Modeling and experimental study of the cushion lift dynamics system of a polar hovercraft

Abstract

This paper investigates the cushion lift dynamics of a polar hovercraft. The motion of the flexible skirt on the ice surface is simplified and a mathematical model is established to study the dynamic response characteristics of the hovercraft in the process of lifting and moving over ice. This model considers the pressure/flow characteristics, skirt pressure, air cushion pressure, and flow rate of the fan of the hovercraft, and establishes a simulation using a C++program. When the hovercraft is pushed by the propeller, a thrust of 10 kN will cause a pressure difference of about 450 Pa between the front and rear chambers, 0.06 m in the height of the upstream and downstream discharge flows, and a decrease of about 0.4° in the longitudinal inclination angle. Changing the pitch angle to 0.5° creates a pressure difference of about 500 Pa between the chambers and a height difference of 0.07 m between the discharge. When the hovercraft speed is low, the wind speed has a small impact on the air cushion pressure of the lift system. The results of this research provide important technical and experimental foundations for further studies on the ice surface kinematics and safety control strategy of polar hovercraft.