Origins of Acrylic Plastic Submersibles

Abstract

The research submersible NEMO, launched and certified in 1970 by the U.S. Navy, represents the first seaworthy, deep diving, one atmosphere environment, diving system which utilizes a pressure hull fabricated from transparent acylic (polymethyl methacrylate) plastic. Itss pressure hull is the culmination of 1) research into the structural performance of acrylic plastic spherical shells under long term cyclic external pressure loading, 2) development of economical fabrication techniques for acrylic plastic spheres with uniform curvature and thickness. Since the launching of NEMO many other submersibles with acrylic plastic pressure hulls have been built and successfully operated in the 0 to 3270 feet (0 to 100 meter) depth range.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Sep 01, 1986
Accession Number
ADA173779

Entities

People

  • Jerry D. Stachiw

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Autonomy
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Civil Engineering
  • Construction
  • Design Depths
  • Engineers
  • Fabrication
  • Hemispherical Shells
  • Materials Processing
  • Mechanical Engineering
  • Mechanics
  • Observatories
  • Pressure Hulls
  • Propulsion Systems
  • Resins
  • Structural Components
  • Submarine Hulls
  • Test And Evaluation
  • Underwater Vehicles

Readers

  • Aerospace Engineering
  • Aerospace Test and Evaluation
  • Structural Dynamics.