Chinese Supersonic Submarine Could go 3,600 MPH, in Theory By Zach Do Done On this page Word Browser Share: Cite / link: supercavitation [‚sü·pər‚kav·ə′ā·shən] (fluid mechanics) An extreme form of cavitation in which a single bubble of gas forms around an object moving rapidly through water, enveloping it almost completely so that the water wets very little of the object's surface, thereby drastically reducing viscous drag. Imagine submerging outside of Shanghai and then breaching the sea’s surface in San Francisco less than two hours later. Sound impossible…and a bit scary? It might be, but that’s what researchers in China are trying to find out. China’s Harbin Institute of Technology told the South China Morning Post (SCMP) that it was studying a phenomenon called supercavitation for use in submarine propulsion, which in theory could allow for underwater traveling speeds of up to 3,600 mph. Compared to the US Navy’s Ohio-class submarines, which reportedly top out at around 29mph, these speedy Chinese subs would effectively be the hypercars of the submersible world. Chinese Supersonic Submarine Could go 3,600 MPH, in Theory - Yahoo Autos Thats Petty Scary to think about!
I watched a Science Channel show on this concept for Torpedo Tech, it's pretty crazy stuff, if they've got it to work!
A collision with another object in the water at that speed would be devastating. Steering the sub and stopping would be a problem. The Russians have a high speed underwater missile/torpedo that they shared with Iran. It is a lot slower than 3,600 mph.
Yeah I read about that as well. This Documentary I watched was about 10 years ago. We know that the Military is always 10-30 years ahead of what the public knows, that's why we all freaked out when they showed off the Smart Bomb Tech. during the 1st Iraq War! Who knows what they've achieved since then. I agrre it would have serious implications as far as Navigation, However, They slingshotted a probe around three different planets and were perfectly on course and the probe is still functioning today, its headed for URANUS, No pun intended! Just Sayin!! A man might not be able to handle the challenge but a Real Smart Computer, SAAAAY a Quantum computer could. Google looks to build quantum computer chips - CNET
Our sensors off the coast of China would be able to pick it up almost immediately just because of all the noise it would probably be generating. Satellites might even be able to see it from space. Any kind of computer could control it but it would have to be very fast and very accurate for good nav.
That was my thought... that has got to be NOISY. Then again, at 3600 mph it's not like we could do a lot other than form a wall. Hmmm, knowing nothing about cavitation or super cavitation, I wonder how currents, temp and other variables affect the theory. And want would happen if that bubble got deformed or ran into a spot of water more or less dense? What would happen if say the vessel ran into a giant wall of bubbles? What happens to the vessel itself if the cavitation bubble collapses at speed? An impact with the water at that speed and depth would be, something I'd personally rather avoid.
This sounds like underwater surfing. @DarkLight , I wouldn't worry too much about how it would feel if the drive bubble failed at speed, it would be over too quickly to feel much. Water does not compress, so if it went from "just out of the way" to "no longer out of the way", it would be like hitting a wall at nearly 3,600 mph. By the time you knew there was a problem, you would already be dead. Unmanned launchers though.....
Yup. The sea can be pretty unforgiving. How's that saying go...It's not the fall I'm afraid of its the sudden and immediate deceleration!
from what I've read and seen (obviously they don't show too much) the devise is pretty much a solid fixture like a prop, that doesn't move. It just causes a pocket to form at the nose of the object causing the water to disperse, perhaps a gas injection? It looks like when your swimming in a pool and you move your hand through the water quickly, all the bubbles that seemingly appear out of nowhere. That's not the disturbing thing here, China has been talking Smack, and showing off all there new hardware over that past 2 months! Kinda make's you wonder why! We used Iraq to do our showing off and the world was amazed, how amazed will we be?
Yep China has been talking Smack, a lot. Their stuff usually does not work half the time, rumor has it China has had a lot of sub accidents. Either way, we should not underestimate them.
They have an expendable workforce, one advantage to a dictatorship. Keep in mind almost everything we have in our homes has ties to China! Underestimating them would be a grave mistake, and they've managed to make it to the moon, although they had some problems with their rover. Let's just say they don't get it exactly right and can only achieve 1,000 knots, still! I honestly think that if a War with China breaks out, there will be no room for Conventional Warfare, they could Militarize between 3-5 hundred million of their citizens! We would have to nuke them before they got mobilized!
If you ever read some Chinese patents they give patents on stuff that everyone else in industry has known and been doing for years and also on crap that doesn't work.
Not to point out the obvious, but, the other half of their stuff does work! I guess the point becomes why are they being so adamant about putting their weaponry out there for the world to see, when we keep ours hidden, at all costs?
Actually I would guess that the idea for this came off of some US defense contractors server. The one thing Chinese seem to be very good at is hacking into US defense contractors...
Funny part, would be if it was planted info to be stolen. Let the Chinese build their entire offensive on these speedy craft , but when attacked by them, turn on an undersea transmitter, and a harmonic disturbs the air bubble, and all attacking sub's implode..... let them do all the hard work.
