Re: [PSUBS-MAILIST] Getting Started

[Jon Wallace <jonw@psubs.org>]

Manned Submersibles and this group are probably the best resources for 
general information about the mechanical and structural aspects of 
submarines.  There are many other resources that people on this list can 
point you too as well, especially when you start getting into more 
specific areas of research.  I agree with Ian's advice and recommend 
that you create a list of requirements for how you intend to use your 
sub first, then design to fit those requirements.  Otherwise you may end 
up with a vessel that does not meet your needs.  Before anything else, 
settle upon how you are going to transport it, get it in the water, and 
most importantly get to your intended dive site.  These are all likely 
to cost you money and its important to understand you are going to 
require an operating budget that you can live with in addition to the 
costs of actually fabricating a vessel.  For example, if your sub is 
large enough to require a boat-lift it can cost over $200 to have your 
vessel put in the water each time you want to dive.

If you decide to design your own sub rather than build from existing 
plans you will need to read and become very familiar with ABS or ASME 
design guidelines.  It can be exhausting and a bit of a paper chase 
(lots of sections reference other sections) BUT is also very rewarding.  
We have links to these organizations on our web site so check them out 
before buying any raw material to see what you are up against.

Support PSUBS by joining our group.


On 12/7/2010 5:08 PM, irox wrote:
> Hi,
>
> as Jim said, "Manned Submersibles" is a great starting point.
> Another text you'll want is the American Bureau of Shipping
> "Rules for Building and Classing Underwater Vehicles...".
> A general naval architecture book will be useful too.
>
> The place to start is develop a list of your requirements.
> What are you going to use the sub for?  How many people?
> What are you transportation requirements? what places are
> you going to operate it in?  How long and how often do you
> plan to operate? Etc..  From the operating requirements
> list you can start getting an idea of what you need to
> include in your design.
>
> Questions like "how deep can my design go" have answers
> like "as deep as the maximum operating depth your vessel
> is designed for".   Once you have your maximum operating
> depth (from the operating requirements) you can then
> design components (the pressure hull for example) with
> that depth in mind (plus a safety factor of course).
> There are tools on the psubs website which will help
> calculate the crush depth of pressure vessels, but those
> won't make so much sense until after you've read Busby
> and the ABS rules book.




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