.