Team
Creates Human-Powered Submarine
Team members applying glassing to the 1:3 scale model submarine are Matt Marsh (foreground, clockwise), Tyler Myers, Dylan Noyes, Adam Belles, Joe Carson, and Adam Foltz. | |
Nine mechanical
engineering students are designing and manufacturing
a human-powered fiberglass submarine for their senior design project. They will
compete at the seventh annual International Submarine Races hosted June 23-27 by the Naval Surface Warfare Center's Carderock facility in Bethesda, Md. Advised by Steven Nesbit, associate professor and head
of mechanical engineering,
the creative minds behind the endeavor are Adam Belles,
Joe Carson, Adam Foltz, Matt Marsh, Tyler Myers, Dylan Noyes, Andrew Rogers, Roger St. Ours,
and Matt Tomik.
"We wanted to tackle a
project that would involve the design process from beginning to end," says Foltz. "Since
the submarine |
has never been attempted at Lafayette, we have been able to incorporate
a large amount of original design. It also gives us the opportunity to use techniques
learned in class."
The group's submarine,
approximately 9.5 feet long
and 2.5 to 3 feet in diameter,
will compete in a 30-foot
underwater course. Times
will be recorded every 10 meters to determine the
speed of the vessel during its 100-meter descent. Lafayette's
captain will propel the one-
person vessel with a cycling
mechanism and control the craft using an aluminum
joystick, which guides two
fins 18 inches from the stern.
|
During the race the
submarine is flooded with water. Each captain must be scuba certified. A primary air supply is attached to the hull and a secondary one is strapped to the student's body. Safety mechanisms built into the sub design include a release lever,
a strobe light, windows, and a one-touch release buoy.
Last semester, the group finalized the propeller design and began assembling the
submarine. They will test the vessel's performance in Ruef
Natatorium to determine what
adjustments must be made prior to the competition.
The submarine races began in 1989 and have grown to include teams from the United States, Canada, Mexico,
| | 
Different members of the team drew parts and then assembled them to create this CAD illustration of their submarine design.
|
and Europe. The competition tests each group's command of material use, hydrodynamics, propulsion, underwater air supply, and life support systems. Awards include absolute speed, innovation, best use of composites, best design outline, overall performance, and best spirit of the race.
|
