IX. RECOMMENDATIONS 



1. It is recommended that efforts be undertaken that will provide cable 

 users with adequate guidelines to write E-M cable specifications. 

 Guidelines include such things as design criteria, materials proper- 

 ties, manufacturing capabilities, and sample specifications. This 

 could result in a military specification for E-M cable, a handbook, 

 or both. 



2. An E-M cable testing program should be developed. Testing theory, 

 methods and facilities must be examined with the aim of developing 

 a military specification covering cable testing during and after 

 manufacturing. Facilities must be adequately equipped within the 

 Navy system to handle testing. These tests are presently so expen- 

 sive that most users do not have them done. Failure mode, specifi- 

 cation and long-term testing of E-M cables should be conducted. 



3. Extensive development is recommended in the area of failure mechanisms 

 for cable applications. With the lack of data on behavior of actual 

 cable usage — a program of controlled laboratory tests should be con- 

 ducted subjecting the cable to as many of the expected conditions as 

 possible. Analytical and empirical data should be obtained to cate- 

 gorize and predict failures due to such things as kinking, fatigue, 

 torque imbalance, snap loads, creep, dynamic loads, strumming, and 

 water permeation. 



4. A cable handling handbook is needed to disseminate the scattered 

 knowledge of handling E-M cables. There is no existing reference for 

 Navy or civilian contractors to use for planning and executing the 

 cable deployment operation. This is needed if deployment operations 

 are to increase in the Navy, especially if they are to be performed 

 by many different groups. Included in this handbook should be sec- 

 tions on handling equipment, platforms, ships, and techniques. The 

 use of electrical cable handling devices and mechanical cable handling 

 devices to handle E-M cable should be evaluated. 



5. It is recommended that connector development be increased to improve 

 present commercial capability and reliability of wet and dry connec- 

 tors, as well as the advanced requirements. In addition, other ter- 

 mination hardware should be examined such as E-M swivels, armor 

 terminations, and conductor breakouts. 



6. Strength member data are lacking in the newer synthetic materials. 

 Testing programs to generate these data and present them in compara- 

 tive tables with the present materials is recommended. Neutrally 

 buoyant cables using synthetics should be developed. 



7. A program to develop improved field splicing techniques is recommended. 

 A portable device which can repair armored cables within the time 

 limits acceptable to covert installations must be developed. In addi- 

 tion, a maintenance program should be drawn up for all cable users to 

 cut costs of cable emplacement and system down time. 



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