PROMETHEUS INC. — Department of Defense SBIR Phase II: N131-037

Description

We will integrate the Phase I demonstrated physics, modeling, simulations,<br>nondestructive evaluation and Materials Identification Reflectivity Kernel<br>(MIRK) discrimination technologies into a prototype for detecting Special Hull<br>Treatment (SHT) delamination in water for significant cost savings and risk<br>mitigation for the Navy. The resultant technology transition will focus on<br>VIRGINIA and COLUMBIA Class submarines and could be extended to SSN 688 and<br>SSN 21 Classes. We will extend this work for delamination detection of<br>submarine coating in water to save an estimated $350,000 per hull per year.<br>We will exploit the physics of waves propagating through delaminated/debonded<br>vs. acceptably laminated/bonded tiles to demonstrate acoustic detection of<br>flawed Mold-in-Place Special Hull Treatment (MIP/SHT) submarine coatings.<br>Using theoretical models of syntactic foam material properties, theoretically<br>modeling delaminations in the wavenumber domain, and further developing and<br>deploying proven narrowband acoustic waveform and signal processing methods,<br>we will first test on a set of biofouled and non-fouled panels in a tank<br>environment and then apply the results to gain 80% correct identification of<br>debonded areas at or above 4 x 4 inches on an in-water submarine. We will<br>explore sonars and existing tools for hull examination for implementation to<br>minimize training requirements and cost.