Innovating to Silence the Stealthy
30 Jan 2008
BAE Systems has entered into a five year research and technology programme with Sheffield University to develop technology which will reduce the acoustic signature of future submarines.
The Company will invest £1.8m in this partnership, which includes a commitment of approx. £1.4m to fund an active control research centre at the university, led by field expert Professor Steve Daley and supported by senior lecturers and researchers.
The initiative will also fund a programme manager from the Submarine Solutions business in Barrow, North West England, to focus on this and related technologies, as well as sit on the research centre management board.
The Barrow facility is currently building the Astute class submarine – the largest and most powerful nuclear powered attack submarines ever built for the Royal Navy. It also houses the project team for the successor to the nuclear deterrent submarine platform, drawn from the MoD, Royal Navy,
BAE Systems, Rolls-Royce and other partners.
The Sheffield University agreement formalises a partnership that has been developing over a number of years. This has involved Professor Daley working with members of the submarine technology team at Barrow on a number of noise reduction initiatives.
The research centre at Sheffield will primarily focus on three key areas:
- a ‘smart spring mount’ that prevents noise and vibration in equipment being transmitted to the submarine structure and hull;
- reducing hull vibration itself, therefore reducing the acoustic energy that is transmitted;
- reducing vibration of external machinery from inside the submarine.
These technologies have been demonstrated within the business, and to Ministry of Defence at technology events staged at Barrow site and in the MoD facility at Abbey Wood near Bristol.
Peter Fitzpatrick, head of product development at BAE Systems in Barrow, says: “Previously, our relationship with Sheffield University has been ‘trickle-funded’. This latest five year partnership arrangement will ensure that next generation technology is available to reduce the acoustic signature of future submarines.”
The relatively long timescales associated with the design and build of one of the most complex products in the world – a nuclear-powered submarine – present a number of technical challenges to the team of people charged with this difficult engineering task.
Of these, the development of appropriate technology to meet the future needs of the Royal Navy is one of the most important. Technology development for nuclear-power submarines has, in the past, concentrated almost exclusively on highly capable systems, equipment and components to meet specific military needs.
Technology development within BAE Systems still embraces these priorities but has broadened significantly to cover:
- The development of technology directly related to the military requirements of the Royal Navy, and not available from the commercial market. These technologies include stealth materials and systems such as acoustic cladding and active signature reduction systems
- The adoption and adaptation of technologies from related commercial markets for use within the design of a nuclear-powered submarine. The successful inclusion of such technologies into the design of the submarine requires an in-depth understanding of the highly integrated nature of submarine design and generally concentrates on the integration of the technology into the submarine, rather than the development of the technology per se. BAE Systems has developed methods and techniques for assessing and developing the Integrated Maturity Level of technologies to address this specific issue
- The development of design technology to enable the optimisation of the submarine design. These technologies are often targeted at gaining a better understanding of the ‘problem’ and include, for example, improved modelling and assessment techniques for the effect of an external shock on the structure of the submarine, the improved prediction of the acoustic signature of the submarine, and improvements in the modelling of radiological effects to improve shielding design
- The development of improved production technologies, targeted at improving manufacturing quality and reducing manufacturing costs. These include the development of advanced Non-Destructive Examination techniques, particularly for welded joints, the development of new welding techniques, and the use of composite structural materials
BAE Systems is committed to working with the MoD, the wider submarine enterprise, universities and its key suppliers to make strategic investments in submarine technology for the future.
It works with other companies and the Welding Institute to sponsor the development of ultrasonic welding examination techniques. The progressive replacement of x-ray examination techniques is targeted at reducing the risks to employees and disruption to production work, that is inevitably results from using ionising radiation.
Significant investments have also been made in the development of improved methods and techniques for:
- Submarine safety – both conventional ship safety and in nuclear safety. The use of improved methods in this area has enabled a greater concentration on the identification and development of engineered safety features that directly contribute to safety improvement in the design
- Shock design – the application of advanced modelling techniques is enabling a more in-depth understanding of how the submarine structure reacts to shock events. In turn, this will enable the design to be optimised to reduce the shock experienced by key equipment in the submarine, thus improving both safety and military effectiveness
- Signature modelling – collaboration with other companies has enabled BAE Systems to gain a more rigorous understanding of this complex area, enabling both passive and active signature reduction technologies to be applied effectively, influencing the design of future submarines to deliver reduced acoustic signatures.
For further information please contact:
Chris Nelson, BAE Systems
Tel: +44 (0) 1229 875975
chris.nelson@baesystems.com
Issued by:
BAE Systems, Farnborough, Hampshire GU14 6YU, UKbo
Tel: +44 (0) 1252 384710 Fax: +44 (0) 1252 383947
24hr media hotline: + 44 (0) 7801 717739
www.baesystems.com