Air lubrication influence on frictional resistance reduction of multi-purpose amphibious vehicle

Abstract

The presentarticle focuses on the hydrodynamic resistance reduction of Multipurpose Amphibious Vehicles (MAV) usingthe air lubrication layer effect. The use of air cushions to support marine vehicles, heavy floating structures and in other operation is well known. The main problem in Multi-purpose Amphibious Vehicles (MAV) is the amount of power needed in order to overcome the hydrodynamic resistance acting on the hull which is included the frictional and pressure resistances. Therefore, more power is needed to move the MAV forward. In this respect, more fuel will be required to operate the amphibious vehicles. This problem could be effectively reduced by the introduction of the air cushion concept. With the air being drawn from top of craft to the cavity below the hull will produce some cushioning effect and also help to reduce skin friction drag. In this paper, air cushion effect will be studied in rigid surface cavity instead of using flexible skirts. This would avoid the problem of high maintenance due to replacement of damaged skirts. Finally, the MAV will be supported using air cavity and bubbles generated by an air pump (compressor and air pressure vessel) to pushes the hull of multi-purpose amphibious vehicle up and reduce the frictional resistance due to draft and wetted surface reduction and layer of air between hull surface and water. This research would be done via CFD (ANSYS-CFX 14.0) and analyzed the hydrodynamic resistance.