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Nswc Carderock News

26 Jan 2023

3D Printing: Navy Builds Up Additive Manufacturing on Ships

Wasp-class amphibious assault ship USS Essex (LHD 2) onloads a 3D printer during Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) 2022, July 8, 2022.  
U.S. Navy photo by Chief Mass Communication Specialist Ace Rheaume

The U.S. Navy has long valued the potential of additive manufacturing (AM) and 3D Printing.AM refers to the depositing of material layer by layer to create an object. For the Navy, it’s not practical to carry every replacement part for every system on a ship, and it can be difficult to forecast if or when parts will fail. AM provides a flexible source of supply in being able to make parts instead of ordering them and waiting for them to arrive, especially for warships at the far end of the supply chain.

02 Nov 2022

NETSCo Promotes Two Senior Leaders

David Hossenlopp (Photo: NETSCo)

NETSCo, a naval architecture and marine engineering firm located in Columbia Station, Ohio, has promoted two of its senior employees to new leadership roles. David Hossenlopp, P.E, has been promoted to the position of Chief Naval Architect, and Nick Hunter, P.E. to Senior Naval Architect / Marine Engineer.“David has been with NETSCo since 2013,” said Richard Mueller, CEO/President, “and throughout this time he has very successfully been involved with a large variety of projects…

26 Oct 2020

Gibbs & Cox Establishes Houston Office

© SeanPavonePhoto / Adobe Stock

Naval architecture and marine engineering firm Gibbs & Cox announced it is expanding its services into Houston with the aim to generate revenue in non-naval markets, develop and sell new products and/or services to non-traditional clients and contribute to existing programs."Over the last several months, we have hired a number of staff from the Houston area and expect this trend to continue as we continue to grow with our recent contract wins," Gibbs & Cox said in a statement on Monday.In the near term…

11 Oct 2019

NSRP Awards Hepburn and Sons Laser Peening Work

The National Shipbuilding Research Program (NSRP) has awarded Hepburn and Sons LLC with the “Onboard Ship Integration of Laser Peening System for Lasting Aluminum Repairs.” The project team is led by Hepburn and Sons LLC and includes LSP Technologies Inc., Vigor Shipyards, ABS and NSWC Carderock Division. The NSRP investment is $1.78M and the industry investment is $1.96M. The duration of the project is 24 Months. The primary scope is to install a laser peening system onboard the Littoral Combat Ship for pre-weld and post-weld laser peening operations.Phase I will focus on the design and build of a laser peening Procudo system and a Beam Deck Delivery System and finalizing certification at NSWC Carderock Division.

03 Jan 2018

Shipbuilding: $13.3 Mln Awarded for R&D Projects

© wi6995 / Adobe Stock

The National Shipbuilding Research Program’s (NSRP) Executive Control Board has selected a new round of research and development (R&D) projects aiming to spur technology advancements in order to reduce costs associated with shipbuilding and ship repair in the U.S. The seven projects – valued at over $13.3 million, including cost share – were selected from those proposed in response to research announcement issued in July 2017, and are outlined below. Objective: The primary goal…

09 Mar 2016

US Navy Enhances Ship Testing Capability

Photo: NAVSEA

A new 1,000-pound inertial actuator, the AMA1000, is giving engineers at Naval Surface Warfare Center, Carderock Division (NSWCCD) unprecedented capability in full-scale testing. John Miesner, an engineer assigned to Carderock Division's Acoustic Signatures Technology Division, said the Navy has used actuators like the AMA1000 in a wet environment for many years, but the shakers, as they are called, were not capable of producing high forces at a broad range of frequencies until 2014.

17 Dec 2015

NSRP Selects Next Round of Shipbuilding R&D Projects

The Executive Control Board of the National Shipbuilding Research Program (NSRP) has selected a new round of research and development projects for award, as part of the program's continuing mission to reduce costs associated with U. S. shipbuilding and ship repair. These new projects, valued at over $14.5 million, including cost share, were among those proposed in response to Research Announcement 14-01, issued in June 2015. Objective: This project is a follow-on to the HiDep Weld Tfillet and Butt Weld Development RA project. It aims to implement the results of the new welding process to reduce weld distortion and improve productivity in shipyard panel construction. The new process utilizes induction heating technology and has minimal capital cost requirements.

28 Mar 2014

MARAD Study: Renewable Diesel Reduces Emissions, No Harm to Performance

T/S State of Michigan engine room (Photo: MARAD)

MARAD study shows renewable diesel fuel reduces emissions without impacting engine performance. The Maritime Administration (MARAD) has recently completed tests of renewable biofuel technology onboard the training ship State of Michigan. The project was part of a MARAD initiative to conduct “at sea” tests of advanced renewable fuels and assess its impact on the ship’s engine. The tests compared operational, vibration and air emission differences between regular ultralow sulfur diesel (ULSD) fuel and a 76/33 blend of ULSD and Amyris Renewable Diesel (ARD) fuel, which is derived from sugar.

23 Dec 2013

Carderock Opens Upgraded Maneuvering, Seakeeping Basin

Birds eye view of the wavemaker in action at the ribbon cutting ceremony marking the opening of Carderock's upgraded Maneuvering & Seakeeping (MASK) basin.

Naval Surface Warfare Center (NSWC) Carderock Division marked the opening of the maneuvering and seakeeping basin (MASK) facility, with a ribbon cutting ceremony, Dec. 19. The 360-foot long and 240 foot-wide facility holds approximately 12 million gallons of water and is used to evaluate the maneuverability, stability and control of scale models. "As I marvel at this triumph of naval engineering and naval architecture, it is gratifying to see that once again the Navy is demonstrating its long term commitment to science, engineering and innovation," said keynote speaker, Dr.

23 Aug 2013

Naval Surface Warfare Center Gets Wavemaking Upgrade

Photo: Naval Surface Warfare Center

Naval Surface Warfare Center, Carderock Division (NSWCCD) completed major renovations of the Maneuvering and Seakeeping Basin (MASK) facility, Aug. 16. For more than one hundred years, the Navy has built and conducted extensive testing on physical prototypes of ships called scale models before building the real ship in full scale. In 1962, Carderock built the MASK in order to test the scale model performance of ships, platforms and moored systems in realistic sea conditions. The…

08 Jul 2013

International Submarine Races 2013 Awards

Submarine entrant in 11th series: Photo courtesy of isrsubrace.org

20 teams demonstrated their engineering prowess in week-long human-powered design competition. Intelligent Decisions (ID), Inc., a  global IT systems integrator, congratulates Virginia Tech HPS and their vessel “Phantom 6” as the winner of the ID Innovation Award at the 12th International Submarine Races (ISR). The sponsors also recognizes the efforts of the University of Washington: HPS Team and their vessel “Wolverine 2” for their second place Innovation Award and OMER’s vessel “OMER 8” for their third place Innovation Award. ID has sponsored the races and the Innovation Award since 2011.

12 Jun 2013

HiPer Craft Forum 2013: New Speakers Announced

The American Society of Naval Engineers (ASNE) will host the High Performance Craft (HiPer Craft) Forum on June 19-20, 2013 at the Half Moone Cruise and Celebration Center in Norfolk, Va. •    Dr. •    Dr. •    Mr. •    Mr. •    Mr. Jonathan Hill, AMRINA, AFNI, Training Director at FRC International Ltd and Trident Marine Ltd. •    CAPT D.B. •    Mr. Dave Menna, Donald L. Blount & Associates, Inc. •    Mr. •    Dr. •    Mr. •    Dr. Trevor Dobbins, STResearch Ltd. •    Mr. Tyler Brand, President, StrongWake Ltd. •    Mr. •    Ms. •    Mr. Walt Pullar, Chief Executive Officer, RMGS, Inc.

10 Jun 2013

Northrop Grumman to Support U.S. Navy Minehunting

Northrop Grumman Corporation was awarded a contract to support the U.S. Navy's integration onto an unmanned surface vehicle (USV) of the Northrop Grumman-built AQS-24A Side Look Sonar System to look for bottom and volume mines remotely. The repackaging of the sonar for USV use will build upon the capabilities of the AQS-24A. The AQS-24A and its predecessors, the AQS-24 and the AQS-14, all built by Northrop Grumman, are airborne minehunting search systems used by the Navy for the past 28 years.

18 Apr 2013

Fastener Commonality Deep Dive Yields Navy Supply System Efficiencies

Naval Sea Systems Command completed a fleet-wide fastener study, identifying and recommending the removal of thousands of fasteners from the Navy supply system. The 16-week supply system review identified 108,000 dormant fasteners-fasteners with no contract, requisition or maintenance history in the past five years-and 3,200 duplicate fasteners where two or more identical fasteners had different stock numbers. The NAVSEA Commonality Project management team led the study, collaborating with in-service engineering agents, technical warrant holders, program offices, shipyards, shipbuilders, the Defense Logistics Agency and original equipment manufacturers.

01 Apr 2013

Navy Patent SNARE Propeller Entangler

The small naval arresting rope entangler, or SNARE, helps stop boats from evading military & law enforcement inspections by entangling the craft's propellers. SNARE was designed by a team of engineers from NSWC Carderock, NSWC Dahlgren and the U.S. Coast Guard Research and Development Center. "For our part in the project, Carderock engineers designed and built a test bed for evaluating various concepts, developed concepts to test and conducted model scale tests," said project manager Kedric Eisenberg. "Engineers from Dahlgren and the U.S. The system fielded prior to SNARE was the running gear entanglement system, which, according to Eisenberg, worked well as a static barrier, but lost efficiency when launched from a platform. "We designed SNARE to more effectively stop fast boats.

22 Mar 2013

U.S. Navy: New Software to Analyze Accelerations on High-speed Boats

Naval Special Warfare (NSW) 11-meter Rigid-Hull Inflatable Boat (RIB) during a training exercise conducted by Naval Amphibious Base (NAB) Coronado, San Diego. The airborne launch shown here is not uncommon for such craft.  Landings are characterized by high-acceleration impacts that may be damaging to structure, mechanical and electrical systems, and people. (U.S. Navy photo)

Naval Surface Warfare Center (NSWC) Carderock engineers released a new software that provides the government, industry and academia a standardized method of analyzing data that is expected to improve high-speed craft design. The Standard G software uses a physics-based approach to analyze data recorded during wave-impact testing on watercraft and was developed in partnership with the Office of Naval Research, the U.S. Naval Academy and the Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University.

22 Feb 2013

USNS Mercy (T-AH-19) Anemometer Positioning Evaluation (APE) Testing Completed

Naval Surface Warfare Center, Carderock Division (NSWCCD) completed Military Sealift Command hospital ship USNS Mercy (T-AH19) Anemometer Positioning Evaluation (APE) testing in support of Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) and Military Sealift Command (MSC), Feb. 8.  The testing focused on measuring the airflow of anemometers, wind measurement sensors that are installed on the superstructure of U.S. Navy ships. The APE testing is required to complete the aviation certification process following a new helicopter hangar installation on the ship’s superstructure.

11 Feb 2013

Stiletto Craft Trials Assessed by NECC

Stilettto Sea Demonstration: Photo credit NAVSEA

The Stiletto Maritime Demonstration Program has conducted its first capability demonstration for the Navy Expeditionary Combat Command (NECC). The Stiletto is a unique, maritime demonstration craft developed by the Defense Department to test littoral warfare concepts. Engineers and technicians with specialized expertise in maritime technology from Naval Surface Warfare Center (NSWC) Carderock's Norfolk detachment maintain and operate the 88-foot-long, composite-bodied, m-shaped vessel.

07 Feb 2013

U.S. Navy Wants New Ideas to Save Energy

The Naval Surface Warfare Center, Carderock Division (NSWCCD) has released a new Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) (N00167-13-BAA-01) seeking innovative concepts from industry (maritime and non-maritime) and academia that support Navy shipboard energy conservation needs.  Of primary interest are development efforts with the potential for rapid transition to Fleet operations for Military Sealift Command (MSC) and Navy ships.   White papers will be accepted through November 30, 2014.    For BAA access:  https://www.fbo.gov/ (search for N0016713BAA01) or http://www.navsea.navy.mil/nswc/carderock/docs/N00167-13-BAA-01.pdf   For technical questions, Email:  [email protected]

29 Jan 2013

First 3-D Printer Ship Model

3-D Printer Model USNS Comfort: Photo credit NSWC

Naval Surface Warfare Center (NSWC) Carderock complete a fabricated model of the hospital ship 'USNS Comfort'. The state-of-the-art 3-D printer, which is one of four in the United States, provides Carderock with the capability to deliver large, complex ship models. Additionally, the ship models require less assembly time and can be fabricated unattended, 24 hours a day. "3D printing technology is currently being used in industry to produce parts, structures and models for various applications," said NSWC Carderock engineer Francisco "Paco" Rodriguez.

08 Aug 2012

US Navy Completes Testing Cobra Bow Bulb

Naval Surface Warfare Center (NSWC) Carderock Division researchers complete testing of bulb bows for DDG 51-class. Partnering with Program Executive Office (PEO) Ships and the Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) Fleet Readiness Research and Development Program, NSWCCD conducted testing as part of the Navy's overall initiatives to reduce fuel consumption. Located near the waterline, the bow bulb is an inverted tear drop shape that protrudes from the hull and is designed to reduce the ship's wave resistance. Specifically, the bow bulb creates a wave designed to interfere with the existing bow wave which reduces the amount of drag on the ship as well as fuel consumption and engine exhaust emissions.

03 Jan 2013

NSWC Carderock Receives Patent for Galfenol Discovery, Development

Image courtesy of  NSWC Carderock

Naval Surface Warfare Center (NSWC) Carderock received a patent Nov. 13 for their discovery and development of a new smart material called Galfenol. Galfenol is a magnetostrictive smart material that can be used in sensors, actuators and structural supports. The material was co-discovered in 1999 by NSWC Carderock and the Department of Energy's Ames Laboratory and has been in development for the past 13 years in partnership with Etrema Products Inc. "By itself, iron has the characteristics to be considered a magnetostrictive material…

26 Dec 2012

12th International Submarine Races Announced

The Foundation for Underwater Research and Education (FURE) announced that the 12th International Submarine Races (ISR), a biennial engineering design competition, is scheduled to be held the week of June 22-26, 2013, at NSWC Carderock Division in West Bethesda, Md. The Foundation supports the ISR during the two-year process to design, build and take part in the human powered submarine competition. FURE’s objective via the ISR is to raise interest and participation in engineering education and to increase competence and awareness among ocean engineering students. This will be the 12th in the series of alternate summer races that test the creative skills of young engineering students from colleges, universities and technical and high schools from throughout the world.