1. T-Craft—What, Why & How? Dr. Alfred Skolnick and Mr. Robert A. Wilson
Presentation to
SNAME T & R Advanced Ships & Craft Panel
and
International Hydrofoil Society
June 12, 2012
Materials
Hydrodynamics

2. SES-100B Mission Readiness Inspection
A Little Nostalgia A Few Of Us Had Still Hoped For Another Ride On a Game Changing Concept
SES-100B Mission Readiness Inspection
June 27, 1972

3. How the T-Craft INP Program Got Started
Naval Studies Board Report’s
Closing Remarks
Office of Naval Research’s
Innovative Naval Prototype Program
Innovative Naval Prototypes explore high 6.2 and 6.3 technologies that can dramatically change the way naval forces fight.
OBJECTIVE
2000 – 2500nm
25 – 250nm
ISB
Sea Base
ONR BAA
Sea Base Enablers - The Transformable Craft
To achieve Operational Maneuver From The Sea, large capital investments in major new capabilities probably would be necessary, including: A rugged, large-capacity, high speed landing craft, designed to interface efficiently with amphibious assault ships, logistics ships, and logistics units ashore.

4. T-Craft Candidate Program Plan
Completion
Contract Awards
Phase I: Concept Refinement*
Phase I Tech. Eval ONR DoI/PEO Ships Decision
Technology Transition Opportunities
FY07
FY08
FY13
FY09
FY10
FY11
FY12
FY14
Phase II: Technology Development
Phase III: System Development, Demonstration, and Deployment
FY06
Phase II Tech. Eval ONR DoI/PEO Ships Decision
(* Interim Tasking For Concept Refinement to restore Phase II Contracts Alignment)
Phase I
Identification of technologies
Competitive prototype designs
Technology risk assessment
Development of Phase II plan
9 month period of performance*
T-Craft as a project was set up as a competition between companies or consortiums of companies. The project was announced to industry in the form of a Broad Agency Announcement.
Phase I: $2 Million contract (per team) to develop a concept and preliminary designs for a prototype T-Craft
Phase II: $8-10 Million contract (per team) to create detailed designs for a prototype T-Craft
Phase III: $150 Million contract to build and test the prototype T-Craft
Phase II
Concept down select
Technology development
T-Craft contract design
Model testing
24 month period of performance
Phase III
Final design submittals
Prototype-demonstrator construction options open 4

5. T-Craft Vision and Impact
Vision: T-Craft can enable embarked forces to project power ashore without reliance on ports and airfields in the objective area.
Improved Port
Impact: T-Craft provides the amphibious capability, cargo capacity, and speed that has wide applicability across the full range of military operations.
Austere Port
No Port 5 5

6. T-Craft Concept Evolution — Step 1
Desired Capabilities & Design Attributes
Large Cargo Area
- Catamaran
- Trimaran
- Air Cushion Vehicle
- Surface Effect Ship
High Speed & Acceptable Motions
- Long Slender Hulls
- ACV Cushion & Bow & Stern Seals
- Minimized Hull Wetted Area
- Waterjet Propulsion
- Ride Control System
Umoe Mandal’s Concept
Operating in its High-Speed SES Mode

7. T-Craft Concept Evolution — Step 2
Desired Capabilities & Design Attributes
Motions Control
& Position Station-Keeping
- Active Ride Control Systems
- Dynamic Positioning Systems
- Motions Control Sensors & Actuation
- Waterjets & Other Lateral Force Generators
Cargo Transfer from the Sea Base
- Deployable Ramp Systems
- Relatively Stable Platforms
- Motion Compensating Cranes
- Vertical Access to Cargo deck from Above
Textron Marine & Land System’s Concept
Operating in Various Cargo Transfer Modes

8. T-Craft Concept Evolution — Step 3
Desired Capabilities & Design Attributes
Deliver Cargo Feet-Dry
- Deployable & Retractable ACV Side Skirts
- Deployable Ramp System
- Air Propulsion & Propulsor System
Alion Science & Technology’s Concept
Operating in the ACV Mode

9. T-Craft Merges Three Unique Ship Concepts
Catamaran Concept
T- is for Transformable
ACV Concept
SES Concept 9

10. T-Craft Program Accomplishments Demonstrator Concept Feasibility
BAA Threshold Desired Capabilities
Cargo Payload Weight 300 lt
Cargo Payload Area ,500 sq. ft.
Un-Refueled Range
no cargo ,500 nm
with cargo nm
Speed thru SS knots
Speed thru SS knots
Beach Slope Climbing %
Alion Science & Technology
Cargo Payload Area 7,500 sq.ft.
Speed SS knots
Textron Marine & Land Systems
Umoe Mandal
Cargo Payload Wt 352 lt
Cargo Payload Area 10,043 sq.ft.
Unrefueled Range 3,210 nm
Beach Slope Climbing 2.8%
All Contractor T-Craft Demonstrator Designs Met or Exceeded the BAA Desired Capabilities

11. T-Craft Program Accomplishments Advancing Technologies & Training Our Next-Generation Of Naval Engineers

12. T-Craft Technology Thrusts Changing SES and ACV Art to Science
Fluid Dynamics
2-Body Motions Predictions
- Provide model test data for V&V
- Recommend motions prediction codes
- Examine the effectiveness of ride control and dynamic controls technologies for enhancing ship motions and station-keeping
CFD Solutions to:
- 3-Dimensional cushion pressure contours in the cushion region
- Impact of 3-D contours on waterjet performance
Virginia Tech, University of Michigan
George Mason Univ., T-Craft Contractors

13. T-Craft Technology Thrusts Changing SES and ACV Art to Science
Advance State-of-the-Art
in SES model testing
Technical Thrusts
Provide an extensive and available model test data-base for V&V with analytical predictions
Evaluate sidehull / waterjet inlet interaction in calm water and waves
Determine minimum power condition, (heave and trim), accounting for waterjet air ingestion
Textron Model in Carriage 3, May 2012

14. T-Craft Technology Thrusts Changing SES and ACV Art to Science
Propulsion
Littoral/Surf Zone Hydrodynamics
- Develop a probability-based design and analysis methodology for SES-waterjet propulsion systems
- Advance the fundamental understanding of, and predictabilities for, the transient hydroelastic response of SES-waterjet propulsion systems
- Surf Zone Dynamics — Observed Offshore conditions, assumed bathymetric wave transformations, surf zone
- Fluid kinematics near the surf zone are non-linear
- Involve error based probability analyses
US Naval Academy, University of Hawaii
University of Michigan

15. T-Craft Technology Thrusts Changing SES and ACV Art to Science
Composite Structures
Structural Material Fabrication Comparisons
Providing structural design, construction and cost comparisons between large ship structures made from aluminum, composites and titanium
- Dynamic modeling of sandwich beams
- Vibration-based damage detection
- Damage caused non-linear-physical basis for on-line health monitoring & diagnosis
Wayne State University
University of New Orleans, T-Craft Contractors

16. T-Craft Technology Thrusts ONR Titanium T-Craft Mid-Ship Program Lead by Prof. Pingsha Dong, Northrop Grumman Endowed Chair in Shipbuilding & Engineering, University of New Orleans
Can titanium ship structures be cost-effective?
What are the enabling technologies to make it a reality?
What are the implications on naval shipyards?
What we have found so far?

17. T-Craft Technology Thrusts Titanium Mid-Ship Section Program Demonstrated Accomplishments
Fit-For-Purpose based “ship hull grade” specification Titanium
Welded T’s, bent L’s and flat bar structural shapes vice standard extrusions
Manufacturing and performance data developed for construction and structural performance for optimized Total Ownership Cost
Full box frame structure is currently being erected at Textron
Ship Grade Titanium Spec.
Welding Processes
Extensive Math Modeling

18. Platform Affordability
T-Craft Technology Thrusts Does the Titanium T-Craft Mid‐Ship Section Help Meet ONR’s Total Ownership Cost Focus-Area Objectives?
Platform Affordability
Titanium suitability for fabrication of ship hulls
Economic benefits
Construction efficiency
Positive operational impact
Lifecycle and Sustainment Cost
Corrosion resistant & good fatigue properties

19. Concluding Thoughts
●The T-Craft concept provides capabilities never before available in a sea to shore connector.
●Since the U.S. Navy has chosen not to build a demonstrator at this time, it may be appropriate for others in the world community to sponsor and build a point-design prototype meeting the humanitarian aid mission
●Surely, sufficient recent national emergencies and world crises have occurred where a T-Craft could have brought rapid help and relief

20. T-Craft
A New Concept
now ready
for
WAR or Peace