THE PROPERTIES OF FLEXIBLE CONICAL LIFTING CELLS FOR AIR CUSHION VEHICLES.
Abstract
Measurements were made of the lift of a series of open ended flexible walled conical cells 16 in dia at the top and 12 in high, with tapers of 5, 10, 16, 20 and 30 deg with varying degrees of ground contact and several angles of tilt. With the edges sealed by contact with the ground the net force is accurately given by the product of the static pressure excess inside the cell, and the area of the gound enclosed by the conical wall. However, if the ground is tilted the cell will 'vent' or 'buckle' and such buckling occurs when the tilt relative to the ground is approximately twice the cone angles. As a result simple conical cells with cone angles of less than 16 deg cannot be relied upon to deploy from every attitude without internal stiffening or tension members, or unless tilt angles of more than 8 deg can be avoided. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Dec 01, 1969
- Accession Number
- AD0700020
Entities
People
- Donald E. Bonsall
- Norman K. Walker