Carderock’s Summer Faculty Lecture Series: A Wave of Innovation

Carderock's Summer Faculty Lecture Series: A Wave of Innovation

By Brittny Odoms, NSWC Carderock Public Affairs

Naval Surface Warfare Center, Carderock Division recently concluded another successful Summer Faculty Research Program, hosting three distinguished professors who conducted navy-relevant research alongside the command's scientists and engineers. This year's program welcomed Dr. Sarah Wolff, an assistance professor in the Mechanical and Aerospace Department from The Ohio State University, Dr. Themistoklis Sapsis, a professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering and Center of Ocean Engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and Dr. Erick Butler, an associate professor of environmental engineering from West Texas A&M University.

Dr. Sarah Wolff: Forging the Future of Naval Materials

Dr. Wolff delved into the world of laser-based additive manufacturing, focusing on the creation of complex, multi-material metallic parts with enhanced microstructures and mechanical properties. Working with Carderock's physical metallurgy and fire department, she conducted research and imaging of metal additive manufacturing, including analysis of printed parts through a laser hot wire process.

Wolff's research concentrated on the imaging process used to print "FeIron aluminum metals," specialized magnetic materials that can be molded into different shapes and sizes using a magnetic field. This imaging process is crucial for identifying potential defects and ensuring the sustainability of printed parts.

"My background and research are very fundamental [and] there aren't [many] applications to what I'm working on," Wolff said. "Working at Carderock was a really good combination of fundamental science and then how it [connects] to some of the naval applications."

This research has significant implications for the Navy, as the development of new manufacturing materials can lead to a fleet that is more resistant to saltwater corrosion and opens up new possibilities for refining the additive manufacturing process for other metals.

Dr. Themistoklis Sapsis: Navigating the Challenges of Rough Seas

Dr. Sapsis tackled the issue of ship stability in rough seas, investigating the effects of irregular waves on dynamic course stability. His research aims to develop analytical tools that can predict rough sea conditions, enabling ship operators to better control and navigate safely.

Sapsis and his team used various methods to measure the wave conditions, including physical mode-scale experiments in Carderock's Maneuvering and Seakeeping Basin (MASK) and the numerical simulator for Large Amplitude Motion Program (LAMP). Their goal was to establish computable criteria for identifying potentially dangerous conditions, reducing the reliance on time-consuming and costly model testing and simulations during ship design and development.

The project's findings represent a significant advancement towards developing analytical criteria for ship motion in irregular waves. The team's equations for instabilities of ship motion in surf-riding and broaching conditions seek to connect the real-world conditions with analytical models.

"I am excited about this collaboration," Sapsis said. "It's an amazing group of people, and I am humbled to be included."

Sapsis's collaboration with Carderock will continue beyond the summer program. He plans to spend a full semester conducting sabbatical research at Carderock, further exploring ship motion problems.

Dr. Erick Butler: Ensuring Safe Water Onboard Naval Vessels

Dr. Butler presented the results of a three-year collaboration between Carderock and the University of Maryland, focusing on the effectiveness of two portable devices in detecting the SARS-CoV-2 virus and other pathogens in wastewater. This research aimed to determine the suitability of these devices for shipboard use, supporting the Navy's objective of maintaining mission preparedness through effective water surveillance testing.

The project explored the selection of wastewater monitoring tools and tests that target agents of concern in wastewater, such as viruses and bacteria. The goal is to ensure that these tools are sailor-friendly and can be easily implemented in a shipboard environment.

"This experience over the past three years has been great," Butler said. "We have taken small incremental steps each year to progress towards our objective, and it's been exciting to see what has developed in that time. I look forward to continuing this relationship with Carderock in the future."

Continuing the Legacy of Research Collaboration

The Summer Faculty Research Program highlights Carderock's commitment to fostering collaboration between academia and the Navy. By bringing together leading researchers and Carderock's scientists and engineers, the program drives innovation and advances the development of critical technologies for the Navy's future.

For more information on the Summer Faculty Program, please reach out to Dr. John Barkyoumb, [email protected].

Carderock is The Navy's innovation and ship design powerhouse, headquartered in West Bethesda, Maryland, is a world-class research and development facility specializing in critical ship design components. Carderock uses state-of-the-art facilities, like the David Taylor Model Basin, to create small-scale models and evaluate next-generation surface ships and underwater vessels, ensuring they are future-proof, agile, and equipped to dominate the maritime environment. Carderock's focus areas include Platform Integrity, Signatures, and Naval Architecture and Engineering. With teams and facilities across the country, from Florida to Alaska and Idaho to Washington, Carderock is "Where the Fleet Begins," building the future of the Navy.

For more information visit https://www.facebook.com/CarderockDivision or https://www.navsea.navy.mil/Home/Warfare-Centers/NSWC-Carderock/