Abstract
A theoretical analysis of the fluid mechanics of the air cushion of the air reversers used in web-handling systems is presented. A two-dimensional model of the air flow is derived by averaging the equations of conservation of mass and momentum over the clearance between the web and the reverser. The resulting equations are Euler’s equations with nonlinear source terms representing the air supply holes in the surface of the reverser. The equations are solved analytically for the one-dimensional case and numerically for the two-dimensional case. Results are compared with an empirical formula and the one-dimensional airjet theory developed for hovercraft. Conditions that maximize the air pressure supporting the web are analyzed and design guidelines are deduced.
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