CUVX Design Report - the AOE home page - Virginia Tech

CUVX Design – VT Team 2 Page 55The pilot house and combat control on CUVX is located under the launch ramp in the bow of the ship. Thissatisfies the requirement for forward visibility and does not waste valuable recovery deck space. This spaceincludes steering, navigation, communications, combat information center, and flight operations. Figure 42 showsthe location of the Pilot House.Launch Operations is located adjacent to the launch ramp on the launch deck. This control space supports theEMALS operator. This operator is responsible for monitoring and controlling the final launch preparations for theUCAVs and UAVs. Figure 42 shows the location of Launch Operations.Recovery Operations control is located on the recovery deck in the forward deckhouse. The structure of thisfacility is based on the Advanced Enclosed Mast (AEM) concept, and also houses the antennas for the radar andother electronic sensors. It is located on the starboard side at the forward end of the recovery deck. This placementmaximizes maneuverability, recovery area, parking area, and elevator redundancy within the confines of the smallrecovery deck. Figure 42 shows the location of Recovery Operations.Radar domes, antennas, and recovery deck flight operations are all housed in the CUVX-HI3’s AdvancedEnclosed Mast (AEM). This tower is located forward on the starboard side of the recovery deck. There is also anarea inside to park trucks and equipment needed for recovery operations and crash emergencies. The mast has afootprint of 48.5 m 2 that flares up and out on all sides at an angle of 10 degrees to a maximum area of 76.7 m 2 .Figure 43 shows a profile view and 3-D view of the AEM. The lower section will support personnel and is 3 mhigh. The four upper sections’ heights and widths are governed by the radars enclosed. The truck parking sectionhas a footprint of 25 m 2 , height of 3 m, and a 10 degree taper for low RCS signature. The lower portion of this mastis constructed of radar absorbent material to maintain the ships stealth characteristics. The upper portion will slopein at 10 degrees like the hull sides giving it low RCS signature and is constructed with an advanced hybridfrequency-selective surface that allows CUVX-HI3’s own radar in and out, but not foreign radar.4.3 Structural Design and AnalysisFigure 43. Advanced Enclosed Mast System (AEM)The structural design process for CUVX HI3 is illustrated in Figure 44. Loads were defined using the full loadand minimum operating weight distributions generated in HECSALV, design wave and other hydrostatic pressurecriteria from the Structural Design Manual for Naval Surface Ships and aircraft deck criterion from DDS 130-1,Aircraft Handling Deck Structure.Scantling IterationGeometryComponents /MaterialsStressesModes ofFailureStrengthLoadsFigure 44. CUVX Structural Design Process