Supercavitation

[kassy]

Ok, I just finished reading an article in Scientific American about supercavitation. The funding for developing this technology is said to be about 50 million dollars. A crude form of supercavitation was used by the Soviet Union in 1977 ( the Soviet Union had a torpedo called Shkval that travelled at 230 m/p/h ), but the US has been concentrating high speed propellers and hydrofoil developements.
The US is now looking at using this technology in projectiles and torpedoes, apparently to catch up to the Russian Navy.
With recent political developes in mind, do you think that so much money should still be spent developing high class weapons ?
IF or when this technology is applied to civillian vessels (sub like) would you feel safe travelling in a vessel that moved through the water at extremely high speeds ?

 

[Soybomb]

Sure, we'd just plow through fishing vessels and anything in our path. Really though its a pretty cool tech and I think it would be useful.

 

[Viper GTS]

Got any links? Sounds interesting. I know what cavitation is, & I'm a little perplexed as to how that would effect high-speed vessels.

Viper GTS

 

[kassy]

WarpDrive - sorry, I should have to linked to the article in my first post.

 

[Viper GTS]

That's freakin' cool!

Viper GTS

 

[kassy]

<< That's freakin' cool! >>


I agree, so what do you think about wanting to apply this to future weapons ? I mean do you think that we NEED to be pushing ahead with weapon developement or should they be looking at other way to use this technology ?

 

[Total Refected Power]

kassy:

At least your post is getting a bit more attention than mine from several weeks ago.

Old Post


It is very interesting technology with broad applications!

 

[kassy]

TRP - I am sorry, I didnt search first
I havent been around(reading) OT for some time.

Slaps a huge SEARCH FIRST sticker on my monitor

 

[SirFshAlot]

......when you say it loud enough, you'll really sound atrociou...tion(?)

 

[kassy]

SirFishAlot - well I guess you didnt mention religion so thats a bonus

 

[KarsinTheHutt]

SeaQuest: DSV



No military sub would be able to use this as a primary means of propulsion... it would majorly disrupt sonar. But for quick deployment it might be nice.

 

[Haribo]

Supercavitation rulez

I think a sub utilising supercavitation could travel the atlantic in a couple of minutes. But it would have to be shot out of a canon or something to get the initial vacum bubble in front of it... doesn't sound to safe when you think of it

And what if you hit a whale or something? it's not like you can break

 

[KarsinTheHutt]

Tee hee... the article is pretty good - a future full of minisub fighters and sub Carriers sounds cool to me!

Why oh why did SeaQuest have to go off the air

 

[Asha'man]

haribo - hehe I think that is exactly what will happen if you hit something....you break

but seriously it looks kewl

 

[kassy]

<< And what if you hit a whale or something? it's not like you can break >>


Thats what we discussing last night, just how practical it would be when applied to anything other than torpedoes etc.