Accelerations and Bottom Pressures Measured on a B-24D Airplane in a Ditching Test
Abstract
During the full-scale ditching of an Army B-24D airplane in the James River, accelerations near the center of gravity and bottom pressures were measured. The data are presented in the form of time-history plots of the recorded longitudinal, normal, and transverse accelerations and of the bottom pressures. The airplane contacted in a tail-down attitude, barely left the water, entered again and rocked forward so that the nose and most of the fuselage dug in deeply. During the first impact the high pressure area started at the rear of the bomb-bay section and progressed to a point near the empennage and on the second impact it progressed forward from a point just aft of the bomb bay until most of the nose was subjected to water load. In most cases the maximum recorded pressure at each station exceeded the capacity of the instruments being greater than 30 to 50 pounds per square inch. The maximum recorded acceleration was 2.7g acting in the rearward direction along the longitudinal axis. The accelerations along other axes were negligible.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Nov 01, 1944
- Accession Number
- ADA801426
Entities
People
- Margaret F. Steiner
Organizations
- National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics