22 



THE NAVY OCEAN ENGINEERING PROGRAM 



floor, temporary habitats near the work site can have real value as person- 

 nel support installations. 



Two characteristics of bottom and sub-bottom structures give them a 

 great utility: (a) they are separated from the sea state disturbances at the 

 air-sea interface, and (b) they are situated in the sea environment. Manned 

 habitats placed on or near the bottom can provide an opportunity to put 

 to advantage these two characteristics. Potential types of manned habitats 

 include laboratories, military support facilities, recreational facilities, and 

 industrial installations. 



The construction of a manned underwater station could be accomplished 

 in several ways, such as excavation under the sea floor, or a structure pre- 

 fabricated on land and submerged to the ocean bottom. A third way would 

 be to develop underwater construction techniques. 



Concept for a manned underwater station using a toroid-shaped hull. The toroid 

 would have a 40-ft overall diameter and a 10-ft annular diameter. The habitat would 

 rest on a conoidal foundation, allowing it to adjust to any bottom with a slope of 

 15 degrees or less. 



