Ocean Environment Research 



STU's for the 2k~ and 12 -month's exposure periods at a depth of 

 6000 feet will be designed, fabricated, and placed in FY-63 and FY~6k 

 respectively-o 



Dirring the second quarter of FY-63 (October) the first STU will 

 be retrieved from a 6-month exposure period in 5300 feet of water. 

 Following its retrieval a maxim-um effort will be made to evaluate the 

 environmental effects on the STU specimen load and to publish preliminary- 

 results at as early a date as possible. 



A literature study will be made to disclose possible effects of 

 ocean-bottom sediment composition;, sediment transport^ sedimentation 

 processes, and bottom topography on materials and bottom-mounted 

 structures . 



It is believed that accurate knowledge of the pertinent oceanographic 

 parameters = i.e,^ current velocity^ salinity, oxygen content, temperature, 

 oxidation-reduction potential, and pH - will be essential for predicting 

 the relative corrosiveness of potential deep-ocean construction sites. 

 Information concerning these parameters will also be necessary for 

 the accurate simulation of deep-ocean envirorjmental conditions in 

 laboratory high-pressure systems. For these reasons an intensive 

 study of the methods and devices necessary to conduct in=situ measure- 

 ment of these parameters will be conducted. In the event that suitable 

 instrumentation is not commercially available to fulfill these require- 

 ments, the necessary instruments may be developed either through in- 

 house research or by contract, 



Laboratory-Simulated Ocean Environment Research 



As soon as pressure vessel facilities with chemically controlled 

 sea water are available, laboratory research will commence on the problem 

 of laboratory simulation of the deep-ocean environment in order to compare 

 corrosion rates obtained in laboratory pressure vessels with results 

 observed to have taken place in the STU during the 6 months submersion 

 in 5300 feet of water. 



Methods of measuring and monitoring corrosion of specimens contained 

 in pressure vessels while under high hydrostatic pressure will be 

 investigated and adapted to the needs of this program. It is believed 

 that methods which utilize measurement of changes in electrical resistance 

 with metal loss may be adaptable to this requirement. 



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