Re: [PSUBS-MAILIST] High Speed Sub Designs

["Karl & Shirin Fuller" <fullerk@voyager.co.nz>]

Hi Chris,
Yes, I have an interest in a high speed moderate depth sub. But some of the
group have raised the question of safety in low visibility water. Here in NZ
there are areas of 'good' visibility so this would be a partial concern.
Another concern is when you travel at high speed, even a momentary planes
deflection can put you at an unexpected depth, not to mention the planes
failure. Even the big Nucs have this danger when running fast and close to
their max. safe depth. For this reason I can understand what Vance said
about a theoretical shallow sub, needing a bigger ratio of safety than a
deeper sub. An example would be a shallow design with a safety factor of 2.
If it's safe depth was 50 ft and it ended up at 100 ft, the unmentionable
happens in only 50 ft ! But a sub that has a factor of 2 and has a safe
depth of 1000 ft has to drop 1000 ft to be at theoretical collapse depth.
Pretty self evident stuff.
My interest for a 'fast ' sub would be to study marine mammals, of which
there are plenty of around here. Often I have spent hours on the surface in
a yacht with the same whales or dolphins, sometimes being momentarily towed
along under water ( on a rope attached to the yacht, my ambient sub
experience ! ), with my mask nearly being ripped of by water pressure and
whales coming up to eye ball me from a few feet away ! One of the highlights
of my life I can assure you........
I have a Cad program and have played with the fanciful design of an Orca !
After all, there is a lot to be learned from the design tools of nature.
Just imagine a PSUB convention and the Orca and Nautilus bursting through
the surface together !! Anybody going to design a giant squid sub ?
A lot can be learnt from the study of marine mammals and their shapes that
create low drag.
I even tried to think of away to propel the 'sub' with a whale like tail fin
and I'm sure it can be done,but as Carsten said, the up and down could upset
the drinks eh Big Dave ?
An interesting off-side I read in one book was that instead of a 'Ping' to
detect another sub which of course immediately gives away your own position,
they used natural sea sounds ! I thought that was brilliant and now no
longer can we ignore the harmless sound of an approaching seal ? The book
was ' Kilo Class' by Patrick Robinson and a good read.
Obviously, fuel cells will aid not only this type of possibility, but all of
our projects, hope it's not too long for them to be practical and
affordable.
So Chris, let us know your thoughts, I'm interested !

>From Down Under ( the sooner the better, high or low speed, tank or squid !)
Karl.

> I also have a question, based on everyones interests in submarines. I am
> looking into designing a highperformace 2-man submarine but am curious if
I
> am alone in my desire to soar at the ocean depths?
> Deep, fast flight?
>
> Chris
>
>  Hmmm... is to soar at the ocean depths or to sink?