This technical barrier is not unlike technical barriers which have 

 been overcome in past CURV programs. NUC's approach will be to con- 

 duct analytical studies, empirical tests, and hardware evaluation pro- 

 grams to adequately define this barrier and obtain a minimum size and 

 weight for a cable to meet all CURV transmission needs. Results from 

 these studies will be integrated into the results from the cable support, 

 handling, and storage studies, and the technical barrier will be solved. 



SUPPORT, HANDLING, AND STORAGE CONSIDERATIONS 



The second aspect of the cable technical barrier is defining just how 

 large and heavy the cable can become without seriously hampering support, 

 handling and storage. 



Support 



All CURV cables to date have had both inner strength members and 

 the nylon support line. Factors such as the stretch of nylon under weight, 

 diameter of nylon line required, and the weight and size of a sufficient 

 inner strength member make these methods undesirable at 20,000 feet. 

 It is important to note that even if the cable for the 20,000 foot system 

 were to be the same size and weight as the present CURV IE cable, the 

 system could be unacceptable from a support standpoint. For example, 

 the CURV ni cable weighs 0.6 pounds per foot in water and, if it is 

 assumed that approximately 26,000 feet of cable is needed for the 20,000- 

 ft system, then the cable net weight would be 15,500 lbs. The support 

 member would actually have to support a load considerably in excess of 

 15,500 lbs, since it must also withstand the dynamic forces built up by 

 the action of the sea and support vessel. If nylon line were to be used, 

 the line would be larger than the 1 inch diameter line used on CURV III, 

 which has a working capability of approximately 10,000 pounds. An ade- 

 quate nylon support member could be designed, but it would be large and 

 cumbersome. The support member could also be wire rope, intermittent 

 buoyancy could be provided along the cable with adequate internal support, 

 or a combination of all these techniques could be used. 



Regardless of the method of support used, dynamic analyses will be 

 performed to determine the forces caused by the sea and the effect on en- 

 tire system performance when the cable is moved from one location to 

 another with the cable out. 



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