6/11/2018 Submarine Rescue Chamber/Hold-down Installation Via Underwater Friction Stud Welding Using Atmospheric Diving Systems | SBIR.

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Submarine Rescue Chamber/Hold-down Installation Via

Underwater Friction Stud Welding Using Atmospheric
Diving Systems
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Award Information
Agency:
Department of Defense
Branch:
Navy

Contract:
N00024-03-C-4107
Agency Tracking Number:
N021-0997

Amount:
$597,027.00
Phase:
Phase II
Program:
SBIR
Awards Year:
2003

Solicitation Year:
N/A
Solicitation Topic Code:
N/A
Solicitation Number:
N/A

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Small Business Information

B&B ENGINEERING
78349 Kistler Way, Palm Desert, CA, 94143

DUNS:
859693330

HUBZone Owned:
N
Woman Owned:
N
Socially and Economically Disadvantaged:
N

Principal Investigator

Name: Robert Sielski

Title: President
Phone: (909) 242-5761
Email: RSielski@aol.com

Business Contact

Name: Robert Sielski

Title: President
Phone: (909) 242-5761
Email: RSielski@aol.com

Research Institution

N/A

Abstract

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6/11/2018 Submarine Rescue Chamber/Hold-down Installation Via Underwater Friction Stud Welding Using Atmospheric Diving Systems | SBIR.gov

The overall objective of the overall 3-phase effort is to develop a system that is capable of welding studs to a
disabled submarine at depths beyond current capabilities that would allow for attachments to support a
Submarine Rescue Chamber and DeepSubmergence Rescue Vehicle and provide a means for life support
and gas sampling using a hot tap process. The attachments and hot tap will be made using the friction stud
welding non-fusion joining process. This project provides an interface between anunderwater friction stud
welding system and an atmospheric diving system (ADS). The fixtures and tooling developed can also be
used by a remote operating vehicle (ROV). The proposed Phase II effort will include 9 separate tasks:
Improvement of WeldingSystem, Impact on Submarine Hull Structure, Design and Manufacture of Interface
and Fittings and Procurement of Supplies, Conduct of Tank Testing, Planning for Demonstration, Conduct of
Deep Water Testing , Development of Phase III Plan, Development ofPhase II Report, and Project
Management The proposed project will be performed by an integrated project team from B&B Engineering
and Oceaneering International, Inc. The Phase II effort will provide a foundation for commercialization in
Phase III andbeyond. The Phase I effort will show the feasibility of the use of friction stud welds, and will
provide a test plan for demonstrating their use in Phase II. The technology has possible applications in
underwater welding beyond the attachment of studsand providing for hot taps. For example, friction stir
welding is being evaluated for repair of cracks in structure. The technology developed in this project will
enable such repairs to be conducted at greater depths. This process has tremendouscommercial potential for
application to offshore oil platform repairs that currently require saturation diving and dry chamber welding to
effect. For Phase III, B&B Engineering will solicit oil companies to participate in an actual repair or
operationthat would involve friction stud welding using an ADS system. If the SBIR program would be willing
to match 25 percent of the funding needed for such operations, oil companies would be quick to match the
other 75 percent for a project that was importantto them. Placement of anodes on an offshore structure would
be one such application. Performing a bolted on clamp repair would be another example. Specifically for
submarine rescue, B&B Engineering partnering with Oceaneering could provide the ADS /friction stud welding
as a fly away submarine rescue option for NATO allied forces. This could be performed on a standby fee
scenario.

* Information listed above is at the time of submission. *

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