Snow Surface Erosion from a Peripheral Jet Cushion ACV

Abstract

Travel with an SK-5 ACV over soft snow results in surface deformation/erosion of a few inches, caused primarily by rear skirt drag; on windswept snow only scratches can be seen. During hovering on soft snow, deformation below the cushion chamber usually does not exceed a few inches. The action of the air flow, which has an escape velocity of 70 to 120 ft/sec, produces a 1-ft ditch below the peripheral skirt in less than a minute; thereafter the extent of erosion does not increase appreciably during continued hovering. A partial seal between the inner face of the skirt, above the fingers, and the snow surface may exist, arresting further settling of the vehicle. Relatively cohesive layers of snow such as wind slabs and crusts are not eroded. A level snow cover, regardless of how deep or soft, does not appear to be capable of immobilizing an ACV of this or larger size.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Oct 01, 1971
Accession Number
AD0733319

Entities

People

  • Gunars Abele
  • William H. Parrott

Organizations

  • Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Materials and Manufacturing Processes

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Abrasion
  • Air Cushion Vehicles
  • Air Flow
  • Cold Regions
  • Depression
  • Engineering
  • Escape Velocity
  • Flow
  • Ground Effect
  • Ground Effect Machines
  • Hovering
  • Lift Fans
  • Measurement
  • Snow Cover
  • Surface Effect Vehicles
  • Test Vehicles
  • Vehicles

Readers

  • Marine Hydrodynamics
  • Polar and Arctic Studies
  • Surface Coatings Technology.