Magneto-Stress Analysis

The objective of the proposed research is to predict the impact of mechanical stresses on the magnetic properties (i.e., magnetization and magnetic signature) of underwater Naval vessels. To realize this objective, a state-of-the-art computational tool will be developed that will be capable of: a) Predicting the mechanical stresses impressed on an underwater vehicle (such as that imposed on an underwater vessel during a dive sequence), b) accurately predicting the hysteresis characteristics of the magnetic materials under compression, and, c) efficiently predicting the magnetic signature of the underwater vessel while under mechanical stress, or after the stresses of a dive sequence. The methods employed will be based on high-order finiteelement (stress-analysis) and integral equation methods (magnetostatic analysis) with fast direct solution technologies. Advanced fast solution algorithms combined with efficient dual-level parallel algorithms will also be developed to significantly reduce the computational time of the non-linear magnetostatic simulations. The computational tool will be validated through collaboration with the Naval Surface Warfare Center (NSWC) who will provide pressure tank test data for a number of underwater vessels of interest to the Navy.