Re: Unmanned test dives

[Axel Iehle <ai@augusta.cma.fr>]

I guess testing a sub could be made in many successive steps.
You may want to test small critical elements (through hulls, viewports...)
that are easy to handle and test in a pressure chamber (it may be a good idea 
to even test elements that you bought "certified"... do you rely on someone 
else when it's your life in the balance?)
Then when the sub is assembled, as someone indicated already you can save a 
lot of time and money by simply checking roughly if ...it's water proof! no 
need for a crane a boat or a big test-chamber. And there could be some 
surprises!
Then I guess the next step is the unmanned diving test. Thinking to a big 
compression test-chamber is pleasant, but:
I'm not sure I can pay for it
I'm not sure the operators will accept taking the risk of something damaged in 
their chamber due to the failure of your shark-painted-face-yellow-sub (but I 
may be wrong)

So for me it'll probably be sea-trial.
But of course the issue of fatigue cycling remains: how to be sure it won't 
blow next time?

Cheers,

Axel

EdwMullin@aol.com, wrote:
> The test rig described here sounds excellent for testing the acrylic part of
> the view port.  A previous post made mention of view port frames failing due
> to welding to the hull.  To test the welding of the entire hull, as well as
> through hulls, fittings etc... that was why I thought the entire sub should be
> submerged to depth...