Waterproof Towed Array Hosewall

High moisture permeation rates through hosewall materials are a primary failure mode in fat line towed arrays. TRI/Austin Inc. demonstrated the feasibility of reducing water permeation in TPU hosewall designs in Phase I by incorporation of a TPU having a hydrophobic polymeric backbone. These results indicate water permeation can be reduced by a factor of five to ten. TRI/Austin is teaming with a major towed array supplier and the current hose manufacturer with the goal of rapid insertion of developed moisture resistant elastomers into existing/planned arrays. Materials from co-extrusion trials showed the physical and mechanical properties of the laminate hose are very similar to currently used polyether backbone TPU. During Phase II the hosewall materials and processes will be optimized and downselected to a design that will be used for additional scale-up. A pilot-scale production run will be performed to fabricate prototype hose sections for validation testing. Test data from the pilot scale production run will be used to adjust the hosewall design and processing conditions. Qualification tests will be performed on prototype production hose materials. An Operational Test and Evaluation (OT&E) Integration Plan will be developed in preparation for extended operational field performance evaluation aboard a US Navy Submarine.