Title: Effect of hull gap on pressure distribution under PAR platform

Authors: Randy Lee M. Mallari, Konstantin I. Matveev

Addresses: 16249 Hiawatha Street, Granada Hills, CA 91344, USA. ' School of Mechanical and Materials Engineering, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, 99164-2920, USA

Abstract: A new type of amphibious craft, known as power augmented ram vehicle (PARV), relies on support by a skirtless air cushion formed under the vehicle platform. The subject of this study is the sideways air leakage from the cushion, which is present at finite gaps between the side hulls and underlying surface. Experiments were conducted on a model-scale test rig with variable height, pitch, and roll. Test data showed significant decrease and pronounced non-uniformity of the under-platform pressure due to hull-ground clearances. A simple mathematical model, based on an inviscid jet theory with empirical corrections was found to predict experimental results reasonably well.

Keywords: power augmented ram vehicles; PARV; air cushion; ground-effect aerodynamics; hull gap; pressure distribution; amphibious craft; skirtless air cushions; sideways air leakage; mathematical modelling; inviscid jet theory.

DOI: 10.1504/IJAD.2010.037925

International Journal of Aerodynamics, 2010 Vol.1 No.2, pp.161 - 168

Received: 24 Jul 2010
Accepted: 27 Sep 2010
Published online: 05 Jan 2011 *

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