Manufacturing of Stress Physical Scale Models (SPSMs) for Signature Reduction and Resistance to Environmental Stress

The Stress Physical Scale Model (SPSM) is expected to perform a critical role in the characterization and remediation of magnetic signatures in Navy ships. The properly executed SPSM permits the accurate sizing and location of degaussing systems which can take into account the change in magnetic signature due to structural loading. To be of cost benefit, the SPSM must be constructed before the final design of the Navy vessel. Because, up to this point in time, the SPSM have been painstakingly constructed using highly trained craftsmen, the redesigns and restarts have made the use of the SPSM approach very expensive. The SPSM approach to characterizing magnetic signatures and degaussing system design is being supplanted by computer based finite element models that, while less accurate and less capable in measuring the permanent magnetization, are much more flexible and responsive to design changes at a lower cost. TRI/Austin proposes to develop, based on the permeability-thickness and equivalent material technique, a SPSM fabrication process that will a) accurately model the magnetic signature of the Navy ship while under load, b) be low cost and have a reduced lead time, and c) be highly flexible to design changes without major cost or schedule impacts.