Novel Towed Array Hose Materials Technology

Kazak Composites and our subcontractor ITT propose to advance the design of towed array hose by means of engineered materials. Manufacturing efficiency will be studied by comparing current and improved approaches for hose manufacture via extrusion to a potential alternative, pultrusion technology. The materials and designs to be developed will have synergistic effects on both buoyancy and strumming suppression. Buoyancy will be improved by adding new high-strength microspheres which also will prevent noise due to collapse. We propose a novel reinforcement configured to prevent crimping of the hose cross-section under bending, as well as"milking"of the hose under longitudinal drag forces, while maintaining desirable longitudinal strength and elongation characteristics. The scope of proposed Phase II work will cover materials trade studies and analysis of designs, as well as static and tunnel tests of representative elements. The outlook for a Phase II is a full-scale prototype.