APPLICATIONS

Fluent today announces its part in a successful bid for a U.S. Naval grant to simulate high speed sealift (HSSL) ships. The Office of Naval Research (ONR) in the area of HSSL has awarded the grant to Fluent as a member of a skilled multi-disciplinary team, specifically working in the area of computational hydrodynamics design and analysis. The total ONR award amount is approximately $500,000 (US), of which Fluent receives $155,000 (US). High speed sealift ships require advanced hull designs, high-power, fuel-efficient machinery, and advanced structural designs using light-weight and high-strength materials to perform duties more effectively and efficiently. The primary goal of this project is to serve the interests of the United States land forces – Army and Marines – in developing a vessel that can transport material at high speeds across trans-oceanic distances, allow quick transfer of large loads between ships at sea, enter austere ports, and autonomously off- load in such ports or on exposed beaches. Fluent is partnering with professors from the University of Michigan and the University of New South Wales, a ship designer at John J. McMullen Associates, and a scientist at the Naval Surface Warfare Center – Carderock Division. This assembly represents one of three groups participating in Phase l of this project, which will consist of demonstrating the capabilities of the hydrodynamic computational tools that will be used in the context of analyzing the hydrodynamic performance of a proposed concept for a HSSL ship. At the conclusion of the first six months, one of the three groups from Phase l will be selected to participate in Phase II, which will be the actual development and validation phase of the project. Quote from Armin Troesch, Chair of the Department of Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering, University of Michigan, and lead person for this effort, states that, “New advanced hull forms require new computational tools. This project will bring together the experience of ship designers and the expertise of fluid mechanicians resulting in a physics-based hydrodynamic analysis and design. Given these new capabilities, we expect significant improvements in vessel performance and capabilities.” The Office of Naval Research coordinates, executes, and promotes the science and technology programs of the United States Navy and Marine Corps through schools, universities, government laboratories, and nonprofit and for-profit organizations. It provides technical advice to the Chief of Naval Operations and the Secretary of the Navy and works with industry to improve technology manufacturing processes.