Multi-Body Hydrodynamics for Unmanned Underwater Vehicles

Congressional support and Naval Surface Warfare Center Carderock Division (NSWCCD) investments have made it possible for the University of Memphis, in partnership with NSWCCD and the University of Michigan, to develop foundational experiments and capabilities of full-scale experiments at the US Navy’s William B. Morgan Large Cavitation Channel (LCC) to better understand the hydrodynamics of naval propulsors, control devices, and surfaces. The University of Memphis is proposing an expansion of the LCC’s capabilities to undertake experiments related to the operation and development of unmanned underwater vehicles (UUVs). The expanded capabilities of the LCC located in Memphis, Tennessee which is the largest and most technically advanced high-speed, variable-pressure water tunnel facility in the world, will guide the development of UUV operations and platform designs relevant to operational mission scenarios.

Impact on the Department of Defense

Previous Congressional appropriations, the University’s partnership with the U.S. Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA), and the NSWCCD Memphis Detachment have reignited research, development, and testing at a world-class facility that includes the LCC. While FY25 efforts will build upon previous experience and acquired capabilities of full-scale testing at the LCC, this program will involve first-of-its-kind research in UUV development that leverages the unique attributes of the LCC. UUVs are rapidly becoming new tools for weapons as well as intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance due to their superior performance on the battlefield. However, operations near moving naval vessels and launch and recovery systems are constrained due to unknown operation limits. This FY25 request proposes to equip the LCC with the necessary testing capabilities for experiments to understand the complexities of dynamics of multiple vehicles in proximity for situations such as UUV swarm, launch, and recovery as well as UUVs operating in the presence of vessel control surface wakes. The unique capabilities will extend the LCC operations to be a premier large-scale testing facility for UUVs. This program will help the Department of Defense reduce costs, enhance UUV design, and improve the marine industrial capability for naval and commercial products.

Economic Impact and Benefit to Tennessee

This program will further develop and grow the University’s partnership with the NSWCCD Memphis Detachment, creating new partnerships and facility users for the city of Memphis and Shelby County. This technology also has huge potential in the DoD as well as the industrial sectors of shipping and shipbuilding by creating more efficient shipbuilding design techniques. The efforts of this program will also train students and engineers in marine design and engineering.